Starlight Stage Presents 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Starlight Stage Youth Theatre will celebrate its 41st season with a stage adaptation of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," directed by Brandon Burns, with performances at 7 p.m. Aug. 3-5 and 2 p.m. on Aug. 6 at the First Congregational Church on Main Street.
 
Moments before the earth is destroyed by a Vogon Construction Fleet, Ford Prefect manages to rescue his earthling friend Arthur Dent by hitching a ride on a series of alien spacecraft. Along the way they meet a variety of colorful characters – fjord specialist Slartibartfast, Zaphod Beeblebrox (voted "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe" seven consecutive times), Marvin the Paranoid Android, computers named Eddie and Deep Thought, Max Quordlepleen, Master of Ceremonies at Milliways, a pair of mice named Benjy and Frankie, and a pair of philosophers named Vroomfondel and Majikthise. They endure Vogon poetry, dine at the restaurant at the end of the universe, and discover the answer to life, the universe, and everything (if only they knew what the question was!)

While it is now an international multi-media phenomenon, "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" had its genesis as a half-hour BBC Radio 4 comedy show, broadcasting six episodes in 1978. Adams later adapted the story to other formats, including stage shows, novels, comic book adaptations, a 1981 TV series, a 1984 computer game and 2005 feature film. This new stage adaptation was created for Starlight by Gail M. Burns, from Adams' 1978 radio scripts.

Tickets will be $10 adults, $7 children, available at the door.

Starlight has been directed by Robert Y. Burns and the Burns family of Williamstown since its inception in 1976. Starlight is the third-oldest continuously operating summer theater in Berkshire County, after the Berkshire Theatre Group and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. The company offers a hands-on theater experience to local youngsters ages 8-18.

McKay's Family Farm Market Expands in Williamstown

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Friday, April 03, 2026

The greenhouse will be opening in the next couple weeks but pansies are available now. 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — McKay's Family Farm Market recently expanded to offer more garden and feed options and local goods.

 

In October, the McKays took over the former Chenail's Farmstand on Simonds Road. McKay's Family Farm is located in Stamford, Vt., and raises cattle, sheep, horses and goats and grows a variety of vegetables. They have expanded into the shopping plaza near the greenhouse. 

 

"We took over growing mums and pumpkins and stuff, and then folks just kept coming in, asking for different things, and we just kept expanding our offerings," said Luke McKay. "And before long, we realized that half of the greenhouse was full of retail supplies and that we were growing so quick that we need to figure out what our next step was.

 

"The space became available, and we decided to make this our retail operation so that we could continue to have more space for plants and shrubs and trees and all the good stuff that we're gonna put in."

 

The family had noticed the building, part of the property with the farmstand, became available in December and decided to move in. He said customers were looking for a place to buy feed and to support locally.

 

"It was just a couple of bags of grain back in the fall when we opened up. And more and more folks said that they didn't want to go to box stores that they wanted to support a local business to be able to buy their feed for their animals or their pet foods and such," he said.

 

The store sells Nutrena Feeds and Blue Seal, garden supplies and stoves and pellets. It also offers goods from other local farms, whether it be eggs, meat, or more.