Pioneer Valley Theatre News July 23, 2015

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser July 23 – August 12, 2015 Looking for something fun indoors to do with kids? Come check out JUNIE B. JONES the musical at NCT Kids! It's a ton of fun and Theatre 14 is delightfully air conditioned! This is the final week, performances end on Saturday! If there is something missing from this newsletter, submit it! The next issue will include events through August 19. Help me help you spread the word about all the wonderful theatrical events in the Pioneer Valley. Any questions, comments or feedback? Email me at pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com Submit Your Theatre Event LUNA GALE at New Century Theatre - closes this weekend! THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from The Clyde Fitch Report  Patti LuPone and Cellphone-gazi by Scott Walters From the article: The Big News in the theater this past week was that Patti LuPone, appearing as a “small-town theater diva” in Show for Days, went into the audience and, like a first grade teacher, took away a patron’s cell phone who had annoyed her by texting throughout the first act. It was the climax of a no good, very bad day for LuPone, who had apparently endured cell phones going off several times during the matinee performance as well, creating, the New York Post quoted her as saying, “a cacophony of noise.” (Contributed to Pioneer Valley Theatre News by Seth Lepore.) PERFORMANCES New Century Theatre presents LUNA GALE by Rebecca Gilman Directed by Gina Kaufmann July 23, 24, 25 Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM Theatre 14, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Northampton, MA Rebecca Gilman is one of the most sought after playwrights writing today. She creates engaging and timely stories, captivating audiences and taking them to new and unexpected places. The author of the acclaimed drama SPINNING INTO BUTTER, Ms. Gilman’s newest play concerns Caroline, an overworked social worker who thinks she has a typical case on her hands when assigned two teenaged drug addict parents accused of neglecting their baby. LUNA GALE is powerful story of faith and forgiveness that is called “Smart and absorbing,” by the New York Times. Tickets are now available online or by calling 413-585-3220.   TheatreTruck presents THE EMILY DICKINSON PROJECT July 23 - August 2nd, Wednesdays - Sundays, 8pm The Emily Dickinson Museum Homestead, 280 Main St. Amherst, MA " I dwell in possibility..." In her poetry, Dickinson often included lists of carefully selected word variations. Rather than settling on a single meaning, she wrote multiple possibilities. In this production, multiple possibilities of Emily herself are offered, each character a variation of the unique voice that makes up the single persona of the poet. Get to know them as they welcome you as a guest in the poet's own home! The words spoken by The Variations are entirely Dickinson’s, drawn from her personal correspondence and poetry. Each existed in her house, walked the floorboards, loved and danced and worked through the years of her life. In this play, they come together in the space that shared them - her gardens and the Homestead.  A co-production of The Emily Dickinson Museum and TheatreTruck, THE EMILY DICKINSON PROJECT takes place in the poet's home, tracing moments of her life through a journey from room to room.   JOIN US July 15 through August 2, 2015 Reserve your tickets in advance.   New Century Theatre presents JUNIE B. JONES, THE MUSICAL Book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler, Music by Zina Goldrich, Adapted by Barbara Park from the Junie B. Jones Series of Books Directed by Cate Damon with Musical Direction by Mitch Chakour July 23-25 at 10:30 AM Theatre 14, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts Northampton, MA Hooray! Hooray! NCTKids is bringing everybody's favorite first grader to the stage in this lively musical adaptation of Barbara Park's beloved Junie B. Jones book series. Junie B. (the B. stands for Beatrice only she does not like Beatrice, just B.) sings and dances her way through First Grade with the help of her teacher Mr. Scary, the Cafeteria Lady and friends like Sheldon and Herb and even that tattle- tale, May. Grab your top-secret personal beeswax journal and join us for all the fun of JUNIE B. JONES: THE MUSICAL. Tickets available online or by calling 413-585-3220.   Pauline Productions presents 4000 MILES by Amy Herzog July 23-25 and July 30 - August 1 at 8:00 PM First Congregational Church, 420 Main Street, Ashfield Starring Jeannine Haas, Theo Gabriel, directed by Toby Vera Bercovici. Leo (Gabriel) a new-style lefty, has just completed a 4000 mile bicycle trip and arrives unannounced at his grandmother's (Haas) Greenwich Village apartment.  "A lovely, insightful play that is as funny as it is touching."- Hartford Examiner. -Winner of three 2012 Obie Awards -Best New American Play Tickets available online. Ko Festival of Performance presents FROM REFUGEE CAMP TO PROJECT July 24 and 25 at 8:00 PM, July 26 at 4:00 PM Holden Theater, Amherst College Born into a Cambodian family in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge genocide, Ros finds himself trapped in a ghetto, courted by gangs. A tale of finding salvation in art and self-expression, told through hip-hop dance, traditional Khmer dance, personal narrative and video.  Part of the 24th Ko Festival of Performance summer season theme: NEW | HOME | LAND: Strangers, Newcomers and Neighbors in a New America. Tickets available online. KoFest is Western Massachusetts' popular summer experience: 5 weekends of theatrical performances, 2 one-night events, and 3 6-day intensive theater workshops.  On the Amherst College campus. Ko Festival of Performance presents Story Slam & Party July 26 at 8:00 PM Holden Theater, Amherst College True stories on “FISH OUT OF WATER” – told, perhaps, by you! Visit kofest.com to see how you can participate.  Coaching available!  All tickets $15. CASH BAR & PRIZES!. Part of the 24th Ko Festival of Performance summer season theme: NEW | HOME | LAND: Strangers, Newcomers & Neighbors in a New America. Tickets available online. KoFest is Western Massachusetts' popular summer experience: 5 weekends of theatrical performances, 2 one-night events, and 3 6-day intensive theater workshops.  On the Amherst College campus. The Majestic Theater presents The Majesters July 29; August 5, 12, 29, 26 at 7:00 PM Improv with the Majesters is the new Wednesday night tradition during Majestic summers! Our own troupe of improvisational comics take suggestions and inspiration from the audience each night to create hilarious scenes on the spot. They play improvised games like you've seen on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" And then in the second act, they create a fully-formed musical on the spot. It's a fun evening full of surprise and antic comedy! Every Wednesday is a brand new experience, so come back week after week for a new show each time!    More information online. New Century Theatre Presents MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY by Anne Washburn Directed by Sam Rush July 30-August 8 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 2:00 and 7:30 PM Theatre 14, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Northampton, MA Ben Brantley of the New York Times hails Anne Washburn’s new play,  “Downright brilliant! When was the last time you met a new play that was so smart it made your head spin?”  In a post-apocalyptic world a group of strangers pass the time attempting to retell the infamous CAPE FEARE episode from THE SIMPSONS. Flash forward seven years to a theatre company doing the same thing. Flash forward 75 years to a story told with Homer and Marge as a pop culture inspiration for a new kind of theatre – where one mythology evolves into another. Join us for a play unlike anything you have ever seen – “scary, sweet and funny.” (Time Magazine). Tickets are now available online or by calling 413-585-3220. Ko Festival of Performance presents DAY JOBS, OPERA DREAMS July 31 and August 1 at 8:00 PM, August 2 at 4:00 PM Holden Theater, Amherst College By and about Peking Opera performers who’ve left China to try their luck in the U.S. On arriving in NYC, the truth is stark – not stardom, but work in restaurants and nail salons. Told through a blend of Peking Opera, storytelling and contemporary theater techniques.  Part of the 24th Ko Festival of Performance summer season theme: NEW | HOME | LAND: Strangers, Newcomers & Neighbors in a New America. Tickets available online. KoFest is Western Massachusetts' popular summer experience: 5 weekends of theatrical performances, 2 one-night events, and 3 6-day intensive theater workshops.  On the Amherst College campus. Ko Festival of Performance presents SERIOUSLY…WHAT DID YOU CALL ME? August 7 and 8 at 8:00 PM, August 9 at 4:00 PM Holden Theater, Amherst College Moss, a beloved storyteller and Valley resident, brings the season home with an autobiographical solo that focuses on her quest to cultivate her own Africentric identity.  Ko Festival of Performance's 24th summer season theme: NEW | HOME | LAND: Strangers, Newcomers & Neighbors in a New America. Tickets available online. KoFest is Western Massachusetts' popular summer experience: 5 weekends of theatrical performances, 2 one-night events, and 3 6-day intensive theater workshops.  On the Amherst College campus. Happier Valley Comedy Show featuring The Ha-Ha's & The Majesters with special guest Joan Holliday from 93.9 The River Saturday, August 8 at 8:00 PM The Arts Block Cafe, Greenfield, MA In this very special Happier Valley Comedy Show, local radio DJ Joan Holliday provides inspiration for the improv comedy at this very special Happier Valley Comedy Show. The audience comes up with a suggestion about a topic, and Joan Holliday will tell a true story based related to that suggestion. Her stories will inspired the madcap antics improvised on the spot by The Ha-Ha's and their special guest performers, THE MAJESTERS, The Majestic Theater's house improv team. Audiences can look forward to a full evening of comic entertainment rated PG-13 in this handicapped-accessible space. For more information about The Happier Valley Comedy Show, visit the show website at www.happiervalley.com. Tickets $10 in advance online or $13 at the door. Doors open at 7pm.  AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES USHER at New Century Theatre and see a show for FREE! Call 413-585-3220 or email boxoffice@newcenturytheatre.org to sign up. A Message from Laurel Turk about an upcoming project:  Looking for a woman actor, who has had bilateral mastectomy and no reconstruction, for a performance piece entitled "Breastless." I know that’s a pretty specific requirement, but the piece focuses a lot on body image, and the main character has that body type. Singing ability is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. A 45-minute version of the piece will likely be performed at the Double Take Fringe Festival in Greenfield mid-October. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to talk with you more. Contact me: laurelt@crocker.com WORKSHOPS & LECTURES KoFest Workshop:  July 27-August 1  ZEN & THE ART OF PERFORMANCE  with Jubilith Moore Zen is the way to a goal, not the goal itself.  The same can be said for performance. For the inter-culturally curious . . . 6-day KoFest workshop intensives for performers, writers, storytellers, directors, educators, and all those wanting to kickstart their creativity. Past participants have ranged in age from 18 to 80. On the campus of Amherst College​ in Amherst, Massachusetts​. More information available online. Crowdfunding for Creatives: A half day workshop How to make your campaign functional, efficient, and streamlined!   Saturday August 1st 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Easthampton Co.Lab 116 Pleasant St. Suite #301 Easthampton, MA 01027   In this 3 hour workshop we’ll go over the ins and outs of effective online fundraising campaigns. The first hour and fifteen minutes is a crash course in fundamentals. The next hour and forty five minutes is hands on crafting of your messaging, content and perk descriptions.   Asking for money to fund your project doesn't have to be anxiety inducing. Getting strategic and understanding your donors is key.   Taught by local performer and educator Seth Lepore   $25. More information and registration online. Summer Storytelling Institute with Rona Levanthal August 7-9 * Three days to luxuriate in learning the art and craft of storytelling * Three days of PLAYING with movement, voice, characterization, story arc and meaning through the lens of improv theatre and movement * Three days to join in community with others who share your passion * Three days of immersing yourself in a calming, beautiful setting, complete with hot tubs and a pool! * Twenty PDP's for Massachusetts Teachers!! WHY BOTHER? To teach and inspire To develop communication skills on many levels To be a better boss To enter into the 21st century of business To be a better public speaker To be more easeful with physicality To grow and learn To be a better teacher, therapist, lawyer, nurse, librarian, artist, actor, activist, person! For more info and Registration: www.ronatales.com/events.html Questions? 413-586-0624 rona@ronatales.com Happier Valley Comedy presents Improv for Scaredy Cats (And Non-Scaredy Cats Too!) Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, 3:00-5:00pm (two hours) Hadley, MA Does the idea of improvising 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, "Damn, I could do that!"? Do you not give a flying fig about improv comedy but want to become more confident speaking in public, quiet your judgmental mind, and be more mindful in the moment? Are you ready to let go of the idea that improv is hard? 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. Join Pam Victor in this very gentle, very fun, very easy introduction to the joys of improv comedy. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Being funny is not required. Want to stretch your wings for a couple hours and laugh in in the process? Register for “Improv for Scaredy Cats (and Non-Scaredy Cats Too!)” today. Class fee: $25 (Add $1 if you're paying with PayPal) There are a limited amount of student discounts (ages 18+) available upon request. All students receive a $6 OFF coupon for that night’s Happier Valley Comedy Show! *REGISTRATION ACCEPTED BY EMAIL ONLY:info@happiervalley.com 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|*