Two Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based theatre companies are receiving million dollar gifts from the estate of a late matron of the arts.
The donations to Berkshire Theatre Group and Barrington Stage Company from the family of Mary Anne Gross, who died last December, were announced Thursday afternoon. Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire says it means Berkshire Theatre Group can keep staffers on the payroll amid the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We incurred costs to make sure that we could get a show up on stage this summer to make sure that the Berkshires was still alive with the arts, and this gift is a great acknowledgement of the hard work and hopefully an inspiration to others to give as well,” she told WAMC.
In a region known for its arts organizations, BTG and BSC were the only to present productions during the usually vibrant summer theatre season.
