2021 Berkie Winners
( Winners in BOLD )
The fifth "Berkie" Awards for outstanding achievements in theatre arts for productions in the greater Berkshire region between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021, were presented by the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association (BTCA) on the evening of Monday, November 15 at Zion Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsfield, MA. J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin hosted the event.
The big winners of the evening were A Crossing: A Dance Musical, presented by Barrington Stage Company, which won the Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for a World Premier of a New Work as well as many acting and design awards, and Nina Simone: Four Women, presented by the Berkshire Theatre Group.
A special award was presented by the Board of the BTCA to Charlie Siedenburg, long time Press Director for Barrington Stage, for his exceptional support of Arts Journalism in The Berkshires.
Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director of Barrington Stage, and Kate Maguire, Artistic Director and CEO of the Berkshire Theatre Group, shared the Larry Murray Award for Community Service for reviving live theatre in The Berkshires during the pandemic through their negotiations with Actors Equity.
The Larry Murray Award for Community Service
BTCA Board Secretary Robert Bruyr introducing winners of shared the Larry Murray Award for Community Service
Nick Paleologos accepting for Kate Maguire on behalf of the Berkshire Theatre Group. Julianne Boyd accepted for herself and Barrington Stage Julianne Boyd
All photo credit goes to David Dashiell.
2021 Berkie Winners
( Winners in BOLD )
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play:
- Myka Plunkett, Mr. Fullerton, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Corinna May, The Importance of Being Earnest, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Alexandria Danielle King, Pipeline, WAM Theatre
- Janis Young, A Doll's House, Part 2, The Living Room Theatre
- Annabel Hoffman, Stupid F*%ing Bird, Hubbard Hall
- Sasha Hutchings, Nina Simone: Four Women, Berkshire Theatre Group
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play:
- Kenneth Tigar, Boca, Barrington Stage Company
- David Adkins, The Importance of Being Earnest, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Kevin O’Rourke, The Christopher Boy’s Communion, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Justin Withers, American Underground, Barrington Stage Company
- James Ricardo Milord, Pipeline, WAM Theatre
- James Barry, Tiny Beautiful Things, Chester Theatre Company
- Ed Rosini, Water, Water Everywhere, Oldcastle Theatre Company
- Stephen Heskett, The Stranger, Theater Barn
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical:
- Brian Prather, Boca, Barrington Stage Company
- Beowulf Boritt, Chester Bailey, Barrington Stage Company
- Beowulf Boritt, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Andrew Gmoser, Man of La Mancha, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Sam Reilly, The Chalk Garden, Ghent Playhouse
Outstanding Choreography
- Joshua Bergasse and Alberto Lopez, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Bryan Knowlton, Beehive, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Jeffrey L. Page, Who Could Ask For Anything More?, Barrington Stage Company
Outstanding Direction of a Musical:
- Joshua Bergasse, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- John Saunders, She Loves Me, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Alan Filderman,Godspell, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Julianne Boyd, Who Could Ask For Anything More? Barrington Stage Companyy
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical:
- Jen Caprio, Boca, Barrington Stage Company
- Hunter Kaczorowski, The Importance of Being Earnest, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Brittney Belz, Mr. Fullerton, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Sarabell Wrigley, A Doll's House, Part 2, The Living Room Theatre
Outstanding Solo Performance:
- James Barry, Title and Deed, Chester Theatre Company
- Harriet Harris, Eleanor, Barrington Stage Company
- Steven Patterson, Miss Gulch Returns!, Bridge Street Theatre
- Debra Ann Byrd, Becoming Othello, Shakespeare & Company
- Tamir, Now, Pauline Productions
- Celeste Lecesne, Poof (The Plein Air Plays), Ancram Opera House
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
- Erin Spears Ledford, She Loves Me, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Amber Mawande-Spytek, The World Goes Round, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Darlesia Cearcy, Nina Simone: Four Women, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Storm Lever, The Hills are Alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein, Barrington Stage Company
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical:
- Matthew E. Adelson, Holiday Memories, Berkshire Theatre Groupp
- David Lander, Sister Sorry, Barrington Stage Company
- Peter Kaczorowski, Chester Bailey, Barrington Stage Company
- Yuki Nakase Link, Queen of the Night, Dorset Theatre Festival
- Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew,Walden, TheaterWorks Hartford
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
- Brandon Lee (Stand-by), Godspell, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Omar Nieves, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Andres Quintero, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Michael Wartella, Godspell, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Jarod Bakum, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Theater Barn
- Mikel Hunter, Pippin, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Andrew Burton Kelly, She Loves Me, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Jacob Tischler, Who Could Ask For Anything More?, Barrington Stage Company
Outstanding Direction of a Play:
- Ron Lagomarsino, Chester Bailey, Barrington Stage Company
- Judy Braha, Mr. Fullerton, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Kirk Jackson, A Doll's House, Part 2, The Living Room Theatre
- Joe Calarco, Sister Sorry, Barrington Stage Company
- Christina Franklin, The Niceties, Chester Theatre Companyy
- Regge Life, hang, Shakespeare & Company
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical:
- Alexander Sovronsky, Boca, Barrington Stage Company
- Eddy Mineshi, Eleanor, Barrington Stage Company
- Leon Rothenberg, A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Hao Bai, Walden, TheaterWorks Hartford
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
- Alysha Umphress, Who Could Ask for Anything More? Barrington Stage Company
- Felicia Curry, Nina Simone: Four Women, Berkshire Theatre Group
- Kellly Gabrielle Murphy, She Loves Me, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Maya Cuevas, Man of La Mancha, Mac-Haydn Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:
- Alan H. Green, Who Could Ask for Anything More?, Barrington Stage Company
- Gabe Belyeu, Man of La Mancha, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Kylan Ross, The World Goes Round, Mac-Haydn Theatre
Special Award:
- Charlie Siedenburg for his exceptional support of Arts Journalism in The Berkshires
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- A Crossing,: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Good People, Theater Barn
- Live From WVL Radio Theatre: It's a Wonderful Life, Capital Repertory Theatre
- The Irish and How They Got That Way, Capital Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances:
- Falstaff, Berkshire Opera Festival
- Glory Denied, Berkshire Opera Festival
- The Bacchae, SITI Company, Williams College
- Love Travels Fast, Bennington Community Theater
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play:
- Ephraim Birney, Chester Bailey, Barrington Stage Company
- Reed Birney, Chester Bailey, Barrington Stage Company
- Christopher Sears, Sister Sorry, Barrington Stage Company
- Oliver Wadsworth, Turn of the Screw, Oldcastle Theatre Company
- Mark H. Dold, Dad, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Danny Johnson, Queen of the Night, Dorset Theatre Festival
Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a New Work
- A Crossing: A Dance Musical, book by Mark St. Germain, songs by Zoe Sarnak, Barrington Stage Company
- Queen of the Night, Travis Tate, Dorset Theatre Festival
- A Crossing, Mark St. Germain, Barrington Stage Company
- Boca, Jessica Provenz, Barrington Stage Company
- Mr. Fullerton, Anne Undeland, Great Barrington Public Theater
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:
- Peggy Pharr Wilson, Boca, Barrington Stage Companyy
- Kathleen Carey, Good People, Theater Barn
- Debra Jo Rupp, Boca, Barrington Stage Company
- Randolyn Zinn, A Doll's House, Part 2, The Living Room Theatre
- Tara Franklin, Tiny Beautiful Things, Chester Theatre Companyy
- Helen Sadler, Jane Eyre, Hartford Stage
Outstanding Production of a Musical:
- A Crossing: A Dance Musical, Barrington Stage Company
- Man of La Mancha, Mac-Haydn Theatre
- You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Theater Barn
- Godspell, Berkshire Theatre Group
- She Loves Me, Mac-Haydn Theatree
Outstanding Production of a Play:
- Chester Bailey by Joseph Dougherty, Barrington Stage Company
- Laughing Wild by Christopher Durang, Dorset Theatre Festival
- Death Tax by Lucas Hnath, Acting Class with Patrick White
- The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess, Chester Theatre Company