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Williamstown Theatre Festival
The Main Stage is just part of the action. For the ten weeks of the summer season, there are many other productions going on simultaneously at the Other Stage, Museum Pieces at the Williams College Museum of Art, musical cabaret at the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute and the Free Theatre. There is also a program for disadvantaged youngsters in North Adams called the Greylock Theatre Project. In addition to their ambitious schedule of performances, WTF offer staff and internship opportunities, apprentice programs and programs for non-equity actors.
www.wtfestival.org
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The WTF began life as the Williamstown Summer Theatre (the latter a revered institution at the esteemed old college nestled in the beautiful Berkshires). The first WTF season, in 1955, was performed at the Adams Memorial Theatre at Williams College and was marked by immediate success, playing nightly to packed houses. Since then, it has met with non-stop critical acclaim. Rex Reed described one productions as "The most electrifying theatrical event of the summer." The Boston Globe raved, "Miracles every summer since 1955," while Newsweek called it "the best of all American summer theatres" and People magazine rhapsodized that "The showbiz capital of the US may, for once, be on neither coast. The Williamstown Theatre Festival could boast the most powerful concentration of acting talent any place this summer." Included among the well-known actors who have appeared are Christopher Reeve, Richard Thomas, Michael York, Linda Purl, Suzanne Pleshette, Blythe Danner, Dick Cavett, Elaine May and many others. Pulitzer wining playwright William Gibson lives in nearby Stockbridge and has seen a number of his works produced at WTF, including Two for the Seesaw. During some of its most important years, the WTF was presided over by legendary founding director Nikos Psacharopoulous. The current producer is highly regarded Michael Ritchie.
