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September 8 - 28, 2016
Mark your calendars - and go see a piece of Northampton theatre history on Tuesday at 5:45 PM. The 1913 Maurice Tuttle curtain at the Academy of Music will be revealed after the recent restoration. It's free to go look and definitely worth it.
The next issue will include events through October 5. Submit upcoming events via the link below or by emailing me before Tuesday at midnight. Any questions, comments or feedback? Email me at pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS:
from The Atlantic
The Plight of the Overworked Nonprofit Employee
by Jonathan Timm
From the article:
Earlier this year, at the encouragement of President Obama, the Department of Labor finalized the most significant update to the federal rules on overtime in decades. The new rules will more than double the salary threshold for guaranteed overtime pay, from about $23,000 to $47,476. Once the rules go into effect this December, millions of employees who make less than that will be guaranteed overtime pay under the law when they work more than 40 hours a week.
Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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The Majestic Theater presents MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott
September 8-October 23
West Springfield, MA
“Million Dollar Quartet” tells about the real-life events of Tuesday afternoon, December 4, 1956 at Sun Records' Memphis studio. Rockabilly star Carl Perkins was there working on a revamped version of the blues song “Matchbox,” when fellow Sun recording artists Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley drifted into the studio, and the quartet took part in a loose jam session that producer Sam Phillips had the foresight to record. A local reporter who was called and sat in headlined his newspaper article which ran the next day, “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Cast members include Jay Sefton (Sam Phillips), Colin Patrick Ryan (Elvis Presley), Corbin Mayer (Johnny Cash), Brian Michael Henry (Jerry Lee Lewis), Dan Whelton (Carl Perkins) and Kaytlyn Vandeloecht (Dyanne).
The play will be directed by the Majestic’s Producing Director Danny Eaton. Mitch Chakour is the music director, and set design is by Greg Trochlil. Stephen Petit is production stage manager, and associate stage manager is Aurora Ferraro.
For additional information, visit the website.
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Happier Valley Comedy presents the Happier Valley Comedy Show
September 10 at 8pm
Arts Block, Greenfield
Happier Valley Comedy Show Monthly comedy show featuring improv comedians The Ha-Ha's & Friends performing “The Fourth Wall“ where the audience becomes a character in the scene, plus special guests Julie Waggoner and Jenny Drescher. Saturday September 10th. Arts Block (289 Main St., Greenfield) at 8:00pm. (Doors open at 7pm.) Tickets $13 at the door and in advance online at www.theartsblock.com. For ticket information, call 413-774-0150, for show info email info@happiervalley.com.
Facebook event here.
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Happier Valley Comedy presents More Improv, More Better After Show and Jam
September 10 at 10:00 PM
Arts Block, Greenfield
Open improv jam for everyone and anyone to play and watch improv games lead by Happier Valley Comedy friends. Plus a showcase set featuring an up-and-coming improv team. Saturday September 10th. Arts Block (289 Main St., Greenfield) at 10-11pm. (Directly following the Happier Valley Comedy Show.) Free show (one drink minimum.) For more info visit the website or email.
Facebook event here.
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1913 Maurice Tuttle Curtain Reveal at the Academy of Music
See our newly conserved 1913 scenic curtain up close!
Academy of Music Theatre
September 13th
5:45-6:30 p.m.
Free, no reservations required
The Academy of Music Theatre will unveil an historic gem that has not been seen by the public in a century: a beautiful, antique, stage-spanning scenic curtain depicting a classic Northampton vista, which was rediscovered during our 2014 auditorium restoration. Newly conserved over the course of two weeks in early August, the Academy is thrilled to offer this piece of Northampton history back to the community. The painting will be displayed for the public to walk in and view on stage. We hope you can stop by!
Facebook event here.
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Northampton Playwrights Lab presents PLAY BY PLAY
A.P.E. Gallery, 126 Main Street, Northampton
September 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25
Seating is very limited. Please arrive early! $10 Suggested Donation.
Thurs Sept. 15 at 7:30: Harley Erdman, CROWSNEST, directed by Sheila Siragusa
Fri Sept. 16 at 7:30: Mojie Crigler, THE WINKLEMEYERS BET IT ALL, directed by Jennifer Onopa
Sat Sept. 17 at 7:30: Eric Henry Sanders, WHERE’S ANNIE?, directed by Gina Kaufmann
Thurs Sept 22 at 7:30: Meryl Cohn, NAKED WITH FRUIT, directed by Melissa Redwin
Fri Sept. 23 at 7:30: Meryl Cohn, NAKED WITH FRUIT, directed by Melissa Redwin
Sat Sept. 24 at 7:30: Leanna James Blackwell, GRIMM WOMEN, directed by the playwright
Sunday, Sep. 25 at 4 p.m: Tanyss Rhea Martula, HOTPOT, directed by Becca Greene-Van Horn, and MY LIFE IN ROCK ’N ROLL
The Plays
CROWSNEST by Harley Erdman
In an ecovillage somewhere up in the hills, Danny, a newcomer, arrives at a utopian community divided over its future direction. His friendship with two residents, Sarah and Carl, embroils him in passion, jealousy, secrets, and conspiracy. CROWSNEST explores the meanings of love, family, and community, in a corner of contemporary America where people striving for utopia put these terms to the extreme test. This will be the first-ever public performance of this brand-new play by Harley Erdman, a UMass theater professor known locally for his librettos for the operas THE GARDEN OF MARTYRS and THE SCARLET PROFESSOR.
THE WINKLEMEYERS BET IT ALL by Mojie Crigler
THE WINKLEMEYERS BET IT ALL is the story of one man’s boom and bust during the first wave of big Internet money, and the price he pays for success that continues to elude him. This play, which was originally produced at an obscure, now-defunct theatre festival in New York City, is one of a number of works by Mojie Crigler, whose other plays have been seen at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Magic Theatre, New York Performance Works, and Carnegie Mellon University.
WHERE’S ANNIE? by Eric Henry Sanders
Where's Annie? Who's Annie? And what have Jack and Birdie done with her? In this dark comedy, Sarah Bitts returns home to confront her estranged grandparents, only to discover that the eccentric pair hides a past more frightening than she ever imagined. Caught in the couple’s alternately terrifying and bitterly humorous web of riddles, lies, and suspicion, Sarah fights her way to the truth and to her family’s redemption. Originally workshopped at the Lark Play Development Center in New York City, WHERE'S ANNIE? was developed in a reading with Frances Sternhagen at the Hudson Stage Company, where it also received its premiere production. This reading offers audiences a first glimpse at a substantially revised version of the play.
NAKED WITH FRUIT by Meryl Cohn
Can three people who share the loss of the same love come together to heal? NAKED WITH FRUIT is a comedy about grief and the quest for love and family. Isabel and Marilyn reconsider polyamory as they grieve the death of the secret third member of their intimate relationship. Isabel’s longing to connect inspires desperate measures, including befriending a Rabbi -- which leads to more secrets and betrayals. Through a tricky road to recovery, the loss of a shared love may turn out to be a powerful bond. An earlier version of Naked with Fruit was produced at the Provincetown Theater and was a Mass Cultural Council Finalist for playwriting.
GRIMM WOMEN by Leanna James Blackwell
A radical re-envisioning of three classic fairy tales, GRIMM WOMEN features a trio of women – a young runaway from a religious community, an adoptive mother living in urban public housing, and a globally successful business owner - telling their stories in a series of impassioned monologues. GRIMM WOMEN transforms the traditionally maligned witches, stepmothers, and spell-casting fairies of legend into living, breathing, 21st century women with a mission: to tell their side of the story for the first time. This will be the first-ever public performance of GRIMM WOMEN, the newest play by the director of Bay Path University’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction and the author of CURTAIN CALL, recently performed at the Berkshire Theatre Group; THE WENDY CHRONICLES; and NEW SOUL.
HOTPOT and MY LIFE IN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Two pieces by Tanyss Rhea Martula
HOTPOT, a short play. Two mothers meet to talk about their teenage children and find themselves in a melange of tight spaces, awkwardness, and confusion as things heat up. An earlier version of the play was staged at Chicago Dramatists. MY LIFE IN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, a solo performance piece in progress. A roller coaster ride through the highs of an unexpected late-in-life passion and the highs and lows of an unpredictable family. Performed by the playwright who will be showing the work she develops during the two-week PLAY BY PLAY residency at A.P.E. There will be a brief talk-back after ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.
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Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall presents THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB
7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16, 17, 23, and 24
2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA.
The Dixie Swim Club brings live theater back to historic Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall!
Written by Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, The Dixie Swim Club celebrates with poignancy and a good deal of laughter the dynamics of women’s friendships -- college buddies, sisters, neighbors - and the long-lasting love, challenges and great girls’ weekends that are a part of those friendships. The five friends, former college swim team buddies, come together once a year at an Outer Banks beach cottage to talk, laugh, swim, relax, reminisce, comfort, confront, talk and laugh some more. Throughout the 50-some years they have been meeting at the cottage, they have been the glue for each other through all of life’s happiness and crises.
Reserve tickets by emailing or purchase at the door (cash/checks only).
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Happier Valley Comedy presents the Happier Valley Comedy Show
September 17 at 4:00 PM
Eastworks Community Room
Happier FAMILY Comedy Show Monthly improv comedy show for the whole family. Best for 5-12 year olds and their adults. Saturday September 17th at 4pm. Located at Eastworks' Community Room (Suite 160) 116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton. Tickets at the door or online: $10/Adults, $5/Kids (4 yrs and under free), $30/Family Max. For more info visit www.happiervalley.com.
Facebook event here. Buy your ticket(s) online here.
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TheatreTruck presents THE WATER PROJECT (IMMERSIVE)
a site-specific theatrical journey with live music
9/22 @ 8:30PM, 9/23 @ 6:30 and 8:30PM; 9/24 @ 6:30 & 8:30pm
Swift River Valley Historical Society, 40 Elm Street in the village of North New Salem, just west of Rt. 202.
Live theater joins forces with the Pioneer Valley’s thriving independent music scene in this original immersive production, created by TheatreTruck Collaborator Emma Ayres. Immerse yourself in the currents of time in this story of the flooding of the Quabbin Reservoir. The water is rising.
Directed by Emma Ayres and Brianna Sloane with design by John Bechtold, Emily Taradash, C. Webster Marsh and Austin Federa.
TICKETS available at Brown Paper Tickets.
$20 in advance ($15 students/seniors in advance)
OR $25 cash only at the door if available ($20 students/seniors).
“Newspaper headlines read: 4 towns flooded, 2,500 people relocated, houses moved on the backs of trucks, 7,500 graves dug up and reburied on higher ground, memories drowned, and little know…”
THE WATER PROJECT (IMMERSIVE) submerges the audience in a dreamscape evoking the final week of the decision making-process: to flood or not to flood the Swift River Valley in service of providing clean water to rapidly growing Boston. The audience is invited to explore the story unfolding around them in this theatrical journey. Faced with imminent flooding, the Doubleday family confronts the end of life and home as they know it, while anxiety rises and rumors walk the halls.
On Facebook. This event involves going up and down stairs, and much of the performance is not wheelchair accessible. We wish it was.
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Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents The Red Guitar
Return from the Edinbugh Fringe
September 23 at 8:00 pm
Shea Theatre, Turner's Falls
Just returning from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a five star review from the well respected Herald Scotland newspaper, and sold out audiences every night of the two and a half weeks the show premiered there, Serious Play Theatre presents John Sheldon's The Red Guitar: Return From The Fringe. John uses his virtuosity as a guitarist and storyteller to go beyond genres and styles, into the beating heart of music-the power of sound to transport and transform. Sharing the sounds that shaped a life.
Tickets online or call 800-838-3006.
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