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December 24, 2020 - January 13, 2021
Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? Maybe send a donation to your favorite theatre in honor of your friends and family!
This week from Chris Rohmann at the Valley Advocate:
When the pandemic shut down the theaters last summer, Williamstown Theatre Festival announced that the shows would go on – in audio versions, partnering with the audiobook provider Audible. Read his reviews here.
The next issue will include events through January 20. Submit upcoming events via the link below or by emailing me before Tuesday at midnight. Any questions, comments or feedback? Email me at pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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YOUR EVENT HERE
$5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing!
Email me to reserve your dates.
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THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS:
from Howlround
Who Designs and Directs in LORT Theatres by Pronoun: 2020
by Porsche McGovern
From the article:
Welcome to the sixth year of my study, which looks at who designs and directs in LORT theatres by pronoun. This study encompasses data over seven seasons: from the 2012–13 season up through the 2018–19 season.
My data collection method is simple: I collect the data primarily from the theatres’ own websites, TCG member profiles, broadwayworld.com, playbill.com, and various newspaper and review websites. Then, I write the theatres directly and ask for confirmation and/or correction of the data. I exclude the following productions from my research: tours, events, galas, theatre for young audiences, and any production that was presented rather than produced.
Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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PERFORMANCES and COVID-19 RESOURCES
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The Smith College Theatre Department presents its digital fall production, THE AMPLIFIER an immersive website featuring original student work that addresses life in this disruptive and disorienting year.
When faced with the task of choosing a play for the fall mainstage production, Daniel Kramer realized that any established script written before 2020 might feel irrelevant to students isolated in remote locations and scattered across the country and the world. He wanted to devise a project that would center student experience and student creativity as they grapple with confusion, uncertainty and loss. The starting point for the piece was: “What have you experienced and how have you been changed through the transformative cultural events of the past 6 months –protests for racial justice, the pandemic, political unrest, and economic uncertainty?” To accommodate as many voices as possible and welcome a wide range of expressive media, Kramer decided to use an immersive website as the venue for the project. Like all main stage productions at Smith, THE AMPLIFIER is an extra-curricular activity open to all students, providing a space for building community and forming creative collaborations outside of virtual classwork.
THE AMPLIFIER features pieces that explore family dynamics in quarantine, how one comforts a neighbor when touching is not allowed, a poem mourning the death of a friend, Chinese-American experience through the pandemic, Shakespeare monologues, readings of anonymous survey entries created by Smith's Spatial Analysis Lab, and a rendition of Sweet Honey in the Rock’s Testimony among others. All told, THE AMPLIFIER brought together 85 participants to work on 29 projects creating over 100 minutes of video footage utilizing 25 actors, 17 writers, 17 directors, 9 designers, 8 editors, 8 web developers, 4 student leaders, 4 stage managers, 2 artists, 1 a capella group. Smith production faculty and staff assisted project teams by sending set pieces, costumes, props, lighting equipment and microphones to students working at home. The website will allow for randomized viewing of projects, as well as the ability to sort by participants and themes.
View the project here.
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From the New England New Play Alliance:
Virtual Theatre and Podcasts
At Home Artists Project presents
an online performance of
Deus Ex Answering Machina
by Walter Freeman
now-December 23
Carmelita was caught in a compromising situation in school and has been suspended. She does not know how to tell her father. Roger is moving in with his younger girlfriend and he does not know how to break it to his daughter. A series of miscommunications leads each to believe they have settled things when the phone rings. Hilarity ensues as the revelations come fast and furious, and the father/daughter relationship will be strained to the breaking point. Steaming here.
Third Citizen Theatre Company presents
Digital Dionysia
now-January 26
A 10-week series of new, contemporary short plays inspired by classical Greek theatre and mythology and produced by local creative teams with playwrights from New England and beyond. These plays reintroduce familiar characters and settings in ways that are surprising, hilarious, thought-provoking, and always original.
Week five:
Murder Runs in Our Family
by Rex McGregor
December 22
directed by Emily Grove
The Theban Caper: A Radio Exercise in Comic Noir
written and directed by Ann Marie Shea
December 22
Week six:
Ree & Lexie Go to College
by Nehessaiu DeGannes
December 29
directed by Morgan Flynn
Tickets: $5 per week; $25 series pass.
Big Sweater Productions presents
Space Team Go!
by Sarah Rae Brown
Teleporting to the internet comes an intrepid Space Team, led by daring Space Leader Grizelda Braithwaite! Space Officers Keem and Expendable (an old family name) join the team on a mission to rescue a space diplomat—or possibly a space prince?—in this comedic play that's a loving homage to a certain popular, 50+-year-old science fiction franchise. Streaming now. Tickets: Free.
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You know our iconic Old Town Hall from the outside, now experience it from the inside. This is your invitation to virtually tour the building.
Explore one of Easthampton’s most historic structures from the comfort of your home. As you glide up the stairs and into the 2nd floor, be sure to explore all the nooks and vantage points.
Over the past decade, CitySpace has been working on plans to restore the building to full function, to equitably foster the arts, and to sustain the economic and cultural vitality of Easthampton. Experience Old Town Hall.
And when you visit, enter to win a Main Street gift box worth over $100! |
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From Eggtooth Productions:
Our friends at Punchdrunk Enrichment have created a holiday gift for their partners and that's us! It's a free enrichment program called Our Home Story.
Our Home Story is a new experience from Punchdrunk, created for children and their parents or carers to enjoy. Suitable for children aged 5 - 11 years old, it’s a chance to get creative and enjoy storytelling and story writing together.
On the webpage below you will find all of the resources needed along with a step by step guide with how parents and guardians can take part. The experience can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
https://www.punchdrunk.org.uk/project/our-home-story/
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MAJESTIC THEATER BRIGHTENS HOLIDAY SPIRITS WITH FESTIVE WINDOW DISPLAY BY SCENIC ARTIST BEV BROWNE
The café windows at West Springfield's Majestic Theater on Elm Street, which is temporarily closed due to the pandemic, have been transformed into a cozy living room adorned with holiday decorations to celebrate the season.
West Springfield resident and Majestic Theater Scenic Artist Bev Browne had the idea to create something to help lift spirits of passers-by. With the help of coworkers Jake Golen, Stephen Petit and Aurora Ferraro, she began to assemble the display, which is inspired by the set used in the Majestic’s annual “Home for the Holidays” show and also designed by Browne. The cancellation of this year’s annual holiday show, Browne felt, left a gap in the lives of show attendees.
“I’ve always loved Christmas lights and holiday music,” she said. I love the nostalgia that the holidays bring. I wanted to decorate the Majestic windows and brighten them up to bring some cheer to Elm Street. I remember how excited people used to get about the window at Macy’s in New York City during the holidays, and I wanted to create something similar that people could enjoy.
“We figured it would be fantastic to recreate the holiday show set and pipe some music outside, which we did. It’s like the holiday show is still going on, but without the audience inside. We want to encourage people to drive by the theater, open their windows to hear the music, and enjoy that nostalgic feeling. It’s been a tough year, but there’s an end in sight and we want to bring people joy for the holidays.”
Danny Eaton, producing director of the Majestic, agreed that the display, which is dubbed “At Home for the Holidays” will lift spirits. “Normally at this time of year we’re presenting our ‘Home for the Holidays’ show, and it’s especially disappointing to miss out on that,” he stated. “Families of all ages come, bringing children and grandchildren with them, to be entertained by some of the most popular and talented Majestic performers. It’s a tradition for many people. We hope that, while people can’t enjoy the show this year, at least we can share the spirit of the season with them with this terrific display. Bev did a great job of recreating that here.”
The holiday music is being played via a speaker mounted above the café windows. The speaker was installed by Ben Ashley, who played the lead role in one of the Majestic’s most popular musicals, “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.”
The display will remain in the theater’s windows until January 2, 2021.
The Majestic is currently selling tickets for its 25 th Annual Classic Raffle, its biggest fundraiser. Two tickets will be drawn on December 31. First prize is a 1960 Corvette with red exterior and white coves. Second prize is a 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Tickets are $10 each and are available online at majestictheater.com or by calling (413) 747-7797. |
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First Night Northampton Online
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Live-streaming on Thursday December 31, 2020 from NOON to MIDNIGHT on firstnightnorthampton.org
First Night Northampton has filled our Paradise City with a 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts since 1985. This signature New Year’s Eve event features memorable performances of your favorite artists. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit local arts enrichment.
In light of Covid-19 there will be many necessary changes to the celebration, most importantly there is no in-person entertainment this year. Watch all of the performances from the comfort of your own space and the screen of your choice. All of the exciting shows, the fireworks, and the ball raising will be broadcast online and on television for FREE! Tune in at firstnightnorthampton.org or on Northampton Comcast Cable channels 12, 15, and 23.
Catch your favorite acts without having to wait in line! The Fawns, Kimaya Diggs, Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry as well as First Night newbies Mister G, Zoe Lemos, Priya Darshini + Max ZT. Don’t forget the entertainment for KIDS, ShowCircus Studio, Henry the Juggler, and The Yo-Yo Guy. Check out our performance page for more details https://www.firstnightnorthampton.org/performances.
The lack of button sales this year will hamper our fundraising efforts to benefit local arts enrichment activities. Please consider donating to First Night Northampton. To show our gratitude for your donation, we will send you exclusive gifts to say thank you!
R.S.V.P. on Facebook
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NORTH STAR, THE INSTITUTE FOR THE MUSICAL ARTS, AND THE SHEA THEATER
ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE GET DOWN WITH YOUR HOMETOWN
Friday and Saturday, January 8 and 9, 2021
A TWO-DAY VIRTUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
TO BENEFIT ALL THREE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
HOSTED BY: MONTE BELMONTE, KELSEY FLYNN, and PAM VICTOR
North Star, The Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA), and the Shea Theater are pleased to announce Get Down with Your Hometown (GDHT). GDHT is an online music festival with the goal of promoting the musical talent of North Star and the IMA, and benefiting the three non-profit organizations in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.. The festival will take place on January 8 and 9, 2021 (details below).
North Star and IMA students and alumni will be performing along with local and nationally known musicians. The event is open to the public with a sliding scale tip jar for donations throughout the event, the proceeds will be split between the three organizations.
GET DOWN WITH YOUR HOMETOWN
Friday, January 8, 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m
Saturday, January 9, 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m
Dates are confirmed, times subject to change.
www.getdownhometown.comArtists include:
Lake Street Dive June Millington Dar Williams
Taylor Ashton The Winterpills Naia Kete & Say Real
Suitcase Junket Erin McKeown The Nields
Old Flame Kimaya Diggs Martin Sexton
Kalliope Jones Miro Sprague Jaime Kent
with many more and Special Guests TBA!
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Play Incubation Collective
Saturday, January 9 at 8:00 PM
Join Play Incubation Collective theater artists for an evening of exclusively new work. We're talking music, dance, scenes, sketch, improv, and even a brand new scene written DURING the show and performed as part of the big finale. This is a one-night-only event that you won't want to miss.
And the best part is that it's all for a good cause. This event will help raise funds for local artists and the development of new plays home grown here in Western New England.
PIC is a collective of empowered theater artists centering stories that challenge the dominant cultural paradigm through a highly collaborative, unique play development process and is an emerging hub for new play creation in Western New England.
Facebook Event here.
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