A Decade of Directing Assistants: Alumni Spotlight

BTG’s Directing Assistantship program is entering its 10th year! Directing Assistants at Berkshire Theatre Group come from a variety of backgrounds. Each Directing Assistant is given the same opportunity to work on a professional show and gain priceless career experience. Assistants work with a professional director over a 4-week period in the beautiful Berkshires. Applications are currently being accepted for BTG’s Directing Assistantships! To learn more about the program and how to apply please visit our Directing Assistantship page and read the stories of past Assistants below!

Experiences are unique to each assistant, and we have reached out to some alumni who have since gone on to establish their own path in the theatrical world.

 

Michael Bello wearing a purple shirt and dark jeans, sitting and smiling into the camera.

Michael Bello was a Directing Assistant with BTG in 2012 where he worked with Director Robert Moss on A Class Act.

Michael Bello is a New York based director of musical theater. He most recently directed the off-Broadway production of We Are The Tigers, a new musical currently running at Theatre 80. (Follow them at @TigersMusical for updates!) He was the Associate Director to Tony Award winner Des McAnuff on Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, which will launch a national tour this fall. He has directed new musicals across the country including We Are The Tigers (3 LA Ovation Award noms), Between the Sea and Sky (NYMF, Best Musical and Direction winner), Errol & Fidel (NYMF, Best Musical and Direction noms), Hello Again (Boston’s IRNE nom), In the Heights (NYIT nom), and others. As an Assistant Director he has helped developed such new musicals as Summer (dir. Des McAnuff, La Jolla Playhouse), Doctor Zhivago (dir. Des McAnuff, Broadway Theatre), A Little More Alive (dir. Sheryl Kaller, Kansas City Rep), Fly By Night (dir. Bill Fennelly, Dallas Theater Center) and others. His upcoming projects include Letters to the President, a song cycle devised for The Great Hall at Cooper Union, and the world premiere of Shooting Star: A Revealing New Musical. BFA Emerson College. www.MichaelBello.com

Q: What were some of the most rewarding or challenging moments about your BTG Directing Assistantship?

A: Some of the most rewarding moments of my time at BTG was the work I engaged in while preparing to direct my assigned project, a concert reading in the Neil Ellenoff Musical Theatre Series. Having the artistic leadership at BTG trust me with the coordination, programming, and direction of a presentation in The Colonial meant so much to me and was a challenge I loved taking on. Those moments were the first in my career I was allowed to be a director and take steps towards discovering my artistic voice.

 

Ilana Ransom Toeplitz standing in a NYC street. She is smiling and wearing a dark blazer.

Ilana Ransom Toeplitz was a Directing Assistant and Dance Captain in 2011 where she worked with Director Kyle Sable on Finian’s Rainbow.

Ilana is a New York-based director/choreographer specializing in new musicals. On Broadway, Ilana assistant directed Violet (2014 Tony Nominated revival starring Sutton Foster) and The Prom with Casey Nicholaw (2018).

Ilana has premiered new work with Lincoln Center, Keen Company, York Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, NY Theatre Barn, and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Favorite director/choreographer credits: Chicago; Reefer Madness (featuring Alan Cumming); The Drowsy Chaperone; Singin’ in the Rain; Mary Poppins (BTG) & Seussical (BTG)!; And the TheatreWorksUSA National Tours of A Christmas Carol and Click, Clack, Moo!

Ilana was the Associate Director of A Christmas Story: The Musical! (2014-2015, First National Tour), Dirty Dancing: the Classic Story on Stage (2017-2018 Tour) and the premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim (2017, Boston Pops). Ilana holds additional assistant or associate credits with: Leigh Silverman, Casey Nicholaw, Susan Stroman, Baayork Lee, Sarna Lapine, NY City Center, Second Stage, Signature Theatre (VA), Huntington Theatre, and Pittsburgh CLO. Ilana is a proud Pittsburgh native, a Directors Project Alum (2016 Leo Shull New Musicals Directing Fellowship) and the 2018 SDC Foundation Mike Ockrent Fellow.

Ilana is a proud native of Pittsburgh, PA. Up next: Living Over the Rainbow (Director: Uptown Players, 2017 O’Neill Semi-Finalist); 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Choreographer: ACT of Connecticut); and The Rocky Horror Show (Director: Park Square Theater). Twitter/Instagram: @IlanaRanToe. www.IlanaDirects.com

Q: How did the Directing Assistantship prepare you for a career in theatre?

A: My assistantship with BTG was my first opportunity with a regional theatre. I would love to be Kate Maguire someday, to do what she does. I want to be Artistic Director of a strong regional theatre that supports new work. I was the Dance Captain as well as the Directing Assistant for Finian’s Rainbow, and it was my first chance to be Dance Captain, which was great. I was also given the opportunity to direct my first reading. When I came back to work as a Choreographer I got one of my favorite assistants and associates, Elyn Collier (who is also a former Directing Assistant) and she is now my go-to person, so I would say BTG taught me how to be a mentor as well.

 

Dan Barron was a Directing Assistant in 2015 where he worked with Director Eric Hill on Thoreau: Or Return to Walden and with Director Jackson Gay on I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn’t Even Smile.

Dan Barron is a NYC-Based Director who recently served as the Associate Director on the new Broadway musical Gettin’ The Band Back Together. Also recently directed a developmental reading and sold out concert at 54 Below of Arrowhead: A New Musical. He also directed the world premiere of Love Me Tender which was the inaugural production by Listening Eyes Theater Company, which he serves as their resident director. He has also served as the Associate Director on Jerry Springer the Opera at The New Group and Lisa Lampanelli’s Stuffed, Off-Broadway. He has directed at the Wild Project, Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theater Group and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. He holds a degree in musical theater from the University of Tampa. Upcoming: Man of La Mancha at Timber Lake Playhouse. IG: @TheDanBarron

Q: What did you learn through your time at Berkshire Theatre Group as a Directing Assistant, what were some rewarding moments?

A: I learned how to be an assistant/associate director at BTG. Skills that have helped me on 8 productions after BTG including being an associate director on Broadway. I think one of the most rewarding things about my assistantships was building connections with NYC professionals that have become very valuable. The most challenging part of the program was adapting from collegiate theater to the professional world over the summer.

 

Jasmine B. Gunter was a Directing Assistant in 2016 where she worked with Director Travis Daly on Beauty and the Beast.

Currently, Jasmine is working at Seattle Repertory Theatre as the assistant director of A Doll’s House, Part 2 with Braden Abraham, who is the artistic director at Seattle Rep. She is Seattle Rep’s Directing/Casting intern for the 2018-2019 season. At the same time, she is prepping to go into rehearsals next month for her next directing project. Jasmine is directing Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage as Geva Theatre Center’s 2019 Directing Fellow. https://jasminebgunter.weebly.com/

Q: What was your experience with directing before the Assistantship, and how did BTG’s Directing Assistantship prepare you for a career in theatre?

A: I had just graduated from college a month before and never assistant directed on a full-length production for a professional theatre. Yes, I directed in college, but that was completely different. Starting my assistantship, I was a complete rookie to directing at a professional scale. BTG was my first introduction to directing at a professional level, and my time there was a significant milestone in my career. More important than the practical things I learned about directing, I learned a lot about myself. My time at BTG defined what type of director I wanted to be. I learned the effects of kindness in the rehearsal room. I developed my generous sense of collaboration there. I learned about what it means to create safe spaces where people and ideas are heard. And so, I have a lot to thank BTG for.

Other notable Directing Assistant Alumni include: Oliver Butler, Zohar Fuller, Siena Rafter, Will Steinberger, and Ann Woling.
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From the Archive: Eva LeGallienne

By: Katie Birenboim (She/Her/Hers)   Devoted fans of BTG may gasp to discover that until doing a first round of research in the amazing BTG archives, I had never heard … Read On

🎶👯‍♀️ Get ready to celebrate the amazing women of the Berkshires! 🌟 Join us at The Colonial Theatre TONIGHT for "Song & Dance: A Celebration of Women in the Berkshires." 🎉 Featuring a talented cast of female performers, this show will showcase the strength, resilience and creativity of women in our community. 💪🏼 From powerful ballads to stunning dance routines, this event will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. Don't miss out on this unforgettable night! Get your tickets now at https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/event/song-and-dance-a-celebration-of-women-of-the-berkshires/ #SongAndDance #WomenInBerkshires #BerkshireTheatreGroup #CelebrationOfWomen #Empowerment #Inspiration #PerformingArts #LiveEvent #GetYourTicketsNow
Have you heard of Hyprov? It's a hilarious and mind-bending show that combines hypnosis and improv comedy. The result is a unique and unforgettable experience that will leave you laughing and scratching your head in amazement.

The show is led by two talented performers: hypnotist Asad Mecci and improv comedian Colin Mochrie. Together, they take volunteers from the audience and guide them through a series of comedic scenarios, all while under hypnosis.

What makes Hyprov so special is how the performers seamlessly blend the two art forms together. You'll see improvisational comedy taken to new heights as the volunteers' subconscious minds drive the scene, leading to unexpected and hilarious moments.

If you're looking for a night of entertainment that will leave you feeling amazed and delighted, then you definitely need to check out Hyprov on Saturday, March 25 at The Colonial Theatre. Trust us, you won't regret it! #Hyprov #hypnosis #improvcomedy #hilarious #mindbending #comedyshow #entertainment #laughoutloud #unforgettable #mustsee 

Get your tickets now! https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/event/colin-mochrie-presents-hyprov-with-master-hypnotist-asad-mecci/
Our very own Allison Rachelle Bayles will be one of the awesome women honored at Song and Dance! A Celebration of Women of the Berkshires! Allison is the Director of Education here at BTG and we can’t wait to honor her during this celebration! 

https://buff.ly/3ldCPGe
The Secret Garden: Spring Version, is a new adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical abridged for younger audiences in an enhanced concert-style production that is as beautiful and spirited as the original.
This enchanting classic of children’s literature of hope and perseverance is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the “Dreamers,” spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden‘s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal. Join us July 29 and 30 for this beautiful story.
Two-time Tony Award nominated actor, Kate Baldwin, joins the cast of “What the Constitution Means to Me!” This boundary-breaking play breathes new life into the Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans.
Kristen van Ginhoven, who will direct this co-production with WAM Theatre, connected to the play as an activist and as a former speech and debate coach for the International High School in Brussels, Belgium. “As an artist, activist, and human, I find myself yearning for more collaboration, accountability, and engagement.” van Ginhoven explained, “This play answers that call with humor, intelligence and poignancy. I look forward to using my past experience as a
speech and debate coach while having the privilege and joy of directing this co-production.”
It’s National Women’s Day! To celebrate we are going to share a little about our upcoming event, “Song and Dance! A Celebration of Women of the Berkshires!” The Berkshires serve as home to a number of women artists and women behind the scenes who are making a positive difference in our area, and celebrated musician Wanda Houston is looking forward to shining a spotlight on some of them. Houston spearheads a concert that will simultaneously pay tribute and entertain, fulfilling one of her own personal dreams. "For the last five years, I've thought about doing this show," recently explained Houston. "I wanted to find a way to celebrate women who work so hard to make the Berkshires a better place for us all." Highlights of the concert promise to be Wanda Houston singing "You make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman," a brief monologue about Elizabeth Freeman spoken live with choreographed movement, the full cast opening the show together, and much, much, more. 
Join us March 24 for this celebration of amazing women! 
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We are getting excited for our St. Patrick’s Day festivities here at BTG! The Young Dubliners, an American rock band who have been recording albums and touring since 1993 and whose style of music has come to be called Celtic Rock for the fusion of Irish traditional music with modern rock ‘n’ roll! They will be joined by Kilashandra, an award-winning Albany, NY–based band. They began meeting in fall 2021 as a group of friends getting together to play Celtic music in pubs and at regional Irish Festivals. Get your tickets now and join us for this awesome concert!
☀We announced our full summer season! We have some amazing shows coming up at BTG and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it! Follow the link in our bio to grab your tickets now!☀
UPDATE! Children's Auditions have been postponed to tomorrow night, March 1. Families that have registered should check their emails for more details. Thank you!
This is going to be SUCH a fun time! Twenty random volunteers from the audience will be put under hypnosis, their inhibitions evaporated and their minds no longer their own. The contestants will be methodically and hysterically whittled down until the five best are left on stage when one of the world’s leading improvisers enters! Colin Mochrie will take the stage to improvise with the top five while they are still under hypnosis, which will turn the show into an improv extravaganza! This show is March 25 and tickets are on sale now!
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The band is joyous, and their stage is full of smiles and laughter, both during and between songs. Max Creek is engaging, sculpting lengthy shows on-the-fly from their 200+ song catalog with rockers, ballads, deep jams and crowd sing-alongs. Furthermore, Creek is, most definitely, a family. 40-odd years in, the audience is a multi-generational stew—it’s not uncommon to witness old-school “Creek Freeks” getting down with their teenage (or older!) kids. Grab your tickets for April 7 now!
The Togetherness Project was created with the aim of building bridges through the power of art between teens and young adults in the Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) Program and local residents in need of support. The Project involved AIRY members visiting and making art in Pittsfield with women Veterans at Soldier On, women and children survivors of domestic abuse at Elizabeth Freeman Center, and adolescents of color in the R.O.P.E. program (Rites of Passage and Empowerment). Artworks include drip pour paintings, Satori circles, watercolor triptychs and symbolic self portrait paintings.
Artwork will be on view March 10 through April 6 with an opening reception on Tuesday March 14 from 4 to 6 pm.
We recognize that Ukraine has been fighting for democracy for one year today. We hope for a better year ahead.  Our hearts are heavy for all souls lost.
May Miller was an award-winning playwright, poet, and professor who first came to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance. Miller was the most published female playwright of the Harlem Renaissance and had nine of her twenty plays selected for publication during the height of her playwriting career. Miller helped establish the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, serving as Chair of the Literature Panel for the Commission’s first three terms. From her retirement from teaching in 1943 until her death in 1995, Miller dedicated herself to writing poetry, publishing nine books of poems, and one edition of collected works.
This Saturday at 7:30 we've got "Tapestry, The Carole King Songbook" starring Suzanne O Davis. She'll be playing all of your favorite songs live on stage!
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Highlighting Berkshire women in the Arts, this show features performances by Gina Coleman, Olga Dunn Dance Co., Wanda Houston, Mary Ann Palermo and The All-Star Women’s Band, along with more of our extraordinary region’s unsung female heroes in the art, business, social and medical communities. Join us March 24 at 7:30pm for an evening of celebrating women of the Berkshires!
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This Saint Patrick’s Day we will be feeling extra lucky! We’ve got The Young Dubliners with special guest Kilashandra and Scoil Rince Bréifne Ó Ruairc, the Irish Dance Team from right here in Pittsfield! The dancers will be performing before the show in The Garage from 6:30pm to 7:20pm!
We all need a good laugh, am I right? This show will do the trick! Grab your tickets now for the Ivy League of Comedy Tour on March 3rd.
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Zora Neale Hurston was an American author and filmmaker. Her works focused on the struggles of being an African American woman and her writings went unrecognized for decades. She passed away in 1960 but between 2001 and 2018 she had 3 of her works released.
BTG has two audition opportunities coming up! Find out more through the link in our bio! 🤩
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