Fresh Grass and Williamstown Theatre Festival

Cancel 2026 Season

By: Charles Giuliano - Jan 26, 2026

 

What gives?

First Williamstown Theatre Festival and now MASS MoCA's Fresh Grass have cancelled their 2026 seasons.

Both festivals intend to return in 2027.

Last summer WTF revised their format with performances all over the map, including a skating rink.

As well as the main stage for the rarely performed Tennessee Williams play Casino Royal with the edgy casting of Pamela Anderson. 

Much of the work garnered mixed responses from audiences.

Note that I did not say reviews as WTF made interested scribes, other then major media outlets, jump through hoops for tickets.

Some works deemed "in progress" were embargoed.

Colleagues and theatre people we discussed the season with were, other than some highlights, not amused.

The programming was cutting edge and geared to youthful, avant-garde peers.

As a former board member pointed out to me, that is not the demographic of generally older and more conservative Berkshire audiences. 

The festival has a long tradition of casting established and emerging artists and developing productions that transferred to New York. 

That provided a heady mix of professional theatre. There was always something to like. Until, that is, artistic directors were more intent on peer approval than audiences. 

In the past few seasons WTF has made some costly errors including exploiting interns and putting tech crews at risk and under stress.

This season the festival will take time to develop a revised biennial schedule. 

There have been similar concerns for Fresh Grass which makes enormous demands on limited staff.

They too will take time out this year to think things over. 

There have been no announcements regarding MoCA's other festivals, Bang on a Can, and Solid Sound which returns June 26-28, 2026.