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medproish · 6 years

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There are a lot of concerns about the well-being of Marvel co-creator Stan Lee. From his condition during an appearance at Silicon Valley Comic Con this past weekend to a new report alleging elder abuse against Lee by those closest to him, fans and colleagues alike are growing more worried about the pop culture icon — including Kevin Smith, who took to Twitter today to offer Lee a place to live.

Smith, who in addition to being a filmmaker is himself a comic creator and writer as well as a well-known aficionado of the medium, posted on Twitter today that Lee could come live with him or even that fans would buy him a new place to live.

This is heartbreaking. We love you, @TheRealStanLee. You are always welcome to come live with me – or please let us fans buy you a new place to live. We miss you, sir. https://t.co/egR7Ijv2pi

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 10, 2018

“This is heartbreaking,” Smith wrote. “We love you, @TheRealStanLee. You are always welcome to come live with me — or please let us fans buy you a new place to live. We miss you, sir.”

Smith’s message comes in response to the report by The Hollywood Reporter today that Lee is a victim of elder abuse at the hands of those close to him. The report details a legal document from back in February that Lee’s attorney Tom Lallas drew up and that was signed by Lee that explains how his daughter, J.C. Lee, often disagrees with the handling of her trust and other financial matters as well as that there are three men with “bad intentions” influencing her.

“The declaration then explicates how three men with ‘bad intentions’ — Jerardo “Jerry” Olivarez, Keya Morgan, and J.C.’s attorney, Kirk Schenk — had improperly influenced his daughter, a woman with ‘very few adult friends,'” the article states. “The document claims the trio has ‘insinuated themselves into relationships with J.C. for an ulterior motive and purpose’: to take advantage of Lee and ‘gain control over my assets, property, and money.'”

The report goes on to outline a dark and disturbing account alleging that the three men along with J.C. have worked together to control Lee’s finances as well as who does and does not have access to the legendary creator of such iconic characters as the Fantastic Four. The report notes that the men deny the allegations.

These allegations are just the latest in an ongoing series of troubling events surrounding Lee in recent months. In January, TMZ reported that Lee had fallen victim to check fraud with $850,000 of his stolen money being used to purchase a condo in West Hollywood. Later that month, Lee was accused of sexual misconduct by in-home nurses.

In February, Lee was rushed to the hospital and later that month revealed that he had been battling pneumonia. That lead to an outpouring of concern for Lee, including from Smith who posted that he was very worried about his friend. Things appeared to potentially be taking a more positive turn when Lee confirmed in a video late last month that he would appear at Silicon Valley Comic Con but reports from the event have been troubling themselves with attendees taking to social media to express their concerns for Lee not being given proper care or breaks during the multi-day event.

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“That man is a legend and you shuffled him around like he was a bag of money!” one comment to the con’s Facebook page read.

As for Smith’s offer of a place to live for Lee, fans quickly began retweeting and commenting with many chiming in to offer their financial support in buying Lee a new home if needed. As one commenter said, it’s truly a sad situation.

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larryland · 7 years

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Williamstown Theatre Festival Engages the Berkshire Community

by Barbara Waldinger

Williamstown Theatre Festival, in its second season of COMMUNITY WORKS, has proven that is it no longer the distant “Theatre on the Hill,” but an active participant in the life of the Berkshires. With over eighty performers gathered during a year of community workshops with nine local partners, director Laura Savia and playwright Lucy Thurber have demonstrated their commitment to another all-inclusive experience with their new show : Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires.

(Click HERE to read Gail M. Burns’ interview with Laura Savia and Lucy Thurber.)

Savia, the Associate Artistic Director of Williamstown Theatre Festival, directs and runs workshops throughout New York City, assistant directed Broadway’s The Merchant of Venice, won an IAMA-Ovation Award, a Drama League Directing Fellowship, and is on the faculty of Fordham University, NYU/Strasberg Institute and The New School.

Thurber, hailing from Western Massachusetts, is a highly decorated playwright, having won first Gary Bonasorte Memorial Prize for Playwriting, a Lilly Award, a Manhattan Theatre Club playwriting fellowship, and a 2014 OBIE Award for her five-play cycle The Hill Town Plays. She has taught at Columbia University, NYU, Sarah Lawrence College and The New School. Her play Orpheus in the Berkshires had its World Premiere last year as WTF’s first COMMUNITY WORKS production, also directed by Savia.

Producer Mandy Greenfield, the Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival

Playwright Lucy Thurber

Director Laura Savia, the Associate Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival

Over the course of the year, Savia and Thurber travel from New York City to run workshops with WTF’s community partners, to which everyone is invited. After Thurber announces her subject, participants respond by writing, then reading their work aloud, after which Savia arranges for groups to act out the stories. Meanwhile Thurber takes notes, incorporating the ideas into her play, ensuring that what emerges onstage reflects community concerns and ideas. All participants are encouraged to perform in the finished product. (Anyone who would like to be on their email list should write to [email protected].

Working with scores of community members, many of whom have never acted before, alongside professional performers and a huge artistic team and production staff, Savia and Thurber have created something approaching miraculous. While both of Thurber’s community plays deal with problems facing Berkshire residents, Orpheus in the Berkshires, focusing on the opiod crisis and performed in a non-air conditioned old mill last year, was less cohesive (and significantly less comfortable) than her current production, which was mounted on WTF’s Main Stage. Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires is both poignant and relevant. The story opens with an upcoming funeral for a young man who served in the military (special forces) but never recovered after returning home. We are told: “No matter how hard we try we can’t get over the things we’ve seen.” What a brave beginning for a play with so many young children both on the stage and in the audience! There are two plots that eventually coalesce: the struggles of the mourning family, and the oft-told story of their mythical ancestors, which the young children implore the grandmother (Penny Bucky) to repeat.

In this play-within-a-play, it seems that once upon a time, Miriam (Katasha Acosta), the leader of the Water People–fluid shape-shifters who worship Mother Octopus and Father Whale, married John (Brendan Dalton), the leader of the Rangers, a solid, camouflage-clad marching army. John’s brother Scott (Keshav Moodliar), could not accept the blending of the two cultures, resulting in each losing the identifying characteristics of their tribe–the Rangers become more fluid and don the blue streamers of the Water People, while the latter become more solid and can no longer shift their shapes. While John celebrates these changes as necessary and inevitable evolution, Scott feels threatened by them, believing that the Rangers are disappearing to the point where their children will not remember who they are—leading to a lovely and meaningful song questioning time and change, the fear of moving forward, the need to hold onto what we know and the obligation to adapt. Each of the children, cuddled on a staircase listening to the story, asks the grandmother: “Do we adapt?”

Meanwhile, the family, preparing for the funeral, begin to squabble. Sue (Alexandra Templer), cousin of the young man who died, has gone off to live in the city, leaving her family behind to deal with the problems of rural life: things don’t improve for future generations, jobs disappear, everything they strive for moves farther away and no one helps in their struggles. Her relatives try to convince Sue, who has found happiness and success in the city (though she won’t talk to her family about her boyfriend because—heavens, he’s a liberal Democrat!!), to return home to help out.

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How to solve these two situations—the issues between the Water People and Rangers, and Sue’s problem with the demands of her family? Clearly, what is required are the Banshees: dressed in earth colors, swinging multi-colored lights and dancing to the music of drums, the Banshees live inside every one of us, representing all the “hope and horror hiding in our throats”—they assure us that we are not alone. With their aid, the inner feelings of the characters are expressed aloud and their love, buried under fear and anger, comes shining through. The audience joins the cast in the title song, composed by Heather Christian, lyrics by Lucy Thurber, included in the programs.

The design team is top-notch, including the amazingly creative costume design (by Anna Blazer) for each of the different and distinctive groups (Miriam’s billowing water dress is exceptional); exciting and colorful lighting (Aaron Tacy, designer); a terrific band under the direction of Jack Mitchell; various styles of choreography, including hip-hop, by the talented Jenn Rapp, a simple, effective scenic design by Lawrence E. Moten, III that allows for quick changes and smooth transitions; all helped by actors like Templer, Acosta, Moodliar, and Dalton, who bring their professionalism to this worthy effort.

But the most moving element of this production is the diversity of the cast—senior actors paired with children, performers of every race and type, including Banshees in wheelchairs escorted onstage by assistants, and a message of inclusion that teaches us what can be possible in our fractured world.

Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires runs from August 13-16 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Main Stage. For tickets call 413-458-3253 or online at wtfestival.org.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires. Director: Laura Savia; Composer: Heather Christian; Choreographer: Jenn Rapp; Music Director: Jack Mitchell; Scene Designer: Lawrence E. Moten III; Costume Designer: Anna Blazer; Lighting Designer: Aaron Tacy; Production Stage Manager: Brendan O’Hara. Running Time: one hour fifteen minutes, no intermission; at Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Main Stage, ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance, 1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA., from August 13, closing August 16, 2017.

CAST

Grandmother: Penny Bucky – North Adams, MA

Sue: Alexandra Templer – Atlanta, GA

Jim: Andy Hogeland – Williamstown, MA

Tom: Hiram Delgado – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Carol: Judy Sellman – Jacksonville, VT

Auntie Gene: Shirley Edgerton – Pittsfield, MA

Uncle Nick: Bill Sellman – Jacksonville, VT

Abby: Amanda Lyn Jungquist – East Tawas, MI

GRANDCHILDREN:

Sean Colletta – Pittsfield, MA

Ari Kraiman – Philadelphia, PA

Devon Lennon – Lanesboro, MA

London Martin – Pittsfield, MA

Crystal Moore – Pittsfield, MA

Abdul Peoples – Pittsfield, MA

Cloey Parlapiano – Pittsfield, MA

Ethan Shaw – Pittsfield, MA

Nick Trapiani – Pittsfield, MA

Naomi Tayi – Pittsfield, MA

Job Vengali – Pittsfield, MA

Grace Wallis – San Marino, CA

WATER PEOPLE:

Miriam: Katasha Acosta – Gainesville, FL by way of Havana, Cuba

Pastor: Ryan Haddad – Parma, Ohio

Tameka Bennett – Mobile, AL

Jetta Berthiaume – Pittsfield, MA

Zachery Berthiaume – Pittsfield, MA

Aileen Bliss – Stockbridge, MA

Chloe Boehm – Pittsfield, MA

Gael K. Bryant – Williamstown, MA

Jennifer Daley – Pittsfield, MA

Lyndsay deManbey – Sandisfield, MA

Joan Diver – Williamstown, MA

Maura Dubuque – East Greenbush, NY

Carolyn Fabricant – North Adams, MA

Isaac Gotterer – Lenox, MA

Emma-Margaret Gregory – North Adams, MA

Krishan Gutschow Rai – Williamstown, MA

Tashi Gutschow Rai – Williamstown, MA

Chris Hall – North Adams, MA

LouAnn Hazelwood – Leeds, MA

Piper Jacobs – North Adams, MA

Tess Johnstadt – Williamstown, MA

Kameron Knott – Katy, TX

Kate Lauzon – Pittsfield, MA

Michael Lively – North Adams, MA

Carter Marks – Lee, MA

Bella Maisonneuve – Pittsfield, MA

Karen McNulty – Pittsfield, MA

Meghan Mongeon – North Adams, MA

Eva Moser – North Adams, MA

Michael Ortiz – Stamford, FL

Maggie Seckler – New York, NY

Courtney Pontier – North Adams, MA

Keya Robertson – Pittsfield, MA

Ed Sedarbaum – Williamstown, MA

Ginger Sumner – Pittsfield, MA

Sam Tucker-Smith – Williamstown, MA

Regina Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Serafina Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Xavi Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Sonal Vyas – Williamstown, MA

Arya Vyas – Williamstown, MA

Stella Waynick – Williamstown, MA

Linda White – Williamstown, MA

Maxine Wisbaum – Pittsfield, MA

RANGERS:

Scott: Keshav Moodliar – New Delhi, India

John: Brendan Dalton – Upper Darby, PA

Ranger Dad: Christopher ‘BIGZDAKING’ Barton – North Adams, MA

Hook: Xaida Brazeean – Chesire, MA

Steel: Michael Obasohan – North Adams, MA

Dead Drop: Danny Trotter – North Adams, MA

Julian Abelskamp – Santa Cruz, CA

Marion Cimini – Pittsfield, MA

Lottie Dustin – Williamstown, MA

Wendy Jones-Gregory – Williamstown, MA

Jeff Kosharek – Rochester, NY

Marilyn Larkin – Pittsfield, MA

Barbara Mahony – Pittsfield, MA

Yamalia Marks – Malibu, CA

Bradford Rosenbloom – Pittsfield, MA

William Valles – Barrington, RI

BANSHEES:

Lead Banshee: Jessy Yates – Broadview Heights, Ohio

Drums: Otha Day – North Adams, MA

Cindy Keiderling – Lee, MA

Fatima Anaza – Houston, TX

Mary Ellen Cangelosi – Williamstown, MA

Phil Case – Westfield, MA

John Chapdelaine – Westfield, MA

Natalie Celebi – Bath, ME

Mary Deyo – Westfield, MA

Karel Fisher – Richmond, MA

Karel Fisher – New Rochelle, NY

Carolyn Kettig – New York, NY

Donna Leaf – West Springfield, MA

Shira Lynn – Williamstown, MA

Chrissy Margevicius – Cleveland, OH

Doris McNabb – Williamstown, MA

Carol Neuhaus – Housatonic, MA

Angel Rathbaum – Lee, MA

Phyllis Riley – Williamstown, MA

Kathleen Ryan – Housatonic, MA

Leslie Scarlett – Lenox, MA

Rachel Skalka – Woodbridge, CT

Shannon Spargo – East Berne, NY

Susan Taylor – Pittsfield, MA

Reiko Yamada – Williamstown, MA/ Sapporo, Japan

BAND:

Vocals: Cali Cybulski – Pittsfield, MA

Saxophone/Guitar: Zev Jarrett – Richmond, MA

Vocals: Grace Ida Marks – Lee, MA

Guitar: Dan O’Connell – North Adams, MA

Guitar: Vladimir Zeleny – Pittsfield, MA

Bass: Tyler Shaw – Adams, MA

Drums: David Ball – Stephenville, TX

dysFUNKcrew:

Becky Ahamad – Chesire, MA

Jamal Ahamad – Chesire, MA

Ashton Darrett – North Adams, MA

Michael Obasohan – North Adams, MA

REVIEW: “Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires” in Williamstown Williamstown Theatre Festival Engages the Berkshire Community by Barbara Waldinger Williamstown Theatre Festival, in its second season of COMMUNITY WORKS, has proven that is it no longer the distant “Theatre on the Hill,” but an active participant in the life of the Berkshires.

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hoopsjunkie · 7 years

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USJN’s Gateway Challenge

ST. LOUIS, Mo.– USJN’s 9th Annual Gateway Challenge hosted its largest field to date this past weekend when more than 120 teams made their way to St. Louis. While Division I coaches were unable to attend, there were over 40 college coaches from all other levels as well as national scouting services evaluating talented student-athletes from across the Midwest. Lindenwood University provided a great venue for players, coaches, and spectators.

For a list of all the participating teams, pool All Stars, college programs in attendance and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page:

http://usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=358

Here’s a quick recap of some of the impressive performers from Sunday’s championship action.

Kierra Collier – 2017 – 5-6 – Point Guard – (Prairie Village, Kan. – Kansas Eclipse 17 Red) – The Eclipse had a lot of players step up this weekend. One of their key playmakers was Kierra Collier. Their skilled, smooth left handed point guard did a great job running the offense and scoring at will. She was very effective in the transition game while her length and athleticism created problems for opponents defensively. She had multiple deflections and steals that led to layups. Her ability to make plays on both ends of the floor and commitment to defense was refreshing.

Holly Forbes – 2017 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – (Bonne Terre, Mo. – Missouri Magic Basketball Academy) – The Magic Basketball Academy got quite the offensive performance from Holly Forbes. A versatile guard/forward, Forbes was aggressive and able to get to the basket whenever she wanted. She has great body control that leads to consistent finishes around the basket. Forbes has a high basketball IQ which combines with size and strength to post up smaller defenders and take slower opponents off the dribble. It is clear that she wants to score, but she is also a great passer. The defense started adjusting to her drives and she made several great reads that led to open shots or layups for her teammates.

Mary Lakes – 2017 – 6-5 – Forward/Center – (Peoria, Ill. – Illionois J.E.M.S. 17 Jewels) – One of the taller posts in the tournament, Mary Lakes used her size to an advantage. Lakes did a great job on the defensive end. If she wasn’t blocking shots, she was getting the rebound. Offensively, she has good hands and finishes well around the basket. She continues to develop her skill set providing her the ability to shoot mid-range jumpers or even go off the dribble a little bit. Already displaying a variety of post moves, Lakes will be one to watch as she continues to develop.

Jailynn Lawson – 2017 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – (Peoria, Ill. – Illinois J.E.M.S. 17 Jewels) – Skilled and athletic point guard Jailynn Lawson did a great job running the show and getting to the rim. She was lethal in transition and made tough finishes look remarkably easy. Offensively, she is very well rounded. Not only can she attack the basket, but she can shoot the three or create options for others. Lawson has a great understanding of putting her teammates in position to score (nice post passes). Defensively, she was solid as well with a couple steals leading to transition layups.

Myriama Smith Traore – 2017 – 6-2 – Forward/Center – (Whitewater, Wisc. – Wisconsin Lakers 17 White) – Myriama Smith Traore is known for being solid on the defensive end and deservedly so. She defends, rebounds well and is able to protect the rim. Smith Traore was also instrumental in their transition game. Her ability to rebound and outlet the ball quickly to teammates created more than 10 points in layups in one of their games. She continues to expand her game on the offensive end where she consistently knocks down mid-range jumpers and is also able to hit threes.

Kelsey Winfrey – 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – (Lebanon, Mo. – Missouri Della Lamb 17 Gauntlet National) – Scrappy and hard nosed are good descriptors for Kelsey Winfrey’s game. She is skilled, can shoot the three, and score around the basket. However, it was her hustle plays that made it seem like she was everywhere. She came away with every loose ball, corralled several offensive rebounds, and was getting after it consistently on the defensive end.

Jenasea Bishop – 2018 – 5’7 – Guard – (Hammond, Ind. – Indiana Baylor Basketball 16 Navy) – Athletic and explosive, Jenasea Bishop is fun to watch. She has great handles, solid skill sets, and is able to consistently attack the basket. Bishop uses her repertoire to get to the rim. She can call on either a nice hesitation or crossover, using them both confidently to score.

Catie Eck – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – (Springfield, Ill. – Illinois Predators 16 Lowis) – Catie Eck is a big guard that played well this weekend. She has a solid skill set and showed that she can score in a variety of ways. Eck is able to knock down threes, hit pull up jumpers, and attack the basket, while getting to the free throw line. She made good decisions in transition and showed a good change of direction with her crossover.

Kate Martin – 2018 – 6-1 – Guard – (Glen Carbon, Ill. – Missouri Blue Star St. Louis 16 Lovette) – Another player that showed great versatility was Kate Martin. Not only is she a great shooter with great footwork, but Martin continued to show that she can attack off the dribble and finish at the rim. She is also a big guard that plays hard defensively. Marting causes steals in the press and rebounds the ball well.

Myriah Noodel-Haywood – 2018 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Belleville, Illinois – Missouri Team St. Louis 17 Red) – One to keep an eye on is Myriah Noodel-Haywood. She is an athletic wing that is silky smooth when attacking the basket. She has a nice skill set and is able to finish with either hand. With her great handles, size, and athleticism, she is able to get to the rim and find results.

Keya Patton – 2018 – 5-8 – Point Guard/Guard – (Indianapolis, Ind. – Indiana Team Pride 17 Gorman) – Keya Patton was one of the more complete offensive players on hand. She is a skilled scoring point guard that has a quick trigger and can produce from anywhere on the court. She hit a couple of threes, got to the rim, and spent a lot of time at the free throw line. With her scorer’s mentality and aggressiveness, she is tough to stop.

KK Rodriguez – 2018 – 5-8 – PG/G – (St. Louis, Mo. – Missouri Team St. Louis 17 Red) – Team St. Louis 17 Red got a lot of contributions from different players on their roster, but KK Rodriguez’s performance was spectacular. An aggressive, skilled point guard, she has a good shooting stroke as well as great handles and court vision. Her change of speed created numerous opportunities for her to get to the rim, hit the mid-range jumpers, or exploit open looks for teammates. Rodriguez uses her athleticism well on both ends allowing her to make aggressive plays defensively.

Aijha Blackwell – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – (St. Louis, Mo. – Missouri Team St. Louis 17 Red) – Aijha Blackwell is another versatile player that had a great showing this weekend. Blackwell has nice length and athleticism. In one situation she made an incredible catch in transition for an And 1 finish. She can attack the defense in a variety of ways and create opportunities for her teammates. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

Precious Browning – 2019 – 5’7 – Point Guard – (Gary, Ind. – Indiana Baylor Basketball 15 White) – Baylor Basketball got great production from Precious Browning. Their athletic floor general sets the tone. She has good court vision, can penetrate and pitch, as well as make a perfect pass on the pick and roll. Browning is able to take care of the ball against pressure as she uses her great handles (behind the back, crossover, in and out) to create space and opportunities for others.

Taiyanna Jackson – 2019 – 6-5 – Forward/Center – (East Chicago, Ind. – Indiana Baylor Basketball 16 Navy) – If you haven’t seen Baylor Basketball’s Taiyanna Jackson…you should! Jackson is an athletic post that will score around the basket in a variety of ways. She can run the floor hard for transition layups, score on lobs or post moves, and is solid at finishing putbacks. Jackson also shows the ability to go off the dribble at times. As demonstrated by a nice quick start layup from the short corner. Defensively, she is long, mobile, blocks shots and rebounds the ball.

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/usjn-gateway-challenge/

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femalerappers · 5 years

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#keya smith

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larryland · 7 years

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For the second year in a row Williamstown Theatre Festival Associate Artistic Director Laura Savia and playwright Lucy Thurber are collaborating on a great big world premiere Community Works production. This year the title is Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires and there will be four free performance August 13-16 on the Main Stage in the ‘62 Center. Last year more than 80 local residents took part, this year the number has topped one hundred.

Director Laura Savia, the Associate Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival

Playwright Lucy Thurber

Producer Mandy Greenfield, the Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival

“People love a spectacle, and this show has equal amounts of fun and theatricality to provide awesome moments of joy for the audience,” Savia said. “Not only is it family friendly, but it is about the children of the Berkshires. Lucy has done a great job honoring the families of the Berkshires creating wonderful ‘meat and potatoes’ theatre scenes to fit between all the music and magic.”

In Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires, three kids ask their grandmother to tell them about a time long ago. She speaks of a world made of water, of star-crossed lovers, and of banshees. The stories come to life — warriors and magical creatures flood the stage as the tales unfold with original music and floor-pounding dance – asking the question what it really means to be a hero.

A successful playwright for more than twenty years – her 2014 play cycle The Hill Town Plays won an Obie Award – Thurber just loves the process and product of creating Community Works with Savia. “Honestly, last year’s community production of Orpheus in the Berkshires is the thing I am the most proud of in my career as a writer so far.”

Community Works has replaced the WTF’s Free Theatre productions which used to feature Equity and non-Equity actors in family-friendly outdoor shows. Both last year and this Savia and Thurber have staged their productions indoors – last year at the Greylock Works space (the former Cariddi Mill on Rt. 2 in North Adams), and now on the MainStage.

“We want people to come early, hang out on the lawn, and eat some Jack’s hot dogs!” Thurber enthused, referring to North Adams’ iconic Eagle Street vendor. “There will be music by different artists before each performance, including Kids for Harmony from Pittsfield.” Admission is free but reservations required.

Thurber and Savia came up to Berkshire County for workshops with various partner organizations throughout the year “We came up for a week every other month, for a total of 5 or six weeks. Thomas Sadoski, who appeared in Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow, and other guest artists often came with us,” Savia explained.

“I learned how to share a brain with Laura so that we can give our cast the best, most professional theatrical experience together,” Thurber said. “We have learned to move quickly as a unit. I am the playwright, Laura is the director, and WTF Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield is the producer, but we have to be able to cover each other’s positions at a moment’s notice.”

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Interviewed about ten days before the opening, Thurber was pleased that the production was further along than she and Savia had hoped, and spoke enthusiastically of their collaborative process. “We can see the work we still have to do but with a community production rewriting takes on a different aspect than it does professionally,” she explained. “In the sections I’m not sure of, I trust that Laura will find ways to stage them without losing the focus of the play. My lines may be overwritten, or not, but she will intuit where that section is, where I am intentional and where I have left things loose for her to interpret. We are on the same page with the why and the what of this production.”

“We are well-aligned in our vision,” Savia agreed.

“Last year we learned that miracles were possible and that you can still tell a wonderful and elegant story with a large cast of people of all ages and walks of life,” Savia said. “This kind of spectacle wouldn’t be possible with a small cast.”

To engage people Savia and Thurber have collaborated with about seven different community organizations including the new Berkshire County ARC which works with people with Down Syndrome and traumatic brain injury. Transportation has been provided by the Pittsfield Public Schools, removing a significant barrier to participation for many

“I learned how much we can trust our partner organizations,” Thurber confessed. “There are many people involved last year who have returned to work with us again, which has allowed me to craft a more mature play. The group is getting to know how Laura and I work and how they work individually and corporately. The tenets of professional theatre apply to newcomers as well as more experienced participants.”

“Our lead partner is Berkshire Community College and Megan Whilden, the Executive Director of the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (OLLI) based there, Savia explained. “I call Megan the Fairy Godmother of Community Work. As a result of her many successful years running the Pittsfield Cultural Development Office, and now working at OLLI, she knows everyone! Workshops both with both BCC and OLLI students have created a really helpful dialogue between the generations.”

“Being in the mill space last year was magical, but it was really important to all of us to institutionalize Community Works and have the production in the ’62 Center this year,” Thurber explained. “It is a significant part of the Festival and Mandy wanted it on the MainStage. We have a full design team and luckily the set for Legendary Romance (running on the MainStage through August 20) is very open so our set fits right in. We are really excited and trilled to make this as big a part of the WTF season as possible.”

“And because we are rehearsing on campus and at the Williams Inn, our other artists are stopping by rehearsals, connecting with our cast, who in turn go to see their new friends in our productions,” Savia said. “It’s a real cross-pollination.”

“We want to move Community Works forward in the coming years,” Thurber said. “We want to offer more opportunities to cross-pollinate and become more and more a part of the WTF – just as important a part as any MainStage show.”

The Williamstown Theatre Festival Community Works presents Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires by Lucy Thurber directed by Laura Savia with a cast of more than 100 local folks!

August 13, 14 & 16 at 7 pm August 15 at 2 pm

On the MainStage of the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance 1000 Main Street Williamstown, MA 01267

http://wtfestival.org/

Admission is FREE but reservations are required.

COMMUNITY WORKS is supported in part by Greylock Federal Credit Union, The Feigenbaum Foundation, and grants from the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire and the Pittsfield Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

CAST

Grandmother: Penny Bucky – North Adams, MA

Sue: Alexandra Templer – Atlanta, GA

Jim: Andy Hogeland – Williamstown, MA

Tom: Hiram Delgado – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Carol: Judy Sellman – Jacksonville, VT

Auntie Gene: Shirley Edgerton – Pittsfield, MA

Uncle Nick: Bill Sellman – Jacksonville, VT

Abby: Amanda Lyn Jungquist – East Tawas, MI

GRANDCHILDREN:

Sean Colletta – Pittsfield, MA

Ari Kraiman – Philadelphia, PA

Devon Lennon – Lanesboro, MA

London Martin – Pittsfield, MA

Crystal Moore – Pittsfield, MA

Abdul Peoples – Pittsfield, MA

Cloey Parlapiano – Pittsfield, MA

Ethan Shaw – Pittsfield, MA

Nick Trapiani – Pittsfield, MA

Naomi Tayi – Pittsfield, MA

Job Vengali – Pittsfield, MA

Grace Wallis – San Marino, CA

WATER PEOPLE:

Miriam: Katasha Acosta – Gainesville, FL by way of Havana, Cuba

Pastor: Ryan Haddad – Parma, Ohio

Tameka Bennett – Mobile, AL

Jetta Berthiaume – Pittsfield, MA

Zachery Berthiaume – Pittsfield, MA

Aileen Bliss – Stockbridge, MA

Chloe Boehm – Pittsfield, MA

Gael K. Bryant – Williamstown, MA

Jennifer Daley – Pittsfield, MA

Lyndsay deManbey – Sandisfield, MA

Joan Diver – Williamstown, MA

Maura Dubuque – East Greenbush, NY

Carolyn Fabricant – North Adams, MA

Isaac Gotterer – Lenox, MA

Emma-Margaret Gregory – North Adams, MA

Krishan Gutschow Rai – Williamstown, MA

Tashi Gutschow Rai – Williamstown, MA

Chris Hall – North Adams, MA

LouAnn Hazelwood – Leeds, MA

Piper Jacobs – North Adams, MA

Tess Johnstadt – Williamstown, MA

Kameron Knott – Katy, TX

Kate Lauzon – Pittsfield, MA

Michael Lively – North Adams, MA

Carter Marks – Lee, MA

Bella Maisonneuve – Pittsfield, MA

Karen McNulty – Pittsfield, MA

Meghan Mongeon – North Adams, MA

Eva Moser – North Adams, MA

Michael Ortiz – Stamford, FL

Maggie Seckler – New York, NY

Courtney Pontier – North Adams, MA

Keya Robertson – Pittsfield, MA

Ed Sedarbaum – Williamstown, MA

Ginger Sumner – Pittsfield, MA

Sam Tucker-Smith – Williamstown, MA

Regina Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Serafina Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Xavi Velázquez – Williamstown, MA

Sonal Vyas – Williamstown, MA

Arya Vyas – Williamstown, MA

Stella Waynick – Williamstown, MA

Linda White – Williamstown, MA

Maxine Wisbaum – Pittsfield, MA

RANGERS:

Scott: Keshav Moodliar – New Delhi, India

John: Brendan Dalton – Upper Darby, PA

Ranger Dad: Christopher ‘BIGZDAKING’ Barton – North Adams, MA

Hook: Xaida Brazeean – Chesire, MA

Steel: Michael Obasohan – North Adams, MA

Dead Drop: Danny Trotter – North Adams, MA

Julian Abelskamp – Santa Cruz, CA

Marion Cimini – Pittsfield, MA

Lottie Dustin – Williamstown, MA

Wendy Jones-Gregory – Williamstown, MA

Jeff Kosharek – Rochester, NY

Marilyn Larkin – Pittsfield, MA

Barbara Mahony – Pittsfield, MA

Yamalia Marks – Malibu, CA

Bradford Rosenbloom – Pittsfield, MA

William Valles – Barrington, RI

BANSHEES:

Lead Banshee: Jessy Yates – Broadview Heights, Ohio

Drums: Otha Day – North Adams, MA

Cindy Keiderling – Lee, MA

Fatima Anaza – Houston, TX

Mary Ellen Cangelosi – Williamstown, MA

Phil Case – Westfield, MA

John Chapdelaine – Westfield, MA

Natalie Celebi – Bath, ME

Mary Deyo �� Westfield, MA

Karel Fisher – Richmond, MA

Karel Fisher – New Rochelle, NY

Carolyn Kettig – New York, NY

Donna Leaf – West Springfield, MA

Shira Lynn – Williamstown, MA

Chrissy Margevicius – Cleveland, OH

Doris McNabb – Williamstown, MA

Carol Neuhaus – Housatonic, MA

Angel Rathbaum – Lee, MA

Phyllis Riley – Williamstown, MA

Kathleen Ryan – Housatonic, MA

Leslie Scarlett – Lenox, MA

Rachel Skalka – Woodbridge, CT

Shannon Spargo – East Berne, NY

Susan Taylor – Pittsfield, MA

Reiko Yamada – Williamstown, MA/ Sapporo, Japan

BAND:

Vocals: Cali Cybulski – Pittsfield, MA

Saxophone/Guitar: Zev Jarrett – Richmond, MA

Vocals: Grace Ida Marks – Lee, MA

Guitar: Dan O’Connell – North Adams, MA

Guitar: Vladimir Zeleny – Pittsfield, MA

Bass: Tyler Shaw – Adams, MA

Drums: David Ball – Stephenville, TX

dysFUNKcrew:

Becky Ahamad – Chesire, MA

Jamal Ahamad – Chesire, MA

Ashton Darrett – North Adams, MA

Michael Obasohan – North Adams, MA

More Than 100 Berkshire Residents Appear in “Once Upon a Time in the Berkshires” For the second year in a row Williamstown Theatre Festival Associate Artistic Director Laura Savia and playwright…

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