Literacy Network to host KidNet at the Norman Rockwell Museum

08:26AM / Sunday, April 14, 2024Print Story | Email Story

LEE, Mass. — Literacy Network (LitNet) will be holding a special event called KidNet for learners enrolled with its services and their families.

To be held at the Norman Rockwell Museum on Friday, April 19 from 10 am to 12 pm, during the regional public schools' April vacation, KidNet is a one-time event featuring children's songs by live musicians, multilingual story time with multiple readers, a literacy information session for parents, and a book giveaway. Readers will include Gloria Escobar (of Greylock Federal Credit Union) and Rachel Nicholson (Youth Librarian at Stockbridge Library), among others. Musicians will include Doug Mishkin (guitar and singing) and Otha Day, who will lead an interactive hand-drumming session.

"The event is about fun more than anything," said Executive Director Leigh Doherty. "It's an opportunity for LitNet learners, most of whom are immigrants new to the community, to meet and mingle along with their children. Even though it's informal in nature, KidNet is in keeping with LitNet's expanding mission of providing support that impacts not just the individual learner, but the whole family."

Since 1991, LitNet has offered free, individualized 1:1 tutoring to adults in Berkshire County. About 90 percent of enrolled learners are immigrants working on English language skills. In 2023, LitNet launched the First-Generation College Project, aimed at serving first-generation college hopefuls and their families in understanding and navigating the college application process. New in 2024, LitNet is in the planning phases of developing workforce-related programming, such as job application support, career advancement mentoring, and a professional certificate fair. LitNet currently serves 200 active learners in 1:1 tutoring, with 40 people on the waitlist.

"This is the longest our waitlist has ever been," said Doherty. "The need for free English language support in our community continues to grow, and LitNet continues to seek volunteer tutors to pair with eager learners."

KidNet is being offered in partnership with the Norman Rockwell Museum, which is offering free entry to its exhibits for LitNet learners, and the librarians of Stockbridge Library, who will be present to help families sign up for library cards.

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Great Barrington Public Theater Appoints Artistic Director

09:57AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington Public Theater announced that Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha will now join Jim Frangione at the helm as Artistic Director of Great Barrington Public Theater.

"We at Great Barrington Public Theater are thrilled that Judy Braha will assume the role of Artistic Director alongside myself. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to help advance the interests of the theater as we move into the next phase of growth as the region's premiere developmental theater," Founder & Artistic Director Jim Frangione said. "Judy brings a tremendous amount of experience and value to our company and has, in just a few short years, grown and greatly enhanced GB Public Theater's signature program, Berkshires Voices, where playwrights develop their work, leading to public readings and in some cases workshops and full productions. I look forward to working more closely with Judy to select the next generation of plays to be presented under the GB Public banner. It's a "Bear" of a job! But we feel great about the direction of our theater."

Judy Braha joined the GB Public artistic leadership team in 2023 as the Associate Artistic Director after 2 years directing for the company. She has since then been collaborating with Founder and Artistic Director Jim Frangione on the selection of new work for readings and full productions in the summer season. Her impressive portfolio of credits and accomplishments strengthened Great Barrington Public's creative programming and offered new perspectives to the body of works and events produced each year.

Judy Braha has been a career director, actor, teacher and artist for social justice for over four decades with directorial credits in theaters and universities throughout New England. She led the M.F.A. Directing Program at Boston University's School of Theater, retiring in 2022 after 29 years of service at BU.

"Judy has the strength of commitment, leadership and passion for theater and how it affects communities that fit hand-in-glove with our founding mission and core beliefs," Founder and Producing Director Deann Halper Simmons explains. "Her artistic integrity, sense of stage esthetic and ability to make important choices that craft life from the script continues to be a great asset to our company and growth."

"Judy's distinguished artistic voice has significantly contributed to the exceptional growth of GB Public in recent years," Managing Director Serena Johnson added. "We are truly excited to have her stepping into this leadership role in the 2026 season."

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