Irving Berlin's Great-Grandson, Benjamin Lerner, Brings His Bold, Addiction Recovery-Themed, One-Man Show, PERFORMER, to Barrington Stage Company on September 3, 2025
EAST ARLINGTON, Vt., July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a historic moment for one of America's most iconic musical families, Benjamin Lerner—rapper, composer, writer, and recovery advocate—will continue the legacy of his Great-grandfather, Irving Berlin, by bringing his own music to the theatrical stage with the world premiere of his one-man concert, PERFORMER, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Barrington Stage Company (BSC) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in American history, Irving Berlin composed an estimated 1,500 songs, including enduring classics like "White Christmas," "God Bless America," "There's No Business Like Show Business," and "Blue Skies." His music shaped the American songbook and served as a soundtrack for the 20th century. Following in the footsteps of Berlin—whose wartime revues like Yip, Yip, Yaphank and This Is the Army raised millions and boosted morale for American soldiers—Lerner channels his musical gifts to fight a different war: the modern opioid crisis.
A former IV fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine addict who has been sober since June 13, 2016, Lerner draws from his "frontline" experience with addiction and recovery to create powerful, genre-defying music that heals and inspires. Just as Berlin performed for troops overseas, Lerner now performs for communities affected by addiction, using his voice to give others hope—and a path to recovery.
All proceeds from this special concert will support three Berkshire-based organizations that play vital roles in fostering artistry, creative voices, and recovery: BSC's Musical Theatre Lab, which nurtures emerging musical theater voices; the George B. Crane Memorial Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to offering addiction recovery support through peer recovery groups and community outreach programs; and Living in Recovery, a peer-driven, peer-led nonprofit focused on helping individuals maintain recovery, rebuild their lives, and connect with the greater community through social events, peer support groups, and community advocacy.
"We are excited to welcome Benjamin for his debut at the Barrington Stage Company," says Alan Paul, Artistic Director of BSC. "The arts are a powerful force for change and can significantly impact society, and we are eager to share his voice with our community."
Lerner adds, "I'm committed to sharing my story of addiction and recovery, in the hopes of raising community awareness. I am honored that BSC, the George B. Crane Memorial Center, and Living in Recovery are giving me the opportunity to share my platform with the Berkshire community on this powerful multi-organizational initiative."
"Benjamin's story is unique," says Dr. Joshua Sherman, CEO of Old Mill Road Media and Publisher of Berkshire Magazine, "but if there's anything I've learned in working with him since 2018, it's that when Benjamin shares his story, he creates a space in which others can share their stories of how addiction has affected their lives."
Tickets are now on sale. For more: BenjaminLerner.com
About BENJAMIN LERNER:
Benjamin Lerner is a Vermont-based Rapper, Composer, Writer, Recovery Advocate, Radio Host, and Viral Content Creator.
Benjamin started his musical career as a classical piano prodigy. By his early twenties, he was an IV fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine addict. Now sober since June 13, 2016, he journals his journey in addiction and sobriety in his signature piano-raps, which combine classical piano and Hip-Hop elements. Benjamin credits his continued success in recovery to his ability to express his emotions through word and song.
Benjamin has had the pleasure of performing for the National Academy of Medicine and The Aspen Institute. In 2019, he was the composer-in-residence at 1761 Arts, and he made his Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Indie Collaborative in 2022. His debut album, CLEAN, was released in February 2020 and produced by Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, Vermont.
Building on that foundation, Benjamin's artistic journey has continued to evolve. He now oversees a dedicated online recovery community of over 350,000 social media followers. Over 150 million total video views on his recovery content serve as a testament to the widespread support for his advocacy and music.
Benjamin's most recent EPs, KEEP MOVING FORWARD (2024) and RUN TOWARDS THE TRUTH (2025), were crafted as a direct response to that outpouring of online support. The inspiration behind their names is rooted in the sign-off from Benjamin's CLEAN Column, a serialized, autobiographical recovery column that ran in the Vermont News Guide from January 2020 through January 2025:
"Keep moving forward.
Run towards the truth.
Don't quit before the miracle happens."
The upcoming third EP in the trilogy, DON'T QUIT BEFORE THE MIRACLE HAPPENS, is currently slated for release later this year.
Benjamin also hosts the recovery rap radio show, CLEAN Jams, on the legendary Vermont alternative radio station, 102.7 WEQX.
Benjamin is currently working on his second full length album at Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, Vermont. benjaminlerner.com
About Barrington Stage Company:
Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul, is an award-winning theatre located in Pittsfield, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires. Co-founded in 1995 by Julianne Boyd, BSC's mission is to produce top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to engage our community with vibrant, inclusive educational outreach programs. BSC attracts over 60,000 patrons annually and has gained national recognition for its superior-quality productions and comprehensive educational programming. BSC develops and commissions new work with two programs: PlayWorks and the Musical Theatre Lab. Since 1995, BSC has produced 46 new works, 22 of which have moved to New York and major U.S. regional theatres. The company has become integral to the economic revitalization of downtown Pittsfield. BSC is the recipient of 14 Berkshire Theatre Awards for the 2024 season, including Outstanding Production of a Musical for Next to Normal, directed by Alan Paul.
barringtonstageco.org
About Old Mill Road Media:
Old Mill Road Media is the publisher of BERKSHIRE Magazine, VERMONT Magazine, STRATTON Magazine, MANCHESTER LIFE, Music in the Berkshires, and The Guide. In addition, Old Mill Road offers a full range of media services, including Audio and Video Production, Graphic Design services, Website Design services, and Social Media management.
oldmillroadmedia.com
About Old Mill Road Recording:
Old Mill Road Recording is a state-of-the-art destination recording studio. Thoughtfully organized for comfort, flow, and versatility, it provides the opportunity to record pristine sound while overlooking a breathtaking river view in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont. In-house Producer, Dr. Joshua Sherman, has worked with dozens of TONY® Award Winners on both stage and recording projects, including Hal Prince, Sutton Foster, Dan Fogler, Elaine Stritch, Donna McKechnie, and Lillias White. In-house GRAMMY® Award Winning engineer, Benjamin J. Arrindell, has 30+ years of experience recording and mixing for such notable artists as Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Mary J. Blige, Yolanda Adams, Janet Jackson and Busta Rhymes, to name a few. The NAMM TEC® Award Winning Studio's top of the line equipment includes a 48 channel SSL Duality mixing console, a Yamaha C7 Grand Piano, and Griffin Speakers. The studio's corporate clients include Netflix, Orvis, The History Channel, 20th Century Studios, Penguin Random House, and Blumhouse Productions.
oldmillroadrecording.com
About The George B. Crane Memorial Center:
In its 15th year, The George B. Crane Memorial Center (GBCMC), located at 81 Linden Street in Pittsfield, is a walk-in center and a safe gathering space for adults and families who are in any stage of recovery. Anyone seeking assistance with access to care, housing support, jobs, schooling, volunteering, financial stability, and building a support network can stop by to make a plan. They will help them make calls, connect with providers, receive a warm-hand-off directly to a location and so much more. Peer recovery groups meet at GBCMC morning, noon, and night 365 days a year. In addition, the center hosts BIPOC Voices in Recovery, the Women's Table, Art for Recovery, community events, and its annual Feet on the Street event for introducing community members with local hands-on agencies who meet people where they are at.
thegbcmc.org
About Living in Recovery:
The mission at Living in Recovery is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone seeking recovery. They are dedicated to fostering a safe, peaceful, and non-judgmental space for individuals, their families, friends, and allies affected by addiction.
livinginrecoverypittsfield.org
SOURCE Old Mill Road Recording
Share this article