Pioneer Valley Theatre News May 26, 2016

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser   May 26-June 15, 2016 Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend everyone!  The next issue will include events through June 22. 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 May 27-28 & June 3-4 at 7 pm, May 29 at 2 pm Tickets $12 (opening night $6) online or at the door. THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Mapping the Experience of the Student Playwright by Zoe Kamil From the article:  My name is Zoe. I am twenty years old. And, I’m a student playwright. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to make it clear that what you’re about to read is not about me. It’s about us: the-not-quite-teen, not-quite-adult theatremakers whose stories and points of view will populate American stages in the years to come. Generally quieter, and certainly fewer in numbers than our performer peers, undergraduate students pursuing a playwriting degree can feel invisible. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Ashfield Community Theater presents THE QUICK-CHANGE ROOM by Nagle Jackson directed by Chris Rohmann May 27-28 at 7 pm; May 29 at 2 pm; June 3-4 at 7 pm Town Hall, 412 Main St., Ashfield In Nagle Jackson’s backstage comedy The Quick-Change Room, art collides, and then colludes, with commerce. It takes place in Russia just as the Soviet Union is collapsing and the old order is being replaced by a free-market free-for-all.  Still clinging to tradition, the venerable Kuzlov Theater is rehearsing Anton Chekhov’s classic drama The Three Sisters. But something’s got to give. The conflict plays out in the rehearsal studio and in the quick-change costume room, where two hard-working “babushkas” cope with temperamental actors and constant crises, along with a black-market wheeler-dealer and an ambitious young ingénue.  Though it’s set within a real historical event, The Quick-Change Room is really a clever commentary on the state of the arts in our own country, where commercial imperatives often trump artistic ideals. It’s a smart, witty roller-coaster of backstage backbiting and artistic angst, where the ruble rules and Chekhov spins in his grave. Buy tickets online or at the door – $12 (opening night $6). Talking Hands Theatre presents Fairies of the Seasons Saturday, June 4 at 9:30 AM Wendell Library, 7 Wendell Depot Road, Wendell, MA In this magical show, all set on a dress, handmade fairy puppets and felted animals invite the audience to sing, move, and help the fairies find their way back to the seasons where they belong.  Recommended for ages 2-7. More information online. New Century Theatre presents LIFE IN THE 413 An Evening of Radio Plays Saturday, June 4 at 7:00 PM Theatre 14, Smith College Don't miss this evening of old-timey radio fun complete with foley artists and six new plays about life in the Pioneer Valley. Hosted by Monte Belmonte and Bill Dwight. Featuring Philip Price and Flora Reed of The Winterpills, The Expandable Brass Band, and Josh Sitron on piano. Plays by Ellen Wittlinger, Jack Neary, Eric Henry Sanders, Phil O'Donoghue, Harley Erdman, and Kelsey Flynn and Hilary Price! Tickets $25 General, $15 Students and can be purchased online or over the phone after May 31 (413-585-3220).   The Majestic Theater presents The Majesters Improv Comedy 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.  Eggtooth Productions presents THE full disclosure festival. HUMAN IMPACT UPON THE ENVIRONMENT, PAST PRESENT, AND FUTURE June 10 and 11  Downtown Greenfield Theater, music, installations, visual art and more….throughout the streets, in movement, and all over town.  It’s the Full Disclosure Festival from Eggtooth Productions, June 10th and 11th in downtown Greenfield. What happens when climatologists, anthropologists, and historians collaborate with artists to find new expression? How about a new musical about the Quabbin called the Water Project? Spoken word with dance? Conceptual art? Experiential art and immersive theater? Come have your mind blown at the 2016 Full Disclosure Festival. A centerpiece of the Festival is Emma Ayres’ new production of The Water Project, a music theater piece about the expropriation of towns to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Her work blends the history of the disincorporation and destruction, in April 1938, of four towns in Franklin County with our present conflicts with power, politics, and natural resources. We also offer Poetry Reading on the Main Stage of Artsblock, and  A SECRET HISTORY BOOTH with Lindel Hart at GCTV interviewing folks who are invited to tell a story of this place.  Tickets are $20 and are good for the whole weekend and the whole festival and are available online. Full schedule and more details available here. Happier Valley Comedy Show Come see spontaneously-created theater with Valley favorites THE HA-HA'S who perform the fast and furious improvised show "The Buckingham." With special guest funny man Scott Braidman! These talented comedians will be making it all up on the spot in this one time only show. NEW LOCATION FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY! Saturday, June 11th at 8pm - doors open at 7  121 Club Easthampton 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 121 Eastworks, Easthampton MA Tickets available only at the door: $13 **ONLY CASH OR CHECK PAYMENT** Audiences can look forward to a full evening of comic entertainment rated PG-13 in this wheelchair-accessible space. For more information about The Happier Valley Comedy Show, visit the show website at www.happiervalley.com. PLUS! Stick around after the show for the Happier Valley Comedy School Showcase & Jam! Try some improv out - or just watch - in the student-led improv jam. Plus see an improvised set by the Advanced Improv student team called "HATS!" The Showcase & Jam is free with your ticket into the Happier Valley Comedy Show. There is a one drink minimum. All-new shows every month! The Happier Valley Comedy Show is on the SECOND SATURDAY of every month 8:00 - 10:00pm (Plus Showcase & Jam at 10-11pm) www.happiervalley.com Facebook event here. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Dangerous Play Theater Co. is looking for a stage manager to work with a show here in the valley for a few weeks this summer. The show eventually heads to NYC for the Fresh Fruit Festival. We are hoping for a May 25- June 15 rehearsal schedule, with actors coming into the project off-book. After this two and a half weeks, our director goes to Williamstown, so we would need to add weekly sm led pick ups (one or two days a week) until June 15- when we go to NYC . The show dates are somewhere in the July 11-24 window, and Fresh Fruit Fest should let us know the exact dates this coming week. We would also need to pass off email communications to our SM. If you or anyone you know could help us with the project, or if you want more info, please send Darcy Bruce a message on Facebook or an email. The Country Players are pleased to announce two opportunities to audition for their summer youth theater program: A Night of Mysteries. Children in grades k-12 are invited to audition for one of two separate one act plays. The Mystery of the Gumdrop Dragon is a sweet tale that takes place in days of Yore and is aimed at younger children. For the older kids and teens, it is And Then There Was One, a parody on the Agatha Christie's murder mystery with jokes and puns flying as are the weapons. There are also plenty of opportunities for children who want to help out backstage with lights and sounds and crew work.  Auditions:  May 30 (6pm) at Karen's Dance Studio in Greenfield and May 31 (6pm) at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield. For more info or questions, please email:mystery.gumdrop.dragon@gmail.com Summer Internships and Apprenticeships with New Century Theatre Season: May 31-August 6 New Century Theatre’s Internship Program is a full-time summer experience meant for motivated individuals who are looking to bridge the gap between their academic experience and a career in theatre. Our interns are vital members of this small professional theatre, working alongside a dedicated company of artists, administrators, technicians and designers. Interns will gain practical experience, knowledge and industry contacts. New Century Theatre encourages interns to learn the basics behind all areas of theatrical production by varying intern assignments throughout the ten-week program. The apprenticeship program at New Century Theatre is a part-time summer program for local high school students. Apprentices may work backstage, assist in the creation of props and costumes, and run the light board for our NCT Kids productions. Apprentices interested in lighting, costumes and set design may also have the opportunity to help with our mainstage New Century Theatre shows. More information and applications available online. Majestic Theater 2016-2017 Season Auditions Non-Equity performers will be scheduled to audition June 1, 2, 3 and 5, and Equity performers will audition June 6-7. The specific hours are: Non-Equity: Wednesday, June 1 – 6-10:30pm Thursday, June 2 – 6-10:30pm Friday, June 3 – 6-10:30pm Sunday, June 5 - 12-6pm Equity: Monday, June 6 – 10am-6pm Tuesday, June 7 – 10am-6pm Actors will be auditioned for parts in the following productions: “Million Dollar Quartet,” a classic rock and roll musical by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott(September 8 – October 23, 2016), “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” a comedy by Nora and Delia Ephron (November 3 – December 11, 2016), “Amadeus,” a classical drama by Peter Shaffer (January 5 – February 12, 2017), “Painting Churches,” a contemporary drama by Tina Howe (February 23 – April 2, 2017) and “La Cage aux Folles” a musical by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman (April 13 – May 21, 2017). Non-Equity auditions are scheduled in 10 minute time slots. Non-Equity performers new to the Majestic should prepare a monologue of their choice and, if singing, bring an instrumental CD accompaniment as well as a picture and resume. They will also be asked to read from prepared script selections. Equity auditions are scheduled in five minute time slots and participants must prepare a monologue. If auditioning for a musical, they must bring sheet music of their choice. An accompanist will be present. Equity performers may be asked to stay longer, if time permits, and read from prepared script selections. To book an audition, call the Majestic Theater at 413.747.7797. CALL FOR THEATER DIRECTORS! Black Cat Theater is seeking letters of interest and resumes for the positions of Artistic Director and Music Director (piano and vocals) for our Fall musical, Oliver! Rehearsals begin in September and show dates will be in November. Email letter of interest and resume by Saturday June 4th. MA Critics Circle Senior High Student Scholarship $500 MA Critics Circle Scholarship available for any high school senior in WMa, NCt. Must be enrolled to attend college next fall w/ a major in any art genre. Need 1 page essay on why you deserve the award, a letter from only 1 person who can speak about your accomplishments, and a sample(s) of your work; i.e. slides, program book, composition, etc. Deadline: June 6th postmark In the Spotlight, 235 State St., #102, Springfield, MA 01103 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 October 1, 2016.  Complete information about the contest may be found online.   A reading committee of five members, headed by veteran Montague 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 between 60 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 New England are eligible to submit plays, with special consideration given those from the Connecticut Valley/Western Massachusetts region.   Silverthorne Theater Company is a professional summer theater organization whose mission is to bring excellence of performance to adventurous drama, combining the best of the theatrical repertoire while also promoting unheard voices and underserved populations. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Happier Valley Comedy presents  Strengthening Your Voice:  A Fun Workshop for Introverted, Introvert-Friendly & Introvert-Curious People Saturday, June 11 3-5pm (2 hours) Hadley, MA $30 Do you find it difficult to make your voice heard? Do you wish you could participate more in group discussions at work and at social events? Quiet is great, though would you also like to make your out loud voice heard when it’s time to talk? Here’s a chance to practice these skills in a super supportive, judgment-free, and fun environment through easy-to-learn improvisation exercises practiced in a group circle and in pairs with breaks for quiet reflection and discussion.  Your question: Do I need to [fill in the blank: have experience/want to perform/know anything/get up in front of people/anything else]?  Our answer: Nope! All you need is a willingness to strengthen your inner and outer voice.  This fun and easy workshop will help you practice quieting your inner judgmental voice, communicate more effectively, reframe setbacks and overcome challenges. It’s also a great chance to connect with interesting folks like you.  Taught by Smith College alumna Pam Victor, the founder of Happier Valley Comedy. As well as being a professional improviser, Pam is a business consultant who uses improvisation exercises to facilitate powerful growth in the workplace in the THROUGH LAUGHTER program. Pam is the author of “Baj and the Word Launcher: A Space-Aged Asperger Adventure in Communication” and, along with legendary improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi, co-author of “Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book.” You can check her out at www.pamvictor.com. Sign up here. If you are unable to reserve your place online, please email. 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|*