Amy Krzanik reports from Stockbridge. It’s oddly fitting that a 90th anniversary gala would be held on a 90-degree day, and yet it didn’t dampen the spirits of a sold-out crowd celebrating Berkshire Theatre Group’s birthday at its Stockbridge, Mass. campus. On Sunday, July 1, after cocktails, guests were treated to the opening night performance of Lee Kalcheim’s Coming Back Like a Song! inside the (fully air-conditioned) Fitzpatrick Main Stage. While not technically a musical, the play is jam-packed with full songs and snippets penned by its real-life composer characters: Irving Berlin (David Garrison), Harold Arlen (Philip Hoffman) and Jimmy Van Heusen (David Rasche). A sit-down dinner followed, and included a musical performance by the cast of BTG’s Tarzan, a short film tribute to the Theatre’s history, and a champagne toast. Happy birthday, Berkshire Theatre Group! [Above, playwright Lee Kalcheim and Julia Kalcheim. Photo by Katie Brumfield.]
Sondra Klein and Lenore Rubin; Laurie Cohen, Ellen Moskowitz and Adam Tucker.
Actors David Rasche and Chris Noth with Kate Maguire.
Mass. State Senator Adam Hinds and board president Ruth Blodgett; advisory board member Gene Dellea, Barbara Alibozek, advisory board member Roseann Sturgeon and Bill Sturgeon.
Jenn Smith, Katherine O’Neil, Brooks Sherman, Bonnie Hoskeer-Kirchner and board member Scott Kirchner; Guests enjoyed cocktails outside before the Main Stage performance.
Nancy Kalodner, Nancy Fitzpatrick, Saadia, board member Casey Rothstein Fitzpatrick and Naïma Paani.