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April 6-26, 2017
Lots of great shows this week! The Final event in the Smith College New Playreading Series this spring is tonight - Meryl Cohn's THE FINAL SAY, featuring a wonderful cast of local actors. There are also performances this weekend at Mount Holyoke College and the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.
And this weekend in Easthampton - the third annual BookFest featuring a new 10 minute play showcase. Stay in Easthampton that evening for the Happier Valley Comedy Show and the after show improv jam.
The next issue will include events through May 3. 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 Howlround
Steely Lies The Heart: Musings on Playwriting in the Age of Trump
by Kirsten Greenidge
From the article:
“What’s that?”
“I got a bracelet.”
“What’s it say?”
I hold up my wrist for my daughter to inspect.
Her eyes widen.
I explain.
“Feminist just means boys and girls are equal.”
“Okay.”
“And the other word is okay to say sometimes.”
She smiles, then giggles.
Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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Smith College Department of Theatre New Playreading Series presents
THE FINAL SAY
by Meryl Cohn
directed by Melissa Redwin
Thursday, April 6 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1
Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Smith College
Betsy Goldstein might finally get her play about her grandmother’s war heroism produced-- if only "HOLOCAUST SUPERSTAR: THE MUSICAL weren't just about to open. When Betsy learns that the upcoming musical has an oddly similar story line and was written by her former mentor, she must decide how far to go to protect her play and her beloved grandmother’s story.
Free and open to the public.
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Mount Holyoke College presents CABARET
April 6-8 at 7:30pm, April 9 at 2pm
Rooke Theatre, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075
The Mount Holyoke College Department of Theatre Arts closes its Spring Season with CABARET. John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s Tony-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way. The production is directed by Noah Tuleja and features set design by Vanessa James, costume design by Elizabeth Pangburn, and lighting and sound design by Lara Dubin.
Tickets and more information.
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THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST:
Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes
Directed by Jennifer Onopa
The Rand Theater, Fine Arts Center
April 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 pm
April 15 at 2 pm
Pulitzer-winner Quiara Alegía Hudes’ The Happiest Song Plays Last follows Puerto Rican cousins Elliot and Yaz as they navigate their haunted pasts and uncertain futures in the shifting political climate of a post-9/11 world. Elliot, a former marine, is now a military consultant for a war film in Jordan; while Yaz, a music professor, opens her house to feed and assist the local community in North Philadelphia. Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring, Elliot and an international cast of characters explore and negotiate their identities in a world that often ignores and silences their stories. Elliot and Yaz must not only find ways of protest and language to end the cycle of violence that haunts their family, but also find music to feed and heal their souls. UMass Theater is producing a new version featuring 2016 revisions by Hudes.
Tickets: 1-800-999-UMAS or visit umass.edu/theater
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Attack Bear Press presents ECA+ BookFest New 10 Minute Plays: People That are Going to Hell
April 8 at 5:00 PM
Eastworks: 116 Pleasant St. Room 160, Easthampton, MA
Join us for Easthampton BookFest's "People that are Going To Hell" an showcase of New 10 Minute Plays at Eastworks on 4/8/17 at 5pm. This is an adult event.
In 2017 Attack Bear Press produced the New 10 Minute Play Showcase for Easthampton City Art's 3rd Annual BookFest. Jason Montgomery was hard at work to gather together amazing local performers and playwrights from across all of Western Mass. to make BookFest 2017 the best year for new theatre in Easthampton. Being that it's theatre, and also being that it's Jason things got absurd quick. Now we are not sure if it was just that he was listening to a lot of The Vandals (he was) that week or if there was a theme to the works we received (also yes), but before Attack Bear Press knew he was mumbling something about people going to hell. While this is kind of par for the course with Jason we were all a little surprised when that turned out to be theme for the evening.
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Happier Valley Comedy presents the Happier Valley Comedy Show
Saturday, April 8th at 8pm
121 Club, Eastworks (116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton)
This month's super special guest is Peter Kim of Second City (Chicago). Peter Kim opens the show with his stand-up act, which he performs regularly at the Laugh Factory in Chicago. Peter has been featured in the Oddball Comedy Fest, hosts The Moth at Lincoln Hall, and has been called "a master storyteller at work" by the Chicago Tribune. Then Peter joins Happier Valley Comedy's Head of Happiness, Pam Victor, as they debut their two-person improv show, "Conklin." Pam and Peter first met at the iO Summer Intensive in 2012 and instantly fell in love with each other's hot nasty 'prov action ..."Conklin" is their love baby.
Second City Chicago's Peter Kim is the monologist for the The Ha-Ha's. The Armando is a beautiful trail of inspiration! The audience gives a suggestion, which inspires Peter Kim's stories. And Peter's stories inspire The Ha-Ha's improvised scenes. And the show inspires the audience to laugh a lot. It's the cycle of laughter!
Tickets: $13 at the door, $10 in advance online. For more info: www.happiervalley.com.
Tickets here.
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Happier Valley Comedy presents More Improv, More Better Improv Jam & Showcase
Saturday, April 8th at 10pm
121 Club, Eastworks (116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton)
Open improv jam for everyone and anyone to play and watch improv games, plus a showcase set featuring up-and-coming improv team LIVE in the '70s. Free show (one drink minimum). For more info: www.happiervalley.com.
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SILVERTHORNE THEATER KICKS OFF 2017 SEASON WITH CLASSIC MUSICAL
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a cabaret musical built around the great Belgian/French singer/songwriter’s most memorable songs. They range through love ballads, comic novelties, social satire, political commentary and poignant memory pieces, all of them bursting with Brel’s abundant gift for melody and his heartfelt power and passion.
Performances of Jacques Brel are April 13-15 & 20-22 at 7:30 and April 23 at 2pm, in the Arts Block 4th Floor, 289 Main St., Greenfield. Tickets are $25 for premium “ringside” seating, $20 general & $18 students/seniors. Reservations at 413-768-7514 or www.silverthornetheater.org
Silverthorne’s production is set in a Parisian café where the performers are the staff and regulars, and the audience are tonight’s patrons. Valley favorite Chris Rohmann directs; Northampton musician Josh Sitron is Music Director.
The songs form a chain of musical and personal interactions between the performers and with the audience, tracking moods and relationships as the numbers arise out of the lives and fantasies of the four characters: the bartender Jacques, Brel’s namesake (Frank Aronson of West Whately); Frieda, the chanteuse (Stephanie Carlson of Easthampton); Simone, the hostess (Kyle Boatwright of Amherst); and Jean-Luc, the poet (Jayson Paul of Amherst) whose “office” is the café.
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The Majestic Theater presents LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
APRIL 13 – MAY 28
The Majestic Theater in West Springfield will conclude its 20th Anniversary Season with the Tony Award-winning musical “La Cage aux Folles, written by Jerry Herman and Havey Fierstein, April 13 through May 28.
The play, which won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book for its original 1983 Broadway production, tells the story of Georges, his longtime romantic partner Albin, and the complications that arise when Georges' son Jean-Michel comes home to announce that he is engaged to Anne, a young woman whose father is head of the “Tradition, Family and Morality Party.” Georges is the manager and master of ceremonies of the Saint-Tropez drag nightclub La Cage aux Folles, where Albin is the star attraction. Anne's conservative parents are led to believe that Georges is a retired diplomat, and their plan to visit their daughter's future in-laws creates havoc. “La Cage aux Folles,” which inspired the hit movie “The Birdcage,” is in turns heartwarming and riotously funny, ultimately spotlighting the power and love behind family values.
Cast members include Majestic veterans Ben Ashley (Georges), Luis Manzi (Albin), Josiah Durham (Jean-Michel), Christine St. Amant-Greene (Marie Dindon), Walter Mantani (Dindon), Lori Efford (Jacqueline) and Freddie Marion (Renaud). Also appearing will be Doug Lebelle (Jacob), Jackie Mishol (Anne), Luke Smith (Francis), Rich Vaden (Chantel), Tomm Knightlee (Hanna), Ian Weber (Phaedra), Steven Sands (Babette), Michael Garcia (Bitelle) and Gregorio Malonte (Angelique).
Danny Eaton, producing director at the Majestic, will direct the show. Mitch Chakour will serve as musical director. Greg Trochlil is the set designer and Dan Rist is lighting designer. Costume designer is Dawn McKay and Tony Isham is costume consultant. The choreography is by Stacy Ashley and sound design is by Justin LeTellier. Stephen Pettit is production stage manager.
Ticket for the play range from $26-$33 and are available by calling or visiting the box office during its hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday10am – 1pm. The phone number is (413) 747-7797.
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