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Updated August 01, 2025 10:40PM

UPDATE: Jacob's Pillow Production Manager Dies in Accident on Grounds

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Updated on Aug. 2, 2025 at 11 am — The Berkshire District Attorney's Office reported that there are no criminal charges being brought to the accidental death of the Jacob's Pillow summer employee, 40-year-old Kathryn "Kat" Sirico o Rochester, N.Y.
 
After an investigation it was found that the events leading to Sirico's death were related to a work-place accident.
 
In the early afternoon of Friday Aug. 1, Sirico and a summer intern were moving platforms used for staging for a theater across the Jacob's Pillow property. The platforms were on a dolly. As the victim and intern began moving the dolly down a sloped area, they lost control of the dolly, and it began to roll. The Sirico attempted to regain control of the dolly; however, tripped and fell. The dolly ran over Sirico and the platforms fell from the dolly, landing on Sirico. Bystanders attempted life saving measures.
 
Becket Police responded to the scene at approximately 12:31 p.m. At approximately 12:35 p.m, the Town of Becket's Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office also responded to the scene.
 
The official cause of death will be announced by the Medical Examiner.

BECKET, Mass. — Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival on Friday night identified the person who died on the grounds earlier in the day as a member of its staff.

 
The venue reported that a "tragic accident" occurred outdoors Friday afternoon, resulting in the death of one of the company's production managers, Kat Sirico.
 
There were no other injuries.
 
"Kat was a Pillow alum and an essential and hugely devoted leader on our team," executive and artistic director Pamela Tatge said. "Their spirit, generosity, and dedication touched the lives of many. We are holding their family, friends, and colleagues in our hearts as we grieve together."
 
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office Friday afternoon confirmed that a fatality had occurred on the grounds but could not provide any more information, only noting that the incident was under investigation and that the public was not in danger.
 
The fatality had been reported at 12:32 p.m. and State Police responded to the scene. The festival's website posted that an  "unforseen accident" accident had occurred and that the day's performances had been canceled. A spokesperson told iBerkshires that "There is a critical incident under investigation. We are not able to say more at this time."
 
In its Friday night statement, Jacob's Pillow said investigations are underway by State Police, the state medical examiner and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
 
Jacob's Pillow also announced that all performances at the venue through Sunday, Aug. 3, have been canceled.
 
People holding tickets for the canceled performances will receive detailed updates from Jacob's Pillow by email. 
 
Updated with the identity of the victim on Friday at 10:45 p.m.

Tags: fatal,   jacobs pillow,   

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Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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