Barrington Stage Company Announces new Education Leadership

“We are extremely fortunate to have Tim and Jane to lead our award-winning Education programs, which are at the heart of our work in the Berkshire community. Our Education Department will continue to flourish under their strong leadership,” said Artistic Director Julianne Boyd.

Mr. Paré will oversee the planning and execution of all educational programming, ensuring the high standards of BSC’s existing programs are upheld and continuing to build more opportunities for young people to become involved with and enriched by their experiences with theatre.  Ms. O’Leary will head BSC’s acclaimed Playwright Mentoring Project from October-April each year, working with more than 70 under-served youth ages 13-19 across Berkshire County. The department also oversees BSC’s Musical Theatre Conservatory, KidsAct! and Youth Theatre.

Tim Paré is from NYC by way of Michigan. Formerly, Tim was Education Director for Lake Dillon Theatre Company (CO). As an educator, Tim has worked with the education programs at Cohoes Music Hall (NY), Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts (MI), Arts Academy in the Woods (MI), STREB Action Lab’s SLAM (NY), Stagedoor Manor (NY), Granbury Opera House (TX), Little Theatre on the Square (IL), The Co-op School (NY). In development, with Gibney Dance and Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc). A graduate of Michigan State University, Tim has worked creatively as a writer, director, choreographer, and performer all over the country.

Jane O’Leary received her master’s degree in applied theatre from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. As a teaching artist, Jane has worked with the Creative Arts Team, Broadway Classroom, NYC Children’s Theater among others. Jane spent years in NYC as a professional actor. Directing credits include the Creative Arts Team Jr. Youth Theatre, the Strawberry One-Act Festival, the Belt Theatre, the Union County Performing Arts Center, and Blueberry Pond Theatre. Jane has taught and directed comedic improv at Gotham City Improv and performed at the PIT and UCB among others.

The mission of BSC’s Education Department is to awaken the minds, imaginations, and creative power of children and teenagers by providing opportunities for them to experience the joy of live theatre as performers, writers, technicians, and audience members.

BSC’s core education programs include KidsAct!, an acclaimed musical theatre program for children ages 8-15; Youth Theatre, designed to extend the professionalism of our Mainstage to local youth ages 15-19; Professional Internship Program, offering college students and recent graduates hands-on experience in the creation, carrying-out, and achievement of a professional theatre season; Musical Theatre Conservatory, providing college-aged students the opportunity to perform in major productions with top-level New York directors, choreographers and composers as well as attend master classes during Barrington Stage’s summer season; and the Playwright Mentoring Project (PMP), a six-month, out-of-school program that uses theatre as a catalyst to help under-served youth learn life skills that can aid them in developing positive self-images and developing conflict-resolution skills. PMP is the recipient of the nation’s highest honor for after school programs in arts and humanities, the Coming Up Taller Award, presented at the White House in 2007.

About Barrington Stage Company

Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity regional 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 in 2004 when it workshopped, and premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s musical hitThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which later transferred to Broadway, where it won two Tony Awards. In 2009/2010 Barrington Stage produced the world premiere of Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, which later moved Off-Broadway and played for two years. St. Germain’s Becoming Dr. Ruth (which premiered at BSC as Dr. Ruth, All the Way in 2012) is now playing Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre. Barrington Stage was voted “Best Live Theatre” by The Berkshire Eagle readers in 2011 and 2012 and was named “Best Theatre Company” in Metroland’s Best of the Capital Region 2009-2012.

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