Founded in 1976 by Robert Y. Burns

 

 

Starlight Stage Youth Theatre

Williamstown, MA

 

Founded in 1976 by Robert Y. Burns



 


 

Current Season


Our 2019 production is "The Giver"


Adapted by Eric Coble from the Newberry Award-winning book by Lois Lowry


Monday, June 25-Sunday, July 28
Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-noon
Performances July 25-27
Strike July 28
at the First Congregational Church
906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown

Directed by James P. Briggs

 


James P. Briggs



Jim Briggs is a native of Williamstown and a Starlight Stage alumnus.

He majored in theater at Middlebury College and received an MFA in acting from the Asolo Conservatory in Sarasota, Florida.

Jim has acted in many professional productions around the country and recently appeared off-Broadway in the one-man show, Vincent, about the life of Vincent van Gogh.

Jim has worked extensively with children both in and out of the theater and is thrilled to direct this summer's production.

 

Starlight Stage Youth Theatre 2019 - 44th Season

 

By Jenn Smith , The Berkshire Eagle

WILLIAMSTOWN - In "The Giver," Lois Lowry's 1993 futuristic dystopian young adult novel, the protagonist, Jonas, says to his little sister, Lily, "I feel sorry for anyone who is in a place where he feels strange and stupid."

Fortunately, Starlight Stage Youth Theatre, which is presenting Eric Coble's stage adaptation of the novel this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is a place where all are welcome, so long as they're willing to do the work.

This marks the 44th season for the summer theater company, which runs a five-week rehearsal program for youths between the ages of 7 and 18 years old. Founded by Robert Y. Burns, 72, a lifelong Williamstown resident and educator, as a summer theater program of Pine Cobble School, the youth theater continues to draw new generations of local families into its productions, with alumni playing supporting roles in keeping the program going.

Debra Kaplan-Kira lives in the state of Florida, but she grew up in Williamstown and got involved in Starlight Stage after hearing an announcement about it at Mount Greylock Regional School.

"It was my first real introduction to theater. I had never memorized lines and blocking. I had a set a friends, but I never had to work with them. It's a different skill," Kaplan-Kira said.

On a recent Monday morning, she was sitting in the auditorium of the First Congregational Church Williamstown, watching her daughter, Rebecca Kira, 14, move folding tables to set up for a rehearsal for "The Giver." The teenager has been with Starlight Stage since she was a very demure 7-year-old.

"Now, this is the highlight of her summer," the mother said, noting that her family travels back here each year so her daughter can participate in the program. She says it offers a more personal and in-depth experience versus programs in Florida.

"I'm very proud — I boast about it. I think the theater has helped her overcome her shyness in different ways," Kaplan-Kira said.

The participants come from different towns, different grade levels, different abilities and experiences with the theater. Burns said the ensembles are typically kept on the small side, between 14 to 22 youths, to ensure that young people are building a rapport with one another.

"We're very strict on behavior in that we treat [all kids] the same here," Burns said. "Everyone has a role."

"It's really fun and enjoyable. They give you more responsibility here than other places," said Sofi Collins, 12, of Pownal, Vt.

"They treat you like adults," said Marguerite Guerrero, 11, of Averill Park, N.Y.

Melanie Moresi, 13, of North Adams, said that means getting a say in how the show looks and feels, and being a part of everything from finding props to putting up posters.

"They ask us about costumes and sets and if we have ideas and they consider them. They ask us about stuff before we do it," Moresi said.

Burns himself said he had never done theater in his life until he went to Berkshire Community College, but became enchanted by the process that went into putting on a production, from lights to lines.

"I fell in love with it. I loved the fact that I had control of the audience. Bob Boland taught me everything I know," he said, referring to a longtime and much beloved fine arts faculty member of the college who was a devoted advocate for the craft.

For Burns, theater became a lifelong family affair, involving his wife, Gail, a local theater critic, and their sons, Brandon and Tristan, who, now grown, continue to help stage the youth productions.

For this year's production of "The Giver," Starlight alumnus and theater professional James P. Briggs, is directing for the first time for the summer program. His children, Patrick and Sarah, are also involved.

"One of the things that has set Starlight apart from its inception is that it trusts the kids with deeper and more meaningful material than most," the director said.

Kaplan-Kira recalled her first production with Starlight as the 19th-century comedic opera, "The Mikado." Burns remembers adapting for the Starlight youth stage "Under Milk Wood," a 1954 radio drama written by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.

"In an era where many kids never get to perform anything more than junior versions of Disney movies, the chance to participate in a play with real meaning and depth is unique. Theater as an art is meant to challenge the audience, and kids are fully capable of working on more dramatic plays than most of what is typically done," James Briggs said.

Rebecca Kira called "The Giver" a "good choice" for a cast around her age.

The story's characters are adolescents and teens who live in a futuristic society of idealistic law and order and assigned roles. But this existence is later revealed to be a distorted interpretation of Utopia. The Elders of the land leverage the complacency of inhabitants and use chemical injections to control everything from life to death to hormones among its population, in an attempt to prevent feelings of pain or fear.

"It's very powerful," said Kira, who plays a girl named Lily.

The story follows the journey of Lily's older brother, Jonas, who, through the guidance of the play's title character of The Giver (Sarah Briggs), reveals the truths of this society, its foundations, and the lengths the Elders will go to to maintain it. It is then up to Jonas to decide whether to follow along or become a defector.

Jonas is portrayed by 11-year-old Garcia Mongue of Williamstown, who says the play is "Very interesting. It makes you think."

Mongue said he more relates to the easy nature of the good-humored character of Asher (Gavin LaForest) versus the authority-questioning Jonas, but, he said, the rehearsals and cast help him with his role. "Everybody's so supportive," he said.

Said the director, "We've had some wonderful discussions throughout the rehearsal process and the kids have really embraced it all."