In February 2021, 75 festival alumni signed an eight-page letter to the festival board alleging dangerous working condition, abusive conduct and exploitation of apprentices and interns, who were unpaid and in some cases were charged tuition for their training, the LA Times reported. The Summer Intensive Training Program is on hold and will not be offered in the summer of 2023. Our introduction of a specially designed 2023 Festival Stage enables artists and audiences to share the same space and is indicative of a season in which we all are on this journey together. By Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org How do you re-create what once took 300 people if half of them who were unpaid now have to be compensated? in Arts Administration from Columbia University. The 2023 budget is currently $3.3 million, down from nearly $5 million in 2019, according to festival figures and IRS filings. Transitioning to the East Coast for production management, Justin worked two summers at Williamstown Theatre Festival and several Broadway productions with Aurora Productions. Productions and artists shaped at the Festival fill theaters in New York City and around the world. Williamstown Theatre Festival navigates changes - BTW Berkshires By Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org WLLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Auxiliary activities began to supplement the Main Stage: the Apprentice Workshop, an experimental Second Company, lively Late-Night Cabarets, Sunday literary events, and new play readings. The Year-Round Players: Seasonal Positions - Williamstown Theatre Festival The Schedule: Application Recommendations: Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield says she and her staff are ready for the "intense undertaking" of mounting an in-person summer season this year. in Arts Administration from Columbia University. However, we can no longer offer training programs where theater-makers are unpaid or pay to learn and that perpetuate the inequity gap and limit access. Williamstown Theatre Festival 4.5 180 reviews #4 of 18 things to do in Williamstown Theaters Visit website Call Write a review About This famous theater, located in the Berkshires, presents several productions each summer. For staged readings, the tables and chairs will be replaced with rows of onstage seating. All seasonal staff are provided housing free of charge on campus at Williams College. Omar Sangare aaron@omdkc.com Alumni include May Adrales, Oliver Butler, Evan Cabnet, Carolyn Cantor, Mike Donahue, Davis McCallum, Patricia McGregor, Lila Neugebauer, and Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Design & Development by Ligature Creative, Jonathan Payne and Whitney White in Rehearsal, 2019, Photo by Joseph O'Malley, Williamstown Theatre Festival is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) company. Change is hard and incremental, and every donation right now is meaningful as we work toward a more sustainable future. Pride Win Free Tickets News . As we continue to reimagine a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, accessible, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival seeks to ensure that the Progress Report we published in February 2022 remains a living document to keep us accountable. She also has supported the development and production of new plays at The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, and Actors Theatre of Louisville, and for Clubbed Thumb, Siti Company, 13P, P73, and the TEAM. The Festival is in the midst of long-term strategic planning to reexamine aspects of how we operate in order to build the foundation for a thriving future. Prior to joining WTF in 2017, he was the Director of Development at Second Stage Theater where he oversaw the $65MM capital and endowment campaign to renovate the historic Hayes Theatre on Broadway. In the balance of the year, our intrepid full-time staff lays all of the groundwork for the season. Many others, including Chris Pine, Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Allison Janney, Sterling K. Brown, Brie Larson, George C. Wolfe, Ty Burrell, and Charlie Day, began their careers at the Festival. Joanne Woodward. Summer Staff Positions & Internships - Williamstown Theatre Festival 1. The Fellowship provides an emerging theater artist the opportunity to work and learn alongside industry professionals and contribute to the life and community of the Festival. The nearest grocery store is a 10-minute drive from campus and not within walking distance. Ideal candidates are able to balance strong opinions and point of view with an open mind, and approach new work analysis from both a dramaturgical and producing lens. Her father, Bernard Gersten, in the 1960s and 70s was a revered associate producer at the Public Theatre in Manhattan a job Jenny Gersten held for three years in the early aughts after leaving Williamstown the first time and he was executive producer of Lincoln Center Theater from 1985 until 2013. Running a schedule of up to eight productions per summer, sometimes with simultaneous opening nights on the adjacent Main Stage and smaller Nikos Stage in the 62 Center, meant marathon days and multiple overnighters to change from one production to the next. Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1214 Before her time at WTF, she was a Production Intern at Back Roads Entertainment, Sesame Workshop, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she was involved in all aspects of television production from show development to post production. Most summer employment opportunities run from June through August, with some pre-season preparation for certain roles. Producer & Director of Organizational Culture: Danielle King Love making someones first experience at the theater a memorable one? from NYUs Tisch School of the Arts and a M.A. The team is available to be a resource as staff navigate the unique work-live experience of the Festival- no concern or question is too big or too small. Fellowship projects are chosen in consultation with the Artistic Director. Design & Development by Ligature Creative, Elena Shaddow in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, Photo by T. Charles Erickson, 2013, A Progress Report on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression at WTF, Williamstown Theatre Festival is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) company. The Year-Round Players: After last summer's walkout over work conditions, Williamstown Theatre In addition to working with WTF, she acts as House Manager at the 62 Center for Theatre and Dance for the Williams College Theatre & Dance Departments, sits on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for Berkshire Dance Theatre (the studio she danced at for 14 years), is the Financial Assistant at The Print Shop Williamstown on Spring St and volunteers weekly at Williamstowns local movie theater, Images Cinema. Hunter After graduating from Penn State in 2021 with a B.S. Call: (413) 458-3200 The Schedule: WLLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Mandy Greenfield departs as artistic director from Williamstown Theatre Williamstown, MA 01267 We are looking for detail-oriented, personable, people-people. Here is a summary, including areas where we identified more room for growth to which we want to devote our attention in the coming year. Emma is a Berkshires native and has worked with many organizations in the area, such as the Clark, Jacobs Pillow, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and the Williams College Dance Department. The architecture is stunning and the plaza and reflecting pool with water cascades is one of our favorite places to s. 2. The questions now, Gersten said, are: How to rework the festival model in time for the 70th anniversary next year and, short of multimillion-dollar annual infusions from hypothetical, previously untapped sources, how to return to past production values while still making it financially viable? Paul Neely We also celebrate our first-ever collaboration with Barrington Stage Companya chance for us to share the Festival beyond Williamstown. The amount of talent that has come through these doors is overwhelming to say the least and I feel even more empowered to live the life I want to live. 1,438. The Year-round Players: More specific actions on these efforts can be found in our updated Progress Report linked here. Director of Production & Operations: Justin Bell The day off for the Producing team is generally Mondays. Nicky was thrilled to join the WTF Staff last spring as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator after graduating from Bates College with a double major in Theater (Directing concentration) and Psychology. Emma just completed her 6th (!!!) While we hope to see you in our audience this summer, ticket sales cover less than ten percent of what it costs to produce the 2023 Season. Investigative reporting by The Los Angeles Times later revealed trouble began before the season started. The Business Office typically operates Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. over a year ago Answer 3 answers Reviewed this attraction Roger K Clifton Park, NY 0 Votes The Main Stage theater can seat about 500. Marketing is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote WTFs productions, events, and brand to potential audiences, donors, and supporters. Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield will have seven full productions; Berkshire Theatre Group, with stages in Stockbridge and Pittsfield, six; Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, also six productions, with casts, costumes, sets, lighting and audiences. The Marketing Department is also the liaison between the Festival and the local and national press outlets. In the summer, we have nearly 300 talented individuals working on the Festival. Jenny is thrilled to be back at Williamstown Theatre Festival after previously serving as WTFs Artistic Director from 2010 to 2014 and as Associate Producer from 1996 to 2004. When Bryant left Williams the following year, Nikos became artistic director, and the Festivals repertory became increasingly ambitious with productions of Shaw, Giradoux, Miller, Williams, and Chekhov. the Schedule With Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (2012-2019), Danielle designed and shepherded programs aimed at helping artists develop their practice and conduct research, and curated and produced platforms for artists to share their work with the public and transform public space, most notably through the annual River To River Festival. The Williamstown Theatre Festival is one of the greatest summer theaters in the nation, and is proud to offer employment opportunities for theatre artists, technicians, and administrators. The Year-Round Players: Cult Favorite Musical Chess Begins July 5 at The Muny She was its associate producer from 1996 to 2004 and was named the companys first female artistic director in 2010, stepping down at the end of 2013. In 1996, long-time WTF stage manager Michael Ritchie became Producer. Williamstown, MA 01267, PO Box 517 Todd Jick Department Overview: Maud S. Mandel Its the way it always was, but it couldnt continue. Second, she said, whether she and the board fully agreed with the complaints about hours and working conditions, They were genuine concerns that we absolutely had to address, and the organization is really endeavoring to do a robust examination of them.. In the seven decades since its founding, Williamstown Theatre Festival has grown and evolved to meet the unique opportunities and challenges of each moment, yet its overarching goals have remained constant: to attract top talent, cultivate early-career theater-makers, produce reinterpreted versions of classics and new plays from gifted generative artists, and continue to attract audiences with the quality and ambition of the Festivals work. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, he proudly worked as a stagehand with IATSE Local 16 for four years on various events, productions, and concerts throughout the region. July 06, 2021 Nikki M. James Joseph Marzullo/WENN Tony winner Nikki M. James, Tony nominee Andy Grotelueschen, Broadway alums Jeannette Bayardelle and Micaela Diamond, and more head to. Art Museums. Marshall, and Thornton Wilder, later joined by the likes of Blythe Danner, Olympia Dukakis, Edward Herrmann, Kate Burton, James Naughton, and Christopher Reeve, whose return year after year gave stability to the Equity company. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.) With Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (2012-2019), Danielle designed and shepherded programs aimed at helping artists develop their practice and conduct research, and curated and produced platforms for artists to share their work with the public and transform public space, most notably through the annual River To River Festival. In addition, he helped to oversee the reopening of Second Stages Broadway theater, The Hayes, after the completion of a multi-year renovation. (The first was in 2020, when its shows were available online as audio versions because of early pandemic prohibitions against large in-person gatherings.). Williamstown Theatre Festivals history of producing ground-breaking and thought-provoking work relied on a summer stock model. Through our strategic planning process, we are revisiting the leadership role we can play in creating educational/experiential learning opportunities (from entry-level staff to fellowship, apprentice-style mentorship, and internship positions) for all. Office hours are typically Tuesday Sunday 10am-6pm during the season, plus occasional evening commitments (i.e., post-show talkbacks). Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1214 Wild fruit is abundant this summer. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in ethics and political philosophy, Josh We will continue to produce classic and new plays with distinction and verve, and to present artists with production opportunities and challenges seldom available elsewhere. Experience with copywriting, proofreading, and editing is also a plus. When the Development team arrives, they begin getting to know our donors and prospective donors through research activities. The Muny's Chess begins performances in its outdoor theatre July 5. Six-and-a-half years and four fundraising positions later (most recently as Director, Special Events), he then moved to sunny San Diego to lead the individual giving efforts at La Jolla Playhouse. The Clark Art Institute. In the Producing Department, we are looking for a passion for creating and producing theater, a penchant for organization and collaboration, and excellent communication skills! Conspicuously absent from the 2023 season at Williamstown Theatre Festival is the middle third of its name: For only the second time since the companys 1954 founding, there will be no fully staged theater productions. Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org, Williamstown Theatre Festival 2023 The Williams College campus and the 62 Center for Theatre & Dance are within walking distance of Spring Street, which has several restaurants with dine-in and takeout options, a pharmacy, a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, a movie theater, and several stores. During the winter of 1954, Ralph Renzi, News Director of Williams College, and David C. Bryant, chairman of the Colleges drama program, conceived the idea of using the Adams Memorial Theatre on the Williams College campus for a summer theater. I dont know a single artistic director who isnt having some version of these conversations, Gersten said. Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org, Williamstown Theatre Festival 2023 Department Overview: Which day may vary according to workload demands. The Schedule: Part of the planning for the future was to spend less money this summer than on past full seasons, Gersten said. The Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival, one of the most influential not-for-profit theaters in the country, encourages you to apply for at-will, seasonal employment or training . Directing Fellows are provided with a $2500 stipend, on-campus housing (single dorm room with shared living spaces), and round-trip transportation between NYC and Williamstown. We felt it was very important to have a season that did not feel and look like everythingwas back to normal, said Gersten, who has a lifelong connection to theater. Williamstown Theatre Festival - Williamstown Theatre Festival 2023 Season! 2022THAT'S A WRAP! - Williamstown Theatre Festival Director of Audience Engagement: Antonello Di Benedetto The Williamstown Theatre Festival Guild is a fun-loving, low-stress, guilt-free group of over 125 volunteers and local businesses. Producer & Director of Organizational Culture: Danielle King We are looking for individuals who have strong project management skills and are interested in helping us build and establish a comprehensive safety framework, including protocols and good practices. (Jeff Goldberg) By Ashley Lee Staff Writer July 20, 2021 1:54 PM PT The musical "Row" recounts. As WTFs evolution continues this summer, Im so happy to be going on this path with youthank you. Call: (413) 458-3200 We look for individuals who have a dedicated interest in their specialization, may have already had some training in their field of study, and are interested in honing their skills further through hands-on production assignments and institutional opportunities. Thoughtful, strategic planning takes time, and as we continue to shape our future priorities, we look forward to engaging the WTF communityartists, audiences, business partners, former and current seasonal staff, local government, and othersin the development of our plan through town hall-type conversations and other opportunities to provide input. I hope you are too. Gary S. Levine In keeping with our organizational values and commitments, we are heeding the call to actively address systemic racism and inequity within our institutions. Williamstown Theatre Festival eases season after Times report - Los Previously, Jenny served as Executive Director of Friends of the High Line and as the Associate Producer of The Public Theater in New York City. Following his 2019 production of A Raisin in the Sun, celebrated as "an absorbing, watershed revival," by The New York Times, Robert O'Hara returns to Williamstown Theatre Festival to direct this Tennessee Williams masterpiece. Transitioning to the East Coast for production management, Justin worked two summers at Williamstown Theatre Festival and several Broadway productions with Aurora Productions. Following a 35th season dedicated to his memory, run by a troika of Peter Hunt, Austin Pendleton, and George Morfogen, Hunt, named artistic director, gave a new focus to musical theater and American classics. The Festival has been supported by generous donors and by federal aid, which represented critical contributions to its survival during the first two years of the pandemic. Call: (212) 395-9090 As a nonprofit theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival relies on the generosity of donors to support artists and make the Festival possible each summer. This summer, rediscover the power of live theatre with a season of three world premieres unlike anything you have experienced before and yet every bit as artistically excellent, culturally rich, and impactful as the work you have come to expect from Williamstown Theatre Festival. Upon graduating summa cum laude, he moved to NYC to work for Manhattan Theatre Club. The Marketing department works closely with other departments, such as Artistic and Development, to ensure that WTFs mission and programming are effectively communicated to the public through e-blasts, print and digital advertisements, season programs, and supplementary season artwork. Candidates with a valid drivers license are strongly preferred. Gersten said she hopes the new perspective for audiences will make an impact on them. Rebecca Gold Cellana Williamstown Theatre Festival Reveals Casting, Creative Teams for the Summer Reading Series The series will stage Hamish Linklater's Paris, ACTORS! Blythe Danner WTF Summer Intensive participants were provided with room (single dorm room and shared living spaces), board, round-trip transportation within the continental United States, and a stipend of $2,500. By Phone: (413) 458-3200 The Schedule: Chicago's Tony-Winning Lookingglass Theatre Cuts Programming, Staff Company Management is responsible for the behind-the-scenes elements of living and working at the Festival. in Williamstown, Mass. At the Globe, he led the individual giving program through the recession and the final years of a $75M capital campaign.