#Zoë Laiz

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by Jenny Hansell

A wooded glade lined with white pine trees in the Berkshires is a perfect stand-in for the Forest of Arden, the setting for As You Like It, the tale of palace intrigue, battling brothers, pastoral comedy and young love now at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox.

Duke Frederick has banished his brother, Duke Senior, from court, but allowed Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind to stay as companion to his own daughter, Celia.  Young Orlando has been forced into poverty by his brother Oliver, who is withholding the fortune Orlando inherited from their father. As the play gets underway, Duke Frederick has a change of heart and sends Rosalind away, accusing her of being a traitor like her father. She and Celia decide to disguise themselves and go to the Forest of Arden, but not before she has fallen in love with Orlando after watching him in a wrestling match.  Later, in the forest, disguised as Ganymede, a young page, she tests Orlando’s love for his fair Rosalind.

The director, Allyn Burrows, has set the play in the Roaring ‘20s, and the young women wear drop-waist dresses and cloche hats designed by Govane Lohbauer. The cast is filled with S&Co regulars and a few first-timers, all of whom handle the language and the slapstick comedy with equal ease.

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As Rosalind, Aimee Doherty sparkles brightly, her singing voice as strong as her acting.  Her loyal bestie, Celia, is played with understated wit by Zoë Laiz, who is also weird and hilarious as Adam, Orlando’s pal, who is variously dragged around in a wheelbarrow or carried like a scarecrow.  Ella Loudon shines in the dual roles of LaBelle, who she plays like a gangly French-accented schoolgirl, and Phoebe, the disdainful object of Silvius’s desperate affection. The latter two are played as backwoods hicks in overalls, caught up in a love triangle (quadrangle really) with Ganymede and Orlando, played with passion and wide-eyed innocence by Deaon Giffin-Pressley. As Silvius, Gregory Boover ably accompanies the plentiful songs on guitar.

Touchstone, the fool, is here female, and her lover is now Aubrey instead of Audrey. As played by MaConnia Chesser and Thomas Brazzle (who is also the dastardly Oliver), they are as lusty and bursting with earthy puns, commenting on the love travails of the others.

The play touches lightly on its themes of love (love at first sight, love between brothers and sisters, lusty love) and the benefits of nature over the artificial constraints of life at court (especially appropriate for a production set in our beautiful Berkshires). But mostly it’s just a romp, with happy endings all around.

As You Like It by William Shakespeare, directed by Allyn Burrows, runs from August 9-September 2, 2018 outdoors in the Roman Garden Theatre at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. Assistant Director: Lydia Barnett-Mulligan. Set Designer: Jim Youngerman. Costume Designer: Govane Lohbauer. Sound Designer And Original Music: Arshan Gailus. Stage Manager: Diane Healy. Vocal Coach: Ariel Bock. Movement Coach: Karen Beaumont. Choreographer: Susan Dibble. CAST: Gregory Boover as Silvius; Thomas Brazzle as Oliver/Aubrey; MaConnia Chesser as Touchstone; Aimee Doherty as Rosalind; Nigel Gore as Duke Senior/Duke Frederick; Deaon Griffin-Pressley as Orlando; Zoë Laiz as Celia; Ella Loudon as Phoebe; Mark Zeisler as Charles/Jacques.

Tickets for As You Like It are available online at shakespeare.org or by calling Shakespeare & Company’s box office at (413) 637-3353. The Roman Garden Theatre is outdoors and wheelchair accessible. Shakespeare & Company is located at 70 Kemble St. in Lenox, Massachusetts.

REVIEW: “As You Like It” at Shakespeare & Company by Jenny Hansell A wooded glade lined with white pine trees in the Berkshires is a perfect stand-in for the Forest of Arden, the setting for As You Like It, the tale of palace intrigue, battling brothers, pastoral comedy and young love now at…

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Pittsfield, MA – At an SRO ceremony held on the stage of the St. Germain Theatre at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association presented the Berkshire Theatre Awards on the evening of Monday, November 6, 2017. This was the second year the awards have been presented to honor and celebrate the excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire region.

Critics J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin once again hosted the ceremony, which saw top honors for Best Play go to the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of David Auburn’s Lost Lake, and a tie between Barrington Stage Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and the Mac-Haydn Theatre’s production of Hello, Dolly! for Best Musical.

The Berkshire Theatre Group captured both of the Outstanding Direction awards, with Eric Hill winning for his production of Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, and James Barry for his direction of the musical Million Dollar Quartet.

Joel Ripka took home the award for Outstanding Solo Performance in Chester Theatre Company’s production of Duncan Macmillan’s Every Brilliant Thing, directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer. That production was also honored as Outstanding New Play of the season. The Oldcastle Theatre Company production of Shipwrecked!… directed by Eric Peterson, won for Oustanding Ensemble Performance for actors John Hadden, David Joseph, and Carla Woods.

The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater went to WAM Theatre and Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven for their innovative double philanthropic mission whereby they donate a portion of the box office proceeds of every major production to a non-profit organization that benefits women and girls. Since its founding in 2010, WAM Theatre has donated more than $41,500 to thirteen nonprofit organizations.

In addition to the awards, Charles Guiliano and Gail M. Burns gave a special tribute to the Berkshire Theatre Association founder, the late Larry Murray, who passed away in March of this year. Kristen van Ginhoven presented a monologue entitled The Last Activist Standing.  

2017 Berkshire Theatre Awards (winners appear in Boldface) 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Nominees: Jessica Hecht – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Ella Loudon – The Tempest – Shakespeare & Co; Medina Senghore – Intimate Apparel – Shakespeare & Co; Zoë Laiz – 4000 Miles – Shakespeare & Co.

Jessica Hecht in a scene from the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s production of “The Clean House” by Sarah Ruhl. Photo by Daniel Rader.

Jessica Hecht

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Nominees: Joey Collins – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Mark H. Dold – This – Barrington Stage Company; Carson Elrod – Taking Steps – Barrington Stage Company; Rocco Sisto – The Birds – Barrington Stage Company

Joey Collins (left) and David Adkins both took home awards for their performances in Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo at the Berkshire Theatre Group. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Riccardo Hernandez – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Randall Parsons – Arsenic and Old Lace – Berkshire Theatre Group; Brian Prather – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Kristen Robinson – Company – Barrington Stage Company

Brian Prather’s award-winning set for Barrington Stage Company’s production of Ragtime can be seen in all its glory in this scene featuring Frances Evans & J. Anthony Crane. Photo by  Daniel Rader.

Outstanding Choreography: Nominees: Jeffrey Page – Company – Barrington Stage Company; Freddy Ramirez – Mamma Mia – Capital Rep; Sebastiani Romagnolo – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Shea Sullivan – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

The Waiters’ Gallop exemplifies Sebastiani Romagnolo’s award-winning choreography for Hello, Dolly! at the Mac-Haydn Theatre.

Outstanding Direction of a Muscial: Nominees: James Barry – Million Dollar Quartet – Berkshire Theatre Group; Joe Calaraco – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Trey Compton – Godspell 2012 – Theater Barn; John Saunders – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre

James Barry, director of Million Dollar Quartet” at the Berkshire Theatre Group.

The cast of Million Dollar Quartet. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Tyler Kinney – Cymbeline – Shakespeare & Co; Govane Lohbauer – Emilie… – WAM Theatre; Bethany Marx – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Sara Jean Tosetti – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

Bella Merlin sports one of Tyler Kinney’s award-winning costumes for Shakespeare & Company’s production of Cymbeline. Photo by Stratton McCrady

Outstanding Solo Performance: Nominees: Kyle Branzel – Buyer & Cellar – Weston Playhouse; Ed Dixon – Georgie – Barrington Stage Company; Joel Ripka – Every Brilliant Thing – Chester Theatre; Oliver Wadsworth – The Tarnation of Russell Colvin – Dorset Theatre Festival

Joel Ripka, winner of the Outstanding Solo Performer award, interacts with an audience member in the Chester Theatre Company production of “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan. Photo by Elizabeth Solaka.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Nominees: Ellen Harvey – Company – Barrington Stage Company; Rachel Rhodes-Devey – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Madison Stratton – Spamalot – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Zurin Villanueva – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

Ellen Harvey as Joanne in Barrington Stage Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” Photo by Daniel Rader.

Ellen Harvey

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Mike Baldassari – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Chris Lee – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; David Weiner – Where Storms Are Born – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Robert Wierzel – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival

David Weiner’s award-winning lighting illuminates Arnulfo Maldonado’s set for Where Storms Are Born at the  Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Nominees: Gabe Belyeu – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Gil Brady – Mamma Mia – Capital Rep; Roe Harftrampf – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Paul Urriola – Guys and Dolls – Theater Barn

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical winner Roe Harftrampf and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical nominee Lora Lee Gayer in A Legendary Romance at the  Williamstown Theatre Festival. Photo by Daniel Rader.

Outstanding Direction of a Play: Nominees: Eric Hill – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Kenny Leon – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Regge Life – God of Carnage – Shakespeare & Company; Rebecca Taichman – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival

Scott Killian, winner of the Berkie award for Outstanding Sound Design for his work on the Berkshire Theatre Group production of David Auburn’s “Lost Lake.”

Eric Hill, winner of Outstanding Direction of a Play for Edward Albee’s “At Home at the Zoo” at the Berkshire Theatre Group.

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Scott Killian – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Ryan Rumery – The Legend of Georgia McBride – Dorset Theatre Festival; Alex Sovronsky – The Last Wife – WAM Theatre; David Thomas – The Birds – Barrington Stage Company

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Nominee: Lora Lee Gayer – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Emily Kron – Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Elizabeth Stanley – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Monica M. Wemitt – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre

Emily Kron as Mrs. Lovett in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd.”

Emily Kron

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Nominees: Darnell Abraham – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Mark Hardy – Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Jeff McCarthy – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Aaron Tveit – Company – Barrington Stage Company

Darnell Abraham

Darnell Abraham and members of the cast of Barrington Stage Company’s production of “Ragtime.” Photo by Daniel Rader.

Outstanding New Play or Musical: Nominees: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan, Daniel Elihu Kramer, director – Chester Theatre, producer; I and You by Lauren Gunderson, Kristen Van Ginhoven, director – Chester Theatre, producer; A Legendary Romance by Timothy Prager and Geoff Morrow, Lonny Price, director – Williamstown Theatre Festival, producer; Where Storms are Born by Harrison David Rivers, Shaheem Ali, director – Williamstown Theatre Festival, producer

Joel Ripka interacting with audience members in the Chester Theatre Company production of Duncan Macmillan’s “Every Brilliant Thing,” directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer. Photo by Elizabeth Solaka.

Daniel Elihu Kramer, Artistic Director of the Chester Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Nominees: Lynnette R. Freeman – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Diane Prusha – Wharton Comedies – Shakespeare & Co; Lauren Ridloff – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Kim Stauffer – Emilie… – WAM Theatre

Lynnette R. Freeman, winner of the award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a play for her performance in David Auburn’s “Lost Lake” at the Berkshire Theatre Group

Lynnette R. Freeman and Quentin Maré in the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of David Auburn’s “Lost Lake.” Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Ensemble Performance: Nominees: Baskerville – Dorset Theatre Festival; God of Carnage – Shakespeare & Company; Shipwrecked!. . . – Oldcastle Theatre; Skeleton Crew – Chester Theatre

Carla Woods, John Hadden, and David Jospeh, winners of Outstanding Ensemble Cast for their performances in Donald Marguilies’ “Shipwrecked!…” directed by Eric Peterson at the Oldcastle Theatre Company. Photo by Erika Floriani.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Nominees: David Adkins – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Quentin Maré – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Nigel Gore – The Tempest – Shakespeare & Company; Oliver Wadsworth – Emilie… – WAM Theatre

The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater: Nominees: Julianne Boyd, Barrington Stage Company; Mandy Greenfield, Williamstown Theatre Festival; Kate Maguire, Berkshire Theatre Group; Kristen Van Ginhoven, WAM Theatre

Kristen van Ginhoven, co-founder and Artistic Director of WAM Theatre.

On November 5 WAM Theatre presented their thirteenth beneficiary, Soldier On Women’s Program, with $9,000 – a portion of the box office receipts from their production of “The Last Wife” by Kate Hennig. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Production of a Musical: TIE VOTE! Nominees: Company – Barrington Stage Company; Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Company; Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre

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Outstanding Production of a Play: Nominees: The Birds – Barrington Stage Company; Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group

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2017 Berkshire Theatre Award Winners Announced! Pittsfield, MA - At an SRO ceremony held on the stage of the St. Germain Theatre at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, the Board of the…

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(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company is pleased to announce casting for its upcoming summer performance season, under the direction of Artistic Director Allyn Burrows and Managing Director Adam Davis. The Company’s 40th Anniversary Season includes a roster of audience favorite artists, critics’ top pick actors and a multitude of newcomers joining the Company. The season opens Memorial Day Weekend with Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles.

The 2017 season includes three Shakespeare plays: Cymbeline, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream; plus two Edith Wharton comedies, Roman Fever and the newly adapted The Fullness of Life. Additional titles include the Obie Award winning 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog; New York Drama Critics Circle and the Outer Critics Circle Recipient, Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage; and Tony Award Winner, God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. In celebration of the Company’s 40th Season the summer program will also include a special August event series, Storytellers and Songwriters.  Each event will explore various characters through solo performances by Company artists, interwoven with live music and original compositions from extraordinary musicians and songwriters.

In Intimate Apparel Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage explores the strength of the human spirit through the story of Esther, an African American seamstress in Manhattan in 1905. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

Dennis Krausnick’s delightful adaptations of short stories by Edith Wharton close the season at the Garden Theatre. Old Favorite Roman Fever is joined by a new piece, The Fullness of Life. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

Amy Herzog’s 4,000 Miles opens the season at the Bernstein Theatre. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

The season ends with the Tony and Olivier Award-winning New York smash hit God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, the author of ART. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

Nigel Gore is Prospero as The Tempest opens the new outdoor Garden Theatre. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

Under Jonathan Croy’s direction, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed out of doors at The Dell at The Mount. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

Never before performed in full at Shakespeare & Company, Cymbeline will be directed by Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer. (Illustration Kevin Sprague.)

“We are entirely thrilled to have assembled this group of artists to fly this season of award winning playwrights and Shakespeare classics,” said Artistic Director Allyn Burrows. “With the stages reconfigured, musical artists added, and a new outdoor theatre to boot, we await your arrival for a true Berkshire theatre experience.”

A complete rundown of play titles, cast lists, press openings, and performance dates for each production is as follows:

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare Directed by Tina Packer Cast: Jason Asprey, Thomas Brazzle, Jonathan Epstein, Nigel Gore, Deaon Griffin-Pressley, Tamara Hickey, Ella Loudon, Josh Aaron McCabe, and Bella Merlin July 04 – August 6, 2017 Press Opening: Saturday July 8, 7:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

The Tempest by William Shakespeare Directed by Allyn Burrows Cast: Jason Asprey, Thomas Brazzle, Nigel Gore, Deaon Griffin-Pressley, Tamara Hickey, Ella Loudon, Josh Aaron McCabe, Bella Merlin, and Mark Zeisler August 10 – September 03, 2017 Press Opening: Sunday, August 13, 5:30pm in the Roman Garden Theatre

4000 Miles by Amy Herzog Directed by Nicole Ricciardi Cast: Gregory Boover, Emma Geer, Zoë Laiz, and Annette Miller May 25 – July 16, 2017 Press Opening: Sunday, May 28, 3:00pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Intimate Apparel  by Lynn Nottage Directed by Daniela Varon Cast: MaConnia Chesser, Lee Edward Colston II,  Nehassaiu deGannes, Christianna Nelson, Tommy Schrider, and Whitney White June 20 – August 13, 2017 Press Opening:  Saturday, July 22, 7:30pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Edith Wharton Comedies: Roman Fever and The Fullness of Life by Edith Wharton adapted by Dennis Krausnick Directed by Normi Noel Cast: David Joseph, Corinna May, and Diane Prusha August 17 – September 10, 2017 Press Opening: Sunday, August 20, 3:00pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Directed by Jonathan Croy Cast: David Bertoldi, Caroline Calkins, Tim Dowd, Lori Evans, Rory Hammond, Luke Haskell, Kate Kenney, Mairead Kohler, Caitlin Kraft, Madeleine Rose Maggio, Devante Owens, Thomas Randle, Thomas Reynolds, Leon Schwendener, and Dara Silverman July 11 – August 19, 2017 Press Opening: Thursday, July 13, 6pm performed at The Dell-Outdoors at the Mount

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza translated by Christopher Hampton Directed by Regge Life Cast: Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Allyn Burrows, Jonathan Croy, and Kristin Wold September 14 – October 8, 2017 Press Opening: Saturday, September 16, 7:30pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Storytellers and Songwriters Weekends August 11 – 26, 2017

Via Dolorosa by David Hare featuring Jonathan Epstein, Friday, August 11, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

T.S. Eliot and His Love of Shakespeare by Joan Ackermann featuring Allyn Burrows with musical guest Michi Wiancko Saturday, August 12, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

Door of No Return written and performed by Nehassaiu deGannes Friday, August 18, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

In Light of Jane by Joan Ackermann featuring Tod Randolph with musical guest Kris Delmhorst Saturday, August 19, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

Bad Dates by Theresa Rebeck featuring Elizabeth Aspenlieder with Vikki True Sunday, August 20, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

Women of Will written and performed by Tina Packer with special guest Nigel Gore Friday, August 25, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

Travels with a Masked Man written and performed by John Hadden with musical guest Bobby Sweet Saturday, August 26, 8:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse

To learn more about the season, book press seats, order tickets or request a season brochure, visit www.shakespeare.org.

About Shakespeare & Company Located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the country. Founded in 1978, the organization attracts over 30,000 patrons annually. The Company is also home to Shakespeare & Company’s internationally renowned Center for Actor Training and nationally renowned and an award-winning Education Program. More information is available at www.shakespeare.org.

Shakespeare & Company Announces Casting for 40th Summer Performance Season (Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company is pleased to announce casting for its upcoming summer performance season, under the direction of Artistic Director Allyn Burrows and Managing Director Adam Davis.