Pittsfield’s Barrington Stage Company (BSC) has announced seven of the eight productions that will make up its 2017 season. Included in the line-up: a new production of Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Terrence McNally’s award-winning musical Ragtime; and Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s celebrated collaboration, Company.
The season will kick off with the play Kunstler by Emmy nominee Jeffrey Sweet (Flyovers), directed by Meagen Fay (Second City in Chicago). Chicago star Jeff McCarthy will play the title role, lawyer and civil rights activist William Kunstler, whose clients included the Chicago Seven and members of the American Indian Movement. Performances are set to run May 18–June 10 on the St. Germain Stage.
The second production will be Conor McPherson’s The Birds, directed by BSC artistic director Julianne Boyd (American Son). The suspense thriller by the Irish playwright is inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s chilling tale about masses of birds that threaten to attack humans. The story was the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film of the same name. Performances are set to run June 15–July 8 on the St. Germain Stage.
The season will continue with Ragtime, the Tony-winning musical about the immigrant experience at the turn of the 20th century, directed by Helen Hayes Award winner Joe Calarco (The Burnt Part Boys). Previews will begin June 21 for a run that will continue through July 15 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.
Ragtime will be followed by Alan Ayckbourn’s rarely staged comedy Taking Steps, directed by Tony nominee Sam Buntrock (July 20–August 5 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage), and a production of This, Melissa James Gibson’s drama detailing friendship in middle age, directed by Christopher Innvar (August 3–27).
Kicking off August 10 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, BSC will stage Sondheim’s Tony-winning musical Company about love, dating, and friendship in the city. Julianne Boyd will direct, and Jeffrey Page will choreograph. Performances are scheduled to continue through September 2.
The final show announced by BSC is Gaslight (Angel Street) by Patrick Hamilton. The play, which will examine manipulation and lying, will play October 4–22 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. A director will be announced at a later date.
One additional production slated for the St. Germain Stage will be announced shortly, along with casting, creative team, and full performance schedules. Single tickets will go on sale in March; for more information visit Barringtonstageco.org.
