Pioneer Valley Theatre News April 12, 2018

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser  April 12 - May 2, 2018 Don't have lunch plans for today yet? Come check out he play reading at Smith at noon - and there is another one on April 19 if you can't make it this week. The next issue will include events through May 9. 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 *Annotated* Taming Saturday, April 21 at 7:00 PM / Northampton Center for the Arts Tickets THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Shifting the Leadership Paradigm: the Berkshire Leadership Summit and Beyond by Sara Brookner, Akiba Abaka, Rachel L. Fink, Kristen van Ginhoven, Stephen Shafer Mazow From the article:  A direct response to the report presented at the Women’s Leadership Conference in San Francisco at American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in August 2016, the inaugural two-day Berkshire Leadership Summit (BLS) in October 2017 brought together around a hundred participants from across the United States and Canada who either aspire to or already hold positions of leadership in theatre. Beginning with the application questions, throughout the weekend, and still months later, my own BLS experience was simultaneously exhilarating, challenging, heartening, frustrating, galvanizing…but mostly thought provoking. You can find the keynote and plenary sessions archived on HowlRound TV to see for yourself. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com Want to know even more about events in the Pioneer Valley and beyond, including reviews, interviews, and previews? Check out In the Spotlight, Inc. PERFORMANCES Smith College Department of Theatre New Play Reading Series presents SMALL PIECES FOR ONE OR TWO Thursday, April 12 at 12:00 PM Acting Studio 1 Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Smith College.  A few simple stories performed with movement and words. Written by Mary Beth Brooker, MFA ‘20. Free and open to the public. Silverthorne presents Tar2f! An irreverent Musical Comedy April 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 pm and April 15 at 2 pm Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, 289 Main Street, Greenfield Back in the 1600s, the celebrated playwright Molière was unapologetically critical of excesses and hypocrisies of French society, so much so that performances of his plays were frequently shut down! Northampton composer and lyricist Jeff Olmsted knew that the classic Molière comedy Tartuffe was the perfect vehicle for his own musical jab at our turbulent times. In this farcical face-off between love and greed, credulity and cynicism, we've added a framing device that parallels the crisis within the play, leading to a surprise climax. Peter Ludwig* plays the title role of Tartuffe, a skilled con-man who, oozing fake piety, worms his way into the confidence (and household) of the wealthy Parisian Orgon (Sam Samuels*) and his mother, Mme Pernelle (Louise Krieger). Orgon’s wife Elmire (Myka Plunkett) soon discovers the scoundrel’s real intentions toward her and her daughter Mariane (Grace Olmsted) whose plans to marry her sweetheart Valere (Steven Williams) are disrupted by her father. Other characters such as Orgon’s son Damis (Rich Vaden) and Elmire’s brother Cleante (Ted Trobaugh) and the family’s maid Dorine (Linda Tardif) try to penetrate Orgon’s stubborn trust in Tartuffe who proceeds to bring the family to near-ruin until a last minute royal pardon arrives. Thom Griffen plays Molière in this version. Chris Rohmann directs, and Ted Trobaugh is Music Director, with Lee Edelman on keyboards. Tickets for this production are $25 general admission; $20 students/seniors. Discount tickets for Silverthorne Theater shows are available at the World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield and Broadside Books in Northampton.. Tickets may be purchased online at Eventbrite.com or on our website. For questions and further information a  silverthornetheater@gmail.com, or call 413-768-7514. Silverthorne Theater Company is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization founded in 2014. Our mission is to bring excellence of performance to adventurous drama, combining the best of the theatrical repertoire while also promoting unheard voices and underserved populations. Penny Arcade: Longing Lasts Longer Thursday, April 12 at 8pm Doors open at 7:30pm Power House, Amherst College   Amherst College welcomes legendary downtown New York writer, performance artist, actress and international icon of artistic resistance Penny Arcade for her internationally acclaimed Longing Lasts Longer. In this thought-provoking and subversively funny solo performance piece, Arcade offers a fierce, visionary and ultimately hopeful critique of gentrification—not just of cities and neighborhoods, but of the mind and culture.   Tickets are free! Reservations strongly encouraged.   Recommended for mature audiences.   "Penny Arcade has got to be the smartest, most quotable party in town ! Audacious and irresistible! " –The London Times "Penny Arcade combines the anarchy of Lenny Bruce with the pathos of Judy Garland. She is provocative, intellectually stimulating, perceptive and hilariously funny." –The List, UK   Full website with ticket info Facebook event MAJESTIC THEATER PRESENTING GUYS AND DOLLS APRIL 12 – MAY 27 Majestic Theater, West Springfield Written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls tells the story of gambler Nathan Detroit who is searching for a spot for his illegal floating crap game while being pursued by police Lieutenant Brannigan. The one likely spot left is the Biltmore Garage, but Nathan has to come up with $1,000 as a security deposit, so he turns to his friend Sky Masterson and proposes a bet he cannot lose; Sky has to convince prim missionary Sarah Brown to have dinner with him...in Havana. One of the world's most beloved musicals, Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 1,200 performances, earning the Tony Award for Best Musical. It was inspired by two short stories by acclaimed writer Damon Runyon. According to Producing Director Danny Eaton, "Out of the old Broadway musicals, Guys and Dolls has long been my favorite. Those Damon Runyan characters, as obvious as they are, still manage to find their way into our hearts and when you leave the theater afterward you leave with a smile and humming a tune." Cast members include Buzz Roddy (Nathan Detroit), Bill Clark Taylor (Sky Masterson), Julia Suriano (Sarah Brown), Annie Kerins (Miss Adelaide), Stuart Gamble (Arvid Abernathy), Michael Morales (Harry the Horse), Jack Neary (Nicely Nicely Johnson), Margie Secora (Matilda Cartwright), Michael Garcia (Benny Southstreet) and Robert Clark (Big Julie). The play is being directed by Rand Foerster, and Mitch Chakour is music director. Set design is by Greg Trochlil and Dawn McKay is costume designer. Dan Rist is lighting designer, Justin LeTellier is sound designer and Stacy Ashley is choregrapher. Stephen Petit is production stage manager, assistant stage manager is Cate Damon, and Aurora Ferraro is associate production manager. Ticket for the play range from $26-$33 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. For additional information, visit www.majestictheater.com. Ghost Light Theater presents TRUE WEST April 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 at 8:00 PM Gateway City Arts, 92-114 Race St. Holyoke, MA Ghost Light Theater opens its 2018 season with the Pulitzer nominated True West by Sam Shepard. The play runs from April 13th to April 21st at Gateway City Arts Center in Holyoke, MA. Set in the kitchen of their mother's home 40 miles east of Los Angeles, True West is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter, and his older brother Lee. Austin is house-sitting while their mother is in Alaska, and there he is confronted by his brother, who proceeds to bully his way into staying at the house and using Austin's car. In addition, the screenplay which Austin is pitching to his connection in Hollywood  somehow gets taken over by the pushy con-man tactics of Lee, and the brothers find themselves forced to cooperate in the creation of a story that will make or break both their lives. In the process, the conflict between the brothers creates a heated situation in which their roles as successful family man and nomadic drifter are somehow reversed, and each man finds himself admitting that he had somehow always wished he were in the other's shoes. "I wanted to write a play about double nature, one that wouldn't be symbolic or metaphorical or any of that stuff. I just wanted to give a taste of what it feels like to be two-sided. It's a real thing, double nature. I think we're split in a much more devastating way than psychology can ever reveal. It's not so cute. Not some little thing we can get over. It's something we've got to live with." - Sam Shepard The play is directed by Megan Healey with technical direction by Kevin Tracy and Ana Steiner. Lee and Austin will be played by Greg Mahoney and Joshua Mason, Ghost Light alums. They will be swapping roles over the two weekends of performances.  Saul Kimmer will be played by Dominic Baird Mom will be played by Sue Boyle Dziura Evening shows are $12, matinees are $8 and can be purchased online. Please see our page at facebook.com/ghostlightmass. Eggtooth Productions with Turners Falls River Culture presents: Full Disclosure Festival on the theme of Radical Interconnectedness Downtown Turners Falls supported by the Amherst and Montague branches of the Mass Cultural Council and sponsored by Salon Herdis. April 14 2018 from 4 pm til 10 pm. Tickets $15 available online or at the Shea on the day of. Featuring: THE PASS, a new performance work by Terry Jenoure for violin, voice, komongo, piano, and flute with dance and video. Through the allegory of a canary disguising himself as a cat, THE PASS looks at the ways we all pass for something other than what we truly are and the cost of that deception. With poetry and prose written by Jenoure, improvisational maps for flute, piano, violin and komongo weave together with movement, song, and video to tell a surprising story we all know. The work is a reunion of artists from around the world who have worked with Jenoure on the stage: Sibylle Pomorin, Angelica Sanchez, Maria Mitchell, and Jin Hi Kim. All are coming together at the Shea Theatre for a one-night performance at 8 pm.  THE PASS, at 8:00 pm at the Shea Theatre, is the highlight of a one day Full Disclosure Festival in downtown Turners Falls with the theme of Radical Interconnectedness. Five offerings all based on the theme of the ways we are connected to one another will be shared in storefronts and underutilized buildings all in walking distance in downtown Turners Falls. A $15 ticket gets you into everything!  4:00 pm  from Walt, from me, to You at the Discovery Center at 2 Avenue A 5:00 pm  Hygge House at 69 2nd Avenue 6:00 pm  Hauling Toward Home at the Senior Center at 62 5th St 7:00 pm  Karl and Mr. Drag at the Great Falls Harvest at 50 3rd St 8:00 pm  the premiere of THE PASS at the Shea Theatre at 71 Ave. A 4:00 pm – from Walt, from me, to You, Katherine Adler at the Discovery Center from Walt, from me, to You is an exploration of the universality and depth in the eloquent and inspirational words of one of America's most revered poets, Walt Whitman. This interpretation of "Leaves of Grass" seeks to promote inward scrutiny and interpersonal empathy. Within the Full Disclosure Festival and the theme of Radical Interconectedness, "from Walt" transcends place and time, inviting the audience to read between the lines and discover how to "weave the song of [one]self". text by Walt Whitman compiled and performed by Katherine Adler  5:00 pm – Hygge House, Crystal Nilsson 69 2nd Avenue.  We are interested in collaborating to create a multimedia duet based on the visual artist Roy Lichtenstein’s drowning girl work. Through a cartoonish/pop-art aesthetic, we seek to explore archetypal gender relationships from the 50s and 60s. By deconstructing the superficiality of the stepford wife performance, we hope to uncover the hypocrisy of learned behaviors that follow strict gender guidelines in our society. From a contemporary standpoint, we believe that this exploration provides us a foundation from which we can make commentary on our evolving digital lives: how do our digital versions of ourselves mirror our fragile self-images and the fragile confines that we create for men and women in society? How can we subvert these archetypes in order to actually drive home deeply feminist and anti-patriarchal messages? Crystal Nilsson (CLMA, MFA, RSME) is a choreographer, performing artist, and dance educator. She holds an MFA in Dance from Smith College and a BS in Dance Performance from Ball State University. She is a certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst and a Registered Somatic Movement Educator.  Crystal was previously the director of Dance at Deerfield Academy and Adjunct Professor at Springfield College and Smith College. She performs with NilsSprung Dance Project, Reject Dance Theatre, and Lori Holmes Clark & Co. She is currently working as Managing Director of FINE (tree) HOUSE with Lori Holmes Clark.  6:00 pm – Hauling Toward Home, Samantha Wood at the Senior Center Hauling Toward Home is Samantha Wood’s sound installation with rocking chairs explores the definition of home through the human voice – place and story – embodied in the dual metaphor of the rocking chair, which, perhaps soothing, is also the motion and effort born of necessity rowing across dark seas to reach a familiar harbor. Samantha Wood is an artist and journalist. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and works at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where she is managing editor for news. 7:00 pm – Karl and Mr. Drag at the Great Falls Harvest Mr Drag has been entertaining the masses for centuries...ummm years. Mr. Drag's origins are slightly obscured in a vodka soaked past. Amongst his worldly travels he encountered many characters but none tugged at his heart strings such as the poor street urchin Karl. Mr. Drag took him in and Karl has been his " trusted" assistant and earnest companion ever since.  Join Mr. Drag and Karl for their new talk show Morning Vodka. Grab a drink and sit down in the audience or be interviewed (if you're lucky). Mr. Drag and Karl will bring their spectacle, talent their all-you-can-drink martini buffet (guests ineligible for buffet) with them.  Karl is played by Katherine Adler. Katherine Adler is a movement artist living in Northampton. Other alter egos include Bob Dylan and Walt Whitman. Joe Dulude II is best known as the makeup designer for such Broadway hits as Wicked, Beautiful, Anastasia and Spongebob. He is also a freelance makeup artist, a fine artist and performer. He graces the stage as Mr. Drag - his bearded drag manifestation. 8:00 pm – the premiere of THE PASS at the Shea Theatre by Terry Jenoure. Artists in THE PASS: Terry Jenoure (Northfield, MA) is an American violinist, singer, composer and visual artist. She grew up in a Puerto Rican-Jamaican family in the Bronx Jenoure received from the age of seven music lessons. She studied Philosophy (Bachelor) and Education (Master, Doctorate). In addition, she is a doll maker. Jenoure appeared in 1987 with the band of Leroy Jenkins at the Moers Festival. The collaboration with Sibylle Pomorin led to the album Auguries of Speed (1991) and to further performances and the performance of recent compositions (most recently in 2006 in Berlin with Herb Robertson and Kim Clarke). She has also featured musicians such as Henry Threadgill, Archie Shepp, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Butch Morris, John Carter and Elliott Sharpplayed or recorded. In Germany she also performed her program "Josephine Baker - A Celebration of Life in Stages" with dancer Maria Mitchell. In 2004, she was the first to receive the stipend from on-site in Wuppertal as Artist in Residence. Together with the Helios string quartet and Sebastian Gramss, she recorded the CD "Looks Like Me" released in May 2006 on the label Free Elephant. She taught at Lesley University in the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences and runs the Augusta Savage Gallery at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Jenoure has published a book and numerous articles on improvisation and its value in music education. She also advised the National Endowment for the Arts, the Purple Wallace Readers Digest Fund, the Ford Foundation, and the Connecticut Commission on Arts and Tourism. Happier Valley Comedy presents Happier Valley Comedy Show Saturday, April 14 at 8:00 PM Northampton Center for the Arts Downstairs Studio 33 Hawley Street, Northampton All-new monthly improv comedy show! This month features The Ha-Ha’s and special guest performers Pat and Misch Break Up, Saturday, April 14th at 8pm at the Northampton Center for the Arts in the Arts Trust Building (33 Hawley St., Northampton, downstairs entrance). Tickets: $13 at the door. For more info. Happier Valley Comedy presents More Improv, More Better Improv Jam & Showcase Saturday, April 14 at 10:00 PM Northampton Center for the Arts Downstairs Studio 33 Hawley Street, Northampton Open improv jam for everyone and anyone to play and watch improv games, plus a showcase set featuring up-and-coming improv team Not In Charge. Saturday, April 14th at 10pm at the Northampton Center for the Arts in the Arts Trust Building (33 Hawley St., Northampton, downstairs entrance.) Suggested donation: $3-5. For more info.   Happier Valley Comedy presents We Made a Thing: a Tiny Audience Show every Monday (except April 30) at 9:00 PM Northampton Senior Center We Made a Thing, a tiny audience show: Super casual, weekly improvised theater show every Monday at 9pm (except March 12, March 26 and April 2) at 67 Conz Street, Northampton. Free. More info.   UMass Amherst presents The Lily's Revenge: A Flowergory Manifold April 18, 20, 26, 27 at 6:30 p.m. April 21, 28, & 29 at 1 p.m. Beginning in the Curtain Theater, and traveling to other spaces in the department. Lights, sequins, FLOWERS! The Lily's Revenge is not just a play, it's an extravaganza. You are cordially invited to the glorious finale of the UMass Amherst Theater 2017-18 season.  Mark the joyous occasion of the first­-ever university production of this extraordinary multi­media, multi­-genre spectacle by queer New York performance artist Taylor Mac (McArthur Genius Fellow 2017, Pulitzer Prize Finalist 2017). Running April 18­ to 29, the play is a bold allegory for the struggles and celebrations of LGBTQIA+ communities in contemporary American politics and invites audiences of all backgrounds to participate in radical acts of compassion and empathy. "At its core, The Lily's Revenge is a play about community, courage, authenticity, and expanding perceptions of love--all ideas which feel necessary and hopeful at this time," says Jen Onopa, the graduate student who is directing this production.  The Lily's Revenge follows a torch-singing anthropomorphic lily flower who falls in love with a human bride. Desperate to marry the Bride, the Lily embarks on a hero’s quest to transform into a human man, but comes to realize that this might not be the only path to life-long happiness. The production is a kaleidoscopic somersault in 5 parts, taking the audience from musical theater to spoken word to drag performance, as the Lily explores humanity, love, and self­-discovery in the pursuit of becoming a fully-realized being. Along the way, the Lily meets other flowers, battles a nefarious curtain, and enters a high stakes world of haiku battles — while rocking a killer costume that would make any kween proud. The Lily's Revenge moves through different spaces in the Department of Theater over the course of a run time akin to the span of a wedding reception. Just as a wedding physically moves from ceremonial space to reception hall to after­party, audiences will do so too! Between these stages, audiences are offered opportunities to participate in a parade, to interact with characters, and to ask questions about the production during the intermissions. “What drew me to the play is its unapologetic celebration of life,” says dramaturg Gaven D. Trinidad, “And what better way to end a wonderful theatrical season than an inclusive party of a show!” This production is above all an expression of joy and happiness that welcomes audiences into a vibrant community. Everyone’s invited! $5 per play students/seniors, $15 general admission We accept credit cards and Ucards at the door For tickets, visit the Fine Arts Center Box Office in person, online, or by calling 1-800-999-UMAS Smith College Department of Theatre New Play Reading Series presents HAY, READ THIS! by Jan Morris April 19 at 12:00 PM Acting Studio 1 Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts a one-woman musical comedy drama written, directed, and performed by Jan Morris AC  A book (or show?) on what love is and what it ain't. Free and open to the public.   Pauline Productions presents Wayward Home: A Musical Folktale April 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM 1st Congregational Church, Ashfield, MA Inspired by Noah's Ark and migration stories, WAYWARD HOME is a musical folktale about a family forced to begin again. Through original music and fantastical storytelling, an international trio of performers untangles a universal tale of love, loss, and rebirth, and delve into the question "How do we keep going when the world turns upside down? An international troupe of three actors play all the roles, accompany themselves on musical instruments and found objects (bells, typewriters, jars of water and more!) live on-stage.  This touring company has presented this inspired work across the country. Don't miss it! For ages 12 and up. Tickets. Mount Holyoke College Rooke Theatre presents A Midsummer Night's Dream Apr. 19, 2018 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Apr. 20, 2018 7:30 pm – 9:30 pmApr. 21, 2018 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Apr. 22, 2018 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Rooke Theatre, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA "The course of true love never did run smooth." Join us for an evening of lovers' quarrels, mystical machination, adventures in the wilderness--all topped with a heavy dose of fairy dust! One of Shakespeare's most enduring comedies will be an evening of laughter and love for all to enjoy. More Info. NHS Theater presents NATURAL SHOCKS April 20 at 7:00 PM Northampton High School NHS Theater is hosting a staged reading of Lauren Gunderson's new play "Natural Shocks" on Friday, April 20, at 7:00 pm in the Northampton High School Auditorium. This will be one of many readings performed nationwide on that date as part of the national campaign of theater activism against gun violence.   The evening will include musical theater performances by students from the Northampton High School and Amherst Regional High School theater programs, under the direction of composer Jenny Giering.  Jenny is writing a new song for the play in collaboration with Lauren Gunderson, and has invited students to rehearse and perform musical theater numbers with her, inspired by this play and the campaign against gun violence. More info. Smith College Department of Theatre presents MEN ON BOATS by Jaclyn Backhaus directed by Tara Franklin April 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 PM  Theatre 14 Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Smith College Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. MEN ON BOATS is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. April 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 PM in Theatre 14. $10 General, $5 Students/Seniors, FREE for Smith Students. Smith students can reserve a ticket by emailing: boxoffice@smith.edu PaintBox Theatre presents THE BOX April 20 at 1:00 PM  April 21 at 11:00 AM The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art PaintBox Theatre presents the world premiere of The Box based on the picture book by Kevin O’Malley. A young boy receives a large cardboard box and, with the help of his parents, he transforms the box into a rocket ship, travels to another planet, and meets aliens. Join PaintBox for this exciting journey! Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Museum Admissions Desk or by calling 413-559-6336. Happier Valley Comedy presents Happier FAMILY Comedy Show Saturday, April 21 at 3:00 PM The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Happier FAMILY Comedy Show: Monthly family-friendly improv comedy show, best for 5-12 year olds and their adults. Saturday, April 21st at 3-4pm at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (125 W Bay Rd., Amherst). Tickets at the door: $10/Adults, $5/Kids, Free/4 yrs and under (Reduced admission for museum members). For more info. Real Live Theatre presents The *Annotated* Taming: Or, Out of the Saddle, Into the Dirt   Adapted from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and directed by Toby Vera Bercovici Music and lyrics by Old Flame (Emma Ayres and Sam Perry) Saturday, April 21st at 7 PM Northampton Center for the Arts 33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA 01375 Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew tells the story of Katherina Minola, a fiercely independent young woman held in captivity by her father until a husband can be secured. Enter Petruchio, a man who has come to town to “wive it wealthily.” He is enticed by Katherina’s dowry and inspired by the challenge of taming a woman who is, by all accounts, a “shrew.” This play has been a hotbed of controversy for its nearly 450 years of production history. There has arisen a collective desire to prove that Shakespeare must have written the play in jest, rather than as a moralistic tale intended to put women in their place.  No matter the original intention, The *Annotated* Taming takes a look at the play in the context of the contemporary political and cultural landscape, most specifically as it relates to the treatment of women. It also brings to the script a brand-new character, the radical annotator The Librarian, as well as songs written by Western Massachusetts-based duo Old Flame. Tickets. Three Fundraising Performances for: Serious Play / Edinburgh Fringe Performance Exchange An international exchange of compelling performances. Taking work of inspiring Valley performers to the Fringe festival every August, and bringing back bold and authentic work for local audiences. When & Where: Friday April 27, 8PM, Shea Theater in Turners Falls Saturday May 12, 8PM, Gateway City Arts in Holyoke & Friday June 1 st, 8PM, Hallie Flanagan Theater, Smith College in Northampton Tickets: In advance at www.brownpapertickets.com ($15 Seniors & Students / $18 General Public, $20 at the door ) Time: Each show is 50 mins with an intermission in between Additional information: email or call 413-588-7439 Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents the two shows going to the August 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival:  John Sheldon’s The Red Guitar directed by Sheryl Stoodley A virtuoso guitarist, a red Stratocaster, a life in sound In 2016, The Red Guitar struck the right chord in Scotland, earning a coveted 5-star review with The Herald’s highly respected music reviewer Rob Adams and has been invited to return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August. His candy apple red Fender Stratocaster in hand, John takes us on a trip, careening through the rise of guitar music in the nuclear age, from Folk through Blues and Rock, to a vision of the future in which the past is vibrantly alive, a heartfelt yet unsentimental performance. Just when you think you are seeing a deconstruction of popular music, you sense something else taking place, a quickening, an awakening of senses long lost, a reclaiming of sounds you thought were consigned to history. Something unexpected is being made right in front of you, a sound loop sculpture plucking chords of your memory. John, a master guitarist who played lead in Van Morrison's band at the age of 17, wrote songs for James Taylor, unknowingly drew praise from Jimi Hendrix, and whom Ed Ward of National Public Radio called "One of the great guitarists of our time," uses a unique blend of storytelling, unearthly sounds, and wicked, layered guitar licks, to send us zipping through the folds of time and space, emerging into the light of a simple, transformative melody. John's ironclad belief in the power of sound pervades the whole performance, the conviction that music is not just entertainment, but a soul saving enterprise, worthy of the lifelong commitment he has made to it. His technical skill never overwhelms the story, the poignant, the humorous, the moments of connection, of illumination. The journey continues, setting a course to the center of who we truly are: vibration. In the same evening, Serious Play also presents: DO IT NOW: Manual Override directed by Sheryl Stoodley Three master artists collaborating with a mutual message for change Danger!! Danger!! Systems are being corrupted or broken. A crash surely lies ahead. No time to waste. We must take back control! Do It Now. Manual Override. Pulling the controls together are John Sheldon on electric guitar, Tony Vacca on all things percussion, and Paul Richmond’s beguiling William S. Burroughs-like spoken word. The trio takes on anything from the mundane envy for a neighbor’s dog to nuclear power posturing to interracial tension, turning them into poetic flashes of text that erupt from a hotbed of music. Non-verbal communications on stage, based in trust and intuition between masters at their craft, creates theatrical moments with authentic music interwoven with Richmond’s text. An evening of food for the mind as well as the soul. Smith College Department of Theatre presents Spring Studio Productions May 2, 3, 17, 18 at 7:30 PM in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts Smith College MOTHERING HER MEMORIES written and directed by Zoe Rose Kriegler-Wenk ‘18 Linnea and her daughter Heather must navigate a notable shift in their relationship when the progression of Linnea’s Alzheimer’s prompts Heather to take on a maternal role. RED BIKE by Caridad Svich directed by Marty Bongfeldt AC ‘19 featuring Alana Young ‘18 What kind of future will you have living in these here United States? Remember when you were eleven years old and you had a bike, one that made you dream about a world bigger than the one in which you live? This is that memory. Except it is now. Free and open to the public, no reservations 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 Ja'Duke Center for the Performing Arts 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 Turbulent Times Theater Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players AUDITIONS FOR THE WIZARD OF OZ Black Cat Theater, South Hadley’s Community Theater, is seeking actors/actresses for their fall production of The Wizard of Oz directed by Dawn Larder with Dick Matteson as Music Director. This multi-generational stage version of the show, first presented in London in 1987, follows the famous motion picture closely and provides quite a bit of work for the ensemble and small groups of singers.  Auditions, open to all genders ages 10 and up, will be held on Saturday, April 21 at 10 am and Tuesday, April 24 at 6 pm in Kidder Hall, All Saints Church, 7 Woodbridge Street, South Hadley. Each named role will have a specific song they will be asked to sing from the show and there will also be short readings from the script. Those auditioning for the Ensemble will also be asked to sing specific songs chosen from the show’s song list.  All those auditioning will have piano accompaniment provided. No a cappella or music accompaniment please. For character list and song list see www.blackcattheater.pbworks.com, the Black Cat Facebook page, or email blackcattheater@gmail.com. Candidates under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. All applicants should bring a short write-up of previous theater experience with them. The Wizard of Oz is expected to be produced at South Hadley High School in mid-November. Rehearsals are primarily on Monday and Thursday evenings (with occasional Wednesdays) starting September 10th. If unavailable to be seen in person, please call 413-563-6023 or email blackcattheater@gmail.com. As a community theater, Black Cat Theater is always looking for people who would enjoy working “behind the scenes,” assisting with costumes, props, set construction and painting, and other tasks associated with producing a show.  If interested, please call 413-563-6023 or email blackcattheater@gmail.com. AUDITIONS APRIL 21 & 28 FOR CHILDREN'S THEATER AT MAJESTIC THEATER Auditions are currently being booked from 10am – 6pm on April 21 & 28 for parts in this summer's lineup of Majestic Children's Theater at West Springfield's Majestic Theater. Performers aged 14-19 are encouraged to call the theater at (413) 747-7797 during business hours (Monday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-1pm) to schedule an appointment. They will be asked to read scenes during their audition. Performing a monologue (not to exceed one minute in length) and singing are encouraged, but not required. If singing at the audition, performers may bring an instrumental CD to accompany themselves. Shows being performed on a rotating schedule this July and August are “James and the Giant Peach,” “Through the Looking Glass...and What Alice Found There” and “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Tickets can be purchased by calling (413) 747-7797. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Acting Classes Classes are held at the Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street in Northampton, MA. To register, send an email to Sam Rush (srush@newcenturytheatre.org) or call/text 413-626-3238 to hold a spot. You can click on this link to download a registration form. Acting for Non-Actors - Instructor, Sam Rush   Ages 18 and up (or by instructor permission)   Tuesdays, 5:15-7:15 p.m.   Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street  April 23 - May 22  Course Description: The perfect course if you have never taken an acting class before but have always wanted to try or had a class once way back when and want to try again. With NCT Producing Director Sam Rush, you'll have a chance to explore your inner ham in a fun, relaxed and supportive environment. Using improvisation, text and original source material, you'll learn fundamental acting techniques that may just serve you the rest of your life - on stage or off.   Scene Study Intensive - Instructor, Sam Rush Ages 18 and up (or by instructor permission)  Wednesdays, 5:15-7:15 p.m.  Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street   April 24 - May 23    Course Description:  This class is for actors with previous experience and for students who have taken the Acting for Non-Actors course and wish to continue their study of the actor's craft. We'll start right away with scene study work and exercises that support the rehearsal process. J-ART in partnership with Phantom Sheep Productions LaughCrafters: Comedy Improv class- Spring 2018 session April 30 at 7:00 PM - Mondays for 6 weeks Springfield Jewish Community Center Phantom Sheep Production is proud to offer another session of improv classes for adults and teens 15+ at the Springfield JCC.  All levels welcome and challenged at own pace. Sharpen quick thinking and build confidence! Unleash creativity and characters! Enjoy the power of collaboration! Relax and laugh! (a lot)! Taught in a very fun, encouraging, and constructive atmosphere. Fee: $86 for all 6 weeks. improv@phantomsheep.com for more info and to register. Facebook event. Also coming this June- improv summer camp for grades 3-9! Registration begins now! Contact sstutman@springfieldjcc.org for more info. MAKE LEARNING WITH REAL LIVE THEATRE THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR SUMMER! We are psyched to launch five brand new summer workshops for theatre makers of all backgrounds, interests, and levels of experience. All workshops are led by RLT members and educators and will take place at the North Star Building on Route 116 in Sunderland, MA. Join us for any or all of these fabulous afternoons - discounts are available for those interested in more than one! Saturday July 21st 1-4 PM: Theater Making with a Conscience with Ellen Morbyrne Saturday July 28th 1-4 PM: Rooting and Rising: Cultivating Community and Championing the Creative Spirit with Angelica Polk and Julissa Rodriguez Saturday August 4th 1-4 PM: The Art of the Director with Toby Vera Bercovici Saturday August 11th 12-4 PM: Choreographing Intimacy with Toby Vera Bercovici and Ellen Morbyrne Saturday August 25th 1-4 PM: Instigating Hope and Change Through Theater with Ezekiel Baskin and Trenda Loftin CLICK HERE for more information on each workshop, our educators, and how to register! Feel free to email reallivetheatre@gmail.com with any questions. 3 unique workshops as part of the 27th Annual KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE, held each summer on the beautiful Amherst College campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. Join us for one or more of our 6-day intensives, led by expert teachers, who are adept at gearing their classes for multiple levels of experience.  July 9 - 14, 2018 SOUND AND FURY An Embodied Approach to Voice, Text & Sound Design for the Theatre with RICHARD NEWMAN, Co-Artistic Director of The Hinterlands (Detroit) July 16 - 21, 2018 FIRST PERSON: Crafting Your Story for Performance with Gerard Stropnicky, Co-Founder Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble (PA) July 30 - August 4, 2018 THEATRE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT with Helen Stoltzfus of Black Swan Arts & Media (San Francisco) All classes meet from 10 am - 4 pm on the Amherst College campus. More information. Submit your workshop or class or audition or performance or job or any other theatre opportunity here! 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