Pioneer Valley Theatre News December 21, 2023

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser  December 21, 2023 - January 10, 2024 Performances are winding down for the year - but there are still a few left. Home for the Holidays runs through Friday and Falling in Love During a Pandemic, and Waking Up in Reality performs in the Blue Room at CitySpace this Friday and Saturday. Escape the relatives for the night - or bring them along with you!  The next issue will include events from December 28- January 17. 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 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 New Orleans’s Intramural Theater Centers Consent in Their Devising Model by Amelia Parenteau From the article:  Within the swirling sea of weird experiments in making that is New Orleans theatre, Intramural Theater, founded in 2015, has managed to stake out its own particular brand of weird. While Intramural produces traditional plays and hosts community events, such as a twenty-five hour play festival, their signature work is reflected in their devised shows, which are collectively created according to a specific devising method developed by the company’s founding artistic director, Bennett Kirschner. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2023” COMING TO MAJESTIC THEATER DECEMBER 21-22 Majesters Bring Night of Holiday-Themed Improv Comedy to Theater December 18 West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present its annual seasonal variety show, “Home for The Holidays,” December 7-22.  The family-friendly show, featuring Pioneer Valley-based performers, has become a tradition at the theater for more than a dozen years.  Similar in style to nostalgic holiday specials of years past headlined by Andy Williams and Perry Como, “Home for The Holidays 2023” will be co-hosted by singer Ray Guillemette, Jr., who has headlined countless "A Ray of Elvis" sold-out shows at the Majestic, and Ben Ashley, a Majestic favorite who has performed in several hit shows including “Mamma Mia” and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.” Joining Ray and Ben onstage will be several veteran Majestic performers, including Kait Rankins, Steve Sands, Nikki Wadleigh, Myka Plunkett, Brad Shepard, Lori Efford, and special guest Santa Claus.  The show will be directed by Stephen Petit, who also serves as production manager, and Mitch Chakour is the music director/arranger.  Set design is by Bev Browne, Dan Rist is the lighting designer, and wardrobe mistress is Christine Thompson. Tickets are $28 & $26 for adults, and $15 for children 10 and under, and are available by visiting or calling the Majestic Theater Box Office at (413) 747-7797 during its hours of operation (Monday – Friday 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 1pm).  “Holiday Stress Relief,” a night of improv comedy with The Majesters is set for Monday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m.  General admission seating is $15 at the door the night of the show. The Majestic is also selling its popular holiday gift packages which consist of gift certificates (redeemable for tickets and café purchases), café gift cards, and a gift item packaged in with the certificates, and they will be available during the holiday season. For additional information, visit www.majestictheater.com. CitySpace Falling in Love During a Pandemic, and Waking Up in Reality Friday, December 22 and Saturday, December 23 at 6:00 PM 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA 01027 "Falling in Love During a Pandemic, and Waking Up in Reality" is a story of one woman's journey through love during a Global Pandemic. In a time where millions of people feel lost, scared and alone, she finds herself at the beginning of the one thing she has wanted her entire life - a romantic relationship. "Falling in Love During a Pandemic, and Waking Up in Reality" is an epic tale of Love, Loss, and Betrayal. Less Rom-Com and more mask wearing first dates. Tickets: $10-$15 - General Admission Alexandra Paquin is a Cook by day and a Comedian by night. In a quest to find meaning and have hobbies, she found something raw and entertaining within herself. Through Storytelling and Improv, Paquin will present life from her own lens and show you that there isn't much separating the lives between you and the stranger next to you. As a twenty something living through a global pandemic, just trying to retain some kind of normalcy. This event is a CitySpace Pay It Forward Project. More information Kick off the New Year with PIC’s 5 Year Anniversary celebration! Get to know PIC community members, hear about our programming for 2024, get a sneak peek into some of the works-in-progress we will be supporting in the year ahead, and contribute your voice to the future of PIC. We look forward to celebrating and gathering with you on January 7th from 6-8pm at Progression Brewery, 9 Pearl St. Northampton. See you there! AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES The Drama Studio Sign up for Open House! Invite a friend! January 3 at 6:00 PM The Drama Studio, 41 Oakland St., Springfield Mass. The Drama Studio is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, January 3rd, at 6pm for ages 9-18 If you know anyone that you think would be interested in Acting or The Drama Studio, come try a free Acting Class! We are looking forward to seeing you there! https://dramastudio.org/open-house Real Live Theatre seeks a stage manager for our Summer 2024 premier of When the Mind’s Free, an original dance-theatre piece which lifts language, ideas, and story from Shakespeare’s King Lear and places them in a contemporary context, that of a lesbian family dealing with the early onset Alzheimer’s of the matriarch and the addictions of the youngest daughter. We are looking for an experienced stage manager, and it is a plus to have stage managed dance-theatre specifically. The ideal candidate will:  -have excellent communication skills -be comfortable with Google Drive, Zoom, email, etc. -be highly organized and detail-oriented -have a patient and supportive management style -be a cooperative and thoughtful team player  Life experience relevant to the themes of the play are a plus. The language in the piece is mainly contemporary and has emerged out of improvisations outlined and shaped by the director and performed by the ensemble, as well as in consultation with memory care organizations, caretakers, families, and individuals dealing with memory loss. In When the Mind’s Free, the epic arc of King Lear is condensed into one day in the life of this family. Scenes of caregiving, some of which blossom into imaginative play, others of which devolve into frustration and tears, are interspersed with dances which take the audience outside of that repetitive reality, into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters. We are guided in our work not only by our study of the text of King Lear, but also by these big questions: What does it mean to have accurate memories, and why do we need them? Separated from our memories, who are we? Can we maintain intimate relationships without shared memories? How can the Buddhist principle of non-attachment help us in caring for those with memory loss and those who struggle with addiction? And finally, how do we bring levity and light into our darkest hours? A core component of this project is direct community engagement; each performance of the piece will be accompanied by a facilitated space for discussion. We hope to give audience members time to reflect on their experiences of caregiving and being cared for, to share stories and resonances, and to connect with local resources and with one another. From our own experiences, we know how lonely caregiving can be, and we hope to provide space to foster community connectedness. The piece will rehearse and perform in the CT River Valley of Western Massachusetts between July 1 and August 11, exact schedule and dates TBD.  During that period the stage manager must be available during a mix of times, including weekdays. There will also be some minimal remote work (emailing and zoom meetings) starting January 2. Stipend $1,500.  Please send a letter of interest and resume to Ellen and Toby at reallivetheatre@gmail.com. We're looking for a booking agent and/or tour coordinator to help us plan a local and regional tour of First Generation Ensemble’s Mother Tongue, a 90 minute multilingual physical theater piece. (info below). We have funding for a position averaging 20 hrs a month.  We’ve received a grant from the NEA specifically to tour Mother Tongue, and although we have extensive experience performing in our area (Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties), we need to hire someone with experience who can help to broaden the reach our of tour to other states.  We hope to find someone who can jump in asap and begin to connect with venues, reach out to new presenting partners, and developing our tour schedule for 2023-2024.  As a starting point, we already have a list of potential venues, some with already existing relationships and connections.  The Performance Project’s First Generation is a multilingual physical theater ensemble based in Springfield Massachusetts. Members participate in artistic and leadership training, community building, social justice dialogues, and intergenerational mentoring. First Generation  creates multilingual physical theater performances inspired by their own life experiences,  and the experiences of their families and communities. Their work touches upon themes such as diaspora, language, culture, xenophobia, transphobia, hypermasculinity, racism, the power of youth voice, liberation, and revolution.  $35/hr, approximately 80-100 hours of work CONNECTING WITH VENUES: (some known / some new)  REGION: Within 8 hrs drive  VENUES: theaters, colleges, community venues, high schools, social justice conferences, festivals, corporate events (if only!)  FEES FOR PERFORMANCES: to be negotiated  The Performance Project, based in Springfield MA, is seeking a Lighting Designer/Board OP, Sound Op and Stage Manager for a local and regional tour of First Generation Ensemble’s Mother Tongue, a 90 minute multilingual physical theater piece. We’ve received a grant from the NEA specifically to tour Mother Tongue, and although we have experience performing in our area (Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Massachusetts counties), this will be our first time touring to other areas in MA and nearby states.   We currently have two professionals (lights/sound) who know the show and have been running lights and sound, however they will not be available for all  performance dates, so we are looking for people to learn the show and take some of the performances. We do not have a stage manager and are looking to full that position.    Contact: Julie Lichtenberg info@performanceproject.org and Fig Lefevre Admin@performanceproject.org Mother Tongue is a devised multilingual physical theater piece created by the Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble. The piece is inspired by the experiences of First Generation ensemble members, their families and communities who are from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan/Darfur, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The 90 minute performance weaves together movement, music, dance, and stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, and English. The piece incorporates themes of language, culture, identity, diaspora, hypermasculinity, xenophobia, transphobia, racism, the school to prison pipeline and revolution.     WORKSHOPS & CLASSES The Center for Actor Training at Shakespeare & Company will hold its 43rd session of its Month-long Intensive for mid-career actors at its Lenox campus from January 3 through 29. For six days a week, morning to night, participants immerse themselves in voice, movement, text analysis, exploration of the actor/audience relationship, sonnet work, scene work, clown, stage fight, and in-depth discussions about the function of theater and the role of the actor in today’s world. Director of the Center for Actor Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay said the Intensive offers training in classical text that can easily be applied to all forms of acting.  “The Month-long is a unique opportunity for actors to concentrate on their craft in a supportive and courageous community of artists,” she said. “Alumni of the Month-long routinely find that our training is transformative for their work and is applicable to contemporary as well as classical acting.” Complete applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the Intensive is filled, however an  early payment discount of $500 is offered until Saturday, Sept. 30.  A limited number of scholarships are available for People of the Global Majority/BIPOC artists through the Dennis Krausnick Fellowship Fund; scholarship applications are due Sunday, Oct. 1. Tuition costs include double-occupancy housing and all meals. Housing is located on the Shakespeare & Company campus; a limited number of single rooms may be available for an additional fee of $750. The campus is fully, COVID-19 vaccinated, including full-time employees, seasonal staff, artists, volunteers, and program participants. To ensure the health of the Shakespeare & Company community, all Center for Actor Training participants must be vaccinated against COVID-19 including the latest booster shot. Masks may be required for certain classes and events. As conditions of the global pandemic are ever-evolving, these guidelines are subject to change and will be updated accordingly.  For more information, including regarding the topics covered during the Intensive, contact training@shakespeare.org. Happier Valley Comedy Improv for Scaredy Cats January 13 at 12:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley Does the idea of performing in front of people scare the dickens out of you? Have you ever watched improv and thought, "I could never do that!"? Have you ever watched improv and thought, "Heck, I could definitely do that!"? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, "Improv for Scaredy Cats (and Non-Scaredy Cats Too!)" is the workshop for you. It's designed especially for the improv newbies, improv-curious, and anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone. Once you get started, you'll soon see it's not that scary after all. Head of Happiness Pam Victor leads you through a very gentle, easy approach to improv comedy in a positive and accepting atmosphere where failure is disempowered. (At HVC, we believe it's only a mistake if you don't learn from it. We also believe that everyone can improvise!) Our main focus is to have as much joy and ease as humanly possible in two hours! No experience necessary. Being funny is NOT required. The only requirement is a willingness to learn something new and have as much fun as possible. https://www.happiervalley.com/scaredy-cats.html The Drama Studio Sign up for Intro to Acting 101 January 20, 2024 The Drama Studio is a one-of-a-kind community where young people have the opportunity to grow as artists, leaders, and individuals. We are thrilled to announce that we are now offering a variety of in-person acting classes with a unique conservatory style program for students aged 9-18. Our Intro to Acting 101 program provides an excellent foundation where our students will learn fundamental acting techniques while building confidence in front of an audience. https://dramastudio.org/drama-studio-classes 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|*