Pioneer Valley Theatre News February 11, 2016

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser   February 11-March 2, 2016 Work with me at the Academy of Music - we're hiring a Box Office Manager! See the full listing below and submit your resume before next Thursday.  Don't forget the workshops and classes towards the end of the newsletter - there are some good ones coming up, and you might not see them unless you view the newsletter in your browser.  Everything in this newsletter is submitted by readers! If you know about or are hosting an event that's coming up, please tell me about it. Just click the submit button below or email me if you have any questions.  The next issue will include events through March 9. 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 THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Notes on Mediation and Theatre by Paul Zimet From the article:  For the past three years I have been working as a volunteer mediator in Manhattan and Brooklyn civil and criminal courts. The organization I trained with and work for is New York Peace Institute, which mediates from four to five thousand cases a year—not only in the courts, but in schools and communities as well. Now I am directing a new Talking Band show, Burnished by Grief—A Romantic Comedy written and composed by Ellen Maddow. Ellen also works as a mediator in Brooklyn Civil Court, where she is able to witness how the city’s extraordinary diversity, combined with close living, produces complex misunderstandings as well as unexpected and remarkable relationships. Her play is strongly influenced by her experiences as a mediator. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES The Majestic Theater presents AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J.B. Priestly  February 11-14  The Majestic Theatre, West Springfield The Birlings are a prosperous middle-class family. Arthur Birling, a wealthy mill owner and local politician, and his family have just finished a celebratory dinner in their comfortable home in Brumley, England. The happy occasion is that their daughter, Sheila, has just become engaged to Gerald Croft, the son of her father's chief competitor. But then a mysterious stranger arrives, announcing himself a police inspector — Inspector Goole — and begins to interrogate them all about their possible responsibility in the death of a young working-class factory girl. The result of his questioning leads each person to believe they've in part contributed to her death — but is Inspector Goole truly who he claims to be? An Inspector Calls is a fascinating study of human nature and society. More information and tickets online. Amherst College presents Twine: After Troy Written and Directed by Maria Elena Marione ‘16 February 18-20, 8PM, Kirby Theater Admission is free Reservations recommended (413) 542-2277   “The ships are in the harbor now. An answer’s on it’s way -- with shadows black like alley cats, can you stand to hear it named? This was our city before they tore the walls down.” Waiting outside the gates of the city that has been their home for centuries, four women scavenge for a future in the rubble of their gutted past. Using the threads of stories passed down for generations, they begin to weave themselves a new mythology -- one in which chaos gives way to creation, silence is supplanted by strength, and the love of sisters, mothers, and daughters unravels into women who survive.   Twine: After Troy is a collaboratively-developed performance written and directed by Maria Elena Marione ‘16. Performers Alina Burke ‘17, Darienne Madlala ‘16, Emily Willick ‘18, and Mahalia Banton ‘19 step into and out of the stories of women who, like them, birthed the world from chaos. Scenic design by Theater and Dance Graduate Assistant Madison Cortez ’13, costume design by Mercedes Alpine ’16, and lighting design by Resident Lighting Designer Kathy Couch.   For more information about Twine: After Troy and other arts events on the Amherst College campus, go to amherst.edu/arts, and facebook.com/AmherstArts Smith College New Playreading Series: LIVY IN THE GARDEN written and directed by Ellen W. Kaplan directed by Hannah Sachs '16 Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1 (T100)   Livy is about to give birth, and she’s terrified. She enters a fairy tale world where older women, wise women, help her into the ‘forest’, through the dangers, and into the birth rituals of ancient times. Free and open to the public. See the Facebook event. Hampshire College Theater presents Pullman Car Hiawatha February 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 PM Mainstage, Emily Dickinson Hall, Hampshire College Thornton Wilder's Pullman Car Hiawatha is a one-act play set on a train traveling from New York to Chicago in December of 1930. When Harriet dies, conventional time is suspended, and the only true measures of existence are life and death. As a result of the following metaphysical journey with personified places, hours of the day, the weather, the planets, and supernatural beings, we return to reality with a new realization of our own identity in this vast universe. Happier FAMILY Comedy Show Saturday, February 20 at 4:00 PM All new monthly show for all ages!  Saturday, Feb. 20th at Eastworks' 121 Club (formerly Apollo Grill) in Easthampton from 4-5pm.  Ticket price: $10/adults, $5/kids, $20/family max.  More info at www.happiervalley.com. New Century Theatre presents PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30 PM Spoleto Restaurant, 1 Bridge Street, Northampton, MA Seasoning this year with a tangy four course dinner, blending a glass of spirits with an original spirited comedy guaranteed to titillate all the senses. This "tour de course" is written by playwright Jeffrey Stingerstein and directed by Glenn Proud and Brianna Sloane. Proceeds from the event will benefit New Century Theatre. Tickets for Play with Your Food are $100 and can be purchased by clicking the link below or by calling 413-587-3933. For more information please email info@newcenturytheatre.org. Click here to purchase "Play With Your Food" tickets online. Smith College New Playreading Series: WADE IN DA WATER written and performed by Monique A. Robinson Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1 (T100) Tired of being blamed for the aftermath of natural disasters the United States Federal Government attempts to play the blame game by suing the most catastrophic storm of the 21st Century: Hurricane Katrina. When Hurricane Katrina, revealed to be the Yoruba Orisha Oya (The goddess of Hurricanes, transition, and guardian of the graveyard), agrees to be tried but only if it will allow humanity to progress towards healing, awareness, forgiveness, and a requiem for the dead. Expect the unexpected as gods, politicians, news anchors, as well as regular folk are summoned to testify in the greatest trial in history. Free and open to the public. See the Facebook event. Umass Amherst Department of Theatre presents LOVE AND INFORMATION By Caryl Churchill Directed by Nikoo Mamdoohi Curtain Theater 2/25/16 Half-Price Preview at 7:30 2/27/16, 3/1/16, 3/2/16, 3/3/16, 3/4/16 at 7:30 3/5/16 at 2:00 & at 7:30 In acquiring the gadgets we use to connect, have we lost the reason for our communication: how to share our feelings, care for others, and love? Love and Information prompts us to see ourselves, our lives, our concerns, and all our longings in surprising new ways. Churchill’s dazzling language draws us into brief encounters with a series of characters, until the story that emerges is not about individuals, but about humanity and connection.  Buy tickets Post-show discussions every night—free with admission, immediately following the performance. Learn more about the play. Mount Holyoke College Department of Theatre Arts presents  Fefu and her Friends by María Irene Fornés February 25, 26, 27 at 7:30, February 28 at 2:00  Rooke Theatre, Mount Holyoke College You are cordially invited to join Stephanie (call her Fefu, please) and her seven female friends for an intimate country-house gathering.  On the agenda: cocktails; discussions of love, sex, art and philosophy; singing; poetry recitation; kissing; hallucinations; a water fight.  Oh, yes, there is also a shotgun, which may or may not be loaded with live ammunition. The number of guests is limited.  For reservations, please contact Rooke Theatre Box Office, (413) 538-2406 or rookeboxoffice@gmail.com. More information online. Smith College Department of Theatre presents ORLANDO by Sarah Ruhl directed by J. Mehr Kaur  February 26, 27, March 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 PM in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre Based on Virginia Woolf's biographical parody, ORLANDO is a musical romp through time about passionate love, gender nonconformity, and the Royal English Court. A young nobleman wakes up one day and realizes she is a woman. The play follows her journey through the centuries as she navigates her gender identity while writing an epic poem about an ageless Oak Tree. This magical comedy penned by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony award nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl promises a clever exploration of the importance of discovering one's true self. Tickets $10 General, $5 Seniors and Students, Free for Smith students. Call 413-585-3220 or buy online. Facebook event here. The Majestic Theater presents The Majesters Improv Comedy March 1, April 19, May 10 and June 7 at 7:00 PM The Majestic Theatre, 131 Elm St. West Springfield, MA An evening of musical improv comedy featuring the valley's best spontaneous comics. Tickets for the Majesters shows will be $7 and sold at the door only the night of each show. The troupe takes suggestions and inspiration from audience members. Seating is general admission. More info online.  AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Call for Production Staff for "Moon Over Buffalo" - Black Cat Theater Black Cat Theater, a community theater group based in South Hadley, MA, is seeking letters of interest and resumes for the positions of Director, Producer, and Stage Manager their Spring comedy, “Moon Over Buffalo”! Rehearsals will be held on Mondays and Thursdays.  Show dates will be in early June. Email a letter of interest & resume to blackcattheater@gmail.com by Friday, February 12. Ashfield Community Theater is happy to announce auditions for Quick-Change Room: Scenes From a Revolution, its 2016 spring play.  We need five women and five men for this raucous, backstage farce about a St. Petersburg theater ensemble coping with changes brought on by the collapse of the Soviet Union. The young are pushing aside the old, job security is suffering, and even Chekhov is no longer sacred as the theater kisses up to an emerging capitalist audience.   Auditions will be at the Belding Library at 344 Main St. in Ashfield from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14, and 6:30 to 8:30 on Monday, Feb. 15. Callbacks, if necessary, happen on Tuesday, Feb. 16. No one will have to learn a Russian accent for this play, and no monologues are required for the auditions.  Experienced and new actors are welcome.  We aim to have fun at our auditions, so come give it a try.    The shows will be on May 27, 28 and 29 and June 3 and 4 in Ashfield.  Rehearsals begin in March. Please bring a list of all conflicts you may have during the rehearsal period.  All auditioners must be 17 or older.  We also need help creating program and poster art and help building sets and getting advertising.  Ashfield Community Theater has been producing high-quality shows for two decades. Call Jackie at 625-9413 for more information. See the Facebook page here. The Academy of Music is hiring a part-time Box Office Manager.  The Box Office Manager is responsible for controlling all aspects of tickets sales for the Academy of Music Theatre. The Box Office Manager works closely with the Theater Manager, Executive Director, and renters of the Academy to make sure ticket sales are accurately set up and go live on time with accuracy, ticket revenue is balanced, and customer and renter concerns are addressed in a courteous and professional manner. The Box Office Manager trains and supervises box office event personnel. This may include training new employees on computer software and online ticketing systems, box office policies and procedures, customer service best practices, and troubleshooting. The Box Office Manager works closely with this part-time staff to keep them updated on department developments, help with problem solving, and support their work environment. The Box Office Manager responds to customer complaints and deals with any issues that arise at the ticket counter or via patron feedback. How To Apply:Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining relevant experience to Theater Manager Alison Klejna at aklejna@aomtheatre.com or 247 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through Thursday, February 18th. Apply by: February 18, 2016 To see the full description and qualifications, click here. AUDITIONS for Six Flags New England Summer Shows & Entertainment February 21 11-3, February 28th 11-3, March 12th, 2-6PM Six Flags New England Human Resource Center, 1756 Main Street, Agawam MA Six Flags is hiring over 75 people to join their Entertainment Team- Actors, Dancers, Tech, Drummers Seamstress, Variety Performers, and Ushers!  This is the perfect opportunity to get paid doing what you love- performing in a creative fast paced thrilling environment for an audience of thousands daily! Roles include licensed character portrayal (WB & DC Comics), street comedy teams, magic show, Fairy Tale parody interactive show ("StoryTale"), and much more for spring and summer shows with opportunity for more shows in fall Frightfest season! More on Facebook. Must be at least 16 years old to apply. This is a paid position, including for rehearsals. Part time work also available. Great perks such as free park tickets, employee exclusive events, skill workshops for further development, and more! There will also be an open call held at Holyoke Community College onMarch 2nd, 11-4PM.   Please contact 413-786-9300 ext.3320 or eboucher@sftp.com for more information. Springfield Jewish Community Center presents auditions for Into the Woods' Jr. 1160 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA Auditions are Tuesday, February 23rd from 3-7 – Callbacks are February 25 from 3-7. *Actors should prepare any song and a joke, monologue, or story that shows stage presence.  *There will be a dance audition on Thursday, February 25. Actors should come dressed to move.  Tuesdays: 3:30 - 5:00 and Sundays 2:15 - 5:00  Rehearsal Dates: March 8, 13, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 (I added some Mondays to make up for the missed Sundays), April 3, 5, 10, 12, 26, May 1, 3 We then start 2 weeks of tech: May 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 Preview: May 19th (Thursday @ 6pm) Performances: 2 on the 22nd (11:30 and 3:00 PM) and one on the 23rd  Facebook event here. Springfield Jewish Community Center is searching for a Choreographer for youth theater production - Into the Woods, Jr. We are looking for a choreographer to work with the J-Art Youth group at the Springfield Jewish Community Center. Working with the director, Tony Jones, the choreographer will be a major part of the production team and should have experience working with kids. Please contact tonyjonesdrama@gmail.com to set-up a meeting. You may also submit resumes to this email address.  Information on dates and performances can be found on the Facebook Audition page. Auditions for Smith College Studio Productions February 28 and 29 Studio Production Auditions will be held Sunday, February 28, 7-10 PM and Monday, Febryary 29, 7-10 PM, in Acting Studio 1 (T100). Callbacks will be on Tuesday, March 1, 7-10 PM. No appointment or preparation necessary. Perusal scripts will be available in Josten Library. A WINTER'S TALE by William Shakespeare Directed by Samantha Biatch '16 Performances April 27, 29, 7:30 PM, Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre MAD FOREST by Caryl Churchill Directed by Kitty Lixin Lin '16 Performances April 26, 28, 7:30 PM, Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre A WINTER'S TALE cast: Parts for 11 actors (most playing multiple combines roles) gender-blind, Five College and community members welcome, all ethnicities. One role for a child aged 6-12. MAD FOREST cast:  Parts for 11 actors. Gender-blind, Five College and community members welcome, all ethnicities. Questions about Auditions? Email artsinfo@smith.edu Opportunity to join a new teen vocal ensemble! Tom Kopyto Music Lessons in East Longmeadow is forming a new vocal ensemble, inspired by TV shows like “Glee”, for highly skilled high school aged singers! This ensemble will be focused on performance and advanced vocal training. Singers will work collaboratively to draw from a variety of contemporary genres including: pop, R&B, Rock and others, to create original arrangements. They will then form setlists for the purpose of performing at different community events. Coaching will be provided in technique related to singing multi-part harmonies (with both instrumental accompaniment and a capella), song arrangement, style, and stage presence as well as other performance skills. For more information and to schedule a short assessment, call 413-563-9809 or email kacie@tomkopyto.com. About the instructor: Kate Saik holds a Master’s Degree in Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She is an accomplished and versatile performer who has sung in a wide array of genres including pop and jazz bands, musical theater and opera. Kate has worked around the country as a voice and piano instructor, and as a director, producer and drama coach. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Giving a Sh*t About Everything and Everyone PART 2 Community Engagement: Getting clear about overused but useful concepts Sunday, February 21, 1:00-4:00 PM Flywheel Arts Collective 43 Main Street, Easthampton   During Part 1 we look at how AS220 created a model for artist-ownership with three mixed-use buildings including live/work, galleries, performance spaces and Fab Labs.  In Part 2 we'll examine how community is built and sustained from the perspective of AS220, the Network of Ensemble Theaters and cross-sector organizations who dig underneath the principles of Vision, Values, Communication, Dialogue, and Intention. Basically, how do you build community without driving each other nuts?   Co-facilitated by Seth Lepore (The Seth Show, Easthampton Co.Lab), Amrita Ramanan (Double Edge Theatre) and Sita Magnuson (Easthampton Co.Lab) Double Edge Theatre's Open Training  March 13 from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Photo by Maria Baranova   Join Double Edge Theatre for a two-hour training session, tour of Double Edge Theatre's Farm in Ashfield, and a home-cooked meal with the Double Edge ensemble. All levels - even the simply curious - are welcome to attend!    For more information or to sign up, visit the website. Happier Valley Comedy Show presents Mindfulness Through Laughter Six Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm, beginning March 16 Holyoke Community College Mindfulness and improv each promote significant personal and professional growth - and this class combines them both. As enlightening as it is irreverent. As funny as it is thoughtful. But YOU don’t need to be funny! Just a willingness to play and live in the moment in an extremely supportive, positive, and affirming environment, where we laugh and learn through easy, relevant theatrical exercises and improv games that get us up on our feet, out of our heads, and into the moment. Would you like to reap the many benefits of mindfulness while having a ton of fun? The first step is saying “Yes, and... Instructor Pam Victor. More information online. Double Edge Theatre's Spring Training Intensive March 18 - 20, 2016   Photo by Maria Baranova   Ideal for artists from any discipline, the Spring Intensive engages participants in Double Edge's physical training methodology and techniques for ensemble collaboration. Participants will experience 3-4 training sessions daily in and out of doors at Double Edge Theatre's Farm, located at 948 Conway Road in Ashfield. For more information, visit the website. Happier Valley Comedy Show presents Mindfulness Through Laughter Six Thursdays 2:30-4:30 beginning April 7 Greenfield Community College How would you like to practice being more mindful, staying in the moment, and paying attention to the present while laughing all The Way? Join professional improv comedian, teacher, and author, Pam Victor, as we replace “Om” with “Ha!” in MINDFULNESS THROUGH LAUGHTER, where you’ll reap the rewards of mindfulness while playing easy improv games in an extremely supportive, affirming environment. It’s like yoga for your funnybone and soul (without the bendy stuff). More information online. 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|*