March 16, 2026

Reports The Manchester Journal:

"On a chilly March morning, Kaiya Kirk, executive director at Bennington Theater, settles into a front-row seat.

“'The first play I was part of was in my elementary school gym where we had PE class, ate lunch and had dances and assemblies–our gym was multi-purpose. My first off-Broadway job in New York was at Abrons Art Center,' she says, recalling one of her field work terms while a student at Bennington College. 'Abrons is the performing arts wing of a larger social services organization called Henry Street Settlement whose mission is, among many things, to provide low-cost, inclusive programming to the community.'

"The Abrons Art Center built its reputation by presenting ground-breaking artists such as Martha Graham and Dizzy Gillespie and innovative contemporary creative work.

“'On the other hand,' Kirk points out, 'when the NYPD needs to hold a press conference, they often do it there. It’s a multi-functional community gathering space.' 

"Those experiences inform Kirk’s vision for the Bennington Theater, a role she’s had for a little over a year. She’s working to expand programming, noting, for example, that the theater will present the select board candidate forum one night, a comedy show the next and an improvisation class the night after that."