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Miss Hall's School Presents 'You Can't Take It With You'

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Miss Hall's School Theater Ensemble will live life to its eccentric fullest this fall, performing the popular madcap comedy "You Can't Take It With You" on the Miss Hall's campus at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.

This MHS production stars senior Jayme McGuigan of Pittsfield as Martin Vanderhof/Grandpa; junior Jasmine Briggs as Alice; and sophomore Emily Carmel of Pittsfield and junior Trudy Fadding of Glendale as Alice's parents, Penelope and Paul Sycamore. Guest actor Matthew Gallagher of Pittsfield plays Tony Kirby, while senior Gabby Hinkley of Dalton and senior Miriam Myers of Monterey play Tony's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kirby.

The show features first-year student Hannah Holt as Alice's sister, Essie; junior Rose Battista as Essie's husband, Ed Carmichel; junior Ainsley Schuth as Essie's eccentric ballet teacher; and junior Ivy Wang as Paul Sycamore's assistant, Mr. De Pinna. Additional performers include junior Sam Elliott of Pittsfield as a "J-man" and Wilbur Henderson, the IRS investigator; senior Judy Li as Rheba, the maid; sophomore Erica Morales-Armstrong as Donald, Rheba's boyfriend; senior Michela Laurin of Pittsfield as actress Gay Wellington; senior Alicia Bravo as the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina; and juniors Z Hypolite and Ingrid O'Dell as J-men.

The production's technical crew includes senior Olivia Kinne of Pittsfield and junior Ingrid O'Dell as stage managers; sophomore Lomesia Allen, junior Faia Kronick of Pittsfield and sophomore Soleil Laurin of Pittsfield as costume assistants; and sophomore Mere Hall of Adams as prop assistant. The show is directed by Jennifer Jordan, director of theater and dance at Miss Hall's School.

Performances will take place in the Woods Theater of the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center on the Miss Hall's School campus on Holmes Road. General admission is $10, and reservations are recommended. Senior citizen and handicapped-accessible seating is available. Visit the website for tickets or call 413-443-6401.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.