Pioneer Valley Theatre News July 27, 2017

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser July 27-August 16, 2017 Looking for a few more ushers for HOLD THESE TRUTHS at New Century Theatre - email me if you would like to see this incredible show for FREE. It opens tonight and it's not to be missed. NCT is also looking for a few dressers for THE 39 STEPS. It's going to be a blast! Also this weekend: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF QUEEN MARGARET - in Springfield and Turner's Falls for one show each.  Did you know that Smith Vocational High School (80 Locust St., Northampton) has a gym with a stage--and that this space can be rented by community organizations? For more information, visit their website. The next issue will include events through August 23. 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 Real Live Theatre presents The Life and Death of Queen Margaret  More information in the listings. For Tickets: July 28 in Springfield Tickets // July 29 in Turners Falls Buy TIckets THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Say it Anyway by Abbey Fenbert From the article:  I used to be stoic about street harassment. Ignoring it, I was sure, was the safest and most effective strategy. Eyes forward, head down. Mouth closed. I don’t remember the moment things shifted. All I know is that one day, I opened my mouth. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES PaintBox Theatre presents How I Became a Pirate Weekday Performances for Camps, Groups and the Public Thursday July 27 at 10:30 a.m. The Shea Theater Last fall, a teacher handed Tom McCabe a copy of the picture book How I became a Pirate, by Melinda Long and David Shannon. “You have to turn this into a play,” she insisted. “My kids love the story and it is perfect for PaintBox.” She was right, so we secured permission from the author and we’re ready to go. Jeremy Jacobs dreams of becoming a pirate, so he joins a pirate crew and learns their ways. By the time the show is done, everyone in the audience will be pirates. Callum LaFrance (Comet in Reindeer to the Rescue) is J.J. The pirate captain is Troy David Mercier (Peter in Peter Pan). The rest of the pirates are played by Kelsey Flynn (Hare in Great Race of the Tortoise and the Hare) and Myka Plunkett (Baby Bacon Bits in The Three Pigs). Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls Tickets: $10, Free for children under 2 Season Pass: $24 Groups (12+): $7 each, email paintboxtheatre@gmail.com Tickets at the door or BrownPaperTickets.com 413-923-7159 paintboxtheatre@gmail.com paintboxtheatre.com Phantom Sheep with J-Art presents LaughCrafters: Comedy Improv Summer Celebration Show July 27 at 7:00 PM Springfield Jewish Community Center Celebrate summer as Western MA's own comedy troupe Phantom Sheep returns to the JCC stage with their "LaughCrafters:Comedy Improv!" performing games and original scenes all created on the spot based on suggestions from the audience in a fast paced hilarious show! Always original, unique, and full of laughs! In this J-ART Cafe presentation, drinks and desserts will also be available to purchase. Tickets New Century Theatre presents HOLD THESE TRUTHS by Jeanne Sakata July 27, 28, 29, 30, August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Evenings at 7:30 PM Sunday matinee July 30 at 2:00 PM Sunday evening July 30 at 7:30 PM Pizza and a Play Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School 15 Mulligan Drive, South Hadley, MA Directed by Sheila Siragusa Starring Greg Watanabe The forced relocation of Japanese-Americans into internment camps through executive action by the President during World War II remains one of the most flagrant violations of civil liberties in American history. HOLD THESE TRUTHS is inspired by the true story of civil rights pioneer Gordon Hirabayashi, an American sociology student who fought against the violation of his family’s constitutional rights. His story is a 50-year journey of standing up for U.S. Constitution and confronting a culture of fear and prejudice. Tickets at 413-587-3933 or online. Silverthorne Theater Company’s third show of the season, Chapatti, by Christian O’Reilly opens July 20, on the fourth floor of The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center (formerly The Arts Block) in downtown Greenfield. Chapatti runs July 27, 28, 29 with performances at 7:30 pm, and a 2 pm matinee on Saturday, July 29.  There will be a post-show conversation with the director and cast after the July 27th performance. The Hawks & Reed PAC is located at 289 Main Street on the Greenfield Common in the middle of the town’s Cultural District. It is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. No, this is not a play about Indian food! The only thing preventing Dan (played by Nick Simms of Amherst) from committing suicide is his dog, Chapatti. His faithful companion cannot fill the hole in his life caused by the death of his life-long companion. In this little-known piece full of sharp humor and prickly compassion, playwright Christian O’Reilly introduces Betty (played by Jane Barish of Ashfield), a similarly lost soul, with unpredictable consequences. The play is directed by Jeannine Haas, founder and director of Pauline Productions and a Goshen resident. An unexpected spark begins this warm and gentle story, set in Dublin, that mixes humor & despair to explore what happens when chance brings together two lost souls. “A mix of zesty self-narration and beautifully limned scene work... leaves you cheering for these two characters’ hard-won moments of happiness." Chicago Sun-Times Tickets are $20 general admission, $18 for students or seniors (65+) and may be purchased online. Full information and tickets available at the website.   Support for this production is provided by The Valley Advocate/Preview, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center. Real Live Theatre presents The Life and Death of Queen Margaret co-created by Toby Vera Bercovici and Dan Morbyrne based on the Shakespeare and presented by Real Live Theatre During the 100 Years’ War between England and France, just after the time of Joan of Arc, a young French princess is torn from her home and sent to a foreign land to become its queen. Surrounded by powerful men who resent her for her gender and origins, and coupled with a king both weak-willed and prone to madness, she forms an alliance with her new lover to take down critics and seize control of the kingdom. When battle lines are drawn, can she lead the country in war and protect the crown for herself, her king, and her heirs? The Life and Death of Queen Margaret follows the story of Margaret of Anjou, a fierce, strong-willed, and independent woman who was both a historical figure and also one of Shakespeare's greatest characters. Her rise to leadership and subsequent downfall, portrayed through bitingly relevant and alarmingly prescient 400-year-old texts, hold a necessary mirror up to our modern society. In a time when women's rights have been under attack by those in positions of supreme power, Real Live Theatre brings you this 'new' Shakespeare play which examines what really goes on when women rise to power inside patriarchal systems. Cast: Myka Plunkett, Linda Tardif, Jeannine Haas*, Lisa Abend*, Kate Hare, Ellen Morbyrne, Annelise Nielsen, Emily Tanch Direction: Toby Vera Bercovici Stage Management/Lighting Design: Ezekiel Baskin Choreography: Annelise Nielsen Costume Design: Julia Vincenza Whalen & Rich Vaden Sound Design: Catherine McCurry Staff Design: Michael Humphries Dramaturgy: Josh Platt Stage Combat: Dan Morbyrne with an Original Song by: Cynthia Zaitz, Ph.D. *Member of Actor's Equity Association Friday July 28th 7:30 PM The Drama Studio 41 Oakland St., Springfield, MA TICKETS Saturday July 29th 7:30 PM The Shea Theater 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA TICKETS Thursday August 10th - Sunday August 13th Thursday August 17th - Sunday August 20th Thurs - Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM both weekends Theater for the New City 155 1st Ave and E 10th St, New York, NY TICKETS Ghost Light Theater presents Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead July 28 and 29 at 8:00 PM, July 30 at 2:00 PM, August 3, 4, 5 at 8:00 PM Gateway City Arts (92 Race Street, Holyoke, MA 01040) Directed by Kimberly Overtree When CB's dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group's bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that's both haunting and hopeful. Starring the talents of:  CB: Terrance Peters CB's Sister: Rebeccah Szczygiel Van: Andrew Blom Matt: Satchel Harp-Monseau Tricia: Mallory Kassoy Marcy: Theresa Sauriol Van's Sister: Krystle Bernier All tickets are $10 and are available at the door or online through Eventbrite. Please note that this show is intended for mature audiences only. Facebook event here. Starlight's Youth Theatre presents The Little Mermaid Jr July 29 at 11:00 and 1:00 PM Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Come see the Little Mermaid Jr! Starlight’s Youth Theatre is proud to present’s Disney’s beloved production of LITTLE MERMAID JR. Come join Ariel and her friends as they explore “Under the Sea” and find out if “She’s In Love.” July 29, 2017 @ Eric Carle Museum 11:00am and 1:00pm   $7 (Members $6.50) Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Museum Admissions Desk or by calling 413-559-6336. Ko Festival of Performance presents KoFest: Death of a Man Fri July 28, Sat July 29 at 8:00 pm; Sun July 30 at 4:00 pm Holden Theater, Amherst College, Amherst, MA July 28, 29, 30: Ko Festival of Performance presents DEATH OF A MAN, by New World Performance Lab. Based on "“The Devil’s Milk: A Social History of Rubber” and 2016 meetings with the indigenous Amazonian people represented in the performance. In it, virtuoso, Colombian actor, Jairo Cuesta, performs an inquiry into one of our most basic raw materials and asks us to examine our environmental footprint. Tickets $22 adults; $18 students, seniors; $10 EBT/SNAP; ltd $8 dos Ticketing and information. info@kofest.com, Box Office: 413-542-3750. Part of Ko Festival of Performance, celebrating its 26th season, a perennially popular summer theater experience in Western Massachusetts. July 3-August 6 on the beautiful campus of Amherst College. KoFest presents four weekend theatrical performances, one outdoor all-ages event, Story Slam and three 6-day intensive theater workshops. Happier Valley Comedy presents Speak Your Truth Comedy Show July 29 at 6:00 PM Northampton Senior Center, Northampton, MA On Saturday, July 29th, Happier Valley Comedy improvisers create comedy on the spot inspired by short stories told by the Speak Your Truth THROUGH LAUGHTER Retreat participants. This special improv comedy show is open to all as a public celebration of the Retreat.  Audiences can look forward to an evening of comic entertainment rated PG-13 in this handicapped-accessible space. Tickets: $5 for public. Free for Retreat participants and their two guests. More information here. Tickets available at the door. Show lasts 1 hour. Hampshire Shakespeare presents Hamlet by William Shakespeare August 3 & 5 at 7:00 PM Massachusetts Renaissance Center, Amherst MA Directed by Ingrid Oslund This contemporary production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet will use this classic text to explore the cycles of abuse at play within the story and how they manifest supernaturally. By employing immersive staging and utilizing the full potential of this outdoor space, this show will take the audience on a journey through the haunted halls of the decadent Danish court, examining the trials and tribulations of those who dwell there. From the traumatic effects of a murder that destroys a country to the behavior of the Prince himself, this play explores the affects of madness on both an intimate and political level. Tickets available here. Hampshire Shakespeare presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead  August 4, & 6 at 7:00 PM Massachusetts Renaissance Center, Amherst MA Directed by Calvin Atkinson Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is playwright Tom Stoppard's philosophical-comedic reaction piece to Shakespeare's greatest work. Through the eyes of two of Hamlet's minor characters, we see the story from another angle as the politically powerful step on everyone beneath them. This contemporary staging will get up close and personal, inviting the audience to laugh and ponder with our heroes as they explore identity, truth, and what might really be rotten in the state of Denmark.  Tickets available here. PaintBox Theatre presents Dr. Doolittle Friday August 4: 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6: 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Williston Theatre  We close our season with Doctor Dolittle—the delightful tale of a kindly doctor who learns he can speak “animal.” No matter the species, our doctor knows what they are saying and what they need to get well. Be prepared: we’re off on quite an adventure. We’ll travel the high seas, visit Africa, and even face pirates. We’ll meet animals of all sorts. Everyone will take a turn—in fact, the audience will play birds, sharks, wild beasts, cats, dogs and even a flying fish. Audience member should arrive early if they want a role. Our cast include PaintBox favorites Troy David Mercier, Linda Tardif, and Kelsey Flynn. Williston Theatre, 18 Payson Avenue, Easthampton Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls Tickets: $10, Free for children under 2 Season Pass: $24 Groups (12+): $7 each, email paintboxtheatre@gmail.com Tickets at the door or BrownPaperTickets.com 413-923-7159 paintboxtheatre@gmail.com paintboxtheatre.com   Ko Festival of Performance presents KoFest: The Society of Civil Discourse Fri Aug 4, Sat Aug 5 at 8:00 pm; Sun Aug 6 at 7:00 pm Holden Theater, Amherst College, Amherst, MA Ko Festival of Performance presents THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL DISCOURSE by Team Sunshine Performance Corp & The Philly Pigeon. An interactive performance event that gives people a chance to have fun in community, with art at the center. You can come and quietly watch the entire night, or you might take us up on this opportunity to show off your best rhetorical skills. You'll have the opportunity to learn to love the people you argue passionately and celebrate the pleasure of passionate debate in a safe and festive space where you can indulge in ridiculous oratorical muscle-flexing! You might even be tapped for the Great Debate that concludes the evening. Think town meeting — with a serious dose of the silly! Tickets $15 adults; $10 EBT/SNAP; Ltd $8 dos. Ticketing and information. info@kofest.com, Box Office: 413-542-3750. Part of Ko Festival of Performance, celebrating its 26th season, a perennially popular summer theater experience in Western Massachusetts. July 3-August 6 on the beautiful campus of Amherst College. KoFest presents four weekend theatrical performances, one outdoor all-ages event, Story Slam and three 6-day intensive theater workshops. Slowgirl by Greg Pierce Directed by Ellen W. Kaplen August 4 and 5 at 7:00 PM August 6 at 2:00 PM Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, Smith College Set in Costa Rica where Sterling has run to after being accused of a crime. He is visited by his 17 year old niece who is running away from trouble at home. It is a delicate story of two people getting to know and trust one another after 9 years apart. And finding the courage to face their pasts and their futures. Tickets online. The Country Players present A Midsummer Camp's Dream August 11 at 6:30 PM, August 12 at 6:30 PM and August 13 at 2:00 PM Frontier Regional High School, South Deerfield MA The Country Players Youth Production of "A Midsummers Camp's Dream" will be performed by our youth actors whose ages range from 8 to 18.  A fun farce taking place at Duke's Athenian Adventure Camp. New Century Theatre presents THE 39 STEPS Adapted by Patrick Barlow Directed by Sam Rush August 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 PM, August 20 at 2:00 PM Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton Two parts vaudeville style comedy, one part classic Hitchcock masterpiece, and a dose of edge-of-your-seat spy thriller, THE 39 STEPS is a raucous whodunit for theatre lovers everywhere. A man with a boring life meets a mysterious woman and is soon embroiled in international espionage culminating in a death-defying finale. This Tony Award-winner is a fast-paced delight packed with nonstop laughs and over 150 characters played by just four actors. The New York Times calls it, “Theatre at its finest!... Absurdly enjoyable! This gleefully theatrical riff on Hitchcock's film is fast and frothy." THE 39 STEPS, with its wildly inventive stagecraft, is an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure. Tickets available here or by calling 413-584-9032 x105.  AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES List Your Theatre Company Beginning next week, this newsletter will include a list of Pioneer Valley theatres, with links to their website or Facebook page. If you'd like your company included, shoot me an email! Hampshire Shakespeare Company is looking for an experienced season producer to oversee the renowned Shakespeare Under the Stars 2017 summer season. Join us for the chance to bring the Bard’s work to the great outdoors and facilitate the creation of theatrical experiences from the most profound to the most playful. The producer will assist in creating a budget, hiring administrative staff, and overseeing the two Mainstage shows and Young Company show. Contract begins immediately and completes after the Board retreat, which is held no later than September 2018. Producer duties: takes overall responsibility for functioning of the season with the advice and consent of the Board, including fundraising and presence in community manages large scale budget with an eye toward end-of-season net (e.g. stipends for staff, fundraising income, program ads) directly responsible for the hiring and supervision of Production Manager, House Manager, and Publicist attends monthly board meetings and provides updates to the board on process of all shows, receiving relevant information from the Production Manager may attend production meetings at the request of the Production Manager may oversee mentorship of production assistant program Required Qualifications: strong communication skills experience in budget management non-profit arts administration experience willingness to take initiative flexibility team player good sense of humor Preferred Qualifications: conflict resolution grant writing experience experience working with young people Please send resume and cover letter to hampshire.shakespeare.company@gmail.com. Accepting applications through August 31, 2017. While Hampshire Shakespeare is a community theatre, the company offers a small stipend for much of its production staff. All stipends are commensurate with experience and company budget. Assistant to the Event Coordinator at Eastworks    Eastworks is a 500,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use, revitalized mill. We are a dynamic community of artists, designers, craftspersons, tech and software firms, wellness-centered businesses, nonprofits and community-based organizations. We have a long history of fostering community by offering exciting, flexible spaces for events large and small, public and private. The Assistant to the Event Coordinator will work closely with the Event Coordinator and the rest of the Events team to assist clients with preparation for events, which include weddings, theater performances, screenings, art shows, fundraisers, meetings and cultural events in three unique venues at Eastworks. The candidate will be a personable, diplomatic, detail-oriented and adaptable problem solver who possesses excellent communication skills (written and oral). This is a great entry-level opportunity for a recent college graduate in hospitality, management or a similar field. This is a part-time position (20 hrs/week) with possible additional hours; must be available to work weekends and evenings as needed. Compensation: $15.00/hr.  Please send cover letter and resume to events@eastworks.com. New Century Theatre is looking for dressers for THE 39 STEPS Performances are August 17-20 at the Academy of Music in Northampton. Dressers will also be needed for tech on August 15 and 16 and in rehearsals the week prior.  For more information send an email.    Pioneer Valley theatre groups: Did you know that Smith Vocational High School (80 Locust St., Northampton) has a gym with a stage--and that this space can be rented by community organizations? For more information, visit their website. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Happier Valley Comedy presents Speak Your Truth THROUGH LAUGHTER Retreat July 29 at 10 am Northampton Senior Center, Northampton, MA Speak Your Truth THROUGH LAUGHTER  A “Females Unleashing Courage, Knowledge, Individuality & Truth” Retreat  With Pam Victor, Head of Happiness of Happier Valley Comedy Tired of being silenced by others and especially by your own inner critic? Ready to disregard the hogwash that’s holding you back? Want to get better at bravely standing up to authority and authentically speaking your mind? Would you like to connect mindfully with a group of supportive women who are on (and by) your side?  Do you need more play in your life? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then treat yourself to a day of self-care and empowerment on Saturday, July 29th! Speak Your Truth THROUGH LAUGHTER Retreat is whole day and evening packed with learning and laughter, community and connection, mindfulness and manifesting, trust and truth. This retreat helps you learn and practice game-changing tools to bolster these skills in a supportive, judgment-free community of women using fun and active improv exercises to help you gain courage to stand up and speak your truth while trusting that You Are Enough.  This THROUGH LAUGHTER retreat facilitates powerful learning experiences through easy-to-learn, non-performance improv training exercises. Most improv exercises are completed in a circle or pairs; participants are never forced to be “on stage.” Pam Victor's superpower is making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel successful and have a blast with the THROUGH LAUGHTER workshops. Throughout the retreat, you'll have opportunities for both private reflection and focused sharing of your experiences and knowledge in a positive, judgment-free community of women who are there to lift each other up. Let's grow stronger together! And let's do it all using the exclusive "F.U.C.K. I.T." approach to personal growth.   Healthy lunch provided by James Beard Award-Winning Chef Sanford D'Amato of Good Stock Farm, plus two complimentary tickets to the Speak Your Truth Comedy Show! This retreat is open to all who identify as women ages 21+. No improv (or other) experience necessary. More info and registration here. Youth Drama Programs taught by Becca Greene-Van Horn through LSSE in Amherst this Summer.  CURTAIN UP: SUMMER ACTING WORKSHOP. For ages 11-18+ (6-12 grade). August 7-11, 2-5:30. Do you love to act? Are you longing to feel more confident and comfortable on stage? Want to practice your acting skills and learn new ones? Improve your comfort with improvisation and physical theatre. Learn audition skills and methods to help manage audition anxiety and stage fright. For all levels of experience, and taught by former professional actress and experienced drama teacher, Becca Greene-Van Horn. The acting exercises, drama games and scene work are designed to encourage young actors to take creative risks, while increasing their improvisational comfort level and self-confidence. Participants will increase their listening and collaborative skills, as well as verbal and physical confidence on stage. Fort River School. To register, call LSSE: 413-259-3065 or to www.lsse.org  to register for summer drama programs. 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|*