Pioneer Valley Theatre News November 16, 2017

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser  November 16 - December 6, 2017 Remeber to scroll all the way down to see all the job opportunities, workshops, and classes coming up! The next issue will include events through December 13. 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 Will Future Storytelling Include Live Theatre? by Jonathan Mandell From the article:  Will the future of storytelling include what we now consider theatre? That’s what I was wondering when I took the Staten Island Ferry to attend this year’s Future of StoryTelling Festival in New York, an annual TED-like long weekend with hundreds of exhibits, performances, panels, and talks largely focusing on the intersection of art and cutting-edge technology. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Holyoke Community College Theater Department Presents "Rhinoceros" by Eugene Ionesco Thursday, November 16 at 7:30pm, Friday, November 17 at 7:30pm, Saturday, November 18 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm HCC Leslie Phillps Theater, Fine and Performing Arts Building, 2nd Floor, Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue Holyoke MA 01040. PARKING IN LOT F. A small town is besieged by one roaring citizen who becomes a rhinoceros and proceeds to trample the social order. As more citizens are transformed into rhinoceroses, the trampling becomes overwhelming, and more and more citizens become rhinoceroses. One sane man, Berenger, remains unable to change his form and identity. The sublime is confused with the ridiculous in this savage commentary on the human condition, a staple of every theatre classroom and 20th century drama. Directed by HCC Theater Professor Tim Cochran Set and Lighting Design by Matthew Whiton Costume Design by Rich Vaden Sound and Projection Design by Deb McIntosh Technical Director Steve Bailey ADMISSION: $10 general, $8 students and seniors, $5 HCC community. Tickets available at the box office. Door opens at 7:00pm Facebook event Black Cat Theater presents Nunsense II: The second coming November 16, 17, 18 at 7:00 PM, November 19 at 2:0 PM South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street, South Hadley This show could easily be subtitled “the rest of the story.” The sequel to the international hit musical NUNSENSE takes place approximately six weeks after the first “benefit performance.” The same five nuns are back on stage at Mt. Saint Helen’s School for what is billed as a “Thank You Program” for their supporters. You will also meet Sister Julia, the cook, and some of the Sisters who are teachers, as well as part of the Mt. Saint Helen's student body. Since their first time out was such a success, they have decided that they should stick to their successful variety show formula. This time they are forced to work around the set dressing of “The Mikado” which is being presented the following week by the Hoboken Music Society on the Mt. Saint Helen’s stage. Tickets for Open Seating: $15 General Admission, $12 Senior/Students Military/Veterans/First Responders -- FREE Scouts in uniform, accompanied by an adult, FREE with a donation of a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry. Reservations: email or leave a message 413-563-6023 Springfield College presents Gnit By Will Eno PRESENTED BY SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE THEATER DIRECTED BY MARTIN SHELL November 16-19 THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY, 8 P.M.; SUNDAY, 2 P.M. APPLETON AUDITORIUM, FULLER ARTS CENTER Watch closely as Peter Gnit, a funny enough, but so-so specimen of humanity, makes a lifetime of bad decisions on the search for his true self. This is a rollicking and very cautionary tale about, among other things, how the opposite of love is laziness. It tells the story of a womanizer’s search for love, an underachiever’s quest to be emperor, and a liar’s hunt for the truth. Gnit is a faithful, unfaithful, and willfully American version of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, a classic Norwegian play that is famous for all the wrong reasons. Suggested donation: $5; students and seniors: $2 The Majestic Theater presents Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley November 16 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. The Shea and Piti Theatre Present: Sammy and the Grand Buffet Sammy and the Grand Buffet engaged children and had them up on their feet dancing and participating. A great take for young kids and families alike. - Danielle Olsen, Producer, Summer in the City, Cambridge "Mirin is a performer with energy to burn." -  nytheatre.com Two time Independent Reviewer of New England Award nominated solo performer Jonathan Mirin of Piti Theatre Co. brings his new clown solo to the Shea! An American Clown in Paris, Sammy has to prepare his boss's restaurant for the evenings Grand Buffet. He does his best to follow the list of instructions but . . . its not easy being Sammy. Forty magic, music and happy accident-filled minutes later, the Grand Buffet will be served by our hero to an unusually adventurous group of children travelling abroad. Buy Tickets. The Academy of Music presents EINSTEIN! written and performed by Jack Fry November 18, 2017 Voted a "Best Performance"  at the 2016 New York City Fringe Festival. Based on a treasure trove of personal letters, files, and records released by Hebrew University in 2007, Fry's bioplay examines the early life in Berlin of the world's most famous physicist, as he struggles with his Nobel Prize-winning theory, the devastation of World War I, his deteriorating marriage, and regrets over his estrangement from from his son.  https://www.aomtheatre.com/event/einstein-by-jack-fry/ Silverthorne Theater Company presents YOUR VOICE, POET Saturday, November 25 at 8 pm The Bing Arts Center, located at 716 Sumner Avenue, Springfield Sunday, November 26 at 3 pm  The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, 289 Main Street, Greenfield. There is no admission charge. Refreshments will be provided free of charge. FREE Community Arts event features a performance of YOUR VOICE, POET, by Haitian-American playwright Jean Dany Joachim. Winner of Silverthorne Theater's 2016 Playwrights of Color competition will be performed by members of NYC's Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble. Performance followed by extended facilitated discussion of the function of the arts in a dysfunctional world. Supported in part by a grant from MassHumanities. www.silverthornetheater.org UMass Theater Department presents QUEER & NOW: A Lip Sync Spectacular December 1 at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, December 2 at 7:00 PM UMass French Hall, Room 102 QUEER & NOW: A Lip Sync Spectacular is a new theatrical event that fuses the forms of drag, lip sync, and ensemble-based physical theater. Conceived by director Garrett Sager in response to the increased anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in American culture, QUEER & NOW disrupts oppressive narratives through the celebration of queerness as an act of radical dissent. Free admission -- reserve your tickets TODAY! This event was made possible (in part) by a grant from the UMass Arts Council. Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents PULSE December 1 and 2 at 8:00 PM The Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376 Direct from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scottish actress and musician Mairi Campbell performs her critically acclaimed one-woman show! A tale of growth, discovery, and passion, this performance tells Campbell's own story, her search for her musical "pulse."  "Not many musicians could hope to fill a theatre with a one-woman experimental musical about their own lives. But Mairi Campbell’s new show 'Pulse' in which she acts, sings, plays the fiddle and dances the story of her own musical coming of age has been selected to represent the best of Scottish musical culture at the prestigious Showcase event at Celtic Connections in January 2016." -Jackie Kemp/ journalist  "Pulse" is a part of Serious Play Theatre Ensemble's new Perspectives Through Performance Initiative, a program of performance exchange with theatre artists from the U.K., particularly Edinburgh.  Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and students, and $20 at the door. Reservations are strongly recommended! Tickets available here. UMass New Play Lab Snowflakes by Dustin Chinn: Dec. 1, 2, 7 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Unconditional by Tatiana Rodriguez: Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 8 at 7:30 p.m. Attrition by Nicholas Cummings: Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Director/Dramaturg Teams:  Gabriel Harrell and Gaven Trinidad, Kim Euell and Judyie Al-Bilali The Curtain Theater, Fine Arts Center Dustin Chinn has spent time developing plays across the nation, from Washington D.C., to the Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York, A.C.T. in San Francisco, and most recently at The Ground Floor Summer Lab Intensive at Berkeley Rep. His work is edgy and humorous. Chinn doesn’t shy away from political discourses on race and representation in the United States. In his futuristic political satire Snowflakes or Rare White People, Chinn explores conversations around whiteness through the lenses of people of color in the 23rd century United States.  Attrition, by student Nicholas Cummings '19, delves into the complicated friendship between two working class men at three vastly different stages in their lives. Cummings explores the complexities and multiple dimensions of love. Audience members will see how these two men’s lives are intertwined through the performances of six different actors who will perform the two characters throughout the play. Tatiana Maria Rodriguez '19 presents her play Unconditional, a drama about the experiences of a circle of college-aged friends caught in abusive relationships. Rodriguez explores how even in the most tumultuous experiences in one’s life, love and support can always be found. Rodriguez is also an author of other plays. A presentation of her short play “The Difference” was enthusiastically received at the Five College Word! Festival last Spring. Her play was the only one selected to represent UMASS. $5 per play students/seniors, $15 for a choice of 2 plays for general admission Visit the Fine Arts Center Box Office in person, online, or by calling 1-800-999-UMAS  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 Smith College Vagina Monologues Auditions November 16 4:30-7:00 and November 18 1:00-3:00  TV Studio in Mendenhall CPA Come audition for The Vagina Monologues at Smith College! Auditions are on Nov. 16 from 4:30-7 and Nov. 18 from 1-3 in the TV Studio in Mendenhall, Smith’s theater building.  Performances are February 16 and 17. 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! Office Manager/Programs Coordinator Needed for Innovative Improv Company Would you like to make a living facilitating laughter and joy? Happier Valley Comedy is a small, nonprofit company in Western Massachusetts in search of a sharp Office Manager/Programs Coordinator. Happier Valley Comedy’s mission is to bring more laughter and joy to Western Massachusetts by providing regular improv comedy shows, a full-curriculum improv school, and personal/professional training programs. If you are psyched about doing the administrative work, logistics and program coordination necessary to maintain a small non-profit then this may be the job for you. If, in addition to running the day-to-day activities, you are excited about the opportunity to help a small company grow via fundraising, marketing and grant-writing, then this may be your dream job. Presently, Happier Valley Comedy is run exclusively by its founder, who needs someone who has strong office management skills and an interest in learning new skills. The position has a lot of growth potential and would be a super exciting job for someone interested in getting in on the ground floor of an improv company with an extremely supportive, enthusiastic, and burgeoning cliental community. The position is paid hourly for up to 40 hours/week - flexible hours and potential for remote work. The pay is $18/hour. Desired skills: ●  Demonstration of strong office management skills ●  Experience coordinating and administering logistics for events/classes/workshops ●  Strong communication skills, including writing ●  Proficient in online and social media communication tools, such as: Google Drive, Excel/Google Sheets, Google Calendar, Brown Paper Tickets, MailChimp, Weebly, Canva, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. ●  Managing payroll process and analyzing big picture financial plans Desired attributes: ●  Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of independent prioritized task management with minimal supervision ●  A quick learner and self-starter with an interest in the arts and a commitment to help grow the business ●  While sales, marketing, and/or grant-writing experience is a bonus, more important are an interest and aptitude to learn independently through experience and become skilled in these areas. The company president is willing to provide training and experience for the right individual ●  Positive, helpful attitude in interactions with clients ●  Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree preferred Key Duties and Responsibilities : Administrative/Office Management Duties: Independent, crackerjack organizing of office operations and procedures. Correspond with clients and staff in a positive, supportive way. Design images for programs. Update website. Self-directed design and implement of office policies by establishing standards and procedures; measuring results against standards; making necessary adjustments. Logistics/Coordination : Manage and administer registration, logistics, and running of 6+ weekly classes, workshops, retreats and special events throughout the year. Organize and manage annual schedule of classes in conjunction with president, staff, and teachers. Liaison with staff and clients. Provide contracting and other paperwork for teachers and clients. Assist with show production duties (booking guests, space rental, organizing volunteers.) Sales and Marketing: Create and enact traditional and unique publicity and marketing strategies to promote class, shows, and training programs as well as grow client base. Draft eye-catching, weekly newsletters, press releases and social media posts. Solicit sponsors and carry out fulfillment of sponsors’ agreements. Financial Oversight: Prepare payroll. Coordinate with bookkeeper to analyze financials (draft P&Ls) in order to create beneficial financial strategies. Grant-writing preferred. Interested parties should review www.happiervalley.com . Send cover letter and CV to: Pam Victor, pam@happiervalley.com . The Center Dance Studio is seeking a costume designer for our upcoming production of A 21st Century Nutcracker. Specifically, we need to hire someone to design/sew costumes for our Battle Scene, which features a horde of mice, a Mouse Queen and the Nutcracker himself. This person should be skilled in the art of constructing costumes that can be danced in! Cast size for Battle Scene is about 10 dancers. Our show is Saturday, December 16th. Dress Rehearsal is Sunday, December 10th. The Center Dance Studio is located in Amherst, MA. We are in our 4th year of operation. A 21st Century Nutcracker is in its 2nd year of production. We would love to develop an ongoing relationship with a local costume designer, as we forsee many productions in our future! This article featured in The Hampshire Gazette last year gives a good overview of the production. To learn more about our studio, visit www.thecenterdance.com To discuss details, please contact Ashley Carlisle at thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com OR call 413-230-1944. We look forward to meeting you!   WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Starlight's Youth Theatre presents Spring Musical Registration Workshop Sunday, November 19 at 1:00 PM Maple Ridge Community Center, 659 Amherst Rd (Rt 116), Sunderland, MA This Sunday, November 19th, we are kicking off our Spring programming with a registration day at Maple Ridge Community Center. Get to know your director and cast members by learning some music and movement from the show.  Lion King Jr Grades 1-6, 1pm-1:45pm Starlight Express Grades 7-12, 2pm-3pm Register to reserve your spot with a $50 deposit and pick up materials at the workshop so you can go home and start listening to these amazing musicals! For more info about cost, rehearsals and performances visit our website. More info. Submit your workshop or class here! 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