Bennington Theater

Tabitha KcKown and Justina Trova in The Miracle Worker, 2004. Photo by Kevin Sprague. Berkshire Theatre Festival's mission is to sustain, promote, and produce theatre for its community through performance and educational activities. BTF remains dedicated to producing theatre that recognizes its venerable past, while providing a home for the next generation of the American theatre's creative artists. Founded in 1928, Berkshire Theatre Festival is one of the oldest professional regional theatres in the United States and the longest-running cultural organization in the Berkshires. Now under the helm of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, BTF presents theatre that matters world premieres, contemporary works, and classics that speak to who we are in our world today. The Main Stage ( 408 seats ), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The mission of BTF's second stage, the intimate Unicorn Theatre ( 122 seats ), is to provide a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. BTF's education program, BTF PLAYS!, reaches over 10, 000 children annually through school residencies, touring performances, and summer performance training and writing programs. During the summer months BTF opens its doors to over 75 administrative, acting, and technical interns and apprentices. With 65 non-profit cultural institutions including Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, MASS MoCA, Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Francine & Sterling Clarke Art Institute Shakespeare & Company, the Berkshires have earned the privilege of calling themselves America's Premiere Cultural Resort. Most of the major cultural and performing arts venues extend complimentary admission and tickets to each other's apprentices and interns, insuring a highly accessible and richly rewarding arts environment throughout the summer season.