Pioneer Valley Theatre News September 1, 2022

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser September 1 - 21, 2022 This weekend: Catalyst 22 presents Mira and the Liminal Dimension, Happier Valley Comedy presents an improvised musical, and it's definitely a good time to take a look at all the auditions and opportunities coming this fall.  Chris Rohmann's latest in the Valley Advocate covers the handful of local theatre companies that produced works written by and centering Black people this summer. Read it here. The next issue will include events from September 8 - 28. 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 Join our theatre conservatory this fall for in-person classes. We offer acting programs for ages 6-18, where young people come to grow as artists, leaders, and individuals. For more information, visit www.dramastudio.org/drama-studio-classes Amherst Community Theater Auditions for The Little Mermaid September 9-11 Sign up here. 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 Balancing Power Through Intimacy in the Rehearsal Space by Ann James and Rocio Mendez From the article:  Ann James: Rocio, in all your glory, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. Rocio Mendez: It is an honor and a privilege to be talking with you. Thank you. Ann: Rocio, please tell me how you came to the field of intimacy. Rocio: I am a fight director, and several years ago I was doing a production of José Rivera’s Marisol at the New School, which is a play that does have a sexual assault. The head of the program at the time had just gone to an intimacy/consent-based workshop with Intimacy Directors International (IDI), which is now Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC). This department head was super hyped about it and wanted to change the entire curriculum to have consent-based practices, which was awesome. Because of that, there was this pause in the production for Marisol since she wanted all of the students to have agency and consent through all the processes in the program. One of the actors decided to revoke consent from what I had choreographed because we didn't start from a consent-based practice. They brought in an intimacy director, Mitch McCoy, who is now a colleague. We collaborated and ended up sticking with the choreography that I initially had done. We just wanted to do it from a consent-forward space, and it was really great. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Catalyst 22 presents Mira and the Liminal Dimension September 3 at 7:00 PM The LAVA Center, 324 Main St, Greenfield, MA 01301 "I ask you, as we head into the abyss, the in-between place where we tell our story: What is the half-life of human thought and action on a space?" We invite you to join us for a premiere performance of our play, "Mira and the Liminal Dimension"! This is a collaboratively created show based on the concept of liminal space, and is our own modern mythical tale! The show is a one-act performance with no intermission. We will be performing at the LAVA Center in Greenfield! Directed by Kevin Van Develde Devising Company: Steph Reyes, Amanda Bowman, Kelly Tierney, Zee Shepherd, Angie Parker, and Biddy Remick. Facebook event Happier Valley Comedy The Understudies: An Improvised Musical September 3 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA) Be part of the fun as these brave improvisers and their trusty musician create an entire musical from scratch. First Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Tickets New play reading series at The LAVA Center, featuring local playwrights and friends of LAVA Some Thursdays and Saturdays in August and September; see schedule below The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield In August and September, The LAVA Center is presenting a series of new play readings by local playwrights and friends of LAVA. For many of these readings, actors are invited to perform in an unpaid cold reading of the play in a casual atmosphere. The schedule for the playwrights is as follows: Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m.: Alfonso Neal Actors are invited to jump in on cold readings on Thursday, Sept. 8. For more information, visit our website at https://localaccess.org.  Happier Valley Comedy 2nd Saturdays Presents: Longform Improvisation September 10 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA) A cast of experienced improvisers dive into a variety of formats based on audience suggestions. Second Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Tickets Happier Valley Comedy HVC's Fun Fridays: Storytelling Standup Showcase September 16 at 5:30 PM Happier Valley Comedy's Next Door Lounge (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA) Watch Happier Valley Comedy talent try out their latest material, laugh together, raise a glass, and support up-and-coming standup comedians. Doors open at 5:30. Showcase starts at 7pm. Free! Tickets Happier Valley Comedy HVC Presents: Not In Charge! September 17 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA) A cast of experienced improvisers dive into a variety of formats based on audience suggestions. Second Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Tickets Happier Valley Comedy The Happier Valley Championship September 24 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA) In this competitive comedy show, two teams of improvisers face off through scenes and games to see who can win the ultimate prize: your laughter! Fourth Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Tickets MIFA Victory Theatre Angela Davis, A History of the United States 9/30 at 7:30 PM, 10/1/22 at 7:30PM & 10/2/22 Matinee at 2PM Rooke Theater, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075 MIFA Victory Theatre presents French theater company Compagnie L'Héliotrope in "Angela Davis, A History of the United States" The play, mixing narration, speeches, video, and rap music, tells the story of Angela Davis, American Black activist, professor and author, who faced a turbulent life during the civil rights movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Actress Astrid Bayiha alone on stage exudes rage at injustice and discrimination through the power of words and music with the help of musician-composer Balde AliMbaye. Don't miss Astrid Bayiha in Angela Davis' fierce journey! Face Masks Required Free parking at Gorse Lot, 27 Morgan St., South Hadley, MA. Show Dates/Times: Friday, September 30, 2022, at 7:30 pm - In French with English supertitles, FREE Student Performance (Student I.D. Required unless under age 13), Non-Student General Admission $20 Saturday, October 1, 2022, at  7:30 pm  - In English with French supertitles General Admission $20, Students $15 Sunday, October 2, 2022, at 2:00 pm Matinee - In English with French supertitles General Admission $20, Students $15 https://www.mifafestival.org/events AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Amherst Community Theater Auditions for The Little Mermaid 9/9 beginning at 6 PM, 9/10 beginning at 10 AM, 9/11 beginning at 10 AM Bangs Community Center, Amherst AUDITIONS are almost here for Amherst Community Theater’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid! 9 performances in the 600-seat UMass Bowker Auditorium, January, 2023. Irresistible songs, lavish sets and costumes, and a full live orchestra. Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7-107 are encouraged to audition! For more info, including character descriptions, audition music, and readings, visit www.amherstacts.org/auditions or contact producer@amherstacts.org. Facebook event Sign Up Now for Your Flamingo! UMass Theater seeks participants from on-campus and the community for FLAMINGO MURMURATION, an outdoor performance piece created by designer Anya Klepikov. Participants will wear a flamingo pool float and perform simple choreography. The event is scheduled for Sept. 17 from 2-4:30, with rain dates Sept. 24 or Oct. 1. No theater or dance experience is required!! Email Anya Klepikov at aklepikov@umass.edu to reserve your flamingo float for this kick-off event for the 2022-2023 season. Interested in being a group leader for the performance? Open Call for the “Alpha Flamingos” (the AFs) Would commit to going to a 90 minute workshop on Saturday September 10th and serve as group leaders at the performance on Saturday, September 17th (in the event of rain the performance will be rescheduled to September 24th or October 1st). Be willing to participate in Flamingo Foto-ops throughout the week that will be scheduled at that first workshop based on performer availability. Email Rudy Ramirez at arramirez@umass.edu to sign up. UMass Fine Arts Center Job Opening: Performing Arts Programming Office Support Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but it also secures a very vital and necessary position for us to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community. Job Summary The Clerical Assistant provides administrative and coordination support to the performing arts department in the areas of contracting, purchasing, timekeeping, budgeting, artist services, funding, and marketing. https://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/515508/clerical-assistant UMass Fine Arts Center Job Opening: Performing Arts Asst. Curator Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but it also secures a very vital and necessary position for us to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community. Job Summary The Performing Arts Assistant Curator works with the Performing Arts Curator to manage the performing arts department during the 2022-2023 season and devise a 2023-2024 season that reinforces the identity and goals of the Fine Arts Center (FAC). The position supports a coherent, innovative, and socially relevant performing arts and culture season featuring artists, projects, and outreach and engagement activities from across disciplines, genres, and cultures, including music, dance, theatre, family shows, international, and more. This is a temporary position. https://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/515779/temporary-professionalperforming-arts-assistant-curator The Academy of Music Theatre, an 816-seat historic performing arts venue in the lovely New England college town of Northampton, Massachusetts, seeks a full-time Technical Director. Responsibilities include organizing all technical aspects of performances and supervision of union stage crews. Knowledge of sound, lighting, set installations and rigging systems plus excellent communication and organizational skills required. A qualified candidate will have a minimum of a BA or BFA in technical theatre or equivalent with professional experience. Applications must be received by August 29th.  Send résumé to: djanthony@aomtheatre.com For a full job description, please email djanthony@aomtheatre.com.   The Academy of Music Theatre provides live performing arts year-round: dance, theater, music, spoken word and multimedia. In addition, we provide educational programs year-round with one fully staged musical theater youth production. We serve over 62,000 patrons and are a destination site for visitors from the Connecticut Valley and New York City areas. We offer on average 130 performances annually.   The salary is $56-58K. Scenic Artist/Painter – MAJESTIC THEATER 131 Elm St West Springfield, MA 01089 About the Company The Majestic Theater has been bringing locally-produced live, professional theater to the Pioneer Valley since 1997. Every season at the Majestic consists of five productions, including at least one musical, which typically run for six weeks. In addition to the subscription season, the summer includes children's theater, concerts, plays, improvisational comedy shows, and more. Job Description The Scenic Artist works closely with the Scenic Designer in accomplishing all texture and painted effects of a production.  The scenic artist will oversee painting crews as needed.  Candidate should have a working knowledge of painting techniques such as marbling, wood grain, etc., and understand paint mixing and stenciling.   Experience in a professional or collegiate theatrical shop would be helpful. Work schedule based upon productions: five season productions (August – April), children’s theater (May – June), additional productions as scheduled. Hourly compensation based upon experience.   Hourly range $20 to $25.  Benefits to be determined. Interested applicants should email sue@majestictheater.com with cover letter and current professional resume. Grant Application Opens: August 1st, 2022 Grant Application Closes: September 16th, 2022, at 11:59 pm EST Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts  Flexible Funding We are excited to announce 2022’s round of Flexible Funding, which will provide general operating support to nonprofits that benefit our region. As part of the Foundation’s strategic vision, preference will be given to organizations, who missions are in the following areas: Diversity, equity and inclusion in workplaces and institutions, prioritizing racial equity. A strong start for all children though high-quality early education and care. Accessible and more affordable post-secondary education and training, providing pathways to completion and employment. A vibrant and local arts and creativity ecosystem to support self-expression, economic vitality and connection. Preference will also be given to organizations where leadership is racially diverse. Learn More Here https://communityfoundation.org/nonprofits/flexible-funding-cfwm WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Anyone who organizes or attends auditions or is involved in casting for the theatre, is recommended to take 30 minutes to listen to this conversation between casting director Victor Vazquez and dramaturg/performer Tatiana Godfrey.  Part of WAM Theatre's Spotlight Series, they talk about some of the problems that we run into in the traditional casting process, especially in terms of racial or gender stereotyping, and some of the opportunities and suggestions he has for better ways of placing actors in roles.  https://www.wamtheatre.com/spotlight-series-with-casting-director-victor-vazquez/ Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents A Very Special Writing Workshop with Claire Titelman Dates:  Saturday September 24th and Sunday September 25th Place:   Blue Barn at Bramble Hill Farm, 593 South Pleasant St, Amherst MA Time:  11am-4pm each day, which includes an hour long lunch break on the farm; (bring your own lunch & cold drink) water bottles available. Price: $175 More info:  Email Claire Titeman at claireprompts@gmail.com to see if there's a spot left and she will give you info on payment, etc. Limited enrollment.  Feel free to reach out with any questions! Covid protocol:  The class will be masked and you must be able to show proof of vaccination. About the class: This is a playful and challenging class with exercises and writing prompts that run the gamut from surreal to straightforward, from very deep to very dumb. They will encourage you to get out of your head, delve into your unconscious, and develop your authentic voice, leading to vulnerable, funny, fierce, strange, and surprising work. We will subvert elements of memoir, theater, fiction, and other genres to help inspire creativity-- all with a curriculum that’s designed for artists of all kinds: writers, comedians, performers, filmmakers, visual artists, and non-artists interested in exploring creative expression. Dropouts, shut-ins and people picked last in gym class are welcome!* *Jocks, geniuses and the well-adjusted also welcome. This is an inclusive class.  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 Mount Holyoke College Rooke Theatre 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 Theater Between Addresses 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 World and Eye 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 Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*