Barrington Stage Company Black Voices Legacy Awards

11:06AM / Thursday, February 19, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.—Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul and Managing Director Greg Reiner, announced the inaugural Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards, a community-centered evening honoring the past, celebrating the present, and uplifting those shaping the future of the local Black community.

The event will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, beginning with a pre-show reception at 5:00 PM at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, followed by the awards ceremony at 6:00 PM at the St. Germain Theatre at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street).

"Barrington Stage Company has always believed that theatre lives most powerfully when it is rooted in community," said Greg Reiner, Managing Director of Barrington Stage Company. "The Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards affirm that commitment by honoring the individuals and leaders whose contributions have shaped, strengthened, and sustained the Berkshires. As an inaugural event, this evening marks not just a celebration, but a promise—to listen, to uplift, and to continue building a more inclusive future together."

The evening will begin with a festive reception featuring a live jazz performance by Living Legend Award recipient Wanda Houston, accompanied by her band—Andy Wrba, Conor Meehan, and Benny "Fingers" Kohn. Guests will enjoy drinks and light refreshments while gathering in celebration and connection.

At 6:00 PM, the Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards Ceremony will commence, hosted by Broadway veteran and BSC Associate Artist Alan H. Green. Directed by Josh Adam Ramos, the ceremony will include award presentations, special performances, and moments of reflection honoring individuals, businesses, and organizations whose contributions continue to enrich, empower, and shape the Berkshire community.

"This inaugural celebration is about visibility, gratitude, and joy," said Sharron Frazier-McClain, Barrington Stage Company's Director of Community Engagement and the event's Creator and Producer. "It is a moment to acknowledge those whose work—often behind the scenes—has built foundations, opened doors, and inspired future generations. Every voice matters, and every legacy deserves to be seen."

Honors

Ancestors' Legacy Award: Shirley Edgerton
Honoring elders and trailblazers whose wisdom, leadership, and sacrifice laid the groundwork for today's community strength.

Shirley Edgerton is an educator, DEI practitioner, and community activist. In 2010, she launched Rites of Passage and Empowerment, a mentoring program for young people of color identifying as female or non-binary.

Pillars of the Community Award: Dennis L. Powell (NAACP)
Recognizing those who consistently show up—quietly or boldly—to provide stability, guidance, and care across generations.

Dennis L. Powell is an accomplished chef, a graduate and former faculty member of the Culinary Institute of America, and President of the NAACP Berkshire County Branch since 2015. He was born and raised in Pittsfield.

Living Legend Award: Wanda Houston
Celebrating a legacy still in motion—uplifting, mentoring, and amplifying Black voices through art and leadership.

Wanda Houston has performed on stages throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia, as well as on Broadway, film, recordings, and television. Berkshire Magazine named her one of the Berkshire 25 in 2022.

Celebration of Black Voices All-Star Award: Sherrie Bethel
Honoring a contributor whose talent, heart, and storytelling have shaped the spirit of the Celebration of Black Voices Festival.

Sherrie Bethel is a local poet and a core collaborator with the Celebration of Black Voices since its inception. She has been foundational to several CBV programs, including the Gospel Choir, Devised Theater, and Poetry Slam.

Allyship in Action Award: John Bissell (Greylock Federal Credit Union)
Recognizing the meaningful use of influence and resources to actively support and uplift communities of color.

John Bissell is President and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union and, alongside Julianne Boyd, a co-founder of Berkshire Underground. He was named CEO of the Year in 2019 by the Cooperative Credit Union Association.

Culture Keeper Award (Past & Present): Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed
Honoring those who preserve, teach, and advance Black culture, history, and traditions.

Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed is Professor Emeritus of History at MCLA. A scholar, writer, and civil rights activist, her work centers on the African American experience in rural and small-town America, with a focus on both the Deep South and the Berkshires.

Rising Changemaker Award: Dashine Moore (Beat the Streets)
Highlighting an emerging leader demonstrating vision, promise, and commitment to community transformation.

Dashine Moore is the founder of Beat the Streets, a program dedicated to empowering Pittsfield youth through basketball and mentorship.

Dream Forward Award: John Lewis
Recognizing visionary leadership that builds pathways for Black excellence, sustainability, and freedom.

John Lewis is the Founder and CEO of R3SET Enterprises, pioneering equitable resource distribution models for disenfranchised communities and reimagining how commerce, governance, and social equity intersect.

Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards host Alan H. Green is an actor whose three-decade career has taken him from Broadway to the White House and from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to stages across the country. He is an Associate Artist and Board Member of Barrington Stage Company.

The evening's director, Josh Adam Ramos is a director, producer, and arts educator whose work centers community-driven storytelling and inclusive artistic collaboration.

Infused with artistry, storytelling, and deep appreciation, the Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards promises an evening of recognition, reflection, and collective joy—honoring the legacies that shaped our past while lighting the way forward.

Tickets are $30 available by calling 413.242.6411, or online at https://barringtonstageco.org/cbv-legacy-awards/

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BRTA Focuses on a New Run Schedule

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
01:26PM / Wednesday, April 29, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is still working on maintaining its run schedules after dropping the route realignment proposal.

Last Thursday's meeting was Administrator Kathleen Lambert's first official meeting taking over the reins; retiring director Robert Malnati stayed during a transition period that ended last month.

Lambert is trying to create a schedule that will lessen cancellations. There was a two-hour meeting the week before with the drivers union to negotiate run bids and Lambert is working with the new operating company Keolis, which is taking over from Transdev.

The board spoke about anonymous emails from drivers, which Lambert said she has not seen. iBerkshires was not able to see those letters, but has received some.

"They were lengthy emails from someone describing themselves as concerning BRTA employee, and there was a signed letter from a whole group of employees basically stating their concerns. So, you know, to me, it was a set of whistleblowers, and that, what my understanding is that this really triggers a need for some type of process to review the merits of these whistleblowers, not going to call them accusations, but basically expressions of concern," said member Stephen Bannon.

A letter iBerkshires received spoke of unhappy drivers who were considering quitting because of decisions being made without "input from frontline staff," frustration and falling morale, and the removal of the former general manager shortly after Lambert came in.

Lambert said it's difficult to navigate a new change. She also noted many drivers don't want to do Saturday runs and it has been hard negotiating with drivers on the new runs.

"I would like you all to keep in mind that the process of change is super difficult. Transdev has been here for 20 years, and some of these drivers have never known any other operating company, the way some of the operations have been handled has been archaic," she said. "So getting folks up to speed on how a modern transit system works is going to be painful for them. So I don't want to say that I'm unsympathetic, because I am sympathetic, but I am trying to coax people along with a system that's going to seem very strange to them."

The board spoke about better communication between them and Lambert, citing cooperation will be best moving forward.

"There's just a lot of stuff in the air right now, and there are a lot of fires to put out to make this a coordinated effort. And if we don't keep our communications open and be straightforward, then you get blindsided about how you know the input that you could get from us about your position, and how you know what's going on in your direction, and we get blindsided. And I think that we have to make sure that this is a collaboration," said member Sherry Youngkin.

"Both sides have responsibilities, because in the long run, this advisory board is going to have to make decisions as to how we brought forward and if we've gone forward in a fair and helpful way. And I think that's hopefully what everybody is looking for also."

Transdev and Keolis held a three-day recruiting event interviewing almost 40 candidates and offering jobs to eight, but only three stayed on to start training. Lambert said it was disappointing but she will keep trying to retain more people.

In her first report to the board, she noted that ridership dipped a little over 10 percent, but still remains higher than last year, adding that was because of cancellations of services because of the lack of drivers.

Like the last meeting, some of the advisory board members were torn over the start of the Link413 service, worried that the start of the service took drivers away and the numbers of riders are low.

Lambert, however, said the ridership has doubled from last month.

"As I've spoken before, we have, generally, a six-month adoption for brand-new service before you can really go in and evaluate, are you being successful based on the grant that my predecessor wrote along with the team for PBTA and RTA, we are ahead of schedule, which is pretty good, so I'm hoping that will continue to improve," she said.

Member Renee Wood said the board never approved the service, adding the only thing she could find in the minutes was a vote to accept the equipment. She said it was supposed to be put on the agenda to discuss.

"The Link413 service has been three years in the making. It's been a grant that was accepted and has been working with our partners, PVTA and FRTA, to put into place. So I don't have the entire history of how that process worked, but it's been three years in the making, and did we not understand that once we accept that grant that we were going to put in new service?" Lambert said.

The board discussed if Title VI, the Civil Rights Act, was followed with an accurate review and accurate amount of time for public comment period on the service changes and if its attorney should review if the grant conditions were properly followed.

Lambert said changes had the 60-day comment period included in the proposed route realignment packet, giving the opportunity for the community to respond to that as well but will look into the legality of the situation with their attorney.

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