Jennifer Howard (Teaching Artist / Executive Director)

Jennifer was a student of Minerva Stage in the 90’s and began working for Minerva Stage Summer workshops in 2000.  Jennifer also Produced OPCAF (Original Playwright, Choreography and Artists Festival) and SIFF (Student Independent Film Festival), Directed the McCann Musicals, and Assisted with the Mt Greylock Middle School productions for several years for Minerva. She has taught Minerva programming to students in the greater Boston area and was Artistic Director for OnStage School of Performing Arts in Charlotte, NC (2013 – 2016). Jennifer has also worked as a freelance Director, Stage Manager, and Lighting Designer for various community and professional theater companies, including Main Street Stage, Company One, Underground Railway Theater, and Central Square Theatre.

Nicole Rizzo (Teaching Artist / Choreographer)

Nicole is a Berkshire native, who pursued her ambitions in dance and theatre at Circle in the Square Theatre Conservatory in NYC. While in New York, she worked off-Broadway as a dancer in a variety of shows. She took part in the Fringe Festival’s “Wanted Ex-Cheerleaders” featured in The New York Times and worked under the ICM agency to pursue further work in commercials and film. During her time in Los Angeles, she appeared in TV shows and independent movies including “Kenmore Ave” which was featured at the Sundance Film Festival. Nicole was honored to choreograph and dance for the legendary Pointer Sisters at the Royal Venue, a benefit for the City of Hope Foundation held at the The Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre in Los Angeles. Nicole currently is founder and artistic director of “Gypsy Lane Cabaret & Company.” She also spends her time as a freelance choreographer, director and teaching artist for Drury High School, Berkshire School and Mt. Greylock Regional School District. She is thrilled to be teaching for Minerva Arts Center!

Cassandra Vallieres (Teaching Artist / MAC Treasures Manager)

Cassandra first met Minerva when she was cast as Sandy in Grease her senior year of high school (2008). Prior to that she was in three other productions during her middle school career that sparked her passion for theatrical arts (Joseph and the Amazing Technical Dream Coat, The Music Man, and The King and I). Cassandra has performed in numerous Minerva productions, including every Little to Big Presentation! In addition to being a talented actor and vocalist, she has taken on many technical roles for Minerva over the years including Stage Managing Wizard of Oz (2009), Sound Design for Marcus is Walking (2009), Lighting Design for Waiting for Godot (2010), Scenic Design for The Lion King (2013), and Hair and Makeup Design for The Hobbit (2014). Cassandra is a skilled Makeup Artist, including creation of bald caps, beards, and prosthetics for shows such as The Hobbit, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Shrek. She made her Directorial debut in 2015 with Harry Potter, and has Directed several Minerva productions since. She is looking forward to the many more adventures she will have with Minerva!

Laurie Brenner (Teaching Artist / Music Director)

Christopher Beaulieu (Teaching Artist / Fight Choreographer) is an educator and artist with over 25 years of experience facilitating Community Building programs all over the world. His belief is that what matters most to our communities is the level of effort, risk, and communication we are willing to put into them is in direct correlation with what we get out of them. The investigation of how we process our experiences with one another is key to our outcomes. Complacency is poison to our systems and so we must stand with a clear point of view and understand the necessity of observing any given situation without judgement or opinion. Training: Shakespeare & Company, Dell Arte International, Society of American Fight Directors, Pilobolus, and Creatively Independent.

Kathy O’Mara (Teaching Artist / Founder, Minerva Stage)

AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY DONATIONS!

WE ARE CURRENTLY LIQUIDATING OUR INVENTORY, AND WILL BE CLOSING IN NOVEMBER.

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND CUSTOMERS

FOR AN AMAZING 8 YEARS IN THE THRIFT STORE BUSINESS!

MAC Treasures Thrift Store is a continual fundraiser for The MAC Scholarship program, making educational arts programming accessible for all!

Located at 350 State Road, North Adams, MAC Treasures is a maze of rooms filled with every treasure you can imagine. From antiques to appliances, clothes to jewelry, baby\kids stuff and lots of furniture!  A store not to miss! Come discover your treasure today!

DONATE:  We accept gently used donations during normal business hours. We do not accept mattresses and couches, TVs (including old monitors), and car-seats.  PLEASE check our store hours below, and do NOT leave items on the sidewalk!  Thanks!

VOLUNTEER:  MAC Treasures is run by a team of dedicated volunteers, who are committed to supporting the Minerva Arts Center, and the educational theater opportunities provided to local youth.  There are numerous opportunities to help out at MAC Treasures, from straightening clothes racks and organizing display shelves, to sorting donations and running the register.  For more info, click here.

Our Summer hours are:
Monday:    11am – 6pm
Tuesday:    11am – 6pm
Wednesday: 11am – 6pm
Thursday: 11am – 6pm
Friday:      11am – 6pm
Saturday: 12pm – 5pm
Sunday:   12pm – 5pm

Join us on FaceBook for regular updates: www.facebook.com/MinervaTagSaleCenter

You can also get updated information by calling: 413-475-MACT (6228)

Check out this PSA created by Lucas Forman, one of the Minerva Filmmaking students!!

Minerva Stage, “where students’ art forms are celebrated, and hidden talents are discovered”.

Mission Statement:

To promote the importance of an arts-based education by providing high quality arts programming, to inspire creativity in our community, and to offer opportunities for students and adults of all ages to realize their true artistic potential.

About The MAC:

Founded in 1996 by Kathleen O’Mara, Minerva Stage has been providing residents of Berkshire County with arts education for over 20 years.  In response to increased community interest in cultural and educational arts opportunities, The Minerva Arts Center was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in 2011.  Since then, The MAC has continued to have success with established, as well as new program offerings.

In 2012, MAC Treasures Thrift Store was established as an ongoing fundraiser to provide scholarship support for Minerva programming to the community.  The viability of the store comes from community donations of goods that are sold, as well as a volunteer troupe who run the store, consisting of Minerva teachers, families, and community supporters who share The MAC’s mission to provide high-quality arts programming in Berkshire County.

In 2016, previous Minerva student, Jennifer Howard was named Executive Director, bringing her 17 years experience as a teaching artist and her 20 years of financial and business background.

History:

In 1996, Kathleen O’Mara founded Minerva Stage in Williamstown, Massachusetts to introduce students of all ages to performing and visual art experiences. Since then, Minerva Stage has worked with thousands of students in myriad artistic, expressive, and academic projects. Minerva Stage is committed to the development of educational programs for students interested in the arts. Minerva Stage programming and workshops can be structured to tailor specific community and organizational needs, including scheduling and duration of program. Workshop and performance program fees are determined by length of project, production costs and community resources. Minerva Stage assists with fundraising, grant research and writing, and offers student scholarships. Ms. O’Mara has a Master’s in Education and has been teaching theater since 1992, providing students from different communities around the country, opportunities to explore the world of theater and visual arts.

THE TIME IS RIGHT! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please join us in creating this wonderful cultural center that will provide much needed education and arts facilities for our children and our community, and will be a cultural attraction to bring others to Williamstown. There are many opportunities to get involved.

What we plan to do:
The objective of this project is to develop a multi-use community arts complex with the primary focus on a state of the art performance space indoors and an outdoor space that would provide access for community arts related programming and organizations. Additional concepts being considered and not limited to:

• Café/Bakery/Boutique/ Arts library
• Teaching gardens
• Housing year round farmers market/seed swap/ food subscription
• Artist ‘cottages’ along property line. 10×20 structure housing each art form.
• Outdoor green space and amphitheater

How we are going to do it:

• Generate community interest and involvement in the project.
• Raise $150,000, which will allow us to purchase and operate the property until completion of construction and renovations.
• Execute a Capital
• Campaign to renovate the existing structure and create a state of the art 250 seat theatre, lobby, rehearsal and support facilities, and related site improvements, as well as fund the salaries of four full-time staff for the first two years after completion.

What we have done so far:

• Performed initial site feasibility review
• Analysis of financial needs to purchase and operate facility through construction
• Met with various professionals and interested parties, including building and energy consultants, theatre professionals, community partners, and town officials

What’s Next:

• Develop Architectural Drawings and Comprehensive Site Plan
• Meet with State and local officials to review public funding options and building requirements
• Establish committees to move the project towards completion