Jacob’s Pillow halts festival after tragic death

On Aug. 1, a dolly carrying staging platforms lost control on the sloped grounds of Jacob’s Pillow, the beloved dance festival in Becket, Massachusetts. In its path was production manager Kat Sirico, age 40, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident. The Berkshire District Attorney confirmed it was a tragic accident, with no criminal charges to follow. But such announcements don’t soften the edges of loss, they only mark its arrival.

What began as a weekend pause quickly turned into an announcement of a longer hiatus. By Aug. 5, the Festival’s leadership made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the season. This, they said, was in service to mourning, to remembering, to healing. “Their spirit, generosity, and dedication touched the lives of many,” said Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director of Sirico. “Kat was not only a leader but a beloved presence. We owe it to them, and to each other, to take the time to honor that.”

Sirico had returned to Jacob’s Pillow, where they had previously trained, to take on the role of production manager. This year was especially significant, marking the reopening of the newly rebuilt Doris Duke Theatre after it was destroyed by fire in 2020. The theatre, re-envisioned by the Dutch firm Mecanoo and infused with Indigenous design wisdom and sustainable architecture, had just opened its doors July 6.Sirico played a key role in supporting this next chapter for the organization.

The ripples of this loss will be felt far beyond the Berkshires. Dancers, artists, vendors, audiences are all impacted. But in its statement, the Board spoke not only of grief, but of resolve: to re-emerge with deeper care, with more courage, and with a recommitment to what dance makes possible.