Pioneer Valley Theatre News March 17, 2016

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser   March 17-April 6, 2016 Happy Spring Break from Portland, Maine! Lots of great upcoming events in this week's newsletter - enjoy! The next issue will include events through April 13. 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 Piti Theatre Company presents the Syrup Festival March 20 THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Stage Managing Immersive, Site-Specific, and Participatory Theatre by Erin Mee From the article:  “Sophia, would you make my bed?” No, I was not asking my stage manager for a personal favor. I was, as artistic director of This Is Not A Theatre Company, asking stage manager Sophia Lana Cohen Smith to get the bed ready for our site-specific performance Versailles 2016, which took place in a New York City apartment—in this case, mine. Since I didn’t want to sleep in sheets the cast jumped around in, nor did they want to jump around in sheets I had slept in, we had a completely separate set of bedclothes for the show, which needed to be set up by our stage manager. To be honest, it felt so odd to ask Sophia to make my bed that I usually did it myself. But my hesitation made me wonder about all the unique things a stage manager of site-specific, immersive, and/or participatory theatre has to do. What do the stage manager’s duties tell us about this kind of work? Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Serious Play! Theatre Ensemble presents ENDGAME PROJECT March 17, 18, 19 at 7:30  Academy of Music Theatre March 31, April 1, 2 at 7:30  Gateway City Arts Serious Play!’s ENDGAME PROJECT, directed by Sheryl Stoodley, has been two years in development and incorporates the fusion of puppetry and theatre. With Kermit Dunkelberg, Rand Foerster, and puppeteer David Regan, we jump headfirst into Beckett’s “play world” in which games are saturated with the searing texture of adult experience. Facebook event here. Email with any questions. The Majestic Theater presents BUTLER  by Richard Strand The Majestic Theater, West Springfield March 17-April 3 Major-General Benjamin Franklin Butler was a successful Massachusetts lawyer in civilian life. Now, at the start of the Civil War, he is given command of Fort Monroe, a Union outpost in Virginia, which has just seceded from the United States. besides the threat of an attack, Butler has another problem — three escaped slaves have appeared at the fort seeking sanctuary. The law at the time requires him to return the slaves to their "rightful owner", a Confederate colonel who is soon to arrive. Shepard Mallory is one of these slaves. Both educated and defiant, he challenges the general to find a loophole in the law that will set him free. Butler is at once a comedy, a historical drama, and a biography — or, as one New York Times reviewer said, "Just call it 'splendid'."  More information and tickets online. Piti Theatre Co. presents their 7th annual SYRUP: One Sweet Performing Arts Festival Memorial Hall, Shelburne Falls Sunday, March 20 Featuring Puppetkabob's "The Snowflake Man" at 4 pm. Winner of puppetry's highest award, Sarah Frechette tells the story of farmer-scientist "Snowflake" Bentley, the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in the 1920's. Plus Piti Theatre's all ages world premiere "Olde Coleraine: a Musical Hilltown History" at 2 pm, horse and cart rides, syrup-tasting, free Real Pickles, maple treats, Pop-up Puppet Workshop (pre-registration recommended), and more! Tix $12/$5 children under 12 at Boswell's Books, S.F., World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield and online. Questions: info@ptco.org Valley Light Opera presents The Messiah Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 PM Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple Street, Hadley Join Valley Light Opera to sing the Resurrection portions of The Messiah by Georg Friedrich Händel, one of the best-known choral works ever composed.  Palm Sunday, March 20th at 2:00 in the afternoon, in the sanctuary of Wesley United Methodist Church at 98 North Maple Street in Hadley. VLO soloists will be Elaine Crane, soprano; Kathy Blaisdell, alto; Ted Blaisdell, tenor; Ramsey Kurdi, baritone; with the audience singing as chorus and a full orchestra.  Some scores will be available, but please bring your own if possible.  Donations will be gratefully accepted. Information available online. New Century Theatre presents a reading of LEFTOVERS by Ellen Wittlinger Thursday, March 24 at 7:00 PM Cup and Top Cafe Florence Edie's been talking to her dead husband for thirty years, and now, to the frustration of her two grown daughters, she's moved into the basement of her house where he apparently lives. This Thanksgiving they've all gathered there, including Edie's two grandchildren. Digging through the accumulated rubbish of Edie's life dredges up old secrets, and it appears as if the grandchildren have been more affected by the family mysteries than anyone realized. Send Him Home Written by Daphne Thompson ‘16 Directed by Ron Bashford March 24-26, 8PM, Holden Theater Admission is free Reservations recommended  (413) 542-2277 Pitcher Robin Fulton is down in the minor leagues, leading the Chattanooga Lookouts to victory in spite of the unpredictable actions of his teammates and their low-down manager.  As he struggles to find his place on the team, adversity threatens his pursuit of a dream and his love of the game.  Written by Daphne Thompson ’16, this dramatic comedy draws inspiration from real-life diaries that chronicle a fifteen-year professional baseball career.    Send Him Home is directed by Ron Bashford, who also directed Pericles and The Cherry Orchard earlier this academic year.  Scenic design by Emily Goore ‘17, costume design by Theater and Dance Costumer Emily Hoem and Mercedes MacAlpine ‘16, sound design by Jim Busker, and lighting design by Theater and Dance Graduate Assistant Madison Cortez.   For more information about Send Him Home and other arts events on the Amherst College campus, go to amherst.edu/arts, and facebook.com/AmherstArts Smith College Department of Theatre New Playreading Series presents SPARE RIB written by Winter Miller '95, directed by Ann Grilli '16 Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1 (T100) Free Spare Rib is a conversation starter. It is a comedic, fantastical, bold and semi-true journey of women who knew the secrets of plants and herbs and provided abortions before women’s bodies were medicalized and made government property. The story jumps from the distant past to today’s providers, who despite stigma and threats on their lives to make that choice possible. Expect a time-traveling odyssey, that feels one part Coney Island, one part happening, and one part theater.   UMass New Play Lab What Actually Happened Was  by Stephanie Swirsky Performing 3/24/16, 3/31/16 at 7:30 and 4/2 at 2:00 The Dance  by Kim Euell Performing 3/25/16, 4/1/16,4/2/16 at 7:30 Both plays perform in the Curtain Theater, UMass Fine Arts Center $8 general, $4 students/seniors Buy tickets More about the plays The Department of Theater at UMass is excited to announce the two plays that will be part of the 2016 UMass New Play Lab this March: Kim Euell's The Danceand Stephanie Swirsky's What Actually Happened Was. Euell is currently the UMass Amherst Department of Theater's Playwright in Residence, and we are thrilled to offer our students the opportunity to work with her on this new piece.   What Actually Happened Was contains some sensitive scenes surrounding rape and violence, and The Dance is not recommended for audiences under 16.  M3 Productions presents ORDINARY DAYS Composed by Adam Gwon Directed by Meghan Lynn Allen March 25 and 26 at 7:30 PM Wilbraham Monson Academy - Founders Theater, located in Fisk Hall From one of musical theatre's most exciting new composers comes ORDINARY DAYS, a refreshingly honest and funny musical about making real connections in the city that never sleeps (but probably should at some point.) ORDINARY DAYS tells the story of four New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. ORDINARY DAYS is an original musical for anyone who's ever struggled to appreciate the simple things in a complex place. With equal doses of humor and poignancy, it celebrates how 8.3 million individual stories combine in unexpected ways to make New York City such a unique and extraordinary home. Featuring: Sue Boyle Dziura, Nick Gilfor, Lyndsay Hart, Luis Manzi Accompanist: Timothy Chávez Stage Manager: Zach Gray Buy Tickets. $15 per person. Free to students with valid student ID. Open seating, first come first serve. Doors open at 7. ANNOUNCING a very special PARTY! for the benefit of her majesty QUEEN MARGARET and REAL LIVE THEATRE Saturday March 26, 5-7:30pm 121 Club, Eastworks (116 Pleasant Street), Easthampton (the old Apollo Grill space) Tickets in advance: http://margaretparty.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door, sliding scale, $20-$40. Featuring: Live Entertainment! including Music, Monologues, & Comedy appearances from cast and RLT members! Live Auction! of valuable services including Acting Workshops, Coaching, Private Yoga Sessions, Performance, and much more! Delicious Food! Cash Bar! RLT will use funds raised to put Margaret center stage in her own story, which is otherwise hidden and intertwined within Shakespeare's four plays: Henry VI Parts One, Two, and Three and Richard III. RLT brought Margaret to the forefront in our staged reading of THE LIFE & DEATH OF QUEEN MARGARET last September, and now we're gearing up to do the revised and fully staged version at the Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre at Smith College, July 29-31and August 5-6! JOIN US! Smith College Department of Theatre New Playreading Series presents KRASA written and directed by Hannah Sachs Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1 (T100) Free Krása is a theatrical collage created using the techniques of Verbatim Theatre, utilizing only exact quotes from 11 in-depth interviews conducted in the Czech Republic. When the Communist period of Czechoslovakia is mentioned, beauty is not the topic that first comes to mind, and yet the existence of beauty or the lack there of profoundly impacted individuals' daily experiences of the world and their society. Krása explores the authentic stories of diverse Czechs, including actors, religious leaders, artists, dissidents, Communists, and academics, in order to offer a never-before-presented glimpse into this period of history, ultimately grappling with the question, "Can beauty save the world?" Free and open to the public. Double Edge Theatre is proud to present an incredible double bill of solo performances from Grenland Friteater of Norway! Geddy Aniksdal's My Life as a Man April 1 & 2 at 7:30 pm Lars Vik's Mr. Fumblebody April 2 at 2 pm matinee About My Life as a Man: An autobiographical excursion into the story of Geddy Aniksdal’s Norwegian working class origin, which then becomes her working class characters. Her stories in theatre, the reasons why she makes theatre, the meeting with others made possible through the work. A story of finding a room of one’s own. About Mr. Fumblebody: The character Mr. Fumblebody is inspired by (and is an homage to) the great silent movie comedians Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin – and early Jaques Tati. In this hilarious show, suitable for ages 5 and up, Mr Vik combines physical slapstick with vivid audience participation and hilarious improvisations. Performed in English. For tickets and information: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php www.doubleedgetheatre.org AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES The Academy of Music Theatre seeks a part-time House Manager to join its Front of House team. The House Manager will work an events-based schedule, with cross-training in multiple positions. The House Manager has the responsibility of preparing the theater for an event, supervising paid staff and volunteers working for the Academy, ensuring that the conditions of the rental agreement are met throughout the event, guaranteeing the satisfaction and the safety of patrons, assisting concessionaires as needed, monitoring proper cash handling procedures for concessions/bar, communicating with stage management, overseeing the theater during an event, and ensuring that the theater is cleaned and secured when the event is finished. The House Manager will be required to become ServSafe certified for alcohol handling and will be cross-trained in the concessions stand and box office, giving him/her full knowledge of all front of house event operations and providing shift opportunities in all positions. The successful candidate will have experience working in a live events setting, demonstrate leadership and a commitment to customer service, be comfortable upholding organizational policies with renters and patrons, and be able to calmly and discretely troubleshoot challenges in a busy, public environment. Cash handling and basic math and computer skills are required. Training shifts will begin soon after hiring, working up to full house management responsibilities in the spring.  Full job description here. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Alison Klejna, the Academy’s Theater Manager, at aklejna@aomtheatre.com or 274 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a candidate is selected. No phone calls, please. Hampshire Shakespeare Company is hiring for our upcoming 2016 summer season of Shakespeare Under the Stars. Looking for a publicist, technical director, and associate producer. More information is available on our website and interested applicants can address inquiries to hampshireshakespeare.com. Join us for the chance to put Shakespeare in the great outdoors and be part of a talented community that will innovate and enchant as we breathe new life into old words. SILVERTHORNE THEATER COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2016 SUMMER SEASON OPEN AUDITIONS Open auditions for the three shows in Silverthorne Theater Company’s 2016 Summer season will be held Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19, with call-backs on Sunday, March 20.   The 2016 season will open with Molière’s The Miser, adapted by Miles Malleson, June 23-July 2. The classic French farce is rendered supremely hilarious in a contemporary (but respectful) translation! Ten actors will be needed for this production and casting will be gender/age/race/ ethnicity blind. Julian Findlay of Warwick directs. Rebecca Daniels, a Turners Falls resident, will direct Lee Blessing’s drama, Two Rooms. This searing depiction of the physical and emotional imprisonment of hostage-taking in the 1980s is startlingly immediate today. The play requires two men and two women, and runs July 14-23. Jeffrey Hatcher’s two-actor adaptation of the classic horror story, The Turn of the Screw, will be directed by Ellen Kaplan of Springfield. This is a tour-de-force piece based on Henry James’ masterfully creepy Victorian tale of two decidedly scary children and the adults in their lives. The play will run July 28 through August 6. Silverthorne Theater Company is a professional summer theater organization performing in Greenfield MA. We are seeking actors for our third season, and give preference to Valley theater artists. All personnel are paid; we hire two Equity actors per season on a Special Appearance basis.   All auditions by appointment only.  For full audition information, visit our website.  For questions, or to reserve an audition time, call 413-768-7514, or e-mail silverthornetheater@gmail.com.  All audition activities held in the Art Building at Stoneleigh-Burnham School, 574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield MA.   New Century Theatre 2016 Season Auditions Equity Auditions Equity Principal Auditions for NCT's 2016 summer season and general casting files will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, 2016 - 9:00 to 4:30 at the Mendenhall Center for Performing Arts - 122 Green Street, Northampton, MA.  Non-Equity auditions will take place Sunday, April 3 from 9:00 to 4:30. Dates below are all performance dates. Rehearsals begin the Tuesday prior to opening night. YANKEE TAVERN by Steven Dietz June 16-25 BAKERSFIELD MIST by Stephen Sachs June 30 - July 9 TIME STANDS STILL by Donald Margulies July 14 - 23 JAR THE FLOOR by Cheryl West July 28 - August 6 Appointments can be made via phone or email: (413) 587-3933 or emailing info@newcenturytheatre.org. Please prepare an short (under two minute) contemporary monologue and bring a headshot/resume. Walk-in auditions will be accepted on a first come, first served basis as time allows. AEA actors will be given first preference. Announcing the Silverthorne Theater New Play Competition: Call for Plays by Playwrights of Color   Silverthorne Theater Company is sponsoring a competition to select a new play by a local playwright of color for possible production during the 2017 season.  The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2016.  Complete information about the contest may be found on their website.   A reading committee of five members, headed by veteran Montague writer/actor Kent Alexander, will review all submissions. Three finalists will be selected for public staged readings in November and December, with the final competition winner announced on December 30, 2016.   Play submissions must be full length  (90 minutes to 2 hours running time); they must not have been previously fully produced. Playwrights of color (defined as non-white) who live or study in the Connecticut Valley/Western Massachusetts region are solely eligible to submit plays. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES 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|*