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BSC Partners with Community to Present “In The Eyes of Haitian Child” Benefit Concert
Posted by Gail M. Burns - February 2010
Local Organization, High Schools and Musicians Join Together in Concert March 6
(Pittsfield, MA) February 22, 2010 – Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, and Producing Director Richard M. Parison, Jr., announces a collaboration with the Catholic Outreach to Youth (COTY) Center of North Adams, local musician Marisa Massery and four local high school choruses to present In the Eyes of a Haitian Child, a benefit concert in support of the children of Haiti on Saturday, March 6 at 7pm. The concert will be held at the Barrington Stage Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield.
High School choruses performing in the concert are Pittsfield High School (under the direction of Gaylan Palmer), St. Joseph Central High School (under the direction of Marilyn Kirby and Karen Auge), Miss Hall’s High School (under the direction of Deborah Duff) and Taconic High School (under the direction of Jessica Passetto).
The concert will feature selections from the four high schools as well as piano and vocal selections from Marisa Massery, who last performed at Barrington Stage in December with Matt Cusson in Matt Cusson: Home for Christmas. The four choruses will also join together with Marisa to sing the Haitian song “Moi n’pas Connais.”
All proceeds from the concert will be used to purchase a product called a LifeStraw® which is a portable water filter for the prevention of common waterborne disease. It is small enough for children to carry around for easy access to safe and clean drinking water. In March, Massery will travel to Haiti with a Berkshire-based Haiti Plunge team to help distribute the LifeStraws® and to assist in rebuilding homes affected by the recent earthquakes. The goal is to purchase 2,000 LifeStraws® for distribution in Haiti.
Vocalist/pianist Marisa Massery is a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph High School and a 2009 graduate of Providence College. In 2003, as a 15-year-old high school student, she made her first trip to Haiti as a youth team member of the North Adams based Haiti Plunge ministry of the COTY Center. As a regular member of the high school chorus, she was deeply moved by the unwavering, joyful and melodic spirit of the Haitian people, especially the children. Upon her return to Pittsfield, she wrote a poem entitled “Eyes of a Haitian Child” which later became the title song of her independent album of the same name. Marisa is currently a disability claims analyst at Berkshire Life. She also continues to volunteer her time with her local alma mater, the St. Joseph High School chorus.
The In the Eyes of a Haitian Child benefit concert will be held at Barrington Stage’s Mainstage Theatre, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Tickets to the concert are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under and may be purchased online at barringtonstageco.org or by calling the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888.
About the COTY Center
The Church Outreach To Youth Project, Inc. (COTY) is a not-for-profit community networking agency in North Adams. Founded in 1984, it serves as the umbrella for twelve programs designed specifically for youth ages 8-22 who participate in its diversified and unique program opportunities. Each program reflects the COTY Center’s vision for youth. Its mission promotes a safe atmosphere for young people to gather together and renew themselves through relaxing and stimulating activities. Located in the center of North Adams on the St. Anthony Campus, it provides a well supervised environment that delivers continuity and structure for growth and development. The focus of COTY is creating opportunities for building healthier and more respectful relationships between family, school, church, community and peers.
About Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity theatre located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield, MA, was co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage’s mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways to bringing new audiences into the theatre—especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention with William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony Award-winning musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which began as a workshop at Barrington Stage in February 2004, was produced in its world premiere to critical acclaim that summer, and later transferred to Broadway’s Circle-in-the-Square Theatre where it played more than 1,000 performances. For more information, log on to www.barringtonstageco.org.