Pioneer Valley Theatre News December 15, 2016

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser December 15, 2016-January 4, 2017 It's a great weekend to go see a holiday show: Home for the Holidays at the Majestic, the Vaudeville Holiday Spectacular at the Shea Theatre, Songs of the Season at the Black Cat Theater, PaintBox Theatre's The Santa Show at Northampton High School, and Phantom Sheep presents a holiday improv show in Agawam. Stay warm!  The next issue will include events through January 11. 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 Submit Your Theatre Event More information on Facebook. THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround A Feminist Manifesto for Playwrights by Paco José Madden From the article:  Catherine Castellani’s “What Is a Feminist Play, Anyway?: Getting Specific” was a wonderful way to create dialogue about contemporary feminist theatre and feminist playwriting practice. However, advocating an “open definition” permits almost any play or playwright to claim a work is feminist. As Kim Solga writes in theatre and feminism, men and women who use feminism as “a marker of identity” must “push its boundaries by critically investigating its meanings and impacts.” This essay proposes criteria and ways of thinking about what it means for a play or other theatrical work to be considered feminist. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Majestic Theater presents “Home for the Holidays” West Springfield's Majestic Theater  December 15-22 Producing Director Danny Eaton has announced a solid roster of Majestic performers who will take the stage including Ben Ashley, Ray Guillemette Jr., Sue Dziura, Luis Manzi, Myka Plunkett, Lori Efford, Michael King, Emery Henderson, Caelie Flanagan, Molly Damon-Rush, Madi Hartling and Todd Farnsworth. Santa Claus will also be making a special appearance. Cate Damon will direct the show, and Musical Director Mitch Chakour will lead a band that includes Tim Hosmer, Don Rovero and Cliff Schofer. Ticket for the show range from $24-$26 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under, and are available by calling or visiting the box office during its hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 1pm.  For additional information, visit the website. Eggtooth Productions presents a New Vaudeville Holiday Spectacular!   December 15, 16, 17, at 7:30 and Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 pm at the Shea Theatre. The show promises family fun with all children under 15 free! $15 for the grown ups available at eggtooth.org. The Shea is located at: 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376   When venues for their Full Disclosure and Double Take Fringe Festivals disappeared or became too expensive at the same time the artists they love working with multiplied and expanded, the folks at Eggtooth Productions had an idea. What if they did the same thing as their festivals but tucked all the acts into one evening? The response was terrific and so the New Vaudeville Holiday Spectacular was born. And what a line up! The acts include: dance, theater, installation, cabaret, music, puppets, drag, à cappella music, and monologue. Each offering is 5-7 minutes long and the theme of the evening is Grace.   The cast of characters participating in the event include: Joshua Platt, Katherine Adler, Emily MacLeod, Rachel Schneider, Anna Sobel, Maya Rivera, Meghan Zaremba, Emily Ditkovski, Amy Johnquest (AKA Bannerqueen), Joe Dulude, Emma Ayres, Pam Smith, Maureen McElligott and Company, Jack Golden, Lindel Hart, David Fersh and Art Fuleuhan, Joe Graveline, Grace Booth and her new company Til Lalezar Theater Company, Lori Holmes Clark and Meg van Dyck and Company. Black Cat Theater presents Songs of the Season December 16, 6:30-8:30 PM The Yarde Tavern South Hadley (3 Hadley St, South Hadley, MA) Come enjoy a little Holiday Spirit with some of the members of Black Cat Theater the first three Fridays of December (2nd, 9th, and 16th) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Yarde House. Come enjoy a great meal with the family, or a drink with friends, or just sit back with a brew and relax to the wonderful sounds of Songs of the Season with some talented performers just waiting to share their Holiday Spirit and voices with you. You may find yourself humming along, tapping a foot, clapping in rhythm, or even singing along...in fact, it's tradition!!! PaintBox Theatre Presents  The Santa Show: Reindeer to the Rescue! Written and directed by Tom McCabe Friday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  Northampton High School Auditorium, 380 Elm Street, Northampton It’s the most wonderful time of the year: PaintBox—the Pioneer Valley’s theatre of imagination and improvisation for all ages—presents its annual holiday extravaganza!    The Santa Show: Reindeer to the Rescue—featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, Roscoe the dog, and the reindeer—takes us back to Santa’s first year on the job. The toys are made (with the help of the audience), but now Santa needs to figure out how to get around the world in one night. Spoiler alert: the reindeer come to the rescue. In this case, it’s eight very strange reindeer that look suspiciously like people wearing brown long underwear and antlers. Mrs. Claus thinks they might be able to pull the sleigh. Santa doesn’t agree. They start as an unruly herd, but, if Santa can pull them all together and turn them into a team, Christmas is saved.   PaintBox favorite Troy Mercier (Peter Pan, Tarzan, Treasure Island) leads the reindeer and doubles as Roscoe the dog. Linda Tardif (Raggedy Ann, Grace for President) is Mrs. Claus. The audience plays the elves and the reindeer are played by a bunch of brave and silly teenagers and adults. Santa plays himself, of course. There will be plenty of audience participation, songs, hijinks, and if we’re lucky, some flying, too.  Tickets: Single Tickets $10. General Seating. Online or at the door. Group discounts: $7 for groups of 14+. Email: paintboxtheatre@gmail.com Website: www.paintboxtheatre.com Phone: 413-923-7159 Happier Valley Comedy presents Happier FAMILY Comedy Show Saturday, December 17th at 4pm.  Located at Eastworks' Community Room (Suite 160) 116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton. Monthly improv comedy show for the whole family. Best for 5-12 year olds and their adults.  Tickets at the door: $10/Adults, $5/Kids (3 yrs and under free), $30/Family Max. Purchase tickets online or at the door (*cash or check only at the door please*) For more info visit www.happiervalley.com. Tickets online. Facebook. Phantom Sheep Players presents LaughCrafters: Holiday Show December 19 at 6:30 PM Agawam Library Community Room Celebrate the season with live laughter as the Phantom Sheep Players create scenes on the spot based on audience suggestions! This annual free performance of comedy improv and sketches will take place in the Agawam Library Community Room. Phantom Sheep is a local Western MA comedy troupe including Eric Boucher, Tommy Lynch, Jesse Redmond, Greg Seymour, Jeff Tingley and featuring new players Devin Horan and Jessica Lamoureaux. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Arena Civic Theatre Announces Auditions for Six Degrees of Separation By John Guare Directed by Tony Jones Produced by Megan Healey Thursday, 12/15/16 at 6:30 PM The Bangs Community Center – 70 Boltwood Walk in Amherst. From Dramatists Play Service: “Winner of the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. No subject is left untouched in this comic, fast-paced and affecting piece. The title refers to a statistical theory which states that any two people in the world can be connected through only six other people. The play is an examination of the threads of chance that link one person to another.” Auditions for Arena Civic Theatre’s Six Degrees of Separation, will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 14-15 at 6:30pm. The audition will take place at The Bangs Community Center in Amherst and consist of cold readings chosen from the script. Rehearsals begin after the New Year and will be on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings in Amherst and Holyoke (not all actors will be called for every evening). Facebook Event Here. Available Roles: Total of 9m, 4w Six Degrees of Separation will be presented at the White Church Community Center in Historic Deerfield, April 21, 22, 28, 29 and 30th of 2017. MOHAWK TRAIL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Mohawk Trail Regional Middle/High School Director of Musical Production  Mohawk Trail Regional School in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts is looking for a creative individual with a background in educational theater to direct/produce a creative musical production of Shrek for students in grades 5-12.  Schedule:  Beginning casting in December, and rehearsals to begin on a regular basis in January for the staging of the show in early March. The successful candidate will be able to engage students and community members in an original production that showcases student talent and ingenuity both onstage and behind the scenes. Applicants should have experience managing all aspects of a production, including fundraising, community outreach, and promotion. The director/producer will work with a team of educators who have experience with staging productions, including lighting, direction, and music. Forward cover letter, resume, licensure, transcripts and recommendations to: Superintendent of Schools, Mohawk Trail Regional School District, 24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 or email to ktotman@mohawkschools.org.  Applications deadline: open until qualified candidate appointed.  The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion or sexual orientation. Hampshire Shakespeare: Now Hiring: Directors! The 2017 Season Hamlet by William Shakespeare Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard Alternating Performances June 22 -August 5, 2017 Hampshire Shakespeare Company is looking to hire two directors to collaborate on our Mainstage Shakespeare Under the Stars summer season! 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. For the first time in Hampshire Shakespeare history, we are producing both Mainstage shows in repertory with identical casts performing. The directors hired will be working in tandem, one on each production, to execute a shared artistic vision for the season, between themselves and the company’s season designers. This provides the exciting opportunity to artistically collaborate with another director and to create a cohesive season, uniting two shows as one. We have a proud tradition of outdoor performance, emphasizing the relationship between actor and audience. Potential directing candidates are encouraged to consider the advantages and limitations of outdoor theatre in their concepts, and should have at least 2 years experience. History working on productions with a collaborative artistic vision and/or Shakespeare is preferred but not required. All candidates will be required to submit a 500-1000 word artistic proposal for one or both pieces,  which will be reviewed and evaluated as one half of a season proposal. If an applicant wishes to submit an artistic proposal for both shows, they may be combined into one document of the same length. Deadline: January 6, 2017 Please submit proposals and a resume in PDF form by email to Jessica Thompson (Producer). Salary: $800 – $1,000 Application Deadline: January 6, 2017 Auditions to be held in Mid March Hampshire Shakespeare Company is seeking a Production Manager & a Technical Director for the 2017 summer season of “Shakespeare Under the Stars,” which will include productions of “Hamlet” and “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” in repertory. The positions start immediately and run through late-August. Candidates for the following positions should have reliable transportation, leadership and conflict management experience, excellent communication skills, and enjoy working with young people under the age of 18. The ideal candidates will be excited to grow and develop with a small local theater committed to providing valuable experiences for those beginning their careers. Production Manager The Production Manager plays a critical role in our Production Team and is responsible for managing the logistics of the rehearsal and performance process. Responsibilities include: Creation and management of the season calendar, including rehearsals, technical schedule, and special events Participation in season preparation and strike Formulating timeline and tasks for technical staff Acting as point-person for communication to the artistic company Coordinating rehearsal space Scheduling and facilitating production meetings Attending Hampshire Shakespeare Board meetings to provide updates on the season Compiling and management of production budgets Mentorship and supervision of production assistants Providing support to the stage managers and directors, including mediating conflict within the season at the request of each  production’s stage manager Addressing actor and crew comfort and needs during rehearsals and technical production Maintaining communication with the Renaissance Center staff Working with the producer, stage manager, and front of house manager to build the tech and show pattern schedule The ideal candidate will have be an experienced and creative team player dedicated to creating a sense of community in an organization that includes staff and volunteers. Ability to quickly problem-solve is a must.  The ability to deal with stressful situations with grace, humor, and tact is very helpful.   Technical Director The Technical Director will help support our proud artistic tradition of outdoor performances, which emphasizes the relationship between actor and audience. Responsibilities include: Overseeing season setup and strike, including but not limited to construction and work with scenic designer, and facilitating light hang and focus schedule Enforcing safety procedures and training production staff on setup and breakdown of rehearsal space Creating and procuring small scenic elements and properties, as well as maintaining, organizing, and storing all pre-existing scenic elements Presence at tech rehearsals to facilitate the execution of the artistic vision of the production Presence at the season’s performances to maintain crew’s performance pattern and facilitate all technical elements during the run of the show Work directly with facilities managers when applicable Attending all on-site special events Attending all production meetings Mentorship and supervision of our production assistants. The ideal candidate will have lighting, sound, and carpentry experience, leadership experience as well as reliable transportation. We are looking for a collaborative and creative team-player who likes problem-solving.   Salary for each position: $2,500 for the season   Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter in PDF format to Jessica Thompson, Producer,  at  hampshire.shakespeare.company@gmail.com. The New England New Play Alliance publishes a free weekly online newsletter with information about readings and full performances of new plays throughout New England. You can keep up to date with the latest shows and trends by subscribing. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Heidi Haas presents IMPROV WORKSHOPS in December: Florence Civic Center Adults and Kids!   On Thursday Dec 15th from 3:30-5:30  Come and play with your child(ren) our favorite improv games!!  The cost for each workshop will be $20 and $30 for each parent/child. Space will be limited to 16 participants per workshop.  AND of course it is NOT too early to register for the Winter session which will begin the week of Jan 5th. People are already signing up, so don't lose your spot!! Email for more information or to register or call 413-584-5562. Playwriting & Screenwriting Consulting Individual consulting with playwright & screenwriter ROSE MARTULA to provide feedback or assist in editing scripts: PLAYS, FULL-LENGTH FEATURES, SHORTS, TV PILOTS or WEB SERIES. In whatever stage. I'm here to honor your vision, not alter. Let's do this! Contact Rose. Double Edge Theatre presents The Winter Intensive January 1-7, 2017 The Winter Intensive is an explosive dive into Double Edge's training process. We’ll work daily from morning until night, both in Double Edge's indoor training spaces and outside in the fields. Layering our physical training practice with music, design, dramaturgy, large object work and individual and group research, intensives are a full-body experience of our multidisciplinary creative process. We explore the dialogue between individual process and group training and creation. The intensives are open to participants of all levels of experience and are ideal for pushing the boundaries of your physicality, creativity, and imagination! For more information, call Travis: 413.628.0277 or email training@doubleedgetheatre.org 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|*