Colonial Theatre Rehires Simon Shaw
To Resume Programming Pittsfield Venue
By: Colonial - Jan 07, 2011
Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire is pleased to announce the hiring of Simon Shaw to take over the programming duties for The Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Festival, effective as of January 1. Shaw will be charged with selecting the artists that will perform throughout the year, in collaboration with Maguire. He returns to the Colonial after programming the inaugural season in 2006.
The Colonial Theatre has a full slate of performances scheduled through May, all of which will continue as originally scheduled. While Mr. Shaw may add on to the existing calendar, his primary focus is on the 2011–2012 season which will begin in June.
According to Maguire, “Simon is a consummate professional and we are very lucky to have him as part of the Colonial team. We look forward to the programming opportunities now that we have three stages to work on. Simon’s years of experience, network of contacts, and personality make this an ideal fit.”
Shaw is pleased to come onboard for this year. “I am thrilled to be associated with The Colonial Theatre once again and look forward to this wonderful opportunity.”
Simon Shaw is president of Shaw Entertainment Group, specializing in booking, programming and producing live entertainment for Performing Arts Centers. With 16 years of experience on both sides of the Atlantic as a booking agent, promoter, and director of programming, Mr. Shaw has a rare insight into the world of presenting live entertainment. Mr. Shaw came to New York in 1999 and worked for a Broadway booking agency where he was involved with many successful Broadway tours including Cabaret, Rent, Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia, The Full Monty, Fosse, Contact, Seussical the Musical and Kiss me, Kate. In 2005, Shaw moved to the Berkshires to program the inaugural season of The Colonial Theatre. In 2006 he joined a Los Angeles based booking agency working from his home in the Berkshires. .