and they gave her-- her the job. >> people sort of identify central beshire, pittsfield, with having people of color. and then-- so programs, if there are any, get concentrated there. and i'm saying, "well, what about the children that are one or two of them in a grade or a classroom, their needs are actually more significant in a lot of ways." and so those 10%, you know, populations need-- need attention and need support and resources, which has been a challenge for my organization, because if you apply for a grant, i can't compete with boston, with numbers. but the actual need in a community might be really greater in some ways because there isn't-- there isn't community around them to support them and create safety that they need. >> reporter: 20-year-old college student dorree ndooki says she's experienced that need for community. she moved to the berkshires from tanzania when she was seven. do you remember what it was like for you, going from an environment where everybody shared the same skin color as you to going to one where almost no one did? >> i think it's the first thing

. >> reporter: it's summer in pittsfield, the largest city in berkshire county, massachusetts, and tonight's audience is about to see something they probably haven't seen in months: live theater. ♪ oh, yeah! oh, bless the lord, my soul oh, ess the lord, my soul ♪ >> reporter: since the covid-19 pandemic hit, the stage actors' union, actors equity association, has only approved two theaters to resume live performances in the u.s. both of them were in the berkshires. the first was barrington stage company, which staged the one-man show "hay clark" in early august. the second, berkshire theatre group, is now performing the musical "godspell" through september 20. for that company's artistic director, kate maguire, the show marks a bright spot in a chaotic year. the normally vibrant theater community here has been in turmoil since massachusetts shut down non-essential workplaces due to covid-19. >> we closed up on march 11. everybodwent home. and then we recognized that we're in the business of putting on live theatre, and that our industry is at a complete standstill. >> reporter: the actors in

now a theater group in pittsfield, massachusetts, is offering help.onal union musical production in this country since the pandemic began. in our "new normal" series, jamie wax shows how they're working hard to keep everybody safe. >> reporter: the musical "godspell" has been performed before audiences since 1971, but never quite like this. ♪ day by day the berkshire group's production is the only live musical in the country with a professional union cast. ♪ what's going on here in massachusetts has captivated the artistic community's attention. could this be the new normal for theater-going in a pandemic? >> every inch of precaution you could imagine being taken is probably being taken here. >> what i need to confirm -- >> reporter: costumes, sets, and the 50-seat outdoor performance space are all designed to optimize safety. >> in ways because of the restrictions, this production has turned out to be much more inventive. >> reporter: director alan fillederman and choreographer co gerry mcintyre has staged with a new set of rules. >> you have to be s