BTG’s Garage from Cars to Comedy

Built in 1920, The Garage serves as the lobby, administrative offices, and backstage space. Berkshire Theatre Group’s Garage is an intimate space, customizable for every occasion, which showcases up-and-coming local and regional performances. The Garage is named in honor of the Berkshire Auto Company, which opened in 1921 and was owned by Ralph O’Conner. Originally, the space was used as a showroom, housing the latest and greatest models of the day, and evidence of this can still be seen in the beautiful stained glass windows that proudly display the name, Berkshire Auto Co.

When The Colonial Theatre reopened in 2006, what would become The Garage, was used as a lobby space without a formal bar. The space was also used as a function space, housing holiday parties, receptions, after-work events, and seminars. (Pictured to the left.) Upon the merger of The Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Festival, when Berkshire Theatre Group was created, Kate Maguire, Artistic Director, CEO, immediately saw the untapped potential for the space. “I wanted to have some activity out there in that space. It felt like a space that was underused, and it also, to me, felt like a space that could be a gathering spot,” said Maguire. Within the first year of the merge, the lobby space was dubbed The Garage. A full bar, designed by Berkshire Theatre Group’s former Technical Director Tom Minucci, was added, a neon sign installed, and the space truly began to take on a life of its own. “I wanted audience members to come in and feel comfortable before entering The Colonial. I also wanted the community to be able to claim that space as their own,” said Maguire of her original vision for the space. “I asked a musician from our community named Noah Weiss, who also worked as my assistant, to design the programming, to create an exciting atmosphere.  And before we knew it, the Garage was born. It was really Noah who developed a dynamic plan and handed it on to us.”

Over the years, The Garage has grown from a communal space to become its own performance venue. While still retaining Maguire’s original vision, the space has also taken on the tone of a cabaret, and with the various and sundry entertainments that occur from music to dance parties, there is always something new happening at The Garage. Kathy Jo Grover, House Manager at BTG, said The Garage is a “unique space in Pittsfield that helps discover a lot of new, local talent.” One of The Garage’s most notable entertainments is The Comedy Garage. Featuring acclaimed comedians from near and far, The Comedy Garage offers a new comedian one Thursday a month. “The space,” according to Grover, “lends itself to having a club atmosphere, and is just about the perfect size for a comfortable, casual comedy club.” The arrangement of tables, hightops, and stools (conveniently right near the bar) deftly creates the perfect ambience for an unforgettable night of laughs.

One of the newest adventures for The Garage is offering carefully curated pre-show performances before most of the presented shows at The Colonial Theatre. The idea is to offer a pre-show performance before the main event to get the audience relaxed and ready for the show. Each performance is tailored to match the audience and style of the main Colonial show, for instance, before Fleetwood Macked at The Colonial Theatre earlier this month, David Grover was the pre-show performer. Performing pre-show in The Garage before Marvin Seals and JGB on Oct. 11 is BTG’s very own Rev Tor. Whether it be music, comedy, or community, BTG’s Garage has something for everyone.

Up next at the Garage is:

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News & Articles

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

Don't miss Lady Supreme, an immersive celebration of the music, style, and legacy of Diana Ross, at The Colonial Theatre this Saturday night!

Purchase your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org and experience breathtaking, spot-on renditions of Diana Ross’ greatest hits by singer Deanna Carroll and an elite ensemble of singers and musicians!
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HYPROV, returning THIS SATURDAY to The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, promises a hilarious, imaginative and utterly unpredictable night of comedy, starring improv legend Colin Mochrie and master hypnotist Assad Mecci!

Get your tickets at berkshiretheatre.org today before its too late!
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Thank you to Mr. Shaun Kennedy and Morris Elementary School in Lenox, MA for the warm welcome for the cast and crew of the 2024-2025 BTG PLAYS! Touring Show production, Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon, before their performance at the school last Friday. Our pirate crew is appreciative of all of you! 🦜💙

Magic Tree House On Stage
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Time is running out to purchase tickets to The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue, performing the greatest hits from the golden era of 1950s Doo Wop LIVE at The Colonial Theatre THIS SUNDAY!

Don't delay! Purchase tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org.
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BTG is saddened to know that Alan Filderman passed away on March 19. For many years, he was the casting director for Berkshire Theatre Group. In 2020, with choreographer Gerry McIntyre, he directed Godspell in the height of the Covid pandemic under a tent outdoors at The Colonial Theatre. As someone once said, "Everything's more fun with Alan." Alan Filderman loved the theatre, whatever stage door through which he has now passed, may he find peace.
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Looking for summer vacation plans? BTG is once again offering one-week summertime theatre class sessions for young actors in Grades 1-8 from June through August! To register for classes ($500/session. Need-based scholarships are available), please email Allison Rachele Bayles at allison@berkshiretheatre.org. 

2025 Summertime Classes Schedule:
• June 23-27 - The Garage at The Colonial Theatre (Grades 4-6)
• July 7-11 - The Garage at The Colonial Theatre (Grades 1-3)
• August 4-8 - The Garage at The Colonial Theatre (Grades 4-6)
• August 11-15 - The Unicorn Theatre (Grades 1-3)
• August 18-22 - The Garage at The Colonial Theatre (Grades 6-8)

To learn more, please visit https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/performing-arts-for-young-people/#summertime-classes
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LAST CHANCE to purchase your tickets to The Best of the 70s, performing LIVE this Saturday, March 22 at The Colonial Theatre! Experience the greatest decade of music like never before with hits by Elton John, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and many more.

Don't delay! Purchase tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org.
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This past Saturday, the mighty cast of BTG's Matilda The Musical JR. began rehearsals for their upcoming performances this April at The Colonial Theatre. All of us at BTG are thrilled to see the strength and magic all these young actors will bring on stage! ✨

(Photo by Caelan Carlough)
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On March 22 at The Colonial Theatre, come see why audiences are praising The Best of the 70s as "amazing from start to finish!” The show is brought to life by the dynamic band DizzyFish, joined by the legendary Uptown Horns, creating an experience that will have you singing and dancing along to every song!

Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org.
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Take a spectacular trip back to the greatest decade of music with The Best of the 70s at The Colonial Theatre on March 22 at 7:30pm! Featuring DizzyFish and The Uptown Horns, this electrifying celebration features the timeless hits of Neil Young, The Beatles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and many more.

Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org.
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David Adkins and Mike Wartella, along with all of us at BTG, would like to thank all of those who joined us for each session of BTG's Acting Through Song workshop, which concluded last Sunday! 🎵

Keep on singing loud and stay tuned for more workshop and education opportunities in the future!
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We remember Gene Hackman.

Our 1966 season opened with Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, directed by Arthur Penn, and featuring Anne Bancroft, Alvin Epstein, Estelle Parsons and, the youngest and least well known member of the company, Frank Langella. The only new play of the 1966 season was Murray Schisgal’s Fragments, with two old friends and former roommates who had both just completed making films that were to change their lives: Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. A year later Dustin would receive an Oscar nomination for The Graduate and Gene would receive one for Bonnie and Clyde.
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UPDATE for participants of the Acting Through Song workshop! ✨ The
second day of the workshop has been postponed to this Sunday, February 23 at The Colonial Theatre, and we are excited to have you all back to continue to grow your acting and singing skills!

If you can no longer attend on this date, please let us know by emailing
allison@berkshiretheatre.org to give those on our waitlist a chance to attend.
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Today on Monday, February 17, BTG's offices are closed in observance of Presidents' Day. We'll see you soon in the theatre!
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BTG has announced 6 brand new shows for the late spring and early summer season, and they are all ON SALE NOW! From crowd favorites like Pink Floyd's The Wall, to BTG Plays! spring production of Matilda JR., to Bob Marley's legendary band, The Wailers, we have something for everyone! ✨

Plan ahead and grab your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org.
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