Celebrating Black History Month at BTG

In honor of Black History Month, Berkshire Theatre Group is featuring some of the many talented black artists that have performed with us throughout over 90 years of theatre history!

Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle are both in tuxes. Noble sits at the piano, playing, and looking back at Eubie who is standing behind him with hand on Noble's shoulders.

(L to R): Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle in their musical,
Shuffle Along at The Colonial Theatre, 1926.

 

Wayland Rudd sits on a throne draped with fabric in a regal costume looking off into the distance with a pensive expression on his face.

Wayland Rudd in The Emperor Jones by Eugene O’Neill at the Berkshire Playhouse
(now The Fitzpatrick Main Stage), 1930. Produced in conjunction with
the Hedgerow Theatre. Directed by Jasper Deeter.

 

Barbara Ann Teer (right side) and Cleavon Little (left side) sit on a fence talking. Barbara's character is barefoot and there is a wall behind them decorated in tiger print.

(L to R): Cleavon Little and Barbara Ann Teer in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?
by Don Petersen at BTF, 1967. Directed by Michael Schultz.

 

Gosset is center in the picture holding his hand up to accentuate his speech. He is wearing a bowler hat and facing Will Lee. Lee is slightly hunched over and listening.

(L to R): Will Lee and Lou Gossett, Jr. in Waiting for Godot
by Samuel Beckett at BTF, 1966. Directed by Gene Frankel.

 

Cicely Tyson is wearing a garish dress and has a flower in her hair. She is clutching a drink in her hand and looking at something that Hector Elizondo is pointing to.

(L to R): Hector Elizondo and Cicely Tyson in The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams
at BTF, 1979. Directed by Craig Anderson.

 

Quitman Fludd III is doing a choreographed number and is turned sideways with one leg bent and slightly off the ground. He is facing out and holding his hand near his head as if to hold a hat.

Quitman Fludd III in Anyone Can Whistle  by Stephen Sondheim (composer, lyricist) and Arthur Laurents (author) at BTF, 1980. Directed and choreographed by Robert Tucker.

 

Three of the actors are around the kitchen table with Carrie Hamilton off in the background. David L. King is playing a trumpet, Frances is dealing with food, and John is leaning on the table.

(L to R): David L. King, Frances Foster, Carrie Hamilton, and
John McCurry in The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
at BTF, 1985. Directed by Josephine Abady.

 

Fred Morsell is leaning slightly over a table. He is wearing a suit jacket and is midspeech.

Fred Morsell in Trains by Barbara Lebow at BTF, 1991. Directed by Richard Dunlap.

 

All of the actors are wearing formal wear and standing in a line on the stage.

(L to R): Allen Hidalgo, Jacquey Maltby, Lance Roberts, Terry Burrell, Brian Quinn,
and Monica Page in Sweet & Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen at the
Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 1993. Written and Directed by Julianne Boyd.

 

Sheryl McCallum is leaning on the piano and singing.

Sheryl McCallum in Good Company at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 1997. Book by Sheldon Harnick and musical arrangements by Fred Wells. Directed by Michael Montel.

 

The actors are standing in civil war era period garb talking with one another.

(L to R): Shane Taylor, Nedrah Banks, and Wayne Scott in
Insurrection: Holding History by Robert O’Hara at
The Unicorn Theatre, 2002. Directed by Timothy Douglas.

 

Rachel Leslie stands in dramatic red lighting in front of a large portrait surrounded by packed suitcases. She has a sad but determined look on her face and radiates strength.

Rachel Leslie in Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 2004.
Directed by Timothy Douglas. Photo by Kevin Sprague.

 

Amari and Christian sit on swings talking.

(L to R): Amari Cheatom and Christian Coulson in Dutch Masters by Greg Keller at The Unicorn Theatre, 2011. Directed by Brian Roff. Production photos by Christy Wright.

 

Bryonha and Taurean are toasting in costume on the set of Little Shop of Horrors.

(L to R) Bryonha Parham and Taurean Everett in Little Shop of Horrors at The Colonial Theatre, 2016. Music by Alan Menken with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman.
Photo by Ethan Heard (Director).

 

Treshelle and Lauren flank Joshua who is sitting down and signing to them. The stage is washed in blue light and Joshua and Lauren are sitting on a bench.

(L to R): Treshelle Edmond, Joshua Jackson, and Lauren Ridloff in Children of a Lesser God by Mark Medoff at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 2017.
Directed by Kenny Leon. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

 

Kristopher Saint Louis, Latoya Edwards, Eric R. Williams and Ariel Blackwood are standing in somber lighting singing to Claude.

(L to R): Kristopher Saint Louis, Latoya Edwards, Eric R. Williams, and Ariel Blackwood in Hair atThe Unicorn Theatre, 2018. Book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot. Directed by Daisy Walker. Photo by Emma Rothenberg-Ware.

 

Two lineman sit at a table discussing work while shawn, wearing a football jersey, sits at the counter listening.

(L to R): Shawn Fagan, Tré Alexander Dukes, and Joel Austin in The Petrified Forest by Robert E. Sherwood at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 2018. Directed by David Auburn. Photo by Emma Rothenberg-Ware.

Plan Your Visit

Read our suggestions on where to dine, and where to hang your hat.

Get Started
Did You Know?
Just like NPR, Berkshire Theatre Group depends on the generous giving of its members!
Join Today!
We believe the performing arts can transform a community.
Learn More
Of the 16,000 Berkshire County school children, we serve 13,000 through our BTG PLAYS! Year-Round Educational Programs.
Learn More
Theatre is the place where we go to understand what lies in the human heart.
About Us
BTG's buildings, on two campuses in Stockbridge and Pittsfield, are historic treasures.
Theatre Info
Berkshire Theatre Group believes that the creative arts encourage freedom of speech and debate.
Get Involved
"Out of need will come the way. Once the pandemic ebbs, whenever that is, there will be an incredible need to gather again." - Artistic Director, Kate Maguire
Join Today!
The theatre has existed from the time of the Greeks. We will go on.
Learn More
Join Our Mailing List

Receive the latest BTG News, Updates, Special Offers, and more right to your inbox.

Subscribe

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

On this day in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show made its American premiere at the Westwood Theater in Los Angeles. After initially being deemed a failure, the film vastly exceeded expectations and now has the longest theatrical run for a film.

Visit berkshiretheatre.org or do the time warp towards our box office to get your tickets today to experience the queen of all cult films, including a thrilling after party and drag queen Nancy Nogood, at the Colonial on October 28!
It is almost here! Copenhagen, the Tony Award-winning play that explores the ethical dilemma of when science and politics collide, begins previews at the Unicorn Theatre this Thursday, September 28!

Get your tickets at berkshiretheatre.org today 💥🧪
Western Massachusetts-based band Harvest & Rust is hitting the Colonial stage on September 29! Representing the wide-array of Neil Young’s influential material in one show, Harvest & Rust captivates audiences with chart-topping hits including “Old Man,” and “Heart of Gold,” to the more electric explorations of Rust Never Sleeps like “Hey Hey, My My.” 

Visit berkshiretheatre.org to purchase tickets today 🎵
REMINDER! ✨ Voting ends soon, so make sure to vote Berkshire Theatre Group as Berkshire Eagle's Best of the Berkshires 2023 in "Live Theatre" and "Concert Venue" at the link in our bio! Thank you all for your support ❤️
Calling all Pink Ladies and T-Birds! 🦩🦅

Coming to the Colonial on October 15, The Olivia Show Tribute is an exciting musical journey filled with all of the late Olivia Newton-John’s award-winning hits and an exciting Grease sing-along where everyone can join in on the excitement!

Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org!
The Tony award-winning Copenhagen, running September 28-October 29 at the Unicorn, is a must-see for anyone interested in history, science or politics. Exploring how one secret meeting broke the friendship between two physicists involved in the race to create the first atomic bomb in WWII, Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, Copenhagen forces us to confront the difficult questions that arise when science and politics collide. 

Don't miss this stunning production by getting your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org!
Did you tap your toes to Million Dollar Quartet? Laugh along with On Cedar Street? Ponder long after What the Constitution Means to Me, Photograph 51, and The Smile of Her? If so, let us know by voting Berkshire Theatre Group #1 again in Berkshire Eagle's 2023 Best of the Berkshires Poll for "Live Theatre" and "Concert Venue" in the Entertainment category!

To vote, visit the link in our bio. Voting ends on September 24 at 5pm.
On Thursday, October 5, at 5:30 p.m., Berkshire Magazine (@berkshiremagazine) will celebrate this year’s Berkshire 25 by inviting all past honorees to mark this milestone—and everyone is invited to join the celebration! 

To purchase tickets, visit berkshiretheatre.org. Ticket sales will go towards our education programs at BTG ✨
Sing until you lose your voice, dance like nobody’s watching, and relive your glory days at The Olivia Show, an exciting musical journey honoring the memory of Olivia Newton-John! Audiences will be treated to Olivia's greatest hits with live vocals, powerful musicianship, amazing costumes and chart topping hits and an exciting Grease sing-along! 

Get your tickets at berkshiretheatre.org today 🎵🎶
BTG is celebrating National Arts in Education Week by kicking off rehearsals for this year's touring show production, Magic Tree House Merlin Missions: Winter of the Ice Wizard, which features two casts from various middle and high schools across Berkshire County ✏️📚🎭

(Photo by Caelan Carlough)
For every new gift made before midnight on November 10, our generous donors will match gifts up to $250,000!

Your support now in meeting a goal to raise $500,000 will provide the investment needed to keep this theatre moving forward with strength, so donate today at the link in our bio ⭐
Did Oppenheimer (2023) leave you even more curious about the history surrounding the creation of the atomic bomb? BTG's production of Copenhagen, running September 28–October 29, explores the moral struggles of two Nobel laureate physicists: Niels Bohr, one of Oppenheimer's heroes; and Werner Heisenberg, his direct competition in the Manhattan Project.

Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre.org to experience this a fascinating exploration of the ethics of science that will leave audiences pondering its themes long after the final curtain call.
It's that time of the year again! Support us by voting Berkshire Theatre Group #1 again in Berkshire Eagle's 2023 Best of the Berkshires Poll for "Live Theatre" and "Concert Venue" in the Entertainment category. We appreciate your help!

To vote, visit the link in our bio. Voting ends on September 24.
From the same members of BonJourney, Don Jovi, the ultimate Bon Jovi tribute band, is bringing Jon Bon Jovi's greatest hits to life on the Colonial stage September 22 🎸

Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre,org to rock on to legendary songs including "It's My Life" and "Never Say Goodbye!"
In Berkshire Magazine's Fall issue, read about Felipe Salles, "The New Immigrant Experience," and his upcoming performance at the Colonial on October 21 at the link in our bio🎷 To get tickets, visit berkshiretheatre.org!
From the same members that brought BonJourney to the Colonial last November, Don Jovi (@donjoviband) is bringing Jon Bon Jovi's greatest hits to life on September 22! Get your tickets today at berkshiretheatre,org to enjoy memorable hits such as "Livin' On a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name"
Listen to Black Opry (@black.opry), a joyful, supportive celebration of Black artists, songwriters, and fans, on NPR before they take the Colonial stage on November 4, then get your tickets at berkshiretheatre.org! 🎵 (Link to NPR session in bio)

(Photo by Gabriel Baretto)
Follow Us