'Romeo and Juliet' Opens July 16 at First Street Common

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Following on the heels of last summer's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' Shakespeare in the Park presents 'Romeo and Juliet' from July 16-Aug. 2 at The Common in Pittsfield.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Shakespeare’s indelible story of star-crossed lovers moves from rowdy comedy to genuine tragedy with the flick of a rapier. "Romeo and Juliet," Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park’s second annual production, opens in just two weeks and features a cast of 19 local professionals and young adult actors (ranging in age from 12 to 82).

"Romeo and Juliet" opens July 16 at 8 p.m., following Pittsfield’s 3rd Thursdays street festival that evening, and runs Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. for 12 performances ending Aug. 2. Admission is free. Performances take place on Pittsfield’s newly renovated First Street Common, located next to the Zion Lutheran Church. Audiences are invited to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the romance under the stars.

"Romeo and Juliet" features 18-year-old Fiona Barnett-Mulligan (PSP’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream") as Juliet and 17-year-old Joey LaBrasca (Barrington Stage Company’s "Enemy of the People") as Romeo, with John Buckley (BSC’s "The Lord of the Flies") as Mercutio, Julie Castagna (PSP’s "Midsummer") as Benvolio and Tim Jones (BSC’s "The Little Mermaid") as Tybalt. The rest of the young ensemble comprises Devon Lennon, Mickey Mastrianni, Linden Niedeck, Kate Parks, Tom Reynolds and Dane Shiner.

Berkshire County education artist and actor Barby Cardillo (Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe) plays Juliet’s Nurse, and Adam Sugarman (QWERTY at Mixed Company) is Friar Laurence, mentors to the young lovers. Playing the parents are Chris Brophy (PSP’s "Midsummer") and Hana Kenny as Lord and Lady Capulet, and CJ Morgan and Gail Ryan (PSP’s "Midsummer") as Lord and Lady Montague. Julius Reese (PSP’s "Midsummer") plays Count Paris, and Patrick Toole ("Table Manners" at Mixed Company) plays the Prince of Verona.

Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park has partnered with The Whit to present a series of pre-show music acts before Friday and Saturday evening performances. Music begins at 7:15 and the show starts at 8 p.m. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy a picnic on the lawn. View the schedule of performers at http://www.pittsfieldshakespeare.org.

 


Tags: community theater,   free theater,   local theater,   

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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