Berkshire History Theatre to Present 'I Am Pittsfield' at Arrowhead

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire History Theatre, in collaboration with Berkshire Historical Society, will present a new “Historic Pittsfield” play, “I Am Pittsfield: The Immigrant Century” from Aug. 13-29 in The Red Barn Theatre at Melville’s Arrowhead on Holmes Road.

Based on actual historical incidents culled from both written and oral history sources, “I Am Pittsfield: The Immigrant Century” explores the struggles and triumphs of successive waves of ethnic immigrants – Irish, African-American, French-Canadian, Polish and Italian – who arrived and settled in Pittsfield during the period 1840-1940.

Written and directed by Arrowhead’s playwright-in-residence Sally Filkins, author of “The Melville Trilogy," “I Am Pittsfield” treats themes of ethnic hostility, poverty, prejudice, abuse, hatred and fear, and the resultant disenfranchisement of “the other” throughout history. The play is set in Pittsfield locations ranging from the city’s  Underground Railroad Network to Pittsfield’s burgeoning mid-19th century woolen and cotton mills, to family homes in ethnic Pittsfield neighborhoods. “I Am Pittsfield” honors the achievements of the city’s diverse founders, both famous and obscure.
 

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.