Simon's Rock Theater Program to Premiere Four One-Act Musicals

08:16AM / Tuesday, April 05, 2022Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Theater program at Bard College at Simon's Rock will premiere 4 one-act student-written musicals this week from April 7-9 in the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center.

Simon's Rock students have worked with Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning playwright and screenwriter Marsha Norman over the past eight months in the development process of their musicals.

Marsha Norman, who now resides in the Berkshires after retiring from her position as co-chair of Juilliard's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program, won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, "night, Mother," a Tony Award for the Broadway musical book and lyrics for "The Secret Garden," and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for the libretto of "The Color Purple."

After connecting with theater professor Aimée K. Michel at Simon's Rock, they discussed possibilities for designing a musical theater workshop while also navigating COVID-19 protocols and challenges.

Opening night is on Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. with Program A, which runs again on Friday, April 8 at 3:00 p.m. and includes "Seller's Market" by Ashlyn Bagocious, junior, directed by Aimée K. Michel, and "Bird's of Pray" by Rowan Truman, sophomore, directed by Beck Selberg, junior.

Program B runs on Friday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 9 at 3:00 p.m. and includes "Shades of Blue" by Blake Bynum, sophomore, directed by Rowan Truman, and "Your Choice" by Tevah Rose, sophomore, directed by Provost John Weinstein.

"Marsha has been a huge gift with the weight and depth of her experience," Simon's Rock theater professor and director of the workshop Aimée Michel said. "She has been cheering them on and encouraging them to hold fast to their visions."

Performances run Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9 at the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon's Rock. Program A tickets can be reserved here for April 7 at 7:00 p.m. and April 8 at 3:00 p.m. Program B tickets can be reserved here for April 8 at 7:00 p.m. and April 9 at 3:00 p.m.

Tags: bard college, musical,

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Hannah Wicklund and Turning Jane Perform at Barrington Hall

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
03:22PM / Friday, November 06, 2026

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Hannah Wicklund and Turning Jane will take the stage at Barrington Hall on Saturday, bringing a night of rock 'n' roll, self-expression and empowerment as part of their independently produced tour, "Cowards, Kings & Queens of Hearts."

The duo is challenging traditional music industry practices by taking control of their careers, bringing live performances to smaller communities, and fostering human connection with the goal of inspiring creativity and individuality, Wicklund said.

Having toured since she was 16, the South Carolina native said most of her previous performances were concentrated in major markets.

Great Barrington was intentionally selected as a stop on the tour because it "fit perfectly" with the artists' efforts to bring their music to smaller communities, raise awareness of independent artists, and demonstrate alternatives to the traditional, corporate-driven music industry, she said.

The tour's name, "Cowards, Kings & Queens of Hearts," combines the titles of songs and albums from its two co-headlining acts: Wicklund's song "Cowards and Kings," from her album "War on Women, Calling All Good Men," and four-piece rock band Turning Jane's album "Queen of Hearts."

The two performers bring contrasting styles to the stage, with Turning Jane delivering a more traditional rock sound and Wicklund adding a psychedelic edge. These different rock styles add variety to the show while sharing a similar passion for music and a strong sense of artistic identity, Wicklund said.

"I'm wishing to create [an atmosphere that] is constantly inspirational, and hoping to have people walk away feeling like they want to go home and paint or write or learn guitar, any of the self-expression tools that I know and love," Wicklund said.

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