The new pavilion will be ready for outdoor performances this summer.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The popular Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park program will launch a second, expanded season in July, this time setting up shop around the new performance pavilion in the recently renovated Common.

 

This year's production will increased by one third in its number of performances, according to founder Enrico Spada, with three four-day weekends from July 16 to Aug. 2.

 

Logistical concerns surrounding the theater company's monthlong use of the newly completed downtown park were of keen interest, since Spada's proposal marks the first major event application to come before the city's Parks Commission for approval, but Commissioner Anthony DiMartino said he anticipates this will be the "first of many" elaborate functions which will have to be worked out.

 

"This is exactly the kind of event we envisioned for that park," said DiMartino at a meeting of the commission on Tuesday.

 

While the pavilion, specifically designed to accommodate a variety of performance types, offers ample power for the company's purposes, staff said safety and security of their ample equipment and staging construction will be more paramount in the new location than in the less trafficked section of Springside Park, where the troupe took up residence last year for a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

 

"Most of your events will be one-day events. This is just a little bit different in the request of having it for a monthlong period," said Director of Building Maintenance Peter Sondrini. "The only issue I see is, you won't be able to attach your set to that building structure, so you'll have to make it secure."

 

"These are more accessible areas, and there's a lot more frequency of people than at Springside Park," Sondrini added.

 

The only other minor caveat presented was the possible conflict of park usage on Shakespeare's final performance date of Aug. 2, on which Downtown Inc has also expressed informal interest in the Common as a possible new site for its annual Ethnic Fair.  

 

"I guess the only question would be how to transition between the two," said DiMartino, though Spada assured the commissioners that in the event of the Ethnic Fair plan coming to fruition it would be possible to coordinate so that the two uses did not interfere with one another.

 

"To my mind, this is a perfect event to have at the Common," said Commissioner Simon Muil. 

 

Spada told iBerkshires that they have not yet made a final decision on which of the Bard's works will be performed this summer, but that elements such as its popular youth educational program will again be a part of the production.

 

The Common saw a ribbon cutting ceremony held earlier this week to officially celebrate the $4.6 million dollar overhaul of the small park over the past several summers, and is now "98% completed" according to Parks & Open Spaces Manager James McGrath.

 

In addition to Shakespeare and the possible Ethnic Fair festivities, the Common will also serve as the headquarters of the annual Pittsfield Garden Tour this summer, and the prominent Carol Gold sculpture donated by the PGT club will be receiving some additional landscaping. 

 

"It's a great way to introduce the new park to the gardeners," said Ann Pasko, who unveiled the club's plans for plantings to further beautify the area where the statue resides. 

 

"It's really a very well thought-out design," said Pasko of the proposed landscaping, which the commission approved unanimously.

 

"We certainly appreciate all the time and money that you have put into it," said Chairman John Herman.