Pioneer Valley Theatre News August 30, 2018

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser  August 30 - September 19, 2018 Well, school is back in session and mid-terms are upon us and fall is just around the corner. Ready to take your mind off of it all with some theatre? Maybe it's time to go audition for a play - there are lots of auditions listed below! The next issue will include events through September 26. 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 Audition Appointments Now Open: Call 413-259-3065 THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Economic Precarity and Resiliency in Theatre: an American Psalm by Caridad Svich From the article:  Mid-June, 2018. I am en route to Philadelphia for the closing performances of the second stop of the National New Play Network (NNPN) rolling world premiere of my play Red Bike with Simpatico Theatre. Concurrent with the run, Simpatico’s Artistic Director Allison Heishman has taken the bold stance of producing readings of three of the plays from my American Psalm seven-play cycle of which Red Bike is the first. She has playfully titled the three-day reading event “Svich Fest.” 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? In the Spotlight, Inc. Berkshire on Stage Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet PERFORMANCES Happier Valley Comedy presents The Ha-Ha's & Friends: Sea Tea Improv's Romantic Baby September 8 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater, 1 Mill Rd, Hadley, MA Longtime local favorites The Ha-Ha's perform a completely improvised comedy show on the second Saturday of every month! Each show has a new special guest - this month we welcome Romantic Baby from Sea Tea Improv in Hartford! Saturday, September 8th at 7pm at the new Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). And stick around after for the 9pm showcase and open improv jam! Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Springfield College presents Avner the Eccentric in Exceptions to Gravity Friday, September 14, 7:30 pm Appleton Auditorium, Fuller Arts Center I laughed for two solid hours. The show only lasted an hour and a half. —Joel Siegel,  ABC-TV  Avner Eisenberg in Exceptions to Gravity is a reminder of the theatrical power that can reside in a single charismatic performer who touches the heart. —Patriot Ledger Our scheduled presentation of Avner last March was cancelled due to a snow storm, so he’s back to perform for us this fall by meteorological demand! A master of the art of physical comedy, Avner the Eccentric weaves a spell of poetic simplicity in a show of hilarious predicaments. Avner has appeared on and off Broadway, and he played the endearing Holy Man, The Jewel, in the Michael Douglas film, The Jewel of the Nile. Avner’s show defies the barriers of language and culture and has toured extensively in the US and abroad. “If laughter really is the best medicine, Avner Eisenberg could easily cure everything that ails you. He’s a clown in the truest sense of the word...You’ve got to see it to believe it can be this much fun.”     Boston Metro “Here is what Avner the Eccentric does best: he reduces his audience to laughter and giggles and applause.”     New York Times Suggested Donation:  General Audience - $5.00     Students/Seniors/Children - FREE Workshop in Eccentric Performing and Audience Rapport Sept. 13 from 12:30 - 2:30 contact Martin Shell, mshell@springfieldcollege.edu Happier Valley Comedy Presents: Not In Charge September 15 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater, 1 Mill Rd, Hadley, MA Join the talented new group Not In Charge for a fast-paced, high-energy short form improv show! For a limited run on the third Saturday of each month. Saturday, September 15th at 7pm at the new Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). And stick around after for the 9pm showcase and open improv jam! Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center presents Gypsy Layne Cabaret & Co. September 15 at 9:00 PM Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, 289 Main St, Greenfield, MA 01301 Gypsy Layne Cabaret & Co. has been hailed by Take magazine as making “burlesque cool again," but this tantalizing crew of saucy ladies and jaunty gents is also red-hot! Gypsy Layne Cabaret & Co. is a coed troupe that has been captivating audiences for the past seven years with a unique blend of playful sexiness, cheeky comedy, live singing and dynamic dance routines. Gypsy Layne debuts at Hawks & Reed Perfoming Arts Center to tease their way into your hearts with their vivacious artistry and outrageous charmsin an unabashed celebration of inclusivity and body-positivity. Get ready for a breathless journey filled with sexy moves, hilarious hi-jinks, sultry surprises, and more glamour than you can shake a tassel at! Tickets “JOHNNY GUITAR” TO RING IN MAJESTIC THEATER'S 22nd EASON  Musical To Run September 6 Through October 21 The Majestic Theater celebrates the launch of its 22nd Season with the opening of “Johnny Guitar” on September 6. The madcap musical, by Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Martin Silvestri and Joel Higgins, is based on the legendary Joan Crawford cult Western from the 1950s. The play is a send-up of fifties-style acting, melodramatic romance, and rough and tumble cowboy action, set to a doo-wop/country ballad musical score. The story follows what happens to a sultry saloon keeper and her jealous nemesis when a handsome stranger rides into town. Screwball comedy reminiscent of a Mel Brooks spoof is the result. The cast includes Billy Clark Taylor (Johnny), Myka Plunkett (Vienna), Bethany Fitzgerald (Emma), Michael Morales (Dancin' Kid), Walter Mantani (McIvers), Joe Duda (Turkey), Michael King (Bart), Steven Sands (Eddie) and Michael Garcia (Sam). The play is being directed by Producing Director Danny Eaton, and Mitch Chakour is the music director. Greg Trochlil is set designer, Dawn McKay is costume designer and stage manager is Gary Lamagna.  Tickets for these shows range from $24-$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. Subscriptions are still being accepted for the five Season shows.For additional information, visit www.majestictheater.com. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Auditions for Ghost Light's final show of 2018, "Sex With Strangers." by Laurie Eason August 30 at 7:00 PM Gateway City Arts, 92-114 Race St. Holyoke, MA How far will you go to get what you want? Will you be the same person if you do? When twenty-something star sex blogger and memoirist Ethan tracks down his idol, the gifted but obscure forty-ish novelist Olivia, he finds they each crave what the other possesses. As attraction turns to sex, and they inch closer to getting what they want, both must confront the dark side of ambition and the trouble of reinventing oneself when the past is only a click away. Directed by Kevin Tracy CHARACTERS: OLIVIA: 39 and then 41. Smart, sexy, outwardly strong but covering some fragility. American but spent many years living abroad. ETHAN: 28 and then 30. Very charismatic, sexy, a fast talker, used to being the center of attention. From Chicago but has little to no accent. Performance dates: 11/9, 11/10, 11/15, 11/16, 11/17 @ 8pm 11/11 @ 2pm A selection of the script can be found here: https://www.dramatists.com/previews/5079.pdf Auditions will consist of cold reads. There may be a callback date. This play will not be appropriate for children. For questions contact kevinrt@kevinrt.com Facebook. Shakespeare Stage Auditions for 12th Night August 31 at 12:30  PM, September 1st, 1:30-4:45pm...September 5th, 3-5:45...September 7th, 4-7pm First three dates are at the Forbes Library in Northampton...September 7th at the Greenfield public library Auditions For 12th Night  Bring a headshot and resume, prepare a classical monologue ( comedic preferred) 18 years or older AUDITIONS for the WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL this fall at Smith College MOONLIGHT ON THE MISKATONIC Music & Lyrics by Clifton J. Noble Book by Samantha Noble Directed by Ellen W. Kaplan Auditions are Saturday, September 8, 2-5 PM and 7-10 PM in Acting Studio 1, and Tuesday, September 11, 7-10 PM in Acting Studio 1. Auditions times and details are subject to change.  Callbacks will be Wednesday, September 12, 7-10 PM in Theatre 14.  No appointment necessary. Auditions will be first come, first served. Please sign in upon arrival. Please come in clothes you can move in, and warm up to sing before you arrive. Actors with special skills encouraged to audition. Performances will be October 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 7:30 PM in Theatre 14. For Singing Audition: 16 bars of prepared audition song with sheet music in your key.  Actors interested in being considered for the following roles should also be prepare to sing music from the show: For principal roles (other than Peaslee): please learn 16 measures of One Last Grand Adventure from Act I (music and accompaniment available soon)  For Peaslee: EITHER some kind of prepared patter song (G&S) OR 16 bars of Peaslee's Song from Act I (music and accompaniment available soon) For Acting Audition:  Sides from the script will be provided. Perusal scripts will be available for 3-hour checkout from Josten Library. Available Roles: SEDGE, SARAH, ELLIOTT, and TOBY FOUR principal women's (or treble/any gender) roles all of whom can be mezzo-soprano, with some leaning higher or lower than others  PEASLEE preferably male and tenor or high baritone DEAN PIERCE  any gender ARCHIVIST  non speaking non singing role any gender CHORUS 10 or more - any voice part multiple ensemble roles, singing and non singing. Facebook event. Questions? Send an email to artsinfo@smith.edu Greenfield Community College Auditions for Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN September 10 and 11, 4-7 pm GCC's Sloan Theater, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA Facebook.   Auditions for Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater's upcoming production of Peter Pan are September 14-16! Audition appointments can be made via phone at 413-259-3065. Auditions are at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst. The production will be an exciting and inclusive take on the classic story of Peter Pan. The show goes up in Bowker Auditorium at UMass Amherst in January 2019. Cast size will be about 60. Auditions are open to anyone age 7-107 (no performing experience required). Folks of all genders, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientations are encouraged to audition. Visit www.alsct.org/auditions for more information (including an audition FAQ) and email producer@alsct.org with any questions. Request for Proposals Eggtooth Productions Radical Interconnectedness Festival Turners Falls, MA April 26, 27, 2019 We are seeking proposals from artists to address the concerns of marginalized communities.   We invite stories that engage issues of race, age, gender, religion, economic class, and those aspects of cultural identity that have been suppressed.   We seek a wide range of artistic expression: music, dance, theatrical, visual, immersive, installation.   Commission fee will be $500 and Eggtooth will provide the venue, the audience, and promotions for the work.   Email proposals to: lmciner@gmail.com Deadline is October 31, 2018 WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Starlight Youth Theatre Acting Classes Maple Ridge Community Center, 659 Amherst Rd (Rt 116), Sunderland, MA SATURDAY CLASSES Storybook Theatre – Grades K-1st Storybook Theater is a perfect way to introduce the young actor to the magical world of theater. Actors will begin work on imagination as they play games, role play characters, act out emotions and expressions all while creating wonderful characters from their favorite stories. On the last day of class, we will present and original adaptation of of Where the Wild Things Are. Saturdays – 9:00-9:45, Tuition $75 Beginning Sept. 8 – till Presentation on Nov. 3 Directed by Sara Holmes Actor’s Tool Box – Grades 2 nd -3rd Once the student actor has some experience on stage, they need to fill their tool box with skills such as how to develop a character, including how that character walks, talks, thinks and feels. During classes students will use these tools to devise and perform in their original adaption of  “Pinocchio” Saturdays- 9:00-9:50, tuition – $145 Beginning Sept 8- till show Nov. 3 Directed by Cyn Strycharz Lights Up Grades – Grades 4-5 th With a focus on the performance they will learn about timing, pace and finding moments within the play as they use these new skills to create their original adaption of “Alice in Wonderland”. Saturdays-10:00- 11:00, tuition $145 – Beginning Sept. 8- till show Nov. 10 Directed by Cyn Strycharz Play Production– Grades 6-7 th This class will focus on character development and the decisions the actor makes to bring this character to life.  The cast will be involved in multiple areas of the production such as costumes, props and set design and painting.   They will be presenting “Robin Hood”, Saturdays 10:30-11:30, tuition $145 – Beginning Sept. 8- till show Nov 10 Directed by Liam Bertrand Act Two – Grades 8-9 Moving beyond character development student actors will explore how to act and react on stage and work collaboratively with their ensemble. They will present the classical favorite “A Christmas Carol” Saturdays 11:00-12:00, tuition $145 – Beginning Sept 8- show Dec. 1 Directed by Cyn Strycharz Fifth Beat Grades 10-12 The fifth beat is an opportunity for the student actor to internalize their character work and now breathe new life and energy into their character as they bring it alive on stage. This is an advanced Acting Class that will be performing Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Saturdays 12:00-1:15, tuition $150 – Beginning Sept. 8 till show December 15th, 7pm – Directed by Cyn Strycharz MONDAY CLASSES Playacting – Grades 1-2 This is a beginning class that focuses on building imagination. This class, using theater games and improvisational scenes, allows the young actor to explore and expand their creativity. 3:45- 4:30 Beginning Sept 10-Nov 5, Tuition $75 – Directed by Cyn Strycharz Act One – Grades 3-6 Students will explore improvisation, stage movement and the physicality of their characters. Using skits and you finish scenes this class will focus on identifying and strengthening their acting skills. They will present their adaption of “The Wizard of Oz” (nonmusical). 4:30-5:30, Sept 10- Show on Nov 12, Tuition $145 – Directed by Cyn Strycharz More information.  Acting is a creative discipline that can be a exciting journey of self-discovery. Through its practice we can gain tools and techniques that can be used to create truthful moments on the stage. These techniques are available to anyone at any time of life. It is separate from talent. Talent is simply one's innate gift and that is something out of your control. Technique is fully within your control. Whether you have career aspirations on the stage or screen, seek to gain confidence speaking in public, or would just like to feel more present and connected to those around you, take action and register today for an acting class.      Acting For Non-Actors Class begins Monday, September 17 [eight weekly sessions] or Scene Study Intensive Class begins Wednesday, September 5 [ten weekly sessions] Enrollment is limited.    Acting for Non-Actors (18+ or instructor permission) Scene Study Intensive (18+ or instructor permission)    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)   Mondays, 5:15-7:15 p.m.   Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street  September 17 - November 12 (no class October 8) 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 a solid base of fundamental acting techniques that may 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 September 5 - November 14    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. Based on the enrollment, we'll work together to establish our focus and work together on a final class project.   Submit your workshop or class or audition or performance or job or any other theatre opportunity here! 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 Starlight's Youth Theatre, Inc. TheatreTruck Turbulent Times Theater Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players 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|*