Amy Krzanik reports from Lenox. Bright garnet gowns, crimson lips and fingertips, and deep scarlet dress ties were de rigueur at Shakespeare & Company on Saturday, July 1, as the non-profit theater celebrated its 40th or “ruby” anniversary. Party guests sipped Ruby Drop cocktails – a mixture of vodka, triple sec, lemonade, fresh raspberries and love – and munched hors d’oeuvres before settling in for a surprise-filled show in the Tina Packer Playhouse. Sweet Honey in the Rock serenaded the crowd, and Company actors performed pop-up (sometimes literally) soliloquies from some of the Bard’s best-loved plays. Actor David Joseph led a live auction to close the show, but it’s Shakespeare & Co., and the show is never really over here. As guests filed out of the theater, they came upon a man, a woman and a horse in the Rose Meadow below. It was artistic director Allyn Burrows, who performed a scene from Henry V, alongside Kat Whitney and horse Ali. As Burrows exited and horse and rider galloped away, a new scene from Romeo and Juliet took its place. Dinner, dancing and more pop-up performances rounded out the magical evening. Here’s to 40 more! [Above, Tina Packer and her son, actor Jason Asprey, flank Casey McShain.]
Margy and Lew Steinberg with trustee Claudia Perles; Reggie Life, director of God of Carnage, with Natalie Johnsonius Neubert, director of development, and artistic director Allyn Burrows.
Board chair Ken Werner and Rhea Werner of the advisory board with Janet Lee and Martha Rosen; actor Actor Josh McCabe and Yuki Cohen.
Actors David Adkins and Tommy Schrider; Mass. state senator Adam Hinds with Kristen van Ginhoven and Nick Webb.
Guests walk down the path to dinner in the tent; Kat Whitney plays the Queen of France atop Ali.
Cathy Monoxelos and Steve Bader; S&Co. actors and teachers Dara Silverman and Douglas Seldin flank Carol Seldin of the advisory board.
Mass. state representative Smitty Pignatelli and Nancy Kalodner; Burrows performs a monologue as attendees leave the Playhouse and head to dinner.
Party guests passed under saber arches along the winding path.