Pioneer Valley Theatre News October 26, 2017

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser  October 26 - November 15, 2017 Creature performs at Smith College for three more shows this weekend. It's an intriguing story about a woman who wanted to become a saint in 1401. She also happens to be a real historical figure, and the author of the first autobiography.  Don't forget to send me YOUR event if you don't see it here: all listings are by submission. Just click the button below to fill out the submission form.  The next issue will include events through November 22. 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 THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Safe to Act: How to Respond to Sexual Harrassment in the Theatre Community by Jim Markus From the article:  Chicago's comedy scene received some much-needed scrutiny when the Tribunepublished an article admonishing the iO Theater's initial response to sexual harassment claims. The issues came to light on social media, when several improvisers shared their experiences about aggressive scene partners and inappropriate advances from instructors. News sites picked up the story from there, and many women spoke publically about their experiences. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Smith College Department of Theatre presents CREATURE by Heidi Schreck directed by Isabelle Brown October 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 PM in Theatre 14 Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts  122 Green Street, Northampton, MA   After being pestered by devils for more than half a year, Margery Kempe – new mother, mayor's daughter, and proprietress of a highly profitable beer business – is liberated from her torment by a vision of Jesus Christ in purple robes.  Visions are hard to come by, even in 1401. Should we trust the new Margery, with her fasting and her weeping and her chastity fixation, or burn her with the other heretics? Can a woman of insatiable appetites just up and audition for sainthood?  Playwright and OBIE-winning actor Heidi Schreck conjures a collision of contemporary and medieval imaginations: a very funny, a little bit scary new play about faith and its messengers. $10 General, $5 Students/Seniors, Free for Smith Students Buy tickets online or call 413-585-3220   Exit 7 Players present The Addams Family - a New Musical Comedy 10/27, 10/28, 11/3, 11/4 at 8PM; 10/22, 10/29 & 11/5 at 2PM Exit 7 Players Theatre, 37 Chestnut Street, Ludlow, MA The Addams Family - America's darkest family, comes to life in this hilarious original musical about love, family, honesty and growing up. The Chicago Sun-Times had this to say about the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award-winning adaptation - "Note to Broadway (and not for the first time): If you want to see how to make a musical really snap into place — how to connect with an audience in that uncanny way that is so crucial for success, how to delineate characters so that we cannot help but cheer for them, and how to turn every production number into a giddy explosion of song and dance — pay a visit..." to the Addams Family Musical. In the upside-down world of the Addams Family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family creates the focus Lippa, Brickman, and Elice’s musical: the Addams kids are growing up. The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan, would be only too happy to continue living that way. Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wednesday, however, is now an eighteen year-old young woman who is ready for a life of her own. She has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal, respectable Ohio family — the most un-Addams sounding person one could be! And to make matters worse, she has invited the Beinekes to their home for dinner. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. The Saturday October 28 and Sunday October 29 performances will be ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted. For those audience members who will be needing the interpreters they should sit on the left side of the house (section 3) if at all possible. Tickets UMass Theater presents Runaways Music, lyrics, and book by Elizabeth Swados Directed by Lou Moreno, artistic director of New York City's INTAR Theatre Nov. 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. School matinee Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.   The authentic and diverse experiences of homeless youth come alive on our stage through the characters in Elizabeth Swados' Runaways, running Nov. 1-11 at UMass Theater. The authentic and diverse experiences of homeless youth come alive on our stage through the characters in Elizabeth Swados' Runaways, running Nov. 1-11 at UMass Theater.  Shaping these stories into theater that is truthful and sensitive to the issue of youth homelessness, which is central to Runaways, is guest director Lou Moreno. He brings to bear his professional credentials as a director and as artistic director of New York City's INTAR Theatre, as well as his experience working with homeless LGBTQ youth. He's motivated by a desire to portray these tossed away youths as real people who often fade into the background of our everyday lives.   Interviews with homeless youth in New York City formed the basis of Swados's musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1978 featuring some of those very same homeless youth. And as our artists tackled the play in 2017 at UMass, they quickly found that the stories are compelling and relevant in our time and place.  The diverse cast, which includes community members as well as actors-in-training at UMass Theater, has come together as an ensemble to bring truth to characters who are by turns energetic, angry, joyful, and wounded as they tell of their experiences in a society that stereotypes, disrespects, or dismisses them. What happens to them, they want you to realize, happens not only in big cities but in smaller towns and even on this campus. $5 students/seniors, $15 general admission Visit the Fine Arts Center Box Office in person, online, or by calling 1-800-999-UMAS The Majestic Theater presents Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley November 2 through December 10 The Majestic, West Springfield The story is set in Hazelhurst, Mississippi in 1974, and focuses on the gathering of the three Magrath sisters; Lenny, Meg and Babe. The trio has come together at the home of their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in a local hospital. Lenny, the eldest sister, is unmarried and facing few prospects. Meg, the middle sister, has had an unsuccessful attempt to launch a singing career in California, and Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her abusive husband. Joining them are their cousin Chick, an old boyfriend of Meg's named Doc, and Barnette, an awkward young lawyer attempting to keep Babe out of jail. As one critic put it, "It's a play with heart, wit, and zany passion."   Cast members include Emily Bloch (Lenny), Suzanne Ankrum (Meg), Katie Sloan (Babe), Dan Whelton (Doc), Josiah Durham (Barnette) and Elizaeth Drevits (Chick). The play is directed by Cate Damon, and producing director is Danny Eaton. Set designer is Greg Trochlil, Dawn McKay is costume designer and lighting designer is Dan Rist. Stephen Petit is production stage manager. Ticket for the play range from $23-$30 and are now available by calling or visiting the box office during its hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 1pm. Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts presents SISTER ACT the Musical Friday, November 3 @ 7pm - Saturday, November 4 @ 7pm - Sunday, November 5 @ 2pm Greenfield High School, 21 Barr Avenue, Greenfield, MA  This hilarious and joyful musical, based on the hit Whoopi Goldberg film with book by Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning duo Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, follows Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look - a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. This sparkling musical comedy was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and features original music by Tony Award and 8-time Oscar Award winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Broadway’s Glen Slater. The New York Post called Sister Act “ridiculously fun,” and audiences around the world have jumped to their feet in total agreement. Don’t miss the heavenly musical comedy of the season SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL. PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR OR ONLINE Valley Light Opera presents My Fair Lady November 3, 4, 10, 11 at 7:30 PM November 5 and 12 at 2:00 PM Academy of Music, Northampton In a brand-new, glittering and richly imagined production, Valley Light Opera brings Lerner & Loewe’s classic musical My Fair Lady to the Academy of Music in Northampton November 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th at 7:30 and November 5th and 12th at 2:00PM. Nearly everyone knows the story – based on Shaw’s Pygmalion – of Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl transformed into a grand lady by the eccentric Professor Henry Higgins. But the VLO gives this old favorite a new dimension, continuing its tradition of looking deeply into the hearts of its characters and bringing them vibrantly to life as complex and fascinating human beings. Since opening 61 years ago, My Fair Lady has been beloved not only for its deliciously witty lyrics and enchanting music – including tender ballads, hilarious monologues, a racetrack Gavotte and boisterous barroom numbers – but also for the visual delights of the Edwardian period with swanky ballrooms, top hats, and sweeping gowns contrasting with colorful pubs and seedy street life. The show critics called “wise, witty, and winning . . . a miraculous musical” has only gained in stature over time. In today’s world, its grand themes have special resonance: the clash of cultures, the relations between men and women, class resentments – and the power of love to bridge all gaps. Valley Light Opera will be performing My Fair Lady as a fully-staged and orchestrated production, complete with the sumptuous costumes and splendid sets for which the company is renowned.  Artistic Director: Drew Gilbert Music Director: Michael Greenebaum Choreographer: Nicole Newell Presented by Arrangement with Tams-Witmark.  Valley Light Opera  Facebook Tickets online or contact the Academy of Music Box Office at 413-584-9032 Greenfield Community College/Theater Department presents OTHER DESERT CITIES Nov 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 and Sunday Matinee Nov 5 at 2pm Greenfield Community College, One College Ave, Greenfield MA 01301 About the play, OTHER DESERT CITIES by Jon Robin Baitz, Directed by Tom Geha: This riveting and humorous play was nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for Best Play and was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize.  In this searing comedy-drama, young writer Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs to celebrate Christmas with her famous and politically-connected parents, brother and aunt. When she announces her plans to publish a tell-it-all memoir of crucial events in the family’s past, she brings to light old wounds, family secrets, scandal, and intrigue. Tickets Here. St. Michael's Players presents Seussical the Musical November 9,10, 11 at 7PM; November 12 at 2 PM St Michael's Community Center, 53 Somers Rd, East Longmeadow MA Join Horton, the Cat in the Hat, the Whos and other beloved Dr. Seuss characters as St. Michael's Players presents Seussical the Musical! More info here. Amherst College Theater presents PEER GYNT November 9, 10, 11 at 8:00 PM Kirby Theater  The Theater and Dance Department is proud to present a contemporary adaptation of Peer Gynt, an early play of the renowned Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen. Directed by Assistant Professor Yagil Eliraz, written by Yagil Eliraz, Joshua Wren '14 and the company. This play is a phantasmagorical journey that spans over the lifetime of Peer, a young, dreamy and ambitious man who sets out on a quest to find his true self. From the mountains of Norway to the desert of Egypt, from encountering trolls, to riding a moose, to sailing across the ocean, the audience accompanies Peer in his adventurous journey. Peer wants to fulfill himself, find his self and define who he really is while remaining loyal only to his desires and goals. Peer is the personification of our age—one in which individualism often comes at the expense of solidarity, camaraderie and social consciousness. By joining his journey around the world, we ask ourselves, What is the cost of the obsessive search after our true Self? Tickets are free and open to the public. Reservations recommended (413) 542-2277. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Pioneer Valley Theatre Companies Is your theatre company missing? Email me! Academy of Music Theatre Arena Civic Theatre Black Cat Theater Chester Theatre Company The Country Players Eggtooth Productions Exit 7 Players Ghost Light Theater Hampshire Shakespeare Company Happier Valley Comedy Ko Theater Works/Ko Festival of Performance Majestic Theater New Century Theatre PaintBox Theatre Pauline Productions Real Live Theatre Red Thread Theater Serious Play Theatre Ensemble Silverthorne Theater Smith College Department of Theatre St. Michael's Players TheatreTruck Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players Do you love fairytales? Do you enjoy being in the woods? If yes, then UMass MFA Dramaturgy graduate student Claudia Nolan’s thesis Play in the Woods is the perfect fit for you! She is looking for people of all backgrounds to create short pieces—monologues, dances, songs, etc.—about the role that fairytales play in their lives. No performance experience is necessary.       Over the next few months, Claudia will work with you individually to create your piece. The performance will take place on May 5, 2018 in the Amethyst Brook conservation area in Amherst, MA.      If you are interested in learning more, please contact Claudia at clnolan@umass.edu by Friday, October 27. An informal first meeting with all participants will be scheduled within the next few weeks. Auditions for THE WOLVES By Sarah DeLappe Directed by Daniel Kramer  Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals.  Auditions: Sunday and Tuesday, November 5 and 7, 7-10 PM  Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, Mendenhall Center, Smith College.  Call backs on Wednesday, November 8, 7-10 pm Performances: February 23, 24, March 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 PM;  Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, Mendenhall Center, Smith College. Casting Breakdown: 10 Women. Audition Prep: No preparation necessary. Sides will be provided from the script. Contacts/Questions: artsinfo@smith.edu Scripts: Perusal scripts available in Josten Library, Mendenhall Center, Smith College Eggtooth Productions is presenting a holiday variety show at the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls, MA upon the theme of COMMUNION. noun 1. the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. Would you like to submit a 10 minute offering that could be a part of our show?  We provide the venue, the promotion, the tech, and any support (within reason) you might need to perform your piece. It could be theater, music, dance, circus arts, poetry, really anything that lasts under ten minutes and can be experienced upon a stage. Be creative!   Proposals due by November 15, 2017. Email Linda McInerney with your idea! 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.  Hampshire Shakespeare Company is currently seeking a Production Manager, a Fundraising Director, and a Publicist for the 2018 Summer season of “Shakespeare Under the Stars,” which will include the adult productions of Othello and Twelfth Night and the Young Company production to follow. Please see the website for more information on how to apply! WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Submit your workshop or class here! 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|*