Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube SHOWS & EVENTS PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES VISIT SUPPORT ABOUT WORK & LEARN DONATE BUY HISTORY ARCHIVE CONTACT US BOARD OF TRUSTEES THE GUILD Elena Shaddow in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, Photo by T. Charles Erickson, 2013 WHO WE ARE Since 1955, Williamstown Theatre Festival has brought America’s finest actors, directors, designers, and playwrights to the Berkshires, engaging a loyal audience of both residents and summer visitors. Each WTF season is designed to present unique opportunities for artists and audience alike, revisiting classic plays with innovative productions, developing and nurturing bold new plays and musicals, and offering a rich array of accompanying cultural events including COMMUNITY WORKS, Late-Night Cabarets, readings, workshops, and educational programs. While best known for acclaimed productions, WTF is also home to one of the nation’s top training and professional development programs for new generations of aspiring theatre artists and administrators. WTF was honored with the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 2002 and the Commonwealth Award for Achievement in 2011. OUR MISSION To produce classic and new plays with distinction and verve, and to present artists with production opportunities and challenges seldom available elsewhere. To provide a training program in which emerging theater talents collaborate with accomplished mentors in a vital, professional, and educational atmosphere. To create and present programs that serve and engage a diverse community. OUR ANTI-RACISM COMMITMENT As the American Theatre is called to tackle institutional racism, Williamstown Theatre Festival has listened to the wisdom of anti-racism resources and to the insight of BIPOC artists, administrators and alumni. WTF continues to analyze its sixty-five-year history, its past and current practices and its culture. We take full responsibility for our failure to live up to a crucial piece of our organization’s mission: engaging and serving a diverse community. We must, and will, acknowledge, address and dismantle the systems of white supremacy and anti-Blackness that exist in our organization. WTF commits to the following actions, and to accountability around each one. READ MORE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL During the winter of 1954, Ralph Renzi (Williams ’43), News Director of Williams College, and David C. Bryant, chairman of the College’s active drama program, conceived the idea of using the Adams Memorial Theatre on the Williams College campus for a summer theatre with a resident company. David Bryant and Nikos Psacharapoulos, 1955 They were joined by music professor Irwin Shainman as Business Manager and Louis Rudnick (Williams ’15), chairman of the Williamstown Board of Selectman, who was elected President of the new Foundation—a position he held for 17 years. Robert C. Sprague, President of Sprague Electric, became a leading financial advisor. With the help of the Board of Trade, local businessmen, and town residents, including Cole Porter, Williamstown Summer Theatre—later renamed Williamstown Theatre Festival—was formed with $9,000 in the bank. Intending to produce ten plays in ten weeks, director Bryant sought out an associate who could direct half the season. On the strong recommendation of the Dean of the Yale School of Drama, Nikos Psacharopoulos was appointed. A 26-member company was assembled from young New York Professionals, Yale actors and alumni, and a few students from Williamstown. THE FIRST SEASON WAS SUCCESSFUL ENOUGH FOR THE THEATRE TO PLAN A SECOND. READ MORE EXPLORE THE WTF PRODUCTION ARCHIVE SEARCH BY SHOW, ARTIST, OR SEASON CONTACT US While many questions can be answered by the Festival Box Office at 413.458.3253, here’s how to reach members of the WTF staff. BOX OFFICE (JUNE-AUGUST) Phone: 413.458.3253 June 8—July 3: Tuesday—Saturday from 12—5pm; Closed Sundays & Mondays July 6—August 8: Tuesday—Sunday from 12—8pm; Closed Mondays WILLIAMSTOWN OFFICE (SEPTEMBER-MAY) PO Box 517 Williamstown, MA 01267-0517 413.458.3200 413.458.3147 fax wtfinfo@wtfestival.org NYC OFFICE (SEPTEMBER-MAY) 420 West 45th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY, 10036 Mail c/o 321 Theatrical Management 212.395.9090 212.395.9099 fax wtfinfo@wtfestival.org PUBLICITY CONTACT Rick Miramontez and Aaron Meier at DKC/O&M Co are WTF’s primary press agent throughout the year. aaron@omdkc.com 212.695.7400 212.695.0876 fax STAFF In the summer, we have nearly 400 talented individuals working on the Festival. In the balance of the year, our intrepid full-time staff lays all of the groundwork for the season. Antonello Di Benedetto, Director of Audience Engagement Jenny Gersten, Interim Artistic Director Billy Issertell, Development Assistant Josh Martinez-Nelson, Director of Development & Communications Lianna Rada-Hung, Assistant to the Artistic Director Amy Russell, Director of Finance Laura Savia, Associate Artistic Director Emma Whittum, Administrative Assistant BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jeffrey Johnson, Chairman Matthew C. Harris, Past Chair Joe Finnegan, Vice Chair Brad Svrluga, Vice Chair Donald B. Elitzer, Treasurer Alicia B. Adams Kate Burton Rebecca Gold Cellana Tom Fontana James Giddens Fredda Harris Todd Jick Kristen Johanson Valerie P. Kennedy Gary S. Levine Richard Levy, Jr. Maud Mandel Rhon Manigault-Bryant Paul Neely Katherine Kollath Peabody Hon. Susan Phillips Read Olivia Howard Sabine Omar Sangare Katie Hazlett Schmidt Caren Pasquale Seckler Margaret Gould Stewart Al Togut Alex Volckhausen TRUSTEES EMERITI Charles E. Balis Stephen Birrell Michele Moeller Chandler Douglas Daft Blythe Danner Joan B. Hunter Ira Lapidus, Chair Emeritus Gwyneth Paltrow William S. Reed Jid Sprague Joanne Woodward THE GUILD The Williamstown Theatre Festival Guild is a fun-loving, low-stress, guilt-free group of over 125 volunteers and local businesses. Our purpose is to foster a closer relationship between the community and the over 300 artists and administrators who inhabit our corner of the Berkshires every summer. We make company meals, promote the festival, and provide local knowledge and assistance. Together we hope to create an engaging and memorable experience for all. If you would like to learn more about how you can participate, please email wtfestivalguild@gmail.com. FIND US By Phone: 413.458.3200 By Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org By Snail Mail: PO Box 517 Williamstown, MA 01267 LEAD FUNDING PROVIDED BY BUSINESS PARTNERS LOCAL SUPPORT WILLIAMSTOWN OFFICE PO Box 517 | Williamstown, MA 01267 Call: 413.458.3200 | Fax: 413.458.3147 Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org WTF Privacy Policy WTF Terms of Service WTF Audited Financials NYC OFFICE 420 W 45th St, 2nd Floor | New York, NY 10036 Mail: c/o 321 Theatrical Management | Call: 212.395.9090 | Fax: 212.395.9099 Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org BOX OFFICE 413.458.3253 © Williamstown Theatre Festival 2021 Design & Development by Ligature Creative