Barrington Stage Company Taps Two to Board of Trustees

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Barrington Stage Company has appointed Caroline Holland and Debra Jo Rupp to the Board of Trustees.

"Caroline Holland and Debra Jo Rupp are exciting new additions to the board. Caroline's knowledge of the Berkshire community and what it needs to make it even more vibrant is extraordinary. Debra Jo's voice as a working theater artist is important as we move ahead developing new work and community projects. We look forward to working side by side with them furthering Barrington Stage's mission," said ​Artistic Director Julianne Boyd.

Holland is the managing director of Mill Town Capital, overseeing operations, strategy and project execution for Mill Town Capital, an impact investment fund focused on the Berkshires. She was formerly the strategy and business development manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems in Pittsfield and the senior associate at the MASY Group in Alexandria, Va. She holds a master of arts in international conflict and security studies from the University of Oregon and a bachelor of arts from the University of Richmond. She lives in Pittsfield with her husband Sam Russo.

Rupp is an associate artist at Barrington Stage. Her many credits include "Time Flies and Other Comedies," "The Cake," "Love Letters," "Kimberly Akimbo," Dr. Ruth," "All the Way" and many more. Film credits include "Big," "Clockwatchers," and "Sgt Bilko" and has more than 200 television appearances, most notably "That '70s Show," "Seinfeld," "Friends," "NCIS: LA" and "Elementary." She is currently recurring on "This Is Us" and "The Ranch" with Sam Elliot on Netflix.

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.