Pioneer Valley Theatre News April 13, 2023

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser April 13 - May 3, 2023 This weekend, I'm in tech! So you should go check out Stop Kiss at HCC, or a play reading at the LAVA Center, or the opening weekend of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at the Majestic, or catch 1776 at Westfield Theatre Group, Dancing at Lughnasa in Ashfield, The Minutes at GCC, and more. And don't forget to check with Auditions section for upcoming opportunities with Real Live Theatre, the LAVA Center, and the Majestic, and lots more. Lots of workshops starting this week as well - make sure you scroll to the end of the newsletter - and click the link to view in a browser to see all the listings! The next issue will include events from April 20 - May 10. 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 World and Eye Earth and Fire Arts Fest April 19-23 in the Blue Room at CitySpace in Easthampton More Information and Tickets 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 First Person Fresh Festival April 28, 29 and 30 at CitySpace in Easthampton Tickets and More Information Human Agenda Theater presents Mira and the Liminal Dimension  April 28, 29 and 30 at Hawks and Reed in Greenfield 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 Fifteen Lessons on Theatre from Maureen Shea by Alex Ates From the article:  Despite ever-present prognostications on the topic, theatre isn’t dying. Our craft doesn’t die because its ingredients are the essence of humanity: storytelling, teaching, and learning. That being said, theatre isn’t deathless. Our work is death de facto. Every performance is a danse macabre. Or, as scholar Robin Bernstein put it: “We gather in theatres to watch people on stage—but we know that their aliveness, the very quality we came to see, confers vulnerability.… To gather in theatre is to share that vulnerability, that appearance-through-disappearance, living-dying.” Paradoxically, death itself is another reason why theatre is alive. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES The Holyoke Community College Theater Department will present Stop Kiss, by Diana Son April 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 PM and Matinee at 2pm on the 15th Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke MA 01040 HCC Students and Faculty $5.00 General Admission $10.00 Seniors and Non-HCC students $8.00 Tickets available 1 hour before show, at the Leslie Phillips Box Office, or by calling 413 552 2528 to reserve tickets. Staged reading of ‘The Odd Women,’ adapted by local playwright P. H. Crosby, to be performed at The LAVA Center The Odd Women staged reading, Part II — based on a novel by George Gissing, adapted by P. H. Crosby Thursday, Apr. 13, 5:30 p.m. The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield https://thelavacenter.org/events/the-odd-women-staged-reading-part-ii-by-george-gissing-adapted-by-p-h-crosby/  https://www.facebook.com/events/199942252758117/  The LAVA Center is proud to present a staged reading of an adaptation of George Gissing’s novel The Odd Women, adapted by local playwright P. H. Crosby, on Thursday, Apr. 13, 5:30 p.m. This reading will be performed in Readers Theater format. This 1893 work has the unusual distinction of being a feminist classic by a Victorian male author. George Gissing explores the contradictions and challenges of being a woman in a time when everything was expected of you, everything was changing and everything had to be fought for. P. H. Crosby has adapted the novel into a full-length drama. The first half was staged last year at the LAVA Center. This year, the performance will be preceded with a synopsis of the first half and a stage reading of the conclusion. Join us for a fascinating look at first wave feminism in Britain and the ways in which it resonates with the struggles of today. Donations are welcome at the door. Limited seating. Please note: The LAVA Center requires masks for all patrons. We always have some on hand. The LAVA Center is a community arts space in Greenfield, MA whose mission is to create opportunities and build inclusive community in and through the arts and humanities. We are focused on making The LAVA Center a space where all artists, including marginalized communities and individuals, can have their voices heard. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., in downtown Greenfield, MA. https://thelavacenter.org  BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY COMES HOME TO MAJESTIC THEATER APRIL 13 THROUGH MAY 28   The life story of one of the most influential pioneers of 1950’s rock and roll comes to the Majestic Theater with the return of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story April 13 through May 28.  The rock musical by Alan James was the first play presented when the Majestic re-opened to the public in March 1997, and it became an immediate crowd-pleaser.   The play follows the musical path of the young man from Lubbock, Texas who created some of rock’s first big hits including “That’ll Be the Day,” “Rave On,” “Oh Boy,” and “Peggy Sue,” among others featured in the show.  Holly led the way in writing and producing his own songs, as well as playing all the instruments with his band, The Crickets.  Buddy also features many other hit tunes of the era including “Chantilly Lace” and “La Bamba.”   Cast members include Dan Whelton, Caleb Koval, Shaun O’Keefe, Tina Sparkle, Josh Karam, Jacob Nichols, Chelsea Nectow, Josh Mason, Steve Henderson and Brad Shepard.  Producing Director Danny Eaton will direct the play, and Sue Dziura is associate producing director.  Music director is Mitch Chakour and Stephen Petit is production stage manager.  Set director/technical director is Josiah Durham, and Dawn McKay is costume designer.  Dan Rist is lighting designer and sound design is being handled by Doug Wallace.   According to Eaton, “The demand for another presentation of Buddy has never subsided.  Over the years our audience members have kept requesting that we present the show again, and we figured it would be a great addition to our 25th Anniversary Season at the Majestic.  The show is timeless, the songs are brilliant, and the story of Buddy Holly, one of the most talented and endearing figures in early rock and roll, has touched audiences around the world.”   Ticket prices range from $31 - $37 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.)   Effective March 2023, audience members are encouraged to wear face masks, but they are no longer required at the Majestic.  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 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 Dancing at Lughnasa" is coming to Ashfield in April 14 through April 22! It's a funny, bittersweet play by Irish playwright Brian Friel about five impoverished Irish women in 1936, their priest/somewhat demented older brother, a "love child" of 10 and the child's unreliable but charming father. There are plenty of jokes.  And, a bit of dancing and pathos. "It's so great to be doing theater again in the wonderful Ashfield Town Hall!" said Jackie Walsh, who plays Maggie in the play and founded Footlights at the Falls in 2015. "I absolutely can't wait for the lights to come up on the stage, for the sisters' banter to begin, and to see all the faces of the audience." The play has lots of surprises, tension and joy. In it, Father Jack has recently returned from Uganda, where he was missionary at a leper colony.  He has grown to love the rituals of the people living there, even preferring them to his own Catholic rites.  That leads to interesting reactions on the part of his sisters.  The play tackles religious intolerance ... and religious tolerance! The shows happen at Ashfield Town Hall's theater at 412 Main St at 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16, 7 p.m. Friday, April 21, and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Tickets are $14, $10 for children 12 and under, and $10 for the matinee. In an effort to diversify its audience. Footlights is also offering $5 tickets to EBT card holders, who can buy four tickets for $5 each.  It's part of the state's Card to Culture program, which offers people with limited means tickets at a discount for plays, the New England Aquarium and historical/cultural sites.  People are encouraged to urge anyone with an EBT card (which pays for groceries) to come to the show! Reservations aren't necessary, but anyone can reserve seats by emailing Jackie at ashfielddancingatlughnasa@gmail.com. Please bring cash to pay for them at the door. Cultural councils in the hilltowns have generously donated to this production.  Town Hall is wheelchair-accessible. The full cast is Paul Rothenberg as Michael, Sue Tracy as Kate, Jackie Walsh as Maggie, Nina Pollard as Agnes, Carol Delorenzo as Rosie, Heather Williams as Chrissie, Marc Kaufman as Jack and Jim Lobley as Gerry.  Jean Koester directs. James Neeley is the sound/lights designer, Marcine Appel is the costumer, Kevin Tracy designed the set, Melanie Reneris is the choreographer, Walsh and Koester are producing, Katherine Taylor and Karen Schaeffer are doing props, and Jen West is managing the house, with help from Louise Krieger and ushers. GCC Theater THE MINUTES Friday, April 14th, at 7:30 pm Saturday, April 15th, 7:30 pm Sunday Matinee, April 16th, 2:00 pm Thursday, April 20th, 5:30 pm for ArtsNight Friday, April 21st, 7:30 pm  Sat, April 22nd, 7:30 pm Sloan Theater at Greenfield Community College GCC Theater presents Fresh from Broadway and the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Tracy Letts, comes 2022 Tony Award nominee for Best Play… The Minutes A Comedy by Tracy Letts Directed by Tom Geha https://www.gcc.mass.edu/events/the-minutes/ In the newly renovated Sloan Theater… For mature audiences only. Children 10+ years allowed with parental guidance. General Admission $10 Students/Seniors $5 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. World and Eye Earth and Fire Arts Fest April 19 - April 23 Times vary throughout the festival - See the website for details The Blue Room at CitySpace 43 Main St. Easthampton, MA. 01027 The Earth and Fire Arts Fest spans the week of Earth Day. Workshops run by professional artists include visual arts, storytelling and multi-disciplinary experiences around the theme of sustainability and our relationship with nature. The final weekend includes a free family giant puppet parade and the culminating evenings for teens and adults include an exhibit, networking with environmental groups and performances of storytelling, puppetry, dance, and music about care for the planet that sustains us. Tickets: $5- 35. For Information about the workshops, shows and tickets http://www.worldandeye.com/earth-and-fire-arts-fest.html Ethel the Barn An Evening of Arabic Music and Stories April 20 at 7:00 PM Ethel the Barn, 60 High Street, Southampton An evening of Arabic Music and Stories with the fabulous Layaali trio. And a conversation with Nabeel AlRaee, Palestinian theater artist and former Artistic Director of the Freedom Theatre in the West Bank. Nabeel will present readings from his plays and also discuss making art in a conflict zone, as an act of resistance. The Freedom Theatre, founded by the late Juliano Mer-Khamis, is a cultural center in the Jenin refugee camp, whose mission is to give young Palestinains a place to express themselves in a creative way. For more info or to reserve a spot: perlsteinj@gmail.com Student Thesis - Mount Holyoke College The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time April 21 7:30pm, April 22 7:30pm, April 23 2:00pm Mount Holyoke College Rooke Theatre The world's first all-neurodivergent cast and crew production of Curious Incident! The design of the show is deliberately as accessible as possible, as is the staging for our actors, and ushers will be trained to handle all access needs (including Service Animals). There will also be an ASL interpreter (and post-show talkback) for the Friday and Sunday shows. We're trying to prove that theater can be made by and for people like us and are really excited to finally get to share this work! Learn more about the project at https://www.disabledautisticlesbian.com/curious-incident https://curious.ludus.com/index.php Wilbraham United Players Little Women - The Broadway Musical 4/21, 4/22, 4/28, 4/29 at 7:30PM and 4/23, 4/30 at 2:30PM Wilbraham United Church Fellowship Hall Stage, 500 Main Street, Wilbraham, MA 01095 The Wilbraham United Players are proud to present “Little Women – The Broadway Musical” starting on Friday, April 21st, and continuing through Sunday, April 30, 2023. This production will take place on the Fellowship Hall Stage at Wilbraham United Church at 500 Main Street in Wilbraham. A Musical based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic American Novel, this Civil War era musical story of love and family is a New England classic. Little Women follows the adventures of four sisters; rambunctious Jo, practical Meg, sweet Beth, and romantic Amy March as they embark on a coming of age tale filled with drama, romance and humor (and song!) all under the eye of their beloved Marmee while their father is away during the Civil War. Jo is trying to sell her writings, but her publishers are not interested – at least not until she weaves in the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in 19th century Massachusetts. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with self-discovery, heartache, and hope. The relationship of the four March sisters and their family prove that even during a time of conflict there is still love. Book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein;  this production is directed by Deb Trimble with musical direction by Benjamin Maniscalchi. Tickets can be purchased online at the Players’ website at www.wilbrahamunitedplayers.org. Tickets. The Smith College Department of Theatre presents La Ruta by Isaac Gómez in Theatre 14 on April 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 pm directed by Monica Lopez Orozco.  To the U.S.-owned factories in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, La Ruta is just a bus. But to the hundreds of women who live, work, and often disappear along the route, it symbolizes much more than that. Inspired by real testimonies, and using live music to evoke factory work and protest marches, La Ruta is a visceral unearthing of secrets buried in the desert and a celebration of the Mexican women who stand resiliently in the wake of loss.  Reserved tickets are $5-10 online at https://smitharts.booktix.com. Spanish language translation is available at the April 27, 28, & 29 performances. Audiences should know that this play is about femicide and contains strong language, references to sexual violence, trafficking, and simulated fireworks. It is appropriate for people ages 16 and up. For more information contact boxoffice@smith.edu CONCERT IN SPRINGFIELD - In case you hadn’t heard yet… the Performance Project’s SHOUT! ELEVATE! INSPIRE! Benefit Concert 2023 is coming up on APRIL 22nd @ Springfield Technical Community College! This year’s concert will feature Vocalist Samirah Evans and trumpeter Haneef Nelson who will offer up a smokin' evening of Jazz and Blues with some New Orleans spice sprinkled into the mix! With additional performances by Iyawna Burnett, Fynta Sidime, and First Generation Ensemble. TICKETS Shakespeare & Company will stage an open-captioned performance of Romeo and Juliet directed by Kevin G. Coleman at the Tina Packer Playhouse on Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Ideal for audience members with hearing disabilities, open captioning features a large projection screen above the stage, displaying the text the actors are reciting via “super captions.” Shakespeare & Company’s Accessibility Coordinator Natalie Love explained that the Company hopes to use these performances as a starting point for further accessibility options at all shows. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to open our spaces to more people by offering our shows with accessible options, and hope to incorporate and establish these practices in our future programming,” she said. The performance features the cast of the 2023 Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare, currently touring Romeo and Juliet across New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, including two free, community performances in Pittsfield, Mass. at the Zion Lutheran Church and Berkshire Athenaeum. The open-captioned performance and a sensory-friendly performance staged at Shakespeare & Company in March have been generously supported by a grant from the GKV Foundation. The Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Photo Caption: Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare actors Cameron Davis as Romeo and Naire Poole as Juliet. Photo by Katie McKellick. Additional photos are available here. Pauline Productions in association with Ko Festival of Performance First Person Fresh: A Festival of Women's Solo Performance 4/28/23 at 7:30 PM, 4/29/23 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM, 4/30/23 3:00 PM The Blue Room at CitySpace, 43 Main St., Easthampton Seven women debut their new "first person" solo theatre pieces. The pieces range from comic to serious, and poetic to music-filled, with themes that include mental health, love, loss, and show biz. Each of the pieces, which vary in length from 20 to 45 minutes, have been divided into two separate programs. To see the entire Festival, purchase tickets for both Program A and for Program B. PROGRAM A: Fri. 4/28 7:30 pm & Sat. 4/29 3:00 pm An ADHD Girl’s Guide to…WHOA! — Sue Tracy Stories Gone Missing — Alice Barrett Alp Me Make It thru the Night — Jarice Hanson Telling the Story/Untelling the Diagnosis — Beth Filson PROGRAM B:  Sat. 4/29 7:30 pm & Sun.4/30 3:00 pm Holding Space — Vanessa Adel Friendship, A Love Story — Jo-Anne Hart Love, Death, & Warthogs — Laura Wetzler Directed by JEANNINE HAAS (Artistic Director/Pauline Productions) and SABRINA HAMILTON (Artistic Director KoFest), with Liesel De Boor Tickets: $10 - $30 available online at KoFest.com and at Door if available **Masks must be worn during the performance to protect the most vulnerable among us. Tickets and more information.  PAULINE PRODUCTIONS in association with KoFest presents First Person Fresh! A Festival of Women’s Solo Performance  April 28-30 at CitySpace 43 Main St. Easthampton MA Featuring new writing by Vanessa Adel, Alice Barrett, Beth Filson, Jarice Hanson, Jo-Anne Hart, Sue Tracy & Laura Wetzler Directed by Jeannine Haas, Sabrina Hamilton, & Liesel De Boor Lighting Design by Ezekial Baskin Masks Required.     Limited Seating.    Tickets at KoFest.com  Program A  Fri. April 28 at 7:30/Sat. April 29 at 3pm: Alice Barret, Beth Filson, Jarice Hanson, Sue Tracy Program B Sat. April 29 at 7:30/Sun. April 30 at 3pm: Laura Wetzler, Vanessa Adel, Jo-Anne Hart Laura Wetzler in Love, Death, & Warthogs Starting from her first crazy gig in the Catskills and ending with her bizarre misadventure as a part-time safari guide, musician & filmmaker Laura Wetzler’s rollicking new first-person narrative explores themes of love, death, identity, cancer survival, the magic of music, and the joy of being of use. Bravely sailing into the maelstrom of family memories, the reverie of lovers lost and found, and the unknowns of living in a human body, Laura navigates what to her is a very confusing world in six funny, poignant scenes featuring original songs from her critically acclaimed CDs. Love, Death, & Warthogs is Laura Wetzler’s first work for the theater. Singer songwriter guitarist Laura Wetzler is a recording artist, writer, speaker, and award-winning filmmaker, touring in over 100 shows each year. “Superb performances” New York Times; “Great voice, great writing!” WBAI NYC.  Her CDs Flying, Songwriter’s Notebook, Kabbalah Music, Again! Again! & The Fracking Blues receive wide airplay.  Laura’s first film, What Happened at the Veterans Home? (2021) which she wrote, directed, produced, and scored, has won 14 international awards, including Best Screenplay in Paris, Palm Springs, & Philadelphia, Best Humanitarian Film in Prague, and Honorable Mention at the Cannes World Film Festival, and is now available for streaming.  INTO THE WOODS by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine Directed by Rudy Ramirez  April 28, 29, May 4, 5, 6 at 7:30 p.m. May 6 at 2 p.m. In the Rand Theater $20 general admission, $10 students and seniors Tickets sold through the Fine Arts Center Box Office (call 1-800-999-UMAS or visit the website).  The first time you watch Into the Woods, the popular 1987 musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, you may get up at the end of Act 1 thinking the show is done altogether, and we wouldn’t blame you. In the true fairytale fashion, matches are made, curses are broken, and everyone lives happily ever after — until they don't. In Act 2, our beloved fairytale characters find out what comes AFTER the happily ever after as they face a threat that is quite literally bigger than themselves.  That complicated take on fairy tale endings is part of what has director Rudy Ramirez, a MFA student in directing at UMass Theater, and the rest of the company so intrigued by this modern classic musical, which runs April 28 to May 6 in the Rand Theater at UMass. By turns witty and poignant, this production also features musical direction by Western Mass-based musician David Cavallin. Tickets are on sale now! Human Agenda Theater Mira and the Liminal Dimension 4/28 and 4/29 at 7 pm and 4/30 at 2 pm Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center, Level 4 "The Perch" in Greenfield, MA Mira and the Liminal Dimension is a collaboratively created original theater piece, investigating the concept of Liminal Space as it applies to our lives and our world. We follow the titular character, Mira, as she finds herself stuck Alice in Wonderland-style in the “Liminal Dimension,” a place that embodies the in-between and the strange. She is guided by many in her journey, but in particular by a spirit of the dimension, Janus. With Janus’ help, Mira grapples with being stuck in between, in her life, in her job, and in her soul. More information Follow @HumanAgendaTheater on instagram for updates, trailers, and more! RIVEN A New Play in Development Conceived and directed by Marina Zurita Created in collaboration with performers Laila Garroni, Josanna Vaz, and Isabelle Bushue April 29 and 30, 2023 At the A.P.E. Gallery 126 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060 Work-in-Progess Performance: SATURDAY April 29th at 7:30 pm and SUNDAY April 30th at 2:30 pm Suggest donation $5-$20 at the door Riven is a new play in development based on interviews with Brazilian waste pickers, which investigates the intersections between motherhood and the accumulation of waste. The story of Riven centers the interweaving lives of Melina and Alessandra, two black Brazilian catadoras (waste pickers) working at a scrapyard in the city of São Paulo. As these two women sort through piles of waste in the predictable day-to-day of the scrapyard, they face the impacts of a chaotic and unforgiving world outside. Melina and Alessandra must sort through not only the accumulated discards of others, but through the accumulations of their own complex relationship. Meanwhile, there is Little Girl, a Chinese child who weaves ghost-like through the world of the play. She is a child waste picker rescuing objects from the piles of neglect around her – immersing them in her imagination and tracing a world of her own. Riven raises awareness and gives voice to the global community of waste pickers – an invisible community that expands beyond Brazil, accounting for more than 20 million people around the world. Waste pickers collect–from streets and landfills–materials to be recycled and, therefore, contribute tremendously to the conservation of natural resources. A community that lives at the fringes of society, waste pickers sort our discards and in doing so care for a future other than their own. This work-in-progress sharing will be followed by a post-show conversation. Join the creative team and, through dialogue, support the development of Riven. Riven is being workshopped as a part of the LAB at A.P.E. which supports the development of new work through residency, mentorship, and ongoing conversation with peers in the field of performance making. The LAB is a collaboration between A.P.E. and Serious Play Theatre Ensemble. Easthampton Theater Company God of Carnage May 11, 12, 13 at 7:30PM and May 14th at 2PM CitySpace Blue Room, Old Town Hall, 243 Main Street, Easthampton, MA Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage comes to Easthampton! Directed by Michael O. Budnick working with a multitalented production team, this dark comedy explores tensions underlying the thin veneer of civilized behavior. Set in a Brooklyn apartment, "God of Carnage" follows two sets of parents who meet to discuss a playground altercation between their children. As the afternoon progresses, the polite facade of social etiquette quickly breaks down, revealing more primal instincts. What starts as a civilized conversation quickly devolves into a chaotic and hilarious battle of egos and emotions. With great wit, biting social commentary, and a little chaos, we watch each character descend into their worst impulses. Originally written in French and translated into English by Christopher Hampton, "God of Carnage" has been performed to critical acclaim in theaters around the world. The play won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, as well as the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The play will be performed in the newly renovated Blue Room of the Old Town Hall, which is the first phase of an expansive revitalization that will give rise to an exciting new arts and performance space in Easthampton. http://easthamptontheater.com AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Real Live Theatre AUDITIONS for RLT's workshop production of Gracie Gardner's Pussy Sludge Friday 4/14 6pm-9pm & Saturday 4/15 1pm-4pm; additional dates & times available over zoom Sunderland RLT is holding auditions for actors ages 18-60s for our August workshop production of Gracie Gardner's new and award-winning script Pussy Sludge, directed by RLT member Rachel Hall. Performances will be at CitySpace in Easthampton, 8/4-8/6 & 8/11-8/13. Rehearsals will begin June 20th and will primarily take place in Sunderland. Auditions are in-person April 14th & 15th in Sunderland, or over zoom April 10th-23rd. Schedule your audition slot/ask any questions by emailing Rachel & Ellen at reallivetheatre@gmail.com. The show follows a woman who comes to call herself Pussy Sludge. Crude oil is coming out of her vagina, so she moves to a state park to deal with it out there, alone. During her time in the forest, many passersby come to offer their advice and possibly comfort. There is something (alive maybe) inside the sludge, and it is dangerous. Pussy Sludge is a fever-dream Queer love story/adventure about how we deal with trauma; how we heal and how we do not. It’s about bodily autonomy and bodily functions. It’s about the power of the erotic, pleasure, and shame. The purpose of Pussy Sludge is not to normalize bodies and what they can do, yet it does. We have 7 roles available for actors of any race, any genders that can present as and are comfortable being referred to by the pronouns listed below, any physical mobility as long as they are excited to engage in a highly physical ensemble piece to the fullest extent of their unique capacity. Actors must be comfortable with performed sexuality including but not limited to: simulated masturbation (witnessing and/or participating) and simulated sex (witnessing and/or participating). Intimacy protocols will be implemented throughout the rehearsal & performance process. Roles available: -Rachel, she/her, 30s-60s -Courtney, she/her, 20s -Sebastian, he/him, 20s-30s -RJ, he/him, 18-40s -Becca, she/her, 18-20s -Josephine, she/her, 20s-40s -Adam, he/him, 20s-40s https://reallivetheatre.net/audition-opportunities LAVA Center to host auditions for several theatrical productions Open auditions for The LAVA Center Sunday, Apr. 23, noon–3 p.m.; Monday, Apr. 24, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Apr. 26, 6:30–8:30 p.m. The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield Actors of all ages and identities are warmly invited to audition for any or all of a number of upcoming play readings at The LAVA Center, and one video project, slated for this spring and summer. In particular, there are many roles for actors who can play characters in the 18–21 age range, and women characters in the 50–70 age range, in addition to a wide array of identities and ages. Honoraria vary; each production company will include that information in casting offers. Auditions will be held at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St. in Greenfield, on Sunday, Apr. 23, noon–3 p.m.; Monday, Apr. 24, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Apr. 26, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Actors will read from play scenes, and will read in groups of six or fewer. Please expect to stay for approximately 40 minutes. No advance preparation is required. The projects we are auditioning for are supported in part by grants from local cultural councils Greenfield, Bernardston, Gill, Leyden and Northfield; funded by Mass Cultural Council and artists’ grants funded by Mass Cultural Council. Please note: The LAVA Center requires masks for all patrons. We always have some on hand. The LAVA Center is a community arts space in Greenfield, MA whose mission is to create opportunities and build inclusive community in and through the arts and humanities. We are focused on making The LAVA Center a space where all artists, including marginalized communities and individuals, can have their voices heard. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., in downtown Greenfield, MA. https://thelavacenter.org  MAJESTIC CHILDREN’S THEATER ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR SUMMER SHOWS   The Majestic Children’s Theater will be holding auditions for its summer shows at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater.  Teen actors between the ages of 14-19 are being sought for roles in the play Little Lord Fauntleroy and the musical Disney’s The Aristocats.  Performances will take place in late July/early August.   Auditions will be held at the theater at the following dates/times:   Thursday, April 20 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm Friday, April 21 - 1:00pm – 5:00pm Sunday, April 23 – 5:00pm – 8:00pm   Auditions are by appointment only.  To schedule an audition time, please contact the Majestic Theater at (413) 747-7797. Academy of Music Technical Director  –  Full Time Position Reports to: Executive Director The Technical Director (TD) has the daily responsibility for the theatrical technical operations of the Academy, including lighting, sound, set design and construction, and coordinating necessary theatrical maintenance. The Technical Director will act as crew chief, determining number of stagehands and scheduling staff for all productions.  The TD will act as liaison with the steward of I.A.T.S.E. Local 232, communicating the number of stagehands required and will oversee union crew during production. The TD is responsible for all technical operations during all shows.  Duties and responsibilities include: Determines the necessary technical supports, such as lighting, sound, staging, and special needs, necessary for events and performances presented at the facility in advance of production dates. Engineers and provides for set ups, maintains and operates all house systems including but not limited to rigging, lighting, projections and sound systems for theater, dance, music, and other productions and projects; assists guest designers and artists with technical matters. Engineers, supervises and assists with set and stage construction, installation and management.  Oversees stage crews and back stage staff; responsible for hiring and firing non-I.A.T.S.E stagehands and for maintaining records of job performance for all stage hands. Makes recommendations for training. Orients Academy renters and visiting productions to safety, technical characteristics and other areas of facility operations; facilitates the use of the technical facilities by the resident company and others engaged by or renting the Academy. Monitors the condition of and maintains all Academy theatrical equipment including lighting, sound, projection and rigging equipment; arranges for the repair and replacement within budget; performs preventive maintenance on equipment; prepares annual budget for equipment purchases and maintenance. Assists with the preparation and control of Academy production budgets; maintains inventory and orders specialized supplies.  Provides estimate for production costs prior to rental contract execution and for Academy productions; provides invoice for work performed to Executive Director. Assists Front of House Manager with facility maintenance. Any other tasks assigned by Executive Director Qualifications: At least 3 years of relevant experience with a performing arts venue Working knowledge of current techniques, methods and procedures of theater, dance, and music productions and presentations including stage, set, sound and lighting design and implementation; stage management; computerized lighting systems; stage carpentry; appropriate safety precautions and procedures. Ability to lift and carry 50lbs Excellent communication and interpersonal skill Master Electrician preferred  BFA in Technical Theater or commensurate experience Experience working in a union house preferred The Majestic Theater is seeking to hire a Business Manager The Business Manager is a full-time staff person working with the Box Office Manager, theater Accountant, and Producing Director to: · Plan and manage all daily operations of the Theater & Cafe · Manage theater marketing and fundraising projects QUALIFICATIONS · A professional demeanor and an upbeat attitude · Willingness to work collaboratively with a diverse group · Organized and able to assume responsibility · Comfortable with software technology, including: Word, Excel, Outlook, TeamViewer  and box office systems · Education and experiences that would be beneficial · Reliable transportation JOB DETAILS · Starting as soon as available. · Annual salary to be determined based upon experience. · Benefits available and to be reviewed. · Average 40 hours a week, with nights and weekends, because we are a theater! Job Type: Full-time Salary: From $50,000.00 per year Schedule: 8 hour shift Weekend availability Experience: Must have experience with Live Theater  Management-People and Projects Work Location: In person Interested candidates should sent a current resume and cover letter to Associate Producing Director Sue Dziura at sue@majestictheater.com More information. Shakespeare & Company seeks two young, local actors to alternate in the role of Raynell: a bright, hopeful, seven-year-old Black girl who appears in the final scene of August Wilson’s Fences.  August Wilson’s Fences will play a six-show week at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, Mass., Tuesdays through Sundays with some evening and some afternoon performances. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, June 27, with previews starting Saturday, July 22; the show opens on Thursday, July 27, and closes Sunday, August 27. A Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, Tony Award winner for Best Play, and part of the playwright’s acclaimed American Century Cycle – August Wilson’s Fences is part of a series of 10 plays that charts the African American experience throughout the 20th century. It follows the story of Troy Maxson – a working-class Black man struggling to provide for his family in the 1950s.  The young actors will share the role, performing in shows on a scheduled rotation. The actors do not need to be at all rehearsals, and schedules can be flexible; adult, backstage supervision and a weekly salary will be provided. For more information contact Producing Associate Ariel Bock, abock@shakespeare.org or (413) 637-1199 ext. 107. MAJESTIC THEATER ANNOUNCES AUDITION SCHEDULE FOR 2023-2024 SEASON   Auditions for both Equity and non-Equity performers for roles in the upcoming 2023-2024 Season at the Majestic Theater will be held in June, according to Producing Director Danny Eaton.  This will be the 26th Season of performances since the venue was re-opened for live theater in March 1997.   Auditions will be held at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on the following dates:   Monday, June 5 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Equity Principal Actors only) Tuesday, June 6 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Equity Principal Actors only) Wednesday, June 7 – 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Equity and Non-Equity Actors) Thursday, June 8 – 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Equity and Non-Equity Actors) Friday, June 9 - 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Equity and Non-Equity Actors) Saturday, June 10 – 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Equity and Non-Equity Actors)   Equity Principal Actors and Non-Equity Actors will need to schedule their in-person auditions at the Majestic during the allocated times.  To book an audition time, performers must call the theater at (413) 747-7797.   An accompanist will be onsite June 5 and 6 for singing auditions.  On other audition dates, performers are encouraged to bring an instrumental track to accompany them.    Actors will be auditioned for parts in the following productions: Bright Star (musical) which runs September 7 – October 15, 2023, Moonglow (romantic comedy) which runs October 26 – December 3, 2023, The Importance of Being Earnest (comedy) which runs January 4 – February 11, 2024, The Ladyslipper (contemporary drama) February 15 – March 24, 2024, and The Play That Goes Wrong (contemporary farce) April 18 – June 2, 2024. See cast breakdown here.   Non-Equity performers new to the Majestic should prepare a brief monologue of their choice, and bring a picture and resume.  They will also be asked to read from prepared script selections.    People auditioning and performing at the Majestic must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  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 Completely Ridiculous Productions and Silverthorne Theater Co. Acting as Play with Gabriel Levey 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27, 1-4pm East Street Studios, 47 East St Hadley MA Rediscover your wonder and the simple pleasure of playing pretend! Get out of your head and jump into your body! Give your chorus of critics a break and make a glorious mess! In this weekly class participants will be provided with a safe, brave space to ·      take big risks before feeling “ready” ·      put logic aside to make way for a highly imaginative physical appetite/objective ·      embrace the precarious pleasure of not needing to know what’s coming next ·      find fun in whatever given circumstances the character has no choice but to endure ·      and always lead with hope, regardless of the inevitable disasters laid out in the text Building on the work of master teachers Christopher Bayes (Head of Movement, Yale School of Drama), Ron Van Lieu (former chair of NYU Grad Acting and the Yale School of Drama) and Evan Yionoulis (former chair of the Yale School of Drama and current chair of The Juilliard School), Acting as Play is a wholly unique approach to text and scene work, centering imagination, play and vulnerability as the foundation of all performance. Over the 6 classes participants will have the opportunity to work on a monologue of their choosing and a scene, which will be assigned. Be prepared to move, make a big ol’ ruckus and have fun, maybe too much fun and then some more fun, just for fun! More information Play Practice: Exploring Yoga & Theatre (Spring Break Mini-Session) Monday, 04/17-Thursday, 04/20, 1-4 PM Daily Yoga Sanctuary, Thornes Marketplace Level 3, 150 Main St, Northampton, MA, 01060 Largely based on Ellen’s popular summer camp program, this “mini session” will feature yoga practice and theatre-making, as we use our bodies, breath, and voices to develop skills for acting and storytelling. Each day will include yoga techniques, theatre games, and creative exercises designed to unleash each student's unique expression, as well as foster dynamic group creation. Play Practice is open to students ages 10-13 of all experience levels (including no previous experience) and all physical abilities—yoga and theatre are for every body! Reach out to us with any questions. Play Practice is led by Ellen Morbyrne, a local teacher and parent with over 20 years of experience as both a theatre-maker and a yoga practitioner. Ellen has been teaching and directing theatre at North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens since 2003, has taught theatre locally at high schools and homeschool co-ops and at the Drama Studio, and has been teaching yoga to folks of all ages since 2009. She is the cofounder of Real Live Theatre and teaches weekly yoga classes here at Yoga Sanctuary. https://www.yoga-sanctuary.com/kids-programs Tuesdays | 3-5pm PST / 6-8pm EST / 11-1am GMT | April 18th - May 30th (no class May 2nd) | On Zoom | Open to 8 Participants and only 4 Spots Left!! $295 A Very Special Writing Class (or Claire’s Writing Cult), is a playful and challenging class with weekly exercises and writing prompts — that run the gamut from surreal to straightforward, very deep to very dumb — 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. Each week, we’ll subvert elements of memoir, theater, fiction, and other genres to help inspire creativity, 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 are also welcome. This is an inclusive class.   Sign Up! Limited Space Available for Tuning Your Instrument Workshop, April 20 and 21 Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training will hold a two-day acting workshop titled Tuning Your Instrument at its Lenox, Mass. campus in the Berkshires on Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21.  This special addition to Shakespeare & Company’s actor training workshops, led by the Company’s Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay and Producing Associate Ariel Bock, offers a deep-dive into Linklater Voice and Pure Movement practices that can help strengthen participants’ connection to their instruments, and to develop open channels for breath, sound, and physical expression.  Tuning Your Instrument will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and tuition is $200 USD.  Single-occupancy dorm rooms are available for an additional $45 per night. Actors at all experience levels are welcome; Tuning Your Instrument is ideal for any artist familiar with voice and body work seeking to revisit the practices, and can also serve as an addition for those attending the Lenox Weekend Intensive April 21 – 23*. Discounted tuition ($150) is available to those also attending the Lenox Weekend Intensive. For more information or to apply, visit shakespeare.org. 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|*