Thursday, September 2, 2021

Pioneer Valley Theatre News September 2, 2021

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter
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September 2-22, 2021


Happy September, everyone! It's the first day of classes at Smith today and I'm somewhere in between thrilled and trepidatious to have students back on campus making live theatre again. Looking forward to everyone's fall season lineups and the fall audition opportunities. Don't forget that if you know about something that isn't listed, you can submit it!

The next issue will include events from September 9 - 29. 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

Submit Your Theatre Event
Audition for Amherst Community Theater's production of The Little Mermaid
September 24, 25, and 26
Make your appointment today413-259-3065
YOUR EVENT HERE
$5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing!
Email me to reserve your dates.
Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Google Calendar
Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet
THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS:
from Howlround

The Design of Change
by Lindsay Jones and Clint Ramos

From the article: 

Lindsay Jones: Is there a specific moment you remember when you were like, “I can’t just be a passive observer anymore, I need to jump in and begin to change things”?

Clint Ramos: It didn’t happen like a quick turn, it was like an accumulation. I’m an immigrant. I went to grad school and it was mostly white folks. I saw these people were being invited to create the kind of work that was exciting to me and somehow I wasn’t. I experienced the usual immigrant shit where, before a meeting with the director, I’d arrive early and practice my English in front of a mirror. I couldn’t find a place in the theatre community. I couldn’t locate myself that way.

Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
LIVE PERFORMANCES
K and E Theater Group Presents HELLO AGAIN, A MUSICAL
9/9, 9/10, 9/11 at 8:00 PM; 9/12 at 2:00 PM
Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton

K and E Theater Group will present its first show in part one of its supersized Season 2 saying HELLO AGAIN, onstage at Northampton Center for the Arts, September 9-12, 2021.

Love and desire clash as each character seeks elusive connections in this musical inspired by Arthur Schnitzler’s controversial 1897 play, La Ronde, the passion, sex, and power of ten love affairs, one from each decade of the 20th Century come to life through The Whore, The Young Thing, The Senator, The Soldier and others as they navigate each new sexual entanglement. Five-time Tony Award Nominee Michael John LaChiusa brings Schnitzler’s love stories to life with musical and lyrical styles of each decade, a variety of musical styles ranging from opera to 1970s disco while simultaneously introducing musical and lyrical echoes throughout to tie all the characters and their experiences together.

This production of HELLO AGAIN features Brenden Bartlett, Ryan Bird, Paula Cortis, Natasha Ellis, Max Levheim, Hannah McCluskey, Carina Savoie, Jay Torres, Nikki Wadleigh and David Webber. David Cavallin serves as Musical Director. The production is directed and choreographed by KETG Artistic Director Eddie Zitka.

Performances run from Thursday, September 9, through Sunday, September 12, 2021. Tickets are general admission for $25.00. There is no reserved seating. For more information, visit KETG.org.

www.KETG.org/hello-again

* This production includes sexual content and partial nudity. Parental guidance is suggested.

** All audience members are required to wear a mask at Northampton Center for the Arts, including while seated watching the show.
Eggtooth Productions is pleased to announce their first full scale, in-person production on September 10 and 11, 2021 at 7:30 pm at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, MA.
The Drag Sisters: Back Where We Belong
is a glittery, fun-filled, musical extravaganza where the musical magic of Etta James meets Dolly Parton meets Lou Reed meets Sia fully glammed and busting dance moves, not to mention extra dry martinis. Tickets are $20 at https://sheatheater.org/

The show features Joe Dulude, II as the ever fabulous Mr. Drag with Jane Williams of New Salem and Myka Plunkett from Northampton as his gloriously bungling yet dazzling sisters, all of whom are kept in check by an Alexa-like creature played by Linda Tardif of Turners Falls. Emily Pritchett of Amherst tries very hard to clean up after them all. 

Said Mr. Drag, "The Drag Sisters are back! That’s right! Join the Drag Sisters as they officially put down their martinis (for a moment to fix their wigs…I mean hair) and open up the Shea Theatre for performances again! The Drag Sisters: Back Where We Belong reunites some of your favorite members of the Drag Family with stories, song and maybe a surprise or two. Join us for a night of fun, frivolity and of course cocktails. Cheers!"

Linda McInerney, producer and artistic director of Eggtooth Productions said, "We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Drag et al back to the stage after far too long in a far too weird time and this reunion gives us all the chance to be together safely and joyfully. I can't think of a better way to experience collective delight and laughter than with this ridiculously motley crew. We can't wait to greet you and show you to your seat."
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES
From the New Play Alliance Newsletter: 

Virtual Theatre

 
 

Hear Me Out Monologues Competition presents
Borders
September 6
directed by Suzanne Bachner

More than 400 writers from all over the world submitted entries inspired by this year's festival theme: Borders. New England writers are well represented among the 13 finalists whose monologues will be performed in the festival. 

It's Nice to be Out in Society
by Andrea Aptecker

In a Petrified Wood
by Mike Brannon

I Love Parties
by Kate Cortesi

In-Between Spaces
by Josh Drimmer

Crossed
by Isidore Elias

Made in China
by Maggie Gallant

Sound Mind
by Dana Hall

Rhymes with Border
by Janet Kenney

Mother(land) Will Teach You That
by Anya Martin

Boot's Vacation
by Rex McGregor

Ecce Mom
by Patrick Mulcahey

Border Lines (Looks Like I'm Going to Lose My Mind)
by Rick Park

The Power of Bianca ¡El Poder de Bianca!
by Michael Welles-Oakes

Tickets: $6-$22.

AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES

Smith College Department of Theatre
AUDITIONS: Stoop Pigeons 

by Christin Eve Cato, directed by Kyle Boatwright

Auditions will be in Acting Studio 1 (T100) in the Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts at Smith College on Friday, September 3, 7:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 4, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Callbacks, if necessary, will be held on Sunday, September 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Performances are October 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 at 7:30 PM. 

No appointment necessary. Sides from the script will be provided. Perusal script requests and questions can be directed to ncbeck@smith.edu.

 

Character Breakdown: 

MARIO (10 yrs old-early/mid 20s): Male. AfroLatino (or African-American). Has good intentions but doesn't make great decisions.
LEXI (11 yrs old-early/mid 20s): Female. Dark-skinned Latina, ideally Puerto Rican. Well- educated, opinionated, disciplined, and fair minded.
MS. SUZY (mid 30s-50s): Female. AfroLatina (or African-American). Mario's mother. She's the matriarch of the block. Big, loud, and proud. Over the course of the time, her mental health declines, and in chronologically later scenes, she presents as WOMAN, a disoriented homeless woman.
TANYA (11 yrs old-early/mid 20s): Female. African-American. Tomboyish. Protective. Tough.
BRIDGIT (9 yrs old-early 20s): Female. Irish-American. Raised in the hood. She's a bit lost inside of her own diaspora.
MISTA PETIE (mid 30s-40s): Male. African-American. A poetic man who often has deep thoughts. Sort of a father figure to MARIO.
AMANDA (mid/later 20s): Female. White. An anesthesiologist who is a new Brooklyn implant. From the Midwest.
BIG MARY (40s-50s): Female. African-American or Latina. She is the nosy neighbor who knows everyone's business.

UMass and community performers invited to audition for UMass Theater fall shows
 
UMass Theater is thrilled to be returning to in-person performances with fall productions of Everybody and Dance Nation, and invites UMass and community performers to audition Sept. 7 & 8. Visit out Audition page or go directly to sign-ups via the links below! 

All auditions and rehearsals will be masked until further notice, and both members of UMass and the community are expected to be in compliance with UMass COVID guidelines. 
DANCE NATION
Directed by Dawn Monique Williams '11G
Rehearsals start Sept. 14, performances run Nov. 12-20 in the Rand Theater
Auditions: Sept. 7 & 8, 6-10 p.m., Curtain Theater
Callbacks: Sept. 9, 6-10 p.m.

For auditions, Dance Nation actors should prepare a 2-minute contemporary monologue of their choice.

Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/dancenationauditions

Dance Nation Character Breakdown:
  • THE MOMS: Means well. Grown-up Wendy. Also plays Vanessa.
  • DANCE TEACHER PAT (M): The head of the dance studio. Male.
  • AMINA (F): The star dancer. B/F/Fs with ZUZU. Some dance skill would be fab. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • ZUZU (F): Always, always, always second best. B/F/Fs with AMINA. Some measure of slick dance or gymnastic/dance/acrobatic skills could be fun. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • CONNIE (F): A talented dancer who thinks she should play the role of Gandhi. Actor should be South Asian. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • LUKE (M): The only male dancer on the competition team. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • MAEVE (F): The oldest and least talented dancer on the team. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • SOFIA (F): Knows what’s up. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • ASHLEE (F): Future president of a post-apocalyptic USA. *Please be aware that based on actor comfort this role MAY include brief, tasteful partial nudity.
  • A note from Intimacy Director, Roberta Inscho-Cox, regarding intimacy & use of strong language in Dance Nation: this play includes strong language, moments of characters engaged in self-touch, moments of characters discussing genitalia and bodies in a graphic manner, as well as discussions of rape and suicide. Characters also display moments of getting ready onstage, which may require actors to get dressed or undressed onstage. No full nudity required. Actors will be provided with placeholders and other tools to assist in the rehearsal room before the arrival of the intimacy choreographer. 

    EVERYBODY
    Directed by Rudy Ramirez
    Rehearsals start Sept. 13, performances run Oct. 15-23 in the Rand Theater
    Auditions: Sept. 7 & 8, 6:30-10:30 p.m. in the 
    Callbacks: Sept. 9 (Thursday) 6:30-10:30 p.m.

    Auditioners for Everybody should prepare a 1 minute contemporary comedic monologue. Actors will also be provided short sides from the script at the audition for cold readings (although feel free to read through the play ahead of time). 

    Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/everybodyauditions

    Everybody Character Breakdown:
  • THE SOMEBODYS: 5 actors whose parts are randomly chosen every night, playing the 5 roles below: 
    • EVERYBODY: You. Yes, you
    • FRIENDSHIP: Your best friend, who was just kidding about that whole "OMG I'd die for you" thing. Also plays STRENGTH.
    • KINSHIP: Your family. Loving and a little embarrassing. Also plays FIVE SENSES
    • COUSIN: Also your family. Also loving and a little embarrassing. Also plays BEAUTY
    • STUFF: Everyone wants Stuff, and Stuff knows it. Also plays MIND
  • USHER/GOD/UNDERSTANDING: Not used to talking in front of an audience, but excited about it. Then possessed by the divine creator of the universe. Really sincere
  • DEATH: Just trying to do their job. Don't make them use THE VOICE
  • LOVE: Tired of your crap, but in a way that makes you want to be better. Tough in a good way
  • GIRL/TIME: A very panicked little girl and then a very chill little girl. Or an adult playing a little girl, maybe with a doll or puppet. We shall see!
The Peaceful Educator Foundation: Extraordinary Hero Project
Auditions for a ZOOM THEATER PRODUCTION
On-line now thru September 14th.

We are seeking singers for, and to announce auditions for a ZOOM THEATER production of EXTRAORDINARY HERO, Western Mass Composer/Playwright John McDonnell Tierney of Heath.  The script is based on “The Hero’s Journey” and other books by Joseph Campbell and will be produced in association with the Joseph Campbell Foundation (brings a huge audience!) We will have two principle goals: 1. to do a great show and, 2. to pay actors equitably. We am assembling a small professional cast (six women and one man) for the ZOOM THEATER production that we hope will also become the touring cast. We are asking all applicants to be very strong singers, be at least 18 years of age, and currently reside in a New England State.

Interested performers please visit our website for complete information on the project, and/or click here to apply.

John McDonnell Tierney, “Jack” to his friends and neighbors, is a retired professor and full time composer and playwright. Since his retirement in 2012, Jack has produced three major musicals. The first, titled “Peacemaker,” premiered in Hartford in 2016 to standing ovations;  the second, “Humanity’s Child” won major awards in the 2019 New York Theater Festival and ran for four weeks at the historic Players Theatre Off-Broadway; and, in 2020 Jack’s third musical, “Humanity’s Child- The Sequel” was featured at The Atlanta Fringe Audio Festival for a full year. “Extraordinary Hero,” Jack’s most recent work composed Jan-August 2021 is currently in production.
SILVERTHORNE THEATER ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR DECEMBER SHOW –
BRIGHT HALF LIFE
 
Silverthorne Theater seeks White, female-identifying, Queer-identifying Equity and Non-Equity actors to audition for the role of Erica in Bright Half Life, a two-character play by Tanya Barfield, directed by Gina Kaufmann, with performances December 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11, 2021, at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield, MA. Auditions will be on Saturday, September 18 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at The LAVA Center, 324 Main Street in Greenfield, MA.
 
Erica meets, falls in love and marries Vicky over the course of the play.  Wants to be a teacher, a bit of a dreamer.  Lots of energy, lots of fun.  Her unpredictability is her best and worst feature. Erica identifies as a lesbian and is described by the playwright as “soft butch”.  The role of Vicky has already been cast. Although the play spans four decades, we are looking to cast an actor in her late twenties to mid-forties.
 
Audition sides will be provided in advance. Rehearsals will begin in early November and performances will be. Auditioners and performers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID19. For full details, visit our web page https://silverthornetheater.org/audition/
 
To schedule an audition, contact the theater at silverthornetheater@gmail.com or call 413-768-7514.  Auditions are open to Equity and non-Equity performers ; all roles are paid.
 
Are you Ariel? King Triton? Or maybe Ursula or Prince Eric? Yes, Amherst Community Theater is bringing Disney's The Little Mermaid, coming in January 2022! Auditions are September 24, 25, and 26, and appointments are now open! 

A hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages, this timeless fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, lavish sets and costumes, and a full live orchestra. Enthusiastic audiences will fill the 600-seat UMass Bowker Auditorium for 9 performances in January, 2022. Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7-107 are encouraged to audition. We want  YOU to find your place under the sea!  INCLUSIVE CASTING. For an audition appointment,  call Amherst Recreation at 413-259-3065.  

For more info about auditions, including character descriptions and audition music and readings, visit www.amherstacts.org 
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Contact person- Cynthia Strycharz   
Company- Starlight's Youth Theatre
Starlights.yt@gmail.com
Starlight's Youth Theatre accepting registration for Fall Acting Classes 
image.pngIntro to Theater – This class is for the first or second term student who loves to use their imagination creating their own plays. Working with the theme of being unique and special we will create different scenes which will come together in their original play “The Unicorns”. Grades 1-3     Saturdays 9:00-9:45   Sept. 4- Oct. 23 Show at Eric Carle   Fee- $125.00
image.pngActor’s Toolbox-  Once the student actor has some experience on stage, they need to fill their tool box with skills such as: how to develop a character, how does that character walks, talks, thinks and feels. During classes students will use these tools to create and then perform in their original adaption of  “Alice In Wonderland”.Grades 3-5    Saturdays 10:00-10:45   Sept. 4-  Oct. 23  Show at Eric Carle    Fee- $125.00
 
image.pngPlay ProductionThis class will focus on character development and the decisions the actor makes to bring their character to life.  The cast will be involved in multiple areas of the production such as costumes, props and set design and painting.  They will be presenting “Fight for the Right”, a play about Susan B. Anthony’s journey to achieve the vote for woman.Grades 6-8:  Saturday 11:00-12:00  Beginning Sept. 4- till show Nov. 6  at Northampton Center of the Arts Fee      $140.00 
image.pngLights Up   With a focus on the performance the students will learn about timing, pace and finding moments within the play as they use these new skills to present their original play “The Story of Dr. Dolittle”.  This play will be recreated by the students themselves as they work to develop the story in “you finish it scenes” during class.Grades 3-5th   Mondays 4:00-4:45  Beginning Sept. 13- till show Nov. 6 at Northampton Center of the Arts    Fee-  $140.00 
image.pngSherlock Holmes and Dr. WatsonSherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are looking for your help to solve their new mystery.  Come join the fun and cast while they not only rely on each other to help solve this mystery, but also the audience as they engage them in finding the clues to solve this very funny mystery. 
Grades 6-8   Mondays 5:00-6:00   Beginning Sept 13 till show Nov. 1 at Maple Ridge                Fee $145.00
All classes will be held at Maple Ridge Community Center, Sunderland.  To register please go to
https://www.starlights-youth-theatre.com/register-portal/   
Russian Études with Annelise Lawson

Thursday nights from 6-9pm EST, starting September 16th on Zoom.
6 weeks. $445. Open to 12 students. Sign up below!

Études are a rehearsal tool developed from Stanislavski’s final experiments. This course seeks to foster a dynamic interaction between actor and text. Through a series of exploratory improvisations called études, actors unpack and personalize the given circumstances — following their own impulses to achieve profound and thrillingly original interpretations. The course focuses on how to activate “bookwork” through imagination, awareness, and sense of spontaneous play. The method gives students practical tools to pull even the most intimidating texts off their pedestals and make them their own. Students will gain confidence in the legitimacy of their own impulses, having followed their interpretations of text and character to the furthest possible point.
 

Sign up now!

Fall Classes from Completely Ridiculous Productions

Starting in September we have a series of classes on offer! Click on any title for more information, teacher bios and students testimonials.

*Wellness Practice* with Annie Piper

Wednesday mornings from 10-11am EST, starting September 15th on Zoom.
Ongoing. $18/Class. $60/Month.

*Russian Etudeswith Annelise Lawson

Thursday nights from 6-9pm EST, starting September 16th on Zoom.
6 weeks. $445. ​Open to 12 students.

*Sourcing Selfwith Chalia La Tour

Saturday afternoons from 1-4pm EST, starting October 2nd on Zoom.
6 weeks. $445. Open to 12 students.

*Actors AT Practice Groupwith Tracy Einstein

Tuesday mornings from 11-12pm EST, starting October 5th on Zoom.
Ongoing. $18/Class. $60/Month.

*Character and Energetics* with Ato Blankson-Wood

Wednesday nights from 6-9pm EST, starting October 13th on Zoom.
6 weeks. $445. Open to 8 students.

Sign up now!
Resilience Habits for Busy Parents: The Happiness Experiment
"Resilience Habits for Busy Parents" refills your energy and positivity tank in just minutes each day. Experience 11 evidence-based micro-habits to give you the resilience, mindfulness, and happiness necessary to keep getting shit done without losing your shit.

If you have two minutes a day, you have enough time to do this program.
If you don't have two minutes a day, you really need to do this program!

Best of all, it's fun, engaging, and interactive! Learn wellness and wellbeing practices from professional improv comedian and happiness coach Pam Victor. Based in science. Powered by play.
September 26th at 10:00 AM for the Day 1 Intensive, then spend the next 30 days working on the Happiness Experiment, with a closing event on October 24th at 11 AM!
Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)   
Pricing: $125 (or $99 before September 2nd)
For more info: https://www.happiervalley.com/happiness_tips.html#busyparents

Double Edge Theatre
Fall Intensive: October 8-11

We’ll work daily from morning until night, both in Double Edge’s indoor training spaces and outside in the fields, hills, pond and pastures of the Farm. Layering our physical training practice with music, design, dramaturgy, large object work and individual and group research, intensives are a full-body experience of our multidisciplinary creative process.

The intensives are open to participants of all levels of experience and are ideal for pushing the boundaries of your physicality, creativity, and imagination!

We are continuing to follow MA State Guidelines regarding COVID-19 precautions and safety. Please contact us if you have any questions about our protocols and procedures.

To learn more and apply, visit our website here and/or contact Travis Coe at training@doubleedgetheatre.org

Apply Today! 
Submit your workshop, class, audition, performance, or any other theatre opportunity here!
Pioneer Valley Theatre Companies
Academy of Music Theatre

Amherst Community Theater

Arena Civic Theatre

A.C.T. Youth Theatre

Black Cat Theater

Chester Theatre Company

CitySpace

Cold Spring Community Theatre

Completely Ridiculous Productions

Drama Studio

Double Edge Theatre

Eggtooth Productions

Exit 7 Players

Ghost Light Theater

Greenfield Community College's Theater Department

Hampshire Shakespeare Company

Happier Valley Comedy

Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center

Ja'Duke Center for the Performing Arts

K and E Theater Group

Ko Theater Works/Ko Festival of Performance

Majestic Theater

No Theater

Northampton Community Arts Trust

Northampton Playwrights Lab
PaintBox Theatre

Panopera

Pauline Productions

Performance Project

Phantom Sheep Players

Play Incubation Collective

Real Live Theatre

Red Thread Theater

Royal Frog Ballet

Serious Play Theatre Ensemble

Shakespeare Stage

Shea Theater Arts Center

Silverthorne Theater

Smith College Department of Theatre

St. Michael's Players

Starlight's Youth Theatre, Inc.

Strident Theatre

TheatreTruck

Turbulent Times Theater

UMass Department of Theater

UMass Theatre Guild

Unity House Players

Valley Light Opera

Ware Community Theatre

Westfield Theatre Group

Wilbraham United Players
Want to know even more about events in the Pioneer Valley and beyond,
including reviews, interviews, and previews?
Pioneer Valley Theatre Google Calendar
In the Spotlight, Inc.

Berkshire on Stage
Stagestruck
ArtsBeat TV/Radio and News Column
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