Berkshire Juvenile Court’s Shakespeare in the Courts Program
Is Recipient of National Award

Left to right are: Berkshire County Juvenile Court Probation Officer Nancy Macauley, Judge Paul Perachi, former Shakespeare in the Courts participant Collette Davis; and Shakespeare & Company Director of Education Kevin Coleman.

First Lady Laura Bush at White House ceremony where Shakespeare in the Courts receives "Coming Up Taller" Award.

The Shakespeare in the Courts Program, an initiative for juvenile probationers and court-involved youth in Berkshire County, was one of 17 cultural arts programs from across the nation chosen to receive the “Coming Up Taller Award,” which was presented by First Lady Laura Bush at the White House on Monday.

The “Coming Up” Award, which includes a $10,000 grant, was established in 1998 by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Berkshire County Juvenile Court Judge Paul Perachi, Probation Officer Nancy Macauley and Shakespeare & Company Director of Education Kevin Coleman traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the award. Macauley, who oversees the Shakespeare in the Courts Program, accompanied an 18-year-old woman who participated in the program twice. The White House ceremony was followed by a reception in the East Room and meetings with Senator John Kerry and Congressman John Olver.

“It was wonderful for the program to get recognized and at that level. For the 15 to 16 children we have participate in the program each session, it has an everlasting effect on their lives,” Macauley said. “This award is validation of how important the Shakespeare & Company and the Berkshire County Juvenile Court program is. We’ve (probation and the court) have established a relationship with a company that has the tools to help children.”

Shakespeare in the Courts is the brainchild of Judge Paul E. Perachi and Shakespeare & Company’s Coleman. The program is managed by Macauley in collaboration with the Lenox-based Shakespeare & Company.

Judge Perachi, a former school principal, said he “never expected to end up in the White House” when he and Coleman designed the program.

“As a school principal 20 years ago, I saw the positive effect performing Shakespeare had on students. As a judge, I recognized that some of the young people who came before the court were struggling with poor self-esteem and were unable to communicate effectively which was frustrating for them—frustration that often led to violence,” said Judge Perachi.

“Being able to perform Shakespeare for these children made a real difference. I found that working with probation and through probation supervision, we can get it done.”

Shakespeare in the Courts was chosen from a pool of 250 nominees for the award. The program is six years old and has had about 100 participants. The six-week program runs from February through April with practice three times a week. In April, the group performs a Shakespeare play before an audience of family members, friends and Juvenile Court employees.

This year’s play, which has not been chosen yet, will be performed on April 11th.