Barrington Stage Names New Director of Development

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Barrington Stage Company has named Jessica Provenz as its new director of development.

"We are thrilled that Jessica Provenz has joined us as director of development," Artistic Director Julianne Boyd said. "Her impressive credits and knowledge of theatre as well as fundraising in the Berkshires will aid us greatly."

"BSC is a local treasure with a national reputation for artistic excellence and an unwavering commitment to education and community outreach, both in full evidence to all residents and visitors of Berkshire County.  My arrival at BSC represents the merging of a career in development with a lifelong passion for the theater, and I could not be more excited to advocate for and champion this Berkshire institution," Provenz said.

Provenz was the director of the Annual Fund and Special Events at Berkshire Country Day School for the past three years, where she implemented all aspects of fundraising in support of the $3.5 million annual budget. She also helped complete a $3.2 million Capital Campaign, surpassing the $3 million goal, which resulted in the new Kim & James Taylor Music/Performance Room and the Kevin Hirt Library and Learning Commons and strengthened the Endowed Fund for Faculty Salaries.


She is the co-chair of the Berkshire County Development Alliance, a group of 150 area development professionals who meet and ​engage in meaningful dialogue on advancement issues facing the industry. Jessica serves as secretary on the board of Berkshire Baby Box, and has worked independently as a producer and writer for Berkshire nonprofits, including WAM Theatre and Berkshire International Film Festival.

​She is a regular correspondent for Berkshire Magazine and has written for The Berkshire Edge and the Nonprofit of the Berkshires' Connections Magazine.

Provenz has produced and written extensively for the stage and screen. Her work has been developed or produced by theatres including Irish Rep, New Georges, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Cape Cod Theatre Project, The Barrow Group, EST, and The Director’s Company. Jessica was Playwright-in-Residence at The Juilliard School, and is a two-time recipient of the Lecomte du Noüy Award for emerging playwrights.

She received an Artist's Diploma from The Juilliard School and her B.S. in theater from Northwestern University. She lives in Great Barrington with her son, Maximus Rhys.

 


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Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting. 

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition. 

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said. 

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use. 

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said. 

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