Pioneer Valley Theatre News March 23, 2023

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser March 23 - April 12, 2023 Tomorrow is my birthday! Please share this newsletter with a friend and go see a show soon. Catch Kate Soper's new play in progress at Smith tonight, Scarlet Sock's gala at CitySpace this Saturday, or Play Incubation Collective's Night Out For Ukraine on Sunday (and say hi to me at all of them!) The next issue will include events from March 30 - April 19. 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 Turners Falls High School presents Hairspray: The Musical March 31 at 7pm, April 1 at 2pm and 7pm, April 2 at 2pm Turners Falls High School / Tickets at the Door A Night Out For Ukraine - Benefit Fundraiser Sunday, March 26, 4-9:30pm Edwards Church Northampton More Info and Registration Easthampton Theater Company presents God of Carnage May 11, 12, 13 at 7:30PM, May 14 at 2PM - CitySpace's Blue Room in Easthampton Tickets and More Information 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 One Approach to Student Engagement in Educational Season Selection by Christianne Myers From the article:  In 2020, students and faculty grappled with an unprecedented confluence of forces that included COVID-19’s profound impact on the performing arts and the social upheaval centered on issues of systemic racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd. Given this background and their own sense of disenfranchisement in institutional decision-making, theatre students at the University of Michigan (U-M) went on strike and provided a list of demands that centered wellness, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) representation in the curriculum, and a student voice in season selection. Students continue to make parallel demands in theatre departments all over the country. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Smith College Department of Theatre New Play Reading Series: Orpheus Orchestra Opus Onus by Kate Soper Thursday, March 23 – 7:30 PM –  Acting Studio 1 The Smith College Department of Theatre’s New Play Reading Series presents Orpheus Orchestra Opus Onus by Kate Soper. Professor of Music Composition Kate Soper performs a reading of her work–in–progress which features Orpheus in a post–apocalyptic bunker, burning violins to stay warm, lamenting the memeification of classical music, and dreaming about Eurydice. Directed by Michael Rau.  Free and open to the public. Masks welcome. THE GLASS MENAGERIE NEXT UP AT MAJESTIC THEATER MARCH 23 THROUGH APRIL 2   A classic American drama takes center stage at the Majestic Theater when The Glass Menagerie is presented February 23 through April 2.  Tennessee Williams’ play about family and the fragility of memory is part of the Majestic’s 25th Anniversary Season of theater and live performances at the West Springfield venue.   The Glass Menagerie tells the tale of Amanda Wingfield, the faded Southern Belle, who is desperate to marry off ailing daughter Laura, and worries about wayward son Tom.  Saddled with the obligations left to him by his absent father, Tom, who also acts as the play’s narrator, arranges for an acquaintance, a gentleman caller, to pay a visit to Laura and sets off not only her own, but her mother’s hopes for a romantic future.  This memorable play is set in St. Louis during the Great Depression and is widely considered to be one of the most significant plays of the 20th century.   Danny Eaton is producing director, while Rand Foerster is directing the play.  Associate Producing Director/Stage Manager is Sue Dziura, and Stephen Petit is production manager.  Aurora Ferraro is associate production manager, and Josiah Durham is technical director/set designer.  Dawn McKay is costume designer, and Daniel Rist is lighting designer.  Scenic Artist is Bev Stevens Browne.   Cast members include Robbie Simpson (Tom), Cate Damon (Amanda), Abigail Milnor-Sweetser (Laura), Tosh Foerster (Jim) and Ann-Marie Messbauer (Musician).  Understudies include Chris Rojas (Tom/Jim), Myka Plunkett (Amanda) and Caelie Scott Flanagan (Laura).   Ticket prices range from $29 - $35 and can be obtained by visiting or calling the box office at (413) 747-7797 during hours of operation (Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)   Audience members are required to wear a mask while in the building unless actively eating or drinking in the café.  Doors to the theater will open one hour before the start of a show, which is also when the café opens.  For more information, visit www.majestictheater.com Please join us for the Scarlet Sock Foundation’s Fifth Annual Gala! When: Saturday, March 25, 2023; 6:30-8:30 PM ET Where: The Blue Room at CitySpace, Easthampton RSVP:  Complete THIS FORM by March 11th Not surprisingly, 2022 was our busiest year yet!  As performances returned to the stage, and schools reopened in earnest, the need for arts funding exploded. The Scarlet Sock Foundation wants to share with you all the transformative work your support made possible.  Thanks to you, we were able to continue to support organizations that rely on the easily accessible grants that we provide in order to survive. Your commitment to the Scarlet Sock Foundation ensured that our growing family of grant recipients continued to give voice to historically silenced communities across Western Massachusetts. Join us in person at the Blue Room at CitySpace in Easthampton or virtually to celebrate our Scarlet Sock Foundation 2022 grant recipients: The Drama Studio, Play Incubation Collective, The Performance Project, Pittsfield Public Schools and WAM Theatre. Whether you attend live or via Zoom, you’ll be treated to an inspiring evening showcasing the work these innovative organizations created and learn why investing in their work changes communities for the better.  Scarlet Sock Foundation was founded in memory of Laura DiPillo, who lived her life by her deeply held belief that all people deserve to be included and heard; in short, she believed everyone is deserving of love. That is why we support social justice theater, which aims to raise awareness and create community through the performing arts.  During the program, which is free to attend, you’ll be invited to make a donation to the Scarlet Sock Foundation. Drinks and appetizers will be served by Blue Door Gatherings.   Visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more! Can't join us but still want to help? Donate here. RSVP by filling out THIS FORM by March 11th to receive the Zoom link or reserve your seat at the Blue Room/CitySpace in Easthampton!  Space is limited; so, please reply soon.  We ask that those who join us at the Blue Room at CitySpace be vaccinated against Covid.  Play Incubation Collective is pleased to be working in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Theater Community, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, Umass, and many Volunteers to bring you A Night Out for Ukraine. The event is part of the Ukrainian Hope Initiative, a global project of play readings that have taken place around the United States and the world, sponsored by the Center for International Theatre Development in Baltimore. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 3:30-4: Doors open. Welcome music by Burikes. 4-5:15: Discussion with UMass panel of experts on Russia's War in Ukraine 5:30-6:45: Break for meal and music, provided by Crepes Tea House and Burikes 7-8:30pm: Four short play readings of new works by Ukrainian Playwrights 8:40-9:30: Talkback and community dialogue facilitated by Karuna Center for Peacebuilding Beneficiaries of all funds raised will include Ukraine TrustChain, Jewish Family Service of Western Mass Refugee Resettlement Program, and the Ukrainian Emergency Performing Arts Fund. The entirety of your $5 ticket will go towards these fundraising efforts, but we do hope that attendees will be inspired to give beyond the price of admission to support this very important cause. March 26 4:00-9:30 PM EST Edwards Church 297 Main Street, Northampton $5 minimum to attend. Dinner included.   A Live Stream Option will also be available Click here for more info and registration Smith College Department of Theatre New Play Reading Series : The Illeist by Claire Trivax, MFA ‘24 Thursday, March 30 – 7:30 PM – Acting Studio 1 The Smith College Department of Theatre’s New Play Reading Series presents The Illeist by Claire Trivax, MFA ‘24.  It’s been 2,500 years of  slander and libel by men who benefit from keeping her reputation in the dirt. In this modern retelling of Euripides’ Medea, our titular character faces her toughest challenge yet: showing us the real Medea. Free and open to the public. Masks welcome. Department of Film Media Theater at Mount Holyoke College The Moors March 30–April 1 at 7:30 pm, and April 2 at 2pm Rooke Theater at Mount Holyoke College The Department of Film Media Theater at Mount Holyoke College is delighted to announce our final production of the season, Jen Silverman’s dark comedy, The Moors. Two sisters, Agatha and Huldey live on the bleak and savage English moors. The arrival of a governess in search of their mysteriously absent brother Mr. Branwell sets the household on a path of confusion, jealousy, betrayal, a quest for love, and a quest to be seen. “However you classify “The Moors” — comedy, drama, thriller, satire, farce all apply at various times — there’s no equivocating on its entertainment value.” - Chicago Suntimes The Moors is directed by FMT graduating senior Nicole Tripp and will run from March 30–April 2, 2023. Dates: Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 pm Friday, March 31 at 7:30 pm Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 pm Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 pm Location: Rooke Theater at Mount Holyoke College Lower Lake Road, South Hadley, MA 01075 Ticket prices:   $10 general admission, $8 students https://mhc.ludus.com/index.php UMass Theater presents Many Patterns, One Cloth A multi-disciplinary performance project led by Dr. Priscilla Maria Page and Professor Judyie Al-Bilali March 30, 31, and April 1 at 7:30 p.m. April 1 at 2 p.m. In the Curtain Theater $15 general admission, $5 students and seniors  Tickets sold through the Fine Arts Center Box Office (call 1-800-999-UMAS or visit the website).  Many Patterns, One Cloth is a rich tapestry that draws on inspiration from Afro-diasporic cultural traditions, global perspectives, and contemporary theater-making practices. The rise of the Divine Feminine and the restoration of balance on our planet lie at the center of this devised theater piece.   This performance, originally conceived by two UMass faculty members, Dr. Priscilla Maria Page and Professor Awotunde Judyie Al-Bilali, includes a community of creators who contributed to the research and writing in the last six months. Many Patterns, One Cloth runs March 30-April 1 at the Curtain Theater as part of UMass Amherst Theater's 50th anniversary season. It's also worth noting that the production's creative team features a host of UMass Theater alumnae. Page, Al-Bilali, lighting designer Lara Dubin, and costume/scenic designer Calypso Michelet all graduated with MFAs from UMass Theater, while co-playwright Rodriguez was a theater major and is currently working in her PhD in the W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies. Turners Falls High school Hairspray: The Musical March 31 at 7:00 PM, April 1 at 2pm and 7pm, April 2 at 2pm Turners Falls High school, 222 Turnpike Road, Turners Falls, MA Hairspray is a fun (and powerful) musical set in 1962 Baltimore. Join us as 16 year old Tracy Turnblad, her family and friends, address themes still relevant in 2023. She is a girl with big dreams and she will have you jamming as she dances and sings her way into our hearts ! Tickets sold at the door Springfield College Theater "The Revolutionists" March 31 at 7:30 pm, April 1 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm; April 2 at 2:00 pm Fuller Arts Center, Springfield College Campus Four badass women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.  A playwright, an assassin, a former queen, and a Caribbean spy walk into a room and attempt to save the soul of France while avoiding the edge of the guillotine’s blade. This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world. https://springfield.edu/simpson Williston Northampton School's The Grum Project in association with The Williston Theater present La Mona Ilustre's Juan Salvador Tramoya. The Chilean company La Mona Ilustre enters the imagination of a stagehand whose daily job is cleaning a theater dressing room. This Chaplinesque tinged tragicomedy inquires the subtle and important difference between what others say we should be and what we really are. Juan Salvador Tramoya captures the ordinary routine of a character with the simple task of tidying up things, but whose rich imagination transports us to absurd and unexpected places, and makes us value who he really is: an inimitable human being. This event is open to the public and tickets are free. Reserve your seat Westfield Theatre Group 1776! 4/14, 4/15, 4/21, 4/22, 4/28, 4/29 at 7:30 PM Westfield Womans Club ,28 Court Street Westfield  MA 3 Matinee shows also available on the Saturday dates. New ticketing website so seats can be reserved online! www.westfieldtheatregroup.com DRAG REVUE “A NIGHT AT THE GRAMMYS” TO BENEFIT GIRLS, INC. SET FOR APRIL 15 AT ELKS LODGE IN SPRINGFIELD   Tony Isham presents Camilla’s Annual Extravaganza for Girls, Inc., “A Night at the Grammys” on Saturday, April 15 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Tiffany Street in Springfield, MA.  This is the 25th year that Isham has presented a drag revue to benefit a nonprofit, and this year’s recipient is Girls, Inc.   The show will feature an array of performers from within and outside of the Pioneer Valley who will showcase music from the 1960s to today. In addition, the ticket price will include dinner, dessert, and, for VIP ticketholders, wine choices.  Non-VIP individual tickets are priced at $50.  A VIP table for eight is $520, and a VIP table for 10 is $650.  Tickets can be purchased by contacting Isham at (413) 222-4763.    “This event has attracted renowned drag performers from Provincetown and Connecticut in addition to our incredible local talent,” stated Isham, the event’s producer.  “This year’s benefactor is Girls, Inc. in recognition of their support for the inclusion of a variety of pronouns identified by many of our young people.  We want to show our support of inclusion and imagining the drag community in as positive a way as possible. We’re excited to present a dazzling evening of professional entertainment and to extend a hand to communities who deserve to thrive.”   Girls, Inc. is a nonprofit organization, established in 1864, that encourages girls to be “strong, smart and bold” through direct service and advocacy.  The organization prioritizes equipping girls with the skills to navigate through economic, gender, and social barriers and to grow up as independent individuals. It is one of the longest continuously operating organizations offering girls-only programming. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Capacity Grant for Individual Artists until April 7th CALLING ARTISTS NEW TO VALLEYCREATES! Designed with the support of our ValleyCreates Community Advisors, the Capacity Grant (formerly known as the ValleyCreates Working Capital Grant) is a capacity-building and sustainability initiative for artists who currently live or have studio space in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties in Massachusetts. This program pairs a $2,000 grant with coaching, workshops, and artist community-building. The Capacity Grant program has been designed so that each artist determines what they need from a broad array of opportunities. Interested? Apply Today! Interested in performing at a Play Incubation Salon this year? We are seeking artists who are interested in sharing 10 minutes or less of a work in progress that has the potential to spark civic dialogue, and for which they desire feedback/input from an audience primarily comprised of other artists. Use this link to our salon submission form where, in addition to sharing information about what you’d like to present, you will be prompted to submit the questions they would like to pose to the audience in advance. The audience will be guided through 10 minutes of feedback where they aim to only answer and address the questions that the presenting artists has asked. There is more detailed information about this on the salon registration page. You can access a video with more details about the salon, as well as a link to the registration form for info about feedback, at www.playincubation.org/salon. If you’d like to view a sample salon, you can do so here! What can you share in 10 minutes? Here are some examples: 2-3 new songs 1-3 poems A chapter or partial chapter of a novel A monologue A 10 minute scene from a play A 10 minute scene from a video piece A dance piece or a 10 minute portion of a dance piece WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Registration opens on Monday, February 6th for PIC Kids Summer! At PIC Kids Summer, young artists (ages 7-11) will go on an adventure through the creative process as they explore theater, movement, and music. Each week follows a different theme, and all weeks will culminate in a sharing of the young artists' original work on Fridays at 2:30. We are pleased to announce that we've added an additional week!  JULY 17-21       Make 'Em Laugh JULY 24-28      Growl and Groove JULY 31-AUG 4   Soundscapes and Sorcery AUGUST 7-11     Five Day Play 9am-3pm each day  $325/week Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Florence​ Registration opens Monday, February 6th! Learn more. 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 Easthampton Theater Company 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|*