Pioneer Valley Theatre News October 20, 2022

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser October 20 - November 9, 2022 This weekend is your final chance to catch Marvin's Room at Westfield Theatre Group! Lots of other things happening this weekend too: Cadillac Crew at WAM, The Sweet Science of Bruising at Mount Holyoke College, A Happening at the Shea, The Barn Identity at CitySpace, and more... This week in the Valley Advocate StageStruck column, Chris Rohmann features previews of The Taming at Silverthorne, and A Happening at the Shea. The next issue will include events from October 27 - November 16. 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 Westfield Theatre Group presents Marvin's Room October 14-22 More information here. World and Eye Bite Size Blends November 5 and 6, Eastworks  More Information about the shows and Tickets  MICA Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art MICAfest  October 28, 29, 30 at Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley More information & Tickets 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 We're Too Fat and Too Invisible to Have a Seat at Theatre's Table, and Now Some of Us Don't Eat by Jasmine Haley Anderson From the article:  I am a woman performer who wears pant/dress size 10-12. In the eyes of directors, producers, choreographers, and theatre’s other decisionmakers, that means I am undeserving of romantic love, real friendships, dignity, and accurate representation in the characters I play. Instead, I am only deemed capable of portraying a plump mother, comedic relief, or someone obsessed with food or sex. Despite being demeaned and condescended to due to my size, I fight for curvy women to be seen in all types of roles. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Cadillac Crew by Tori Sampson Directed by taneisha duggan Featuring Cate Alston, MaConnia Chesser, Kyra Davis, and Alicia M.P. Nelson Thursdays – Sundays October 20-29, 2022 at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse Four female activists are working in a Virginia civil rights office on the day of a much anticipated speech by Rosa Parks. From the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, CADILLAC CREW illuminates forgotten leaders who blazed the trail for desegregation and women’s rights. With remarkable insight and unexpected humor, the play asks, what happens when Black women refuse to be written out of history. CADILLAC CREW is presented at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble St, Lenox, MA 01240. Run time 1 hour and 45 minutes. No intermission. Presented in special partnership with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE Thurs., Oct. 13 at 7pm –  Preview Fri., Oct. 14 at 7pm – Preview Sat., Oct. 15 at 7pm – Preview Sun., Oct. 16 at 2:30pm – OPENING Thurs. Oct. 20 at 2:30pm Fri., Oct. 21 at 7pm Sat., Oct. 22 at 7pm Sun., Oct. 23 at 2:30pm (child care performance) Thurs., Oct. 27 at 10am (live performance SOLD OUT, online tickets available) Fri., Oct 28 at 7pm (live and online) Sat., Oct. 29 at 2:30pm (live and online) Sat., Oct. 29 at 7pm (live and online) – CLOSING LEARN MORE Department of Film Media Theater at Mount Holyoke College The Sweet Science of Bruising 10/20 and 10/21 at 7:30pm, 10/22 at 7:30pm, 10/23 at 2:00pm Rooke Theater at Mount Holyoke College The Department of Film Media Theater at Mount Holyoke College is delighted to announce our first production of the season, Joy Wilkinson’s The Sweet Science of Bruising, a rambunctious new play about the underground world of Victorian female boxing. Four very different women are drawn from different walks of 19th century London and into the boxing ring, where their lives are intertwined through bouts of passion and a quest for freedom. In the end, only one can become world champion. “Wilkinson’s storytelling has an attractive briskness and clarity, which builds up engrossing details about female boxing...Each of the four main protagonists seeks the power to have some control over their lives, and this remains a radical goal today” - The Theater Times. Resplendent with the pugilistic arts, who else should direct this but our own stage combat expert, Assistant Professor Noah Tuleja. Sweet Science runs from October 20–23, 2022. Dates: Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 pm Friday, October 21 at 7:30 pm Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 pm Sunday, October 23at 2:00 pm Location: Rooke Theater at Mount Holyoke College Lower Lake Road, South Hadley, MA 01075 Tickets. A Happening: An Immersive Arts Festival Friday, October 21st (ticketed event) Entry 6pm/ Experience goes 7-10 pm  Saturday October 22nd (free admission, installations only) Tickets are $20 here:  This time of year the veil grows thin. On October 21st experience what's on the other side.  After a successful inaugural year in October 2021, this multifaceted festival will be returning to the Shea Theater as an evolving community tradition. The collision of evocative art forms, including live music, dance, theater, sculpture, painting, and film with a “choose your own adventure” structure creates a uniquely powerful immersive experience for performers and audience alike, where the lines between witness and participant are disrupted and dissolved. A mainstay of this festival is the “Marketplace," which highlights vendors working across varied mediums. Featured Valley performers include actors from Eggtooth ensemble, musician Corey Laitman (Cloudbelly), DJ Mike Hanson (Father Hotep), and a collection of new and seasoned artists. Participants are invited into a strange and mysterious tale-- a whimsical myth in which the magic of music brings stories to life. Underscored by the sonic musings of SVIP, regional Valley artists collectively create multi-sensory installations for guests to explore. “A HAPPENING” is derived from the creative vision of Cloudgaze Productions as a culmination of Creative Laboratory sessions held throughout the past year. Join us for an evening of revelry through auditory and visual delights. *Please note that the audience may be asked to climb stairs and traverse dimly lit spaces. Audience may also experience art and encounters from the main level of the theater.* Westfield Theatre Group, A Department of the Westfield Woman's Club Marvin's Room October 21, 22 at 7:30 PM and October 22 at 2:00PM Westfield Woman's Club, 28 Court Street, Westfield, MA Scott Pherson's Obie and Drama Desk award winning comedic drama Marvin's Room explores interpersonal relationships within a family experiencing a series of crises and life choices. Frank Rich of the New York Times called Marvin’s Room: “…one of the funniest plays of this year as well as one of the wisest and most moving” With resonant and timely themes, Marvin’s Room casts a sensitive but often darkly humorous light on caregiving, sibling relationships, teenage rebellion, abandonment, mental health and loss. The play evokes deep empathy and understanding, smiles of recognition, laughter and sympathy for our shared human condition. Audiences may alternately laugh and cry, but they will no doubt emerge having had a deeply affecting experience. Directed by Michael O. Budnick Produced by Eva Husson-Stockhamer and Sophie Stevenson Set Design by Eva Husson-Stockhamer with Robert Clark, Set Builder Costume Design by Theresa Allie Lighting Design by Frank Croke Publicity by Sally Memole Cast: Bessie: Tracy Grammer Lee: Gilana Chelimsky Hank: Joe Wilcox Ruth: Theresa Allie Dr. Wally: Jim Merlin Dr. Charlotte/Director: Nicole Calero Charlie: Calaeb Vieweg Bob/Marvin: Jon Golden http://westfieldtheatregroup.com The Barn Identity October 21 at 7:00 PM CitySpace's Blue Room in Old Town Hall The Barn Identity is a 60-minute solo theater performance piece that centers on the performer's unexpected fascination with old barns. Through storytelling, music, voiceover and inventive costuming and props, this show explores the usefulness of beauty in one's life as the performer looks back at her first recognized encounter with her own mental illness. Erika MacDonald is an internationally-touring theater-maker based in Covington, Kentucky, whose original works have been featured Off-Broadway and have won "Best of Fest" honors on over 10 different occasions at Fringe Theater Festivals across the U.S. and Canada. Erika is known for her award-winning original solo shows Evacuated!, Tap Me on the Shoulder, and Fluid, as well as her thoughtful and meticulous solo show directing and innovative puppet designs. Appropriate for ages 13+ . *No one turned away for lack of funds.* Tickets and more information. HVC’s Fun Fridays: Storytelling Standup Showcase October 21 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. More information.  Ja'Duke Theater Little Shop of Horrors 10/21/22 @ 7pm, 10/23/22 @2pm Ja'Duke Theater, 110 Industrial Boulevard, Turners Falls, MA 01376 The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination! Rating: PG-13 Run Time: 2 Hours and 15 Minutes (one intermission) https://www.jaduketheater.com/ Silverthorne Theater Company presents The Taming 10/21 at 7:30 pm, 10/22 (3:00 & 7:30 pm); 10/23 (3:00 pm); 10/27 (7:30pm); 10/28 (7:30 pm); 10/29 (3:00 & 7:30 pm) Hawks & Reed PAC With a burst of patriotic song and covered in American flags, Miss Katherine Chelsea Hartford from the gorgeous state of Georgia vows to become the next Miss America and make her momma proud. Silverthorne Theater’s production of Lauren Gunderson’s The Taming promises audiences a hilarious romp through the contemporary, past and future corridors of power. Under the direction of Mary Corinne Miller, The Taming opens on Friday October 21, in The Perch at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, 289 Main Street, Greenfield MA. Evening performances at 7:30 pm are scheduled for October 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29, with 3:00 pm matinees on October 22, 23, and 29. Tickets are on sale at EventBrite.com. The venue is handicapped accessible. In keeping with now standard live theater practice, audience members are asked to wear masks to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 virus. Tickets. Happier Valley Comedy presents The Happier Valley Championship October 22 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. More information. The Performance Project "Mother Tongue" by First Generation Ensemble 10/22/22 @ 7:30 PM, 10/23/22 @ 3pm, 10/29 @ 7:30pm 33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA “Mother Tongue” is a 90 minute original multilingual physical theater performance, created by Springfield-based First Generation Ensemble. The piece is inspired by events and family stories from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan, Holyoke, and Springfield. “Mother Tongue” incorporates movement, music, dance, and text in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, and English. More information. Facebook event link Smith College Theatre Department presents OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD by Alexis Scheer directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer October 26, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m.  October 29 at 2:00 p.m.  Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre The Smith College Department of Theatre presents Our Dear Dead Drug Lord by Alexis Scheer in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre on October 26, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 pm with a 2 pm matinee on October 29. A gang of teenage girls gathers in a backyard treehouse in Miami to summon the ghost of Pablo Escobar. Are they messing with the actual spirit of the infamous cartel kingpin? Or are they really just messing with each other? Directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer, the award-winning play explores teen angst in both hilarious and terrifying ways. Alexis Scheer is a writer, performer, producer, and self-identified Columbian-American Jew from Miami. Our Dear Dead Drug Lord premiered in 2019 at WP Theater and Second Stage, and was extended three times due to popular demand.  The New York Times called it “Highly entertaining—equally funny and scary—the play starts off as a hoot and winds up a primal scream.” In a HuffPost interview, Scheer described Our Dear Dead Drug Lord as “a play about this girl gang that worships Pablo Escobar. It’s part indictment on the American celebritization of criminals and part girls just growing up and trying to figure out where the limit is—the latter is what I’m most interested in.” In another interview, she summed it up as “Mean Girls meets Narcos.” The play features four high school students who attend a private school in Miami where they are members of the Dead Leaders Club.  The club was founded to study historical figures, but the girls have decided to take it in a more provocative direction. The club becomes a space where the girls can abandon societal expectations and exorcize personal demons. Kramer is excited to direct a play that the students are so enthusiastic about.  “The play is honestly crazy in all the best ways: one moment characters are talking about auditioning for Suessical, then they're wondering what to write for their college essays, then they're arguing about Castro and Che Guevara, then they're trying to summon the spirit of Pablo Escobar.” He explains that it is rare to find a piece that gives young actors a range of characters and identities to play that speaks to their lived experiences. “I'm confident audiences will remember this one for a long time.” Our Dear Dead Drug Lord is set in an elaborate treehouse, designed for this production by guest artist Brendan Gonzales Boston. Faculty member Kiki Smith is designing costumes and Lecturer Lara Dubin and Allie Burgess ’23 are Co-Lighting Designers. David Wiggall is designing Sound. Audiences should know that the play includes intense subject matter and graphic content and is recommended for people 14+.  In its four-star review Time Out says “Just when you think you know where the play is heading, there’s a disorienting coup de théâtre that leaves you shaken. Our Dear Dead Drug Lord isn’t for the faint of heart, but neither is coming of age.”  The production is open to the public in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre and runs Wednesday – Saturday, October 26-29 at 7:30pm and October 29 at 2pm. Tickets are $5-$10 and are available online at https://smitharts.booktix.com. Please note that masks and vaccinations are required at Smith events. For more information, email boxoffice@smith.edu. Black Playwrights: 50th Anniversary Special Event celebrates five decades of productions at UMass Theater In the past five decades, UMASS Theater has produced nearly forty plays by Black Playwrights, and the first one was directed by Paul Carter Harrison, distinguished playwright, director, and scholar of Black Theater, in 1977. Excerpts from 16 of those works will be performed Oct. 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curtain Theater as part of our Black Playwrights: 50th Anniversary Special Event, which will also include a conversation about the past, present, and future of of Black theater in the US. In selecting which works would be part of the event, Dr. Priscilla Maria Page, who is curating the event, found herself drawn to "themes of liberation and uplift." As she looked over the list of plays, she wanted to sample works that spanned decades and genres. The evening will include moments from plays such as the contemporary classic Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson to the more experimental play Unfinished Women Cry In No Man’s Land While A Bird Dies In A Gilded Cage by Aishah Rahman. The poetry of Langston Hughes and Laurie Carlos is woven throughout the piece, which will also include song and movement.   We're thrilled to be joined by special guests including playwrights Ifa Bayeza and Terry Jenoure, as well as performers John Bracey, Celia Hilson, Sabine Jacques, and Nicole Young. Further, UMass faculty directors Awotunde Judyie Al-Bilali and Gilbert McCauley, who teamed up with Dr. Page to direct the event, are also stepping onstage as performers, and Dean Barbara Krauthamer will introduce the event both evenings as part of the larger UMass Homecoming festivities. When she first started to do the research for this event, Dr. Page admitted,  "I had some assumptions about what I was going to find," because UMass is a PWI (Predominantly White Institution). What she found instead was a body of work that is "wonderfully rich" and consistent from the department's earliest days onward, with leading artists and scholars of Black Theater writing and directing their work on campus. Of note, we hosted a Black Theater conference that featured Margaret Wilkerson, Alice Childress, and James Baldwin in 1987. Dr. Page's mission in curating the event is to uncover this "rich history and presence" of Black creative excellence for the benefit of all of us, most importantly our students. Join us for an evening sure to uplift and educate! Tickets are available throughthe Fine Arts Center box office: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/article/TheaterDepartment MICA Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art MICAfest featuring the ART OF MOTHERS Friday 10/28/22 6-10, Saturday 10/29/22 12-10, Sunday 10/30 12-8 Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley https://MICAfest.eventbrite.com MICA Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art’s inaugural festival takes place at the Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley Street from October 28-30, 2022.  More than 40 featured mothers and 90 artists are participating in MICAfest’s weekend-long festival.  All the works featured in the festival are created by those who identify as mothers and primary parents. The festival aims to showcase the range and diversity of experiences mothers have.  Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards paying stipends to the artists and funding MICA’s future programs to support mom-artists. Tickets for the day allow you access to all events and to come and go as DESIRED. NOTE* Tickets for Friday night’s GALA MUST be bought in ADVANCE. NO TICKETS can be bought at the door on FRIDAY. Liquor licenses REQUIRE advanced sales. FRIDAY 6:00-10:00 Friday night’s fundraiser Opening Night Gala, with introductory remarks from MICA founder, Lyza Fennell, is the official kickoff of the weekend and a celebration of the artists. The launch premieres the visual art exhibit to the public for the first of three days. Nosh on hors d’oeuvres and a full cash bar catered by Myers Catering with Lark Jazz Trio playing on the mezzanine while perusing the gallery. At 8:00, we move into the Flex to hear the three-part harmonies of Dear Ella, with Ann Percival, Mary Witt, and Annie Patterson bringing us classic favorites. SATURDAY 12:00-10:00 Saturday, 10/29, kicks off with a recitation in Poet’s Corner on the mezzanine, warming you up for an afternoon of music and poetry. Lisa Bastoni, FIZZI from Austin indie-folk group American Dreamer, and Christa Joy and the Honeybees keep us entertained in the Flex, and writers Abigail Warren, Vanessa Adel, and Adrie Rose in Poet’s Corner. The evening starts out with a multi-dance, film, and comedy-skit hour with Sherine Khatoun Levy, Jennifer Scully Thurston, Amy Lee, and Rythea Lee. The evening ends with Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble’s presentation of their newly devised show, Mother Tongue. SUNDAY 12:00-10:00 Sunday, 10/30, get you into all events on Sunday from 12-8, including music from Carole Abbe Smith and Green Street Trio, Finding the Words documentary presentation and reading, music from Julia Read, writer-actor Kate Brandt, and Happier Valley Comedy presents The Mother of All Improv Shows featuring Katharine Daube, Sally Ekus, Kelsey Flynn, Holly Ruderman, and Pam Victor end the afternoon with laughs. Writers Lindsay Adkins and Rachel Braidman will read in Poets Corner. The festival culminates with Elena Ciampa & Friends Septet, and Rebirth with Cinamon Blair, bringing a blend of world, folk, and soul music to close out the evening. The visual art installation includes a film and dress design by Jennifer Scully-Thurston and drawings, painting, mixed media, photography, and ceramics by artists Amy Kotel, Angela Zammarelli, Ann Cloutier, Cynthia Chamberland, Dara Herman Zierlein, Eva Pushkova, Elena Allee, Hannah Richards, Heather Matys, Julia Max, Katie Russo, Kiayani Douglas, Lisa Andrews, Loretta Kane, Lyn Horan, Mary Witt, Myrrh Brooks, Patricia Parker, Procheta Olson, Robin Griffith, Rosanne Sniderman, and Natasha Colon Ortiz. Learn more about MICA at experiencemica.org. With poetry, readings, and artist talks Saturday and Sunday. Food confirmed for Friday Myers Catering, Saturday Ginger Love, and lots of Halloween treats!! The MTD Group Dolls of New Albion A Steampunk Rock Opera October 28 and 29 at 7:30 PM The Meeting House at Storrowton Village West Springfield This “just in time for Halloween Event,” featuring 12 performers is called; The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Rock Opera. It's a musical written by Paul Shapera which follows four generations of the McAlistair family in the fantastical city of New Albion. Show Info. 413.886.9191 More information Whispering Bones Returns to Pauline Productions in Ashfield at First Congregational Church of Ashfield Sunday Oct 30 at 4pm Whispering Bones-now in its 12th Season is a mix of classic, creepy and comic ghost stories performed by a talented troupe of performers.  This year Dr. Betterov-Underhill and Friends will present a new mix of stories, including campfire ghost stories, comic songs, and compelling works by lesser-known masters of the art, such as Mary Wilkins Freeman, and will feature a performance of “Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe.  Dr. Erastus Betterov-Underhill will be on hand to promote his fine line of Dead People Products, such as his world-renowned Crème de Menthe Embalming Fluid. Whispering Bones will be performing at venues throughout the region, including:  The Bennington Performing Arts Center, Bennington, Vermont; Pauline Productions at The First Congregational Church of Ashfield, Massachusetts, The Argyle Brewery in the Train Depot in Cambridge, NY; Fort Salem Theater in Salem, Massachusetts; and The Eighth Step, Schenectady NY “Some of the best ghost stories touch on social issues,” says Kelvin Keraga, producer for Whispering Bones.  “But they also touch us on a deep and personal level.  We witness people who encounter the unexpected and unexplainable, and respond with horror, greed, jealousy, sorrow, anger, or love.  Some stories are simply dances on our graves with laughter and singing to remind us not to start digging our graves—at least not yet!” Jeannine Haas, Artistic Director of Pauline Productions first encountered Whispering Bones in Cambridge, NY at Hubbard Hall Theatre Co. at the historic opera house where she was directing a show. Kelvin invited her to join the group of storytellers he assembles each year to tell the tales.  Jeannine invited Whispering Bones to Ashfield where it is returning for its 4th year. Masks (for Covid!) must be worn during the performance.Costumes are welcome! Where:  Pauline Productions at the First Congregational Church of Ashfield  429 Main Street (Route 116), Ashfield MA When:  Sunday, October 30, 4 p.m TICKETS: Advanced Tickets:  Adults $18, Students (10-18) $8  Ashfield Hardware (cash or check)    online  At Door ($20/$10 cash or check) More info: paulinelive@gmail.com Spindrift Theatre THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE Thursday-Saturday, November 3-5 @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, Novemebr 6 @ 2 PM. Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St., Northampton  A play by Lauren Gunderson Nobel Prize winning physicist Marie Curie is caught up in a major scandal that threaten to end her career. Marie's friend and fellow scientist, Hertha Ayrton, rescues Marie from the French press and angry mobs. Tickets online Tickets at door ---  $20 General Admission                            $18  Seniors/Students Information:               413-586-6095 Directed by Robert Freedman Featuring  Louise Krieger and Sarah Howard Parker Silverthorne Theater Company The Norwegians, by C. Denby Swanson - a play reading November 3 at 7:30 PM The LAVA Center, 324 Main St, Greenfield Playwright and Smith College alum C. Denby (Colin) Swanson travels from her base in Austin, Texas to join Silverthorne Theater Company for a reading of her comedy about really, really nice Minnesota gangsters – Norwegian hit men – and the feisty women who hire them. Free admission but space is limited. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-norwegians-by-c-denby-swanson-tickets-431726394267. Gina Kaufmann directs. Featured readers: Stephanie Carlson, Elisa Gonzales, Jay Sefton, & Noah Tuleja. Audience discussion with playwright Colin Swanson will follow the reading. This Theater Thursday Play Reading series event is sponsored by Local Cultural Councils which receive their funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. World and Eye Bite Size Blends: A Mini Performance Festival Nov. 5, 2022  1pm -5pm Nov. 6, 2022 11:30am-5pm  Eastworks Open Studios    116 Pleasant St. Easthampton, MA. 01027  E.Media - Suite 102 World and Eye and E.Media present “Bite Size Blends: A Mini Performance Festival” Short works by local favorites include Puppetry, Music, Storytelling, Movement and  Clown (shows aren’t necessarily for children so check the website) Shows every 45 mins. beginning on Saturday Nov.5 @ 1pm through the weekend during Eastworks Open Studios Limited seating - masks required $5 ticket/show goes to performers  More Information about the shows and Tickets  Die Fledermaus – Operetta or Musical? Call it whatever you like, but do come and be thoroughly entertained as Valley Light Opera performs Strauss', Die Fledermaus.  It’s presented in English and is a comical riot of flirtation, mistaken identity, and sumptuous music.   Die Fledermaus begins with an overture as famous as the rest of the show.  You’ll love it from the moment you hear the opening bars of music. From there, we are led on a journey into a play within a play.  A practical joke between friends leads to an intricate plot featuring lust, longing, and love of life. With a generous amount of champagne, all is revealed before the final curtain falls. You are guaranteed a delightful evening that will leave you tapping your feet, and humming some very familiar music. Die Fledermaus will be performed at the Academy of Music in Northampton on November 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and on November 6 and 13 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale September 6th and can be purchased online 24/7 at aomtheatre.com or by visiting the Box Office at 274 Main Street on Tuesday - Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.  To purchase by phone, call: 413-584-9032 ext.105. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Auditions for Aurash: Help us explore Persian myth and storytelling UMass Theater seeks a diverse cast of 10 performers interested in exploring a contemporary take on a famous Persian tale! Millennia ago, Aurash was sent by the Shah to fire an arrow from the top of a mountain, thereby ending decades of bloody war between Iran and Aniran and ushering in a glorious era in Persian history. This Persian myth offers universal themes that translate across cultures and time: That hope, belief, hard work, and persistence matter, and that, in a world short on heroes, even an ordinary person can make a difference. We are looking for a company of performer/storytellers to bring this story to life on our stage; if that's you, please read below for more details about our upcoming auditions.  AUDITION INFORMATION AURASH Directed by Behnam Alibakhshi Rehearsals start Nov. 7, performances run Feb. 24 - March 4 in the Curtain Theater Aurash is a storytelling-style ensemble piece, based on a famous Iranian legend. We are seeking an ensemble of up to 10 performers of all genders. All performers in the ensemble will play one of the Storytellers, and one or more of the named characters. Performers of all genders will be considered for all roles. Performers can be of any cultural background as long as they are open to exploring Persian performance traditions that will be part of our production. We encourage everyone to audition who is excited about this exploring this wonderful and powerful play together as an ensemble, in a production that will wed traditions from Iran with the best of contemporary theater, in a play that speaks to our times. When & Where Audition: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 (Monday & Tuesday) 6-10 p.m. Callbacks: Nov. 2 & 3 (Wednesday & Thursday) 6-10 p.m. Bromery Center for the Arts, Curtain Theater Sign up for a slot on the SignUpGenius page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4aa5a92aabfe3-aurash How to Prepare Please prepare the storytelling monologue from Aurash that we have provided at the SignUpGenius link listed above. It is not necessary to memorize the monologue. We are interested in seeing how auditioners engage an audience in telling a story. Scheduling Note for UMass Theater Students  The Aurash company cannot be involved in the cast or crew for Orlando or be cast as performers in Into the Woods due to production schedule overlaps. However, the timing is ideal for students planning Fringe Festival projects, as Aurash will be concluded prior to spring break. More information about auditions is on our website Audition page: https://www.umass.edu/theater/auditions Silverthorne Theater Company Auditions, INTIMATE APPAREL, by Lynn Nottage November 12 at 1:00 PM Studio 204, UMassAmherst Theater Department, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst Silverthorne Theater Company announced today that open auditions for its 2022-23 Season show, Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel, will be on Saturday, November 12, at UMass Amherst Theater Department, Studio 204 in the Fine Arts Center, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst.  The show runs from March 10 through 17, 2023. Jasmine Brooks directs. Audition slots are available from 1-5 pm.  Callbacks will be held on Sunday, November 13, from 1-4pm, also in Studio 204 at UMass. To reserve a slot, call 413-768-7514, or send your request to silverthornetheater@gmail.com. Auditioners are asked to submit recent headshots and current resumes to silverthornetheater@gmail.com. Video submissions will be considered if received by Friday, November 11.  Anyone submitting a video would need to be available for the Sunday callbacks. Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required for all auditioners.  Call 413-768-7514 or go to silverthornetheater.org for more details. About the Director:   Jasmine Brooks is a Boston-based director and producer. She has previously worked at Company One Theatre as the Artistic Associate and NNPN Producer in Residence. as a director and producer. She recently served as Assistant Director for A.R.T.’s production of Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 and is currently Associate Director for The Huntington’s production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone in October. Her work has been centered on being a fierce advocate for marginalized communities and celebrating black joy. About The Play: The time is 1905, the place New York City, where Esther, a black seamstress, lives in a boarding house for women and sews intimate apparel for clients who range from wealthy white patrons to prostitutes. Her skills and discretion are much in demand, and she has managed to stuff a goodly sum of money into her quilt over the years. One by one, the other denizens of the boarding house marry and move away, but Esther remains, lonely and longing for a husband and a future. Her plan is to find the right man and use the money she’s saved to open a beauty parlor where black women will be treated as royally as the white women she sews for. By way of a mutual acquaintance, she begins to receive beautiful letters from a lonesome Caribbean man named George who is working on the Panama Canal. Being illiterate, Esther has one of her patrons respond to the letters, and over time the correspondence becomes increasingly intimate until George persuades her that they should marry, sight unseen. Meanwhile, Esther’s heart seems to lie with the Hasidic shopkeeper from whom she buys cloth, and his heart with her, but the impossibility of the match is obvious to them both, and Esther consents to marry George. When George arrives in New York, however, he turns out not to be the man his letters painted him to be, and he absconds with Esther’s savings, frittering it away on whores and liquor. Deeply wounded by the betrayal, but somehow unbroken, Esther returns to the boarding house determined to use her gifted hands and her sewing machine to refashion her dreams and make them anew from the whole cloth of her life’s experiences. Character Breakdown: ESTHER, African-American, early 30’s to early 40’s, A seamstress in New York City who makes her living sewing intimate apparel for clients ranging from wealthy white patrons to prostitutes. She is described by herself and others as being a plain and unattractive woman. Note: this role includes on stage intimacy. MRS DICKSON, African-American, 50’s or 60’s, owner of the boarding house where Esther lives. MRS VAN BUREN, white, American, early 30’s to early 40’s, wealthy woman who lives on Fifth Avenue and is a client of Esther’s Note: this role includes on stage intimacy MR MARKS, Romanian Orthodox Jewish immigrant, early 30’s to early 40’s, A fabric salesman who regards Esther as his favorite customer and is devout to his religion MAYME, African-American, late 20’s to late 30’s, a prostitute who lives in the Tenderloin District, and a friend and customer to Esther. She is also a talented piano player. Note: The character plays the piano (not required, but please let us know if you do play piano), this role includes on stage intimacy GEORGE, Barbadian immigrant, early 30’s to mid 40’s, A man who works on the Panama Canal and writes letters to Esther. Note: this role includes on stage intimacy What to prepare: Please bring a headshot and resume, and prepare a monologue up to 90 seconds Assistant or Associate Professor of Theatre Smith College Department of Theatre The Department of Theatre at Smith College invites applications for a tenure-track position in playwriting at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, to begin July 1, 2023. Teaching responsibilities for this position will center on playwriting. We seek an artist whose work as a writer engages with Black, Indigenous, and people of color  (BIPOC) experience, and who can teach other BIPOC playwrights' work past and present. Additional skills might include teaching screenwriting and/or directing student productions. The course load is 2/2. Candidates should have college teaching experience; and significant professional experience as a playwright. Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to developing an inclusive approach to teaching a diverse student body, and to the role of theatre in a liberal arts education. M.F.A. in playwriting or a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is expected by the time of appointment. Candidates from groups underrepresented in theatre are encouraged to apply. Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is the largest women’s college in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars and artists interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. Smith College offers opportunities to foster faculty success at every career stage, such as those listed here: https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/provost/faculty-development. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges. Details about the Department of Theatre may be found at https://www.smith.edu/academics/theatre. Diversity and a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff, faculty, and administration are crucial to the mission and values of Smith College. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, historically underrepresented minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Application Instructions Submit application at http://apply.interfolio.com/114993 with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, diversity/inclusion statement, a statement about teaching theatre in a liberal arts college, two produced scripts, and three confidential letters of recommendation. Finalists may be asked for additional materials.  Review of applications will begin on November 1. Come make a meaningful impact on our students and in our community  and submit your application for the  Assistant Technical Director position. This person will provide support for both the theatre and dance departments on campus. They will take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. They will also supervise the scenic design and technical aspects of all Dance performances; assist with the daily operation of equipment and spaces; manage student workers, mentor and teach beginning and advanced students.  Smith College is committed to the values of diversity, inclusion, and equity and the work it takes to enact them and we hope that  you will  join us in that commitment. Additionally, we offer exceptional benefits, many available starting on the first day of employment! Blue Cross Blue Shield affordable, low-deductible medical insurance  Low to no-cost Dental, Vision and Life Insurance options Generous Paid Holidays and time off A Retirement Plan with a 9% Employer Funded annual contribution Tuition Benefits with family offerings Essential functions Production Support Assist with the preparation of all theatre and dance productions. Examples of this support include, but are not limited to: Maintaining and modeling safe practices during the production process Scenic planning and execution Ordering and budgeting supplies Drafting, Design consultation, Engineering, Furniture repair and construction Properties creation Rigging, painting, and stage preparation Problem solve for technical needs as necessary during dance performances  Research and learn new practices, equipment, and materials used in theatre and dance production and design work Attend rehearsals, performances, production and scheduling meetings as needed Student Supervising Supervise, instruct, and mentor the THE 200 and DAN 200 student production crews, the interns and scene shop work study for the theatre and dance departments Actively assist in the development of a learning ethos in the scene shop that encourages beginning and experienced students to develop skills, confidence, inclusiveness, autonomy and leadership  Co-instructor for the scene shop focus on THE 200  Facility Maintenance Assist in maintenance of the performance and classroom spaces in the Mendenhall performing arts complex  Work with the Five College Dance Production Manager and students to maintain equipment and provide technical supervision of the Scott Dance Studio Maintain records of shop inventories, maintenance schedules, and safety checks Safety Ensure a safe and hazard-free environment for all workers  Train students and staff on the safe use of the power tools and machinery in the shop and stage spaces  Have knowledge of, model and manage safe practices for students, staff and faculty when working at height and using the tools and machinery in the shop and stage spaces  Minimum Qualifications Knowledge and demonstrated experience with scenic and property construction techniques; knowledge and demonstrated experience with wood and metal working tools; knowledge and demonstrated experience with rigging, drafting, tool maintenance and repair. Must be able to work standing for long periods of time, lift up to 50 lbs. Demonstrated knowledge of safety protocols used in construction, rigging and production.  We will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet the needs required of the position.   If you are someone who has the  technical skills to do the job and a desire to work directly with students, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and submit an application for the position! Skills The ability to organize and prioritize work in order to meet an assigned deadline. Ability to multitask, pay consistent attention to detail, respond effectively to various work styles and communicate effectively with faculty, students and staff. Preferred Qualifications Experience teaching, leading and working collaboratively with diverse constituencies, especially college students. Knowledge of Q-lab and Vectorworks programs. Basic knowledge of sound and lighting equipment. Knowledge of, or interest in, automation practices for the performing arts. Additional Information  Applications will be accepted until position is filled. We seek to pay competitively and equitably based on factors such as the position and individual qualifications.  While actual pay will vary based on these factors, target pay is generally around $22 - $27/hour. Apply Here. Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals offers unrestricted grants of $5,000 to creatives and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth. Application Process Submit it before the application deadline on November 1, 2022, at 11:59pm (ET). 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 WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Dramaturg Tatiana Godfrey is offering an online workshop on Black Theatre Aesthetic on October 30. Participants will attend two 90-minutes workshops and WAM Theatre's production of Cadillac Crew (either live or streamed). Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks famously asked “What is a Black play?” This two-session workshop will attempt to answer this question by exploring excerpts of texts by Contemporary American Black writers, asking critical questions of them, and using our in-class analyses to frame the cultural heritage of Cadillac Crew. From this class students will take away a greater knowledge of Black playwrights, will be able to identify themes and motifs that recur in the Black aesthetic, and will be able to articulate the importance of representing this aesthetic. This workshop is offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis, but participation is limited to 12. More information and registration here: https://www.wamtheatre.com/workshops/ 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 Local Theater Critic Max Hartshorne 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|*