The New Directors Interview Series
Berkshire Magazine Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Stanmeyer recently interviewed some of the new directors of our Berkshire cultural institutions during Berkshire OLLI’s Summer Two Classes. These leaders have assumed their responsibilities in exciting times with innovative approaches and big plans for the future. Almost all of the discussions took place at the host institutions, so you will have a delightful "tour" of the Berkshires as well. The directors included in the series of talks that spanned over six weeks were Kimberley Bush Tomio of Berkshire Museum; James Barry of Chester Theatre; Alan Paul of Barrington Stage Company; Nathaniel Silver of Hancock Shaker Village; Wendy Healey of Ventfort Hall; and Kristy Edmunds of MASS MoCA.
These were lively, entertaining, and informative conversations that will inspire you to visit each of these institutions. Please check out the links below to listen in on the talks, which were held from July 17 to August 21.
MASS MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds in MASS MoCA’s Building 6. Kristy is the most senior director in this series of talks with the new directors of our cultural institutions. Her thought-provoking dialogue with Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Stanmeyer will give you insight into what a director sees, feels, dreams in overseeing MASS MoCA, the largest modern art museum in North America. (August 21 interview)
Ventfort Hall Executive Director Wendy Healey in Ventfort Hall’s parlor. Wendy talks with Anastasia about the beautiful Berkshire Gilded Age “cottage” that is now a museum open to the public for all to tour. It is also a special events venue where weddings and other celebrations are held. The house was built in 1893 for George and Sarah Morgan, sister of J.P. Morgan. Its exterior is brick with brownstone trim, containing approximately 50 rooms in a total of 28,000 square feet of living space. It has a colorful history that Wendy discusses, and she also talks about events that are coming up, as well as restoration plans for the venerated location. (August 14 interview)
Hancock Shaker Village (now former) Executive Director Nathaniel Silver and Board Chair Bob Plotz in Hancock’s Visitors Center. Nat talks about the major building plans that are coming up, the Country Fair, an offer he could not refuse that means a change in the directorship, and a myriad other topics. (August 7 interview)
Barrington Stage Company Artistic Director Alan Paul at Barrington Stage’s Wolfson Center. They discuss his process of selecting performances for a season, his love of directing, bringing back The Happiest Man on Earth in the fall, Lillias White, the things he learned this first year with Barrington Stage, and stars that he would like to bring to Barrington Stage (Bernadette Peters and Brian Stokes Mitchell), and more. (July 31 interview)
Chester Theatre Co-Artistic Director James Barry at the Berkshire Atheneum. They discuss some tricky design maneuvering (how they made it rain blood), the uniqueness of Chester Theatre, the offseason theater trips (next one coming up is to Ireland!), the collaborative nature of the theater companies, and more. (July 24 interview)
Berkshire Museum Executive Director Kimberly Bush Tomio in the museum’s second-floor gallery. They discuss the museum’s exciting renovations that are ongoing, the topics of deaccessioning of artwork and repatriating of artifacts, Wally the Stegosaurus, the moving of the aquarium, the museum’s history, and much more. (July 17 interview)
