Season Preview 2022: Theater
Last year’s summer theater lineup was notable for the many productions held under the sun, moon, or tent, and we applaud those efforts. Barrington Stage Theater’s tent was impressive, and who didn’t love the sound effects produced by the spruce trees surrounding Shakespeare & Company’s New Spruce Theatre? But most productions have moved back inside, and we can’t wait to enjoy the world-class theater just like we did before — well, you know what. Here are but 10 of the productions awaiting their entrances.
1. Chester Theater Speaking of tents, this group last year moved from its Chester Town Hall residence to Hancock Shaker Village. It’s returning home this year and opening its season with "Pride@Prejudice", written and directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer, the company’s artistic director. This is a reimagining of the Jane Austen classic, filled with bloggers, chat rooms, Austen enthusiasts, and even Jane herself. Five versatile actors will play 30 characters. What a fun way to welcome audiences back home. June 23-July 3.
The venerable theater that always brings in marquee names has had a bit of a rocky year. Last summer theater workers’ grievances over work conditions became national news, and in November, executive director Mandy Greenfield resigned. Jenny Gersten, WTF’s artistic director from 2010 to 2014, is now serving as interim artistic director. For this summer, she is shortening the season of 7 to 10 plays to 3 as the company addresses a reduction in the size of its workforce. But, as usual, all of the plays on the lineup are intriguing.
Williamstown Theatre Festival
2. “Most Happy in Concert” is the season opener. Conceived and directed by the colossally creative Daniel Fish, it has 12 musicians, and 7 female-identifying and non-binary performers discovering anew Frank Loesser’s score for “The Most Happy Fella.” July 13-31.
3. Next up is “Man of God,” billed as a “killer new comedy thriller” by Anna Ouyang Moench. The plot involves four teenage girls on a trip to Bangkok who discover a camera hidden by their pastor in their hotel bathroom. Will they fight back? July 5-22.
You can always count on this company to bring us new works and reprise old favorites. We’re especially looking forward to two works new to our area.
4. You saw the movie — and maybe the production on Broadway — but now we get to enjoy “Once” on the grand stage of The Colonial Theatre. Based upon the motion picture, it tells the story of a guy who gave up on love and music, and the girl who inspired him to dream again. Gotta love a love story. July 1-16.
5. On the other hand, if horror is more your thing, you’ll want to get tickets to “Dracula,” based on Bram Stoker’s novel. After two-plus years of screen entertainment at home, an evening of thrilling terror on stage sounds creepily appealing. Aug. 11-27.
The Lenox company will stage some productions inside, but the two we’re really intrigued by happen to be at the outdoor stages.
6. We’ll take classic Shakespeare with a dose of comedy. “Much Ado About Nothing” will be mounted at The New Spruce Theatre. July 2-Aug. 14
7. In “A Walk in the Woods,” by Lee Blessing, two superpower arms negotiators — a Russian and an American —meet, and over many seasons and conversations, develop a friendship. We may have to suspend our disbelief a bit, but we’re up for it. At The Roman Garden Theatre. July 15-Sept. 4.
We can’t help but feel a little sad that this is BSC’s founder and artistic director Juliane Boyd’s last season; she’s retiring after 27 years and we have so much to thank her for. She’s leaving us with a typically fabulous season, a mix of classics (“Waiting for Godot”), several world premieres (serious and not-so), and, admittedly our favorite, a couple of musicals.
8. “Ain’t Misbehavin, The Fats Waller Musical Show’” promises an evening of Fats Waller’s songs from a vibrant time in American history and music. June 16-July 9.
9. For her own finale, Boyd will direct “A Little Night Music,” Stephen Sondheim’s winner of six Tony Awards. A tangle of love affairs leads to a weekend in the country and features the inimitable “Send in the Clowns.” Aug. 6-28.
Great Barrington Public Theater
Great Barrington Public Theater
10. This company stages original works and we want to see its whole season. But we’ll always beeline to anything by Berkshire playwright Mark St. Germain. His latest: “Public Speaking 101,” in which a neurotic amateur actress leads her community theater class of terrified adults to compete in their county’s First Annual Public Speaking Competition. As they say, hilarity ensues. July 14-24.
Please Support Rural Intelligence
We want to continue delivering the entertaining, informative and upbeat stories in the inimitable Rural Intelligence style, despite a pandemic. But we need your support to keep us going. Please consider making a donation; even a small amount helps secure our future. Support us now.
(If you prefer, mail a check to: 45 Pine Grove Ave., Suite 303, Kingston, NY 12401.)
Support Now