Pioneer Valley Theatre News October 29, 2015

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser   October 29 - November 18, 2015 A quick reminder: this newsletter is quite long! Since the auditions/opportunities and workshop/classes sections follow the performance section, they often get cut off - please view the email in a browser or view it online. This week, our theatre news article is by Easthampton resident Seth Lepore, who recently kicked off a campaign for his upcoming book project Ruthless Reciprocity. You can see (and donate to!) his campaign on Hatchfund. The next issue will include events through November 25. Submit upcoming events via the link below or by emailing me before next Tuesday at midnight. Any questions, comments or feedback? Email me at pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com Submit Your Theatre Event Get your tickets today for Metamorphoses! THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Don't Depend on Ticket Sales by Seth Lepore From the article: Unless you have an excellent publicist, eye-catching advertisements in daily and weekly papers, and a solid marketing campaign, you cannot rely on a specific number of ticket sales for your shows. Don't worry—most of us can't afford what it takes to guarantee that the house will be at least 75 percent full every time we step onto the stage. I've had shows in locations where I had previously been really successful, but when I duplicated what worked—previews in multiple papers, interviews on radio shows, and a ton of interest—I still ended up looking through the curtain and wondering why there were only thirty people in the house rather than the eighty that were usually there. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Smith College Department of Theatre presents METAMORPHOSES by Mary Zimmerman directed by Hannah Sachs '16 Theatre 14, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Smith College October 29, 30, 31 at 7:30 PM   "Funny one moment, achingly sorrowful the next, METAMORPHOSES somehow manages both to lift you out of the moment you're living in and speak to it with piercing directness." -The Wall Street Journal. Set in and around a large pool of water, METAMORPHOSES is a refreshingly contemporary poetic chronicle of Greek mythology. Based on David R. Slavitt's translation of The Metamorphoses of Ovid, METAMORPHOSES brings familiar tales of love and loss to life. Free for Smith students. $10 General, $5 Seniors and Students Tickets and more information available online. Facebook event here.  Greenfield Community College presents DRACULA Dramatized by Deane and Balderston From the novel by Bram Stoker Directed by Tom Geha October 29, 30, 31 @ 7:30pm Greenfield Community College's Sloan Theater, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA 01301 Visit the website for more information.  TheatreTruck presents The Aspect of the Place, A Halloween Happening at The Evergreens 6:30pm & 8pm nightly, from Thursday, October 29th - Sunday, November 1st The Evergreens at The Emily Dickinson Museum, 232 Main Street, Amherst TheatreTruck gets into the spirit of Halloween with this story-telling celebration of ghosts and the Gothic at The Evergreens.  Co-produced by The Emily Dickinson Museum & TheatreTruck, a roving Collaborative, The Aspect of the Place takes the audience through The Evergreens, an impressive 'time capsule' of a prosperous nineteenth-century household in a small New England town. The house is still completely furnished with Dickinson family furniture, household accoutrements, and decor selected and displayed by the family during the nineteenth century. The ​piece honors the House, the spooky delights of Victorian ghost stories and the idea that ​phantoms walk within. ​ TheatreTruck and TEDM partnered this Summer to produce a sold-out run of The Emily Dickinson Project, attracting audience from all over the Pioneer Valley, the nation and even the UK! TheatreTruck​ is dedicated to crafting mobile and site-specific performance, sustainably & playfully and is delighted to be partnering with the Museum once again. The Emily Dickinson Project Director and Co-creator Brianna Sloane curates the Halloween event.  Tickets available online.  Double Edge presents THE GRAND PARADE October 29 and 30 CityStage, Springfield   The Grand Parade depicts major events of the 20th century in a theatrical style inspired by Marc Chagall’s kaleidoscopic vision of humanity at play, at war, and at rest. Trapeze, circus, dance, projections, and popular culture fill the height and breadth of the stage in a spectacle of history populated by people and animals in acts of grace and destruction. Time both shrinks and expands as the 20th century unfolds in a dream-like rush of juxtapositions that include the ecstasy of landing on the moon, the frenzy of war, the skilled escapes of Houdini, the atomic bomb, Kennedy's assassination, and Hitler's brutalization of Europe. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website or call the City Stage Box office at 413-628-0277. Discount tickets are available for students, families, and groups of eight or more. The Amherst College Department of Theater and Dance presents THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov directed by Ron Bashford October 29, 30, 31 at 8:00 PM  Kirby Theater, Amherst College An intimate production featuring the acting and design work of students and faculty from Amherst and Hampshire Colleges. First produced in 1904 by the Moscow Art Theater, The Cherry Orchard is Chekhov’s last play, a bittersweet comedy about love and loss in pre-revolutionary Russia. Chekhov’s finely drawn characters set against a background of social change influenced generations of playwrights in Russia and the United States. Tickets are free, but reservations are recommended; call (413) 542-2277. More information online. The Majestic Theater presents THE FABULOUS LIPITONES October 29-December 6 The Majestic Theater, West Springfield “The Fabulous Lipitones” is the next production in the 19th Season of plays at West Springfield's Majestic Theater. The musical comedy by John Markus and Mark St. Germaine follows the story of The Lipitones, a barbershop quartet from rural Ohio. When the lead singer suffers a fatal heart attack while holding the final note at a competition, the remaining members must find a replacement or give up the avocation that's been part of their lives for the past thirty years. The sole candidate at the audition is a mechanic who is twenty years younger than the group, wears a turban, carries a ceremonial dagger and goes by the name of “Bob,” short for Baba Mati Das. With that, the group finds a terrific new singer, and learns to co-exist with someone from an entirely different culture. The play runs October 29 through December 6. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the box office at (413) 747-7797.  For more information, visit the website.  Ghost Light Theater presents Evil Dead: The Musical October 30, 31 at 8:00 PM Shea Theater in Turners Falls 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376 Evil Dead: The Musical unearths the old familiar story, [where] boy and friends take a weekend getaway at abandoned cabin, boy expects to get lucky, boy unleashes ancient evil spirit, friends turn into Candarian Demons, boy fights until dawn to survive. Based on the cult classic Evil Dead movie trilogy created by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Kevin Tracy directs the work, which features a book and lyrics by George Reinblatt, music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and Reinblatt. Music direction by Eric Johnson and conducted by Ted Trobaugh. Produced by Megan Healey. Choreography by Sarah Devine. Fight choreography by Emily Eaton. The cast includes Joe Van Allen (as Ash), Erin Fitzgerald (Linda), Samantha Hinds (Cheryl), Christine Voytko (Annie), Emily Eaton (Shelly) Monique Dubois (Fake Shemp/Moose), Christopher Rose (Ed), Colin Allen (Scott), Russell Nadeau (Fake Shemp) and Josh Mason (Jake). Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $20 ($5 more for splatter zone pass with poncho). For more information, visit the website or Facebook. *This show is in no way appropriate for young audiences* Smith College Department of Theatre presents  THE DICTATOR'S GRANDDAUGHTER by acclaimed Spanish playwright David Desola Thursday, November 5 at 7:30 PM in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre Having just returned to the unnamed country where her grandfather ruled as absolute ruler, his innocent Granddaughter finds him on his death bed, his cronies held for crimes which she finds unimaginable. Estela Harretche and Ellen W. Kaplan perform in English and Spanish, alternating scenes as the character changes and develops over time. Free.  Black Cat Theater presents HELLO, DOLLY! November 5, 6, 7 at 7:00 PM November 8 at 2:00 PM South Hadley High School Black Cat Theater is delighted to announce their fall production of Hello, Dolly!, directed by Drew Gilbert (artistic) and Dick Matteson (musical).  “Some people paint, some sew… I meddle!”  Hello, Dolly! is the story of matchmaker Mrs. Dolly Levi’s efforts to marry Horace Vandergelder, the well-known half-a-millionaire, and send his money circulating among the people like rainwater the way her late husband, Ephraim Levi, taught her. Along the way she also succeeds in matching up the young and beautiful Widow Molloy with Vandergelder’s head clerk, Vandergelder’s assistant with Mrs. Molloy’s assistant, and a struggling artist with Vandergelder’s weeping niece. Military personnel, active and retired (with ID), will be admitted free to any performance. Also, Girl/Boy scouts in uniform--and accompanied by a adult--can come free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry. Profits from the show go toward a scholarship available to any South Hadley High or Granby Jr/Sr High student going on to college to major in the arts. Ticket prices are General Admission $15.00 and Senior/Student $12.00.  For reservations please email blackcattheater@gmail.com or call 413-563-6023. See the Facebook event. Wilbraham United Players presents THE ODD COUPLE November 6, 7, and 13, 14 at 7:30 PM, November 8 and 15 at 2:30 PM Wilbraham United Church, 500 Main Street, Wilbraham, MA The Wilbraham United Players will present Neil Simon’s THE ODD COUPLE November 6-15th. Appearing as Oscar Madison will be David Chivers from Wilbraham.  Co-starring as Felix Ungar will be Wesley Olds of Broadbrook, CT.  Also appearing in the production will be Don Clements as Murray the Cop, Paul Nesbit as Vinnie, Andy Price as Roy and Jeff Erb as Speed.  They’ll be joined by Christine Arruda and Aimee Lamontagne as The Pigeon Sisters.  THE ODD COUPLE is the first production in the Player’s “Season of Simon” focused around the works of playwright Neil Simon. For more information about the Players productions go to their website –or email them. The Drama Studio presents The Terribly True Story of Sophia (last name unknown) and How She Came to Live Betwixt the Trees Or the Invention of Fairies by Monica Giordano, Directed by Mat Bussler November 6 at 7:30 PM November 7 at 4:00 and 7:30 PM November 8 at 3:00 PM The Drama Studio, 41 Oakland St. Springfield, MA Three children set out on an unforgettable journey to change their ending after learning that one of them, Sophie, is going to die. The Terribly True Story of Sophia (last name unknown), is the terribly true story about growing up, and the terrible truth about wishes: how it is sometimes best to exchange them for Hope. Visit the website or call 413-739-1983 for reservations.  Tickets are $18 for Adults and $10 for students. Arena Civic Theatre presents STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling directed by Russ Elstrom November 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8:00 PM November 8 and 15 at 2:00 PM Katherine Sloan Theatre, Greenfield Community College The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward drama when the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) becomes pregnant.  Realizations of their mortality draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. Arena Civic Theatre’s cast includes: Dawn Mayo as Truvy Jones, Cristen Rosinski as Annelle Dupuy DeSoto, Terry Adams as Clairee Belcher, Louise Krieger as M’Lynn Eatenton, Kaineeca Pabon as Shelby Eatenton-Lacherie, and Claudia Eitner as Ouiser Boudreaux.  The production is directed by Russ Ekstrom. Tickets are $16 for General Admission, $13 for Seniors and Students, and $10 for children 12 and under. Some of the subject matter may not be suitable for young children. Tickets are available at World Eye Bookshop, at the door, and through ACT’s website. They can also be reserved by calling (413) 233-4368. Valley Light Opera presents BRIGADOON Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton November 7, 13 and 14 at 8:00 PM November 8 and 15 at 2:00 PM "This is what happened, the strange thing that happened, to two weary hunters who lost their way......"  When Tommy and Jeff stumble into a quaint Scottish village that doesn't seem to be marked on their map, they are invited to be guests at a wedding, and perhaps much more.  In their first foray into the classics of American musical theatre, Valley Light Opera presents Brigadoon, long a favorite on the stage.  With sumptuous costumes and scenery, gorgeous music performed by a full orchestra and a talented cast, this will be a production you won't want to miss. More information on their website. Youth Without God: Episode 1 Theatre Lobby, Emily Dickinson Hall, Hampshire College Nov 8 at 6:30PM and 8:30PM, Nov 9 at 7:30PM   What does serial theatre look like? Television is inherently episodic, and Victorian era literature was written in weekly/monthly installments, so what happens if we break a single story for the stage into four separate episodes that all work to tell both their own stories, and a larger overall story? These are the questions that Youth Without God is hoping to answer. Youth Without God is an adaptation of the 1938 novel of the same name by Odon von Horvath, a German/Austrian playwright. In it, we follow a schoolteacher in 1930s Germany, as he struggles to understand his role in the rising violence in his students, as well as confront God's intervention (or lack thereof) in a cataclysmic time. Smith College Department of Theatre presents PHOTOGRAPH 51 by Anna Ziegler directed by Kitty Lixin Lin '16 Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 PM in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre   Anna Ziegler's PHOTOGRAPH 51 illuminates the life of Rosalind Franklin, one of the great and under-recognized female scientists of the 20th Century, whose passionate mapping of the contours of the DNA molecule has had untold consequence. The NY TIMES heralds Ziegler's refusal to smooth Franklin's edges "by making her anything other than formidably, even self-sabotagingly, intelligent." Free and open to the public. Amherst College presents EQUAL WEIGHT Written and Directed by Khalil Flemming Nov. 12-14, 8PM, Studio 3 Admission is free Reservations recommended (413) 542-2277    Equal Weight is an original comedy about friendship, love, and learning to listen to that not-so-little voice in your head. This immersive, multimedia performance - which combines live theater with film - invites us into the life and mind of Zeke as he navigates his relationships and learns about the most important one of them all. The quirky, emotional, and frequently outrageous cast of characters bring the stage to life in a style that is sure to engage audiences of all ages.   Khalil Flemming '16 writes and directs Equal Weight, which features set design by Lynndy Smith '17, costume design by Amir Hall '17, sound design by Thomas McPhee '16 of Hampshire College, and lighting design by Kathy Couch.   More information about the Department of Theater and Dance at Amherst College can be found on Facebook or their website. Love in a Fallen City Main Stage Theatre, Emily Dickinson Hall, Hampshire College Nov 17-22, 8PM Adapted by Division III student Xingying Peng from the novel by Eileen Chang, Love in a Fallen City tells the story of Liusu, a woman who is being pressured by her family to return to her deceased husband’s household and perform the traditional duties of a widow. She meets the spoiled British-born Chinese man who was originally intended as a match for her sister. Their relationship takes a sharp turn as the Sino-Japanese war falls on China. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES AUDITIONS: Night at The Wax Museum Directed by Tony Jones  Springfield Jewish Community Center Auditorium Auditions: Tuesday, October 27th from 3:00-7:00pm Call Backs: Tuesday, November 3rd 3:00-7:00pm AUDITION INFORMATION: *Prepare a 1 minute comedic monologue (a story, joke, or speech). *Slots are in 5 minute increments and are first come first serve. *Arrive before your audition time to fill out paperwork. REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DATES: Rehearsal Dates: Tuesdays (3:30-6:00) And Sundays (2:30-5:00) Nov 17, 22, 24, 29, Dec 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, Jan 3, 5, 10, 12, 2 Tech Weeks: Jan 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 Preview/Dress Rehearsal: January 28 6:00pm Performances: January 30th at 7:30pm, January 31st at 11:30 and 3:00pm (dates may be subject to change). The JCC will walk any children who are signed up for Hebrew School on Tuesdays at 5:30 to Sinai. Please let us know if you need this service.  Fee is $140 for JCC members/$175 for general public. This fee includes a professional performance DVD, two tickets to Preview night, scripts, and a J-Art Youth Theater Shirt.  CALL 413-739-4715 to book your audition time! Auditions will be held in the auditorium of the Springfield JCC at 1160 Dickinson Street AUDITIONS: The Trojan Women November 2 and 3, 6:00-9:00 PM The Upstairs Studio, 25 Main Street, Northampton (4th floor of the Fitzwilly's building) Casting 6-8 actors, most to play multiple characters. - All ages, races, genders and abilities invited to audition.* - No preparation necessary, come prepared to move. - Auditions will be a combination of cold readings and group exercises. The Trojan Women, 2,430 years old, still stands as one of western literature's greatest criticisms of war. With Troy conquered after a ten year battle, and all of the men slaughtered, the captured women await news of their fate. How does one grieve the loss of one's entire world? How does one part with friends and family for the last time? What gods can we turn to when our own have failed? Performances will take place in an open-air theater made of snow, lit by fires, February 11-13 & 18-20. Contact forrest@vilkasllc.com with any questions. *Our audition venue is, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. If this poses a problem, please contact us and we can either help you make it to the venue or set up an alternate time/place for you to audition. University of Massachusetts Amherst - Assistant Professor, Scenic Design, Theater Department The Department of Theater in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts invites applications for a tenure-track position in Scene Design at the rank of Assistant Professor, to begin September 1, 2016. This professor, specializing in scene design, will be an impressive professional practitioner and teacher who will bring experience and vision to the Department. The successful candidate will teach MFA graduate and undergraduate courses in such areas as Scenic Design, Drawing/Rendering, Architectural History, Scenic Painting, Scale Model Building, Drafting, Computer Skills, and collaborative classes across theater disciplines. The professor is also responsible for the scene design, scenic art and properties design of the department's main stage season, the supervision of student designers and artisans, as well as contributing other specialties to complement departmental offerings. The professor will collaborate closely with all production areas including the Scene Shop Faculty and Staff, consisting of the Faculty Technical Director, Scenic Construction Director, 2 graduate students, and numerous undergraduate work-study and practicum students. Two newly renovated theaters include a 450-seat proscenium and a 100-seat flexible performance space.  Participation in departmental and university service is also a responsibility. We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Requirements: MFA in Scene Design by time of hire Extensive experience as a professional scene designer at the national level Evidence of ongoing creative achievement Demonstrated excellence in teaching scene design at the college level Additional Information: The university is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body.  The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members.  Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University's goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual's record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic degree and career.   Application Instructions: To apply submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae (or detailed professional resume), a link to your online portfolio, and the names and e-mail addresses of three references here. Applicants should apply by the priority deadline of  November 2, 2015, in order to ensure consideration. AUDITIONS: Virginia Woolf's ORLANDO By Sarah Ruhl Directed by J. Mehr Kaur ‘16  Based on the novel by Virginia Woolf, ORLANDO is a musical romp through time about passionate love, gender nonconformity, and the Royal English Court.  Auditions:  Sunday, November 8, and Monday, November 9, 7-10 PM, Hallie Flanagan, Mendenhall Center, Smith College, Northampton.  Call backs on Wednesday, November 11, 7-10 pm, Hallie Flanagan  Performances:  February 26, 27, March 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 PM;  Hallie Flanagan, Mendenhall Center, Smith College, Northampton. Casting Breakdown:  Ensemble cast of 11, Seeking actors, dancers, and musicians of all backgrounds.  Audition Prep: No preparation necessary. Sides will be provided from the script.  Facebook event. Real Live Theatre presents AUDITIONS for "The Life and Death of Queen Margaret"  November 15, 2-5 PM The North Star Building, 45 Amherst Rd, Sunderland MA Looking for women aged 16+ to fill 6 juicy roles in the fully staged version of Real Live Theatre’s new Shakespeare show, "The Life and Death of Queen Margaret". The play is a feminist retelling of Henry VI Parts I-III and Richard III from the perspective of Queen Margaret, Shakespeare’s best-written female character. Please prepare a 1-2 minute classical monologue and be prepared to read sides at the audition. Auditions Nov. 15, 2-5 at North Star (45 Amherst Rd., Sunderland MA.); Rehearsals start Jan 17, with performances April 29-May 8. Email to sign up for an hour slot & for more info. AUDITIONS: Black Cat Theater presents DISCO INFERNO Black Cat Theater is preparing for their Spring production of Disco Inferno, directed by Dawn Larder (artistic) and Greg Williams (music). Auditions for this primarily youth-cast show (ages 10 and up please) will be held on Monday, November 16th & Thursday, November 19th at 6:00 pm in the South Hadley High School Auditorium. All candidates under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Applicants should bring with them a short write-up of previous theater experience and be prepared to perform a short musical piece. We will have a CD player and a cappella is also an option. All auditionees will learn a simple choreography movement so please dress prepared to move. Time permitting, there may be readings from the script as well. In Disco Inferno, the story of Faust is brought to life in an explosion of hit 70’s songs, high energy dance routines, and glitter-ball spinning action. Jack is an aspiring musician who wants nothing more than to be famous, so signing away this thing called a soul is a small price to pay. But Jack soon finds all that glitters isn't gold on the other side, especially if you're all out of love. Disco Inferno is scheduled to be produced at South Hadley High School April 14th-17th. Rehearsals will be on Monday and Thursdayevenings from 6:00-9:00 pm starting January 21st. If unavailable to be seen in person, please call 413-563-6023 or email. The Facebook event is here. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Happier Valley Comedy presents IMPROV FOR SCAREDY CATS (And Non-Scaredy Cats Too!) Saturday, Nov. 7th, 11am - 1pm Hadley, MA 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!"? Do you not give a flying fig about improv comedy but want to become more confident speaking in public and more mindful in the moment? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, "Improv for Scaredy Cats" is the workshop for you. It's designed especially for folks who want to try something that scares them. (It's cheaper than sky-diving and less likely for you to end up as road pizza.)  You'll learn a very gentle, very easy approach to improv comedy in an incredibly positive and accepting atmosphere in which the only way you can fail is by not showing up at all. We'll practice the vital improvisation skills, like:  * listening carefully,  * accepting other people's ideas,  * redefining and disempowering failure,  * staying in the moment,  * reacting honestly to the reality of the here and now.  No experience necessary. Being funny is NOT required.  Go ahead, register now before you chicken out or get distracted by a cute kitten video. (Kittens!) This workshop will be a wadzillion times less scary than you think. The only thing you have to lose is your opinion that you can't improvise... $25 (+ $6 OFF coupon for the Happier Valley Comedy Show) Register here. For more info, send an email.  Do you have a workshop, class, or event coming up? Submit it today! 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|*