Pioneer Valley Theatre News January 9, 2020

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser January 9 - 29, 2019 Check out the listing for A Skull in Connemara for a discount for newsletter subscribers! Make sure to scroll all the way down the newsletter for listings about a Capital Campaign position with CitySpace and a brand new space opening in Greenfield. So much exciting stuff happening in our community! The next issue will include events through February 5. 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 Tickets Available Here and More Info Below YOUR EVENT HERE $5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing! Email me to reserve your dates. THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Translating the Bard by Loren Noveck From the article:  Lue Morgan Douthit, longtime director of literary development at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), commissioned a translation of Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens into contemporary modern English in the fall of 2015, beginning OSF’s Play On! project. With the Bard still continuously the most-produced playwright in America, one purpose of the project was to ask why so many companies produce Shakespeare year after year after year. “What are we saying when we say, Here’s this writer who’s ‘universal’?” Douthit asks. “Because some of these plays are hugely problematic. Are we just saying, Well, it’s a reflection of that time and, gee, we’re not that bad now? We’re re-upping every year, and what are we re-upping?” Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Google Calendar Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet PERFORMANCES FINAL 3 PERFORMANCES A SKULL IN CONNEMARA by Martin McDonagh Performed by No Theater The past 7 shows have sold out, but we've "hidden" 10 discount tickets for each of the final 3 shows that readers of the Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter can access by going to https://skull.bpt.me and clicking on "Enter a Password or Discount Code" and typing in SKULL10 or SKULL 15 and clicking on "Show Available Tickets" to purchase $10 or $15 tickets. A SKULL IN CONNEMARA by Martin McDonagh performed by no theater A dark comedy by the writer/director of "In Bruges" and the Academy Award winning film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" Performed by No Theater veterans Roy Faudree, Charles Holt, Jane Karakula and Tom Mahnken, the play takes place in McDonagh’s fictional rural West Ireland small town where people “smile at you ‘til you’re a mile away before they start talking behind your back."   A.P.E. Gallery, 126 Main Street, Northampton, MA No Theater, the resident theater of A.P.E., takes its time working on its original scripts and productions of the published works of playwrights.  No Theater presented three separate local productions of Richard Maxwell's CAVEMAN over a period of three years before its New York run in 2013.  2018's google gogol was the result of members of the community reading several translations and adaptations of Nikolai Gogol's Ревизор (THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR) for a year.       A SKULL IN CONNEMARA is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.                 A SKULL IN CONNEMARA was first presented as a Druid Theatre Company and Royal Court Theatre co-production in Galway, Ireland and then in London in the summer of 1997.  "Mr. McDonagh's great strength is that he combines a love of traditional story-telling with the savage ironic humour of the modern generation....  In A SKULL IN CONNEMARA, a gravedigger, whose job is to disinter the bones of seven-year-old corpses and smash them to a pulp, is hotly suspected of killing his wife."  THE GUARDIAN Based in Northampton, No Theater has been presenting their new original experimental works in Western Massachusetts and around the world since 1972, alongside innovative productions of plays by such diverse writers as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Čapek, Kroetz, Gogol, Williams, Albee, Berkman, Maceda, Mullin, McDonald, and Maxwell.   House opens at 7:30pm.  Performance starts promptly at 8:00pm.  No late seating.   Running time approximately 90 minutes. Last 3 performances, Thursday/Friday/Saturday, January 9/10/11, 2020. Purchase tickets: https://skull.bpt.me “DEATHTRAP” SET FOR JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 16 AT MAJESTIC THEATER The latest production in the Majestic Theater's 23rd Season is “Deathtrap,” which runs January 9 through February 16, according to Producing Director Danny Eaton. The classic comedy/thriller by Ira Levin follows the story of Sidney Bruhl, a formerly successful playwright now low on money and inspiration. A play written by a student, Clifford Anderson, arrives and Sidney is certain it will be a hit, even joking to his wife that he may have to kill the young man and steal his script. Sidney invites Cliff over to work on the play, which is also titled “Deathtrap,” then learns there are no other copies of the play in existence. To the horror of his wife, Sidney appears to choke Cliff to death and drag him off to bury him, but are things as they seem? Levin's play is described as an ingenious and spellbinding thriller, both sinister and hilarious. The cast includes Ron Komora, Krista Lucas, Jack Grigoli, Lisa Abend and Walter Mantani. Danny Eaton is producing director. The director is Robbie Simpson, set design is by Greg Trochlil, Dawn McKay is costume designer and the lighting design is by Dan Rist. Stephen Petit is production stage manager. Ticket prices range from $24 to $31 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (413) 747-7797 or visiting while the box office is open (Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 1pm). Pauline Productions Thea Co. presenting NOW written and performed by TAMIR Jan 10 and 11 at 7:30, Jan 12 at 2:00 First Congregational Church of Ashfield, MA Synopsis NOW is TAMIR’s personal story of growing up in Israel, the daughter of Zionists, in a culture of guns and grenades with war at home and in the streets.  After attempting suicide with her clunky service rifle, she “came to” in a hospital.  Against all odds, she had lived. NOW depicts an inner emotional landscape and the healing that came through faith and theatre--especially the plays and words of Shakespeare.  Professional actress TAMIR, who is now in her 60’s, takes the audience on a journey from the fragmentation and overwhelm of trauma to being present in the NOW. This brave and timely piece is a universal cry for meaning and peace. This is the official premier of this play that has been in development at Shakespeare and Co. and other theatres. “I see this play being done all over the world.  TAMIR fills the stage with her incandescence.”--Arthur Giron, playwright (Edith Stein, Broadway) and founder of Ensemble Studio Theatre. “I continue to have many beautiful images and powerful words in my mind from seeing Now. TAMIR's presence as an artist onstage is mesmerizing”--Kristin van Ginhoven, Artistic Director WAM Theatre Tickets. Improvised Mockumentary  January 11th at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)    A new limited run show inspired by The Office and Christopher Guest films! Saturday, January 11th at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Completely Ridiculous Productions presents Cooking with Kathryn January 11 at 7:00 PM The Northampton Center for The Arts Follow a down-home, liquored-up southern belle as she stumbles her way to her own birthday party with more wine in her veins than Jesus. Kathryn rewards her party guests with an easy-peasy egg-bake cooking demo… the problem is, she can’t even see straight, much less teach a cooking lesson.  The PortFringe review team called Cooking with Kathryn, “A no-fear comedy, this show is a must see,” as well as “Furious, gratuitous, and moving" and maybe "the best show...at PortFringe.” A digital series of Cooking with Kathryn is in post-production and will debut in Spring 2020. Tickets here. Kate Owens: NYC-based, award-winning comedy actor, writer, and professionally trained clown Kate Owens’s dark comedy Cooking with Kathryn has played throughout NY (LadyFest, Solocom, The PIT, The Tank, Dixon Place, The Shitshow, Personality Test) as well as at the PortFringe Festival (Critics Choice for Best Acting) and Los Angeles (Moving Arts Theatre). Known for her commitment to characters & fearless comedy style, Kate has toured her clown work in Brighton, England and Prague, Czech Republic. Her sketch team, GROUP KID, performs bi-monthly at The PIT and recently headlined at the Chicago Sketchfest. In addition to comedy, Kate spent a year as an apprentice at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and has worked with Live Source Theatre Company in NY. More info at: www.kate-owens.com PIONEER VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS MUSIC SHOWCASE “WE CAME TO PLAY” COMES TO MAJESTIC THEATER JANUARY 14 The Majestic Theater will welcome students from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (PVPA) Charter Public School for “We Came to Play,” a concert set for January 14 at 7:00 p.m. Sixty students will perform in the concert, including members from the PVPA's Rock ensemble (vocalists and instrumentalists), Jazz ensemble (vocalists and instrumentalists), Pop R&B ensemble (vocalists and instrumentalists), and acapella ensemble (just vocalists). These four ensembles are audition-based and feature students in grades 9-12. "This upcoming showcase is shaping up to be a high energy, dynamic performance,” said Charlotte Donovan, enrollment and communications coordinator for the PVPA. “Our music department supplies spectacular training and emphasizes the importance of offering students the chance to perform for audiences outside the classroom. We strive to provide the skills needed for students to sustain their craft as they continue on as artists after high school.” She continued, “This is what makes PVPA unique; access to professional artistic training and performance opportunities in the context of a highly supportive academic environment. For any student who is seeking an active community of peers and educators, is a lover of the arts looking for a chance to gain and deepen skills in their craft, and is looking to push themselves both inside and outside of the classroom, PVPA could be the place for them.” Ticket prices for the concert are $20 for adults, $10 for students (ages 13-18)/seniors/veterans, and $5 for children 12 and under attending with family. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Majestic Theater Box at (413) 747-7797. Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater (ALSCT) presents Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical! Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 pm (general admission); Friday, January 17 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 pm (matinee); Sunday, January 19 at 1:00 pm (matinee); Thursday, January 23 at 7:30 pm; Friday, January 24 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, January 25 at 1:00 pm (matinee); Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 pm; Sunday, January 26 at 1:00 pm (matinee) Bowker Auditorium, Stockbridge Hall, UMass This Tony Award-winning musical, based on the novel by the "brilliantly batty" Roald Dahl, is a wild ride for the whole family with singing, dancing, sweet and sinister school teachers, and plenty of revolting children! Presented with lavish sets and costumes and a full live orchestra in Bowker Auditorium, Umass, nine performances will run January 16-19 and January 23-26, 2020. For tickets, call LSSE at (413) 259-3065 or visit www.alsct.org Tickets Storytelling Standup Showcase January 17th at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)    Catch new talent trying out their latest material, hosted by the amazing Kelsey Flynn! Friday, January 17th at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $5 at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Queer & Now: Sync or Swim Friday, January 17th & Saturday, January 18th. Doors 7:30PM, Show 8:00PM The Perch at Hawks and Reed Tickets: Sliding scale $10-$25 After Party in The Wheelhouse Saturday at 10PM Our borders are shifting. Our bodies are transforming. Set in a world where water is rapidly rising and borders are massively disintegrating, Queer & Now: Sync or Swim follows seven mythical deities overcoming struggles rooted in rampant sexism, corporate greed, and climate change. Told through a series of vignettes with drag, lip syncing, and dance, Queer & Now: Sync or Swim takes ancient world mythology and fuses it with contemporary pop music to embrace our impending future. Facebook event wearequeerandnow.com The Happier FAMILY Comedy Show January 18th at 3:00 PM Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 W Bay Rd, Amherst, MA   Monthly family-friendly improv comedy show, great for 5-13 year olds and their adults. It's funny for the whole family! Saturday, January 18th at 3pm 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: www.happiervalley.com. HVC Presents: Not In Charge!  January 18th at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)    Join the talented group Not In Charge for a polished, fast-paced improv show inspired by true stories from the cast and audience! Saturday, January 18th at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. Ja'Duke Theater presents To Kill A Mockingbird 1/18 @ 7:00, 1/19 @ 2:00, 1/24 @7:00, 1/25 @ 7:00, 1/26 @ 2:00 Ja'Duke Theater, 110 Industrial Blvd, Turners Falls MA TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, the stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, comes to the new theater at the Ja’Duke center for the performing arts. Ja’Duke is pleased to present the literary classic, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Under the direction of Michael Glazier, who is pleased to lend his talents to Harper Lee’s celebrated novel. The play chronicles the social and racial inequalities of the rural south in 1935. Jean Louise Finch, or better known as Scout, portrayed by Ja’Duke student Talia Pederzini, is a precocious young tomboy, whose innocence and blindness to the faults of her neighbors are what drive the plot of this tumultuous drama. Her eyes become opened when her father, the heroic Atticus Finch, played by Nick DeRuiter, takes on a controversial case defending a man of color who is wrongly accused of rape. Fighting racism and injustice, Atticus teaches Scout and her brother, Jem (played by Anthony McNamara), to always stand up for what’s right. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is an amazing story of tolerance and morality. Please be advised this play contains strong language and situations. The play opens January 18th at 7 PM at the Ja’Duke theater located at 110 Industrial Boulevard in Turners Falls, MA, with additional evening showings on January 24th and 25th and matinees at 2 PM on January 19th and 26th.  Tickets are available by visiting the website or calling 413-863-0001 Tickets.   The Happier Valley Championship!  January 25th at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)    In this competitive comedy show, two teams of improvisers face off through scenes and games to see who can win the ultimate prize: an old trophy we found in someone's attic. Saturday, January 25th at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $13 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Mount Holyoke College, Department of Theatre Arts Jan 13 Looking for musical director for production of "Lizzie, the musical" at Mount Holyoke College.  March 5-8 Paid position. ABOUT CITYSPACE CitySpace is a non-profit with a mission to restore, manage and preserve Old Town Hall as a vital center for the arts in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Capital Campaign Coordinator CitySpace is midway through its Transformation Campaign to restore Old Town Hall’s second floor into a flexible and accessible performing arts organization. The Capital Campaign Coordinator for the CitySpace will work closely with the president of the board, as well as with campaign volunteers to coordinate a successful $6.6 million capital campaign. Central to the role is: assisting in developing capital campaign strategies, researching prospective donors, CRM software management and maintenance, coordinating the flow of information and meetings, follow-ups, and donor communications in accordance with CitySpace and the campaign plan. Status: The Capital Campaign Coordinator is a contract position and is budgeted at 15-25 hours per week on a schedule mutually agreed upon by the Coordinator and the CitySpace Board of Directors. This is an 8 month part-time contracted position with the possibility of renewal. The Coordinator will work primarily offsite. Responsibilities/Essential Functions: Document pipeline and task assignments, track prospects and maintain timelines Research and identify corporate, foundation and individual prospects Assist in developing and expanding capital campaign teams Schedule meetings, prep for Board members and campaign volunteers Acknowledge all campaign gifts and pledges and prepare pledge payment reminders and pledge agreements in coordination with board president Write campaign correspondence including meeting requests and meeting follow up Assist in maintaining campaign calendar Organize and monitor volunteer assignments and follow-up Schedule tours with board members and prospects Assist with planning capital campaign gatherings and cultivation events Work with the CitySpace board to create and distribute invitations, announcements, and other campaign communications to the public Research donor information Enter planned asks and other proposal information Run campaign progress reports Enter notes to track conversations and meetings Work with board president to enter pledges into the system as assigned Follow up with pledge commitments and past-due pledges Work with board president to ensure that gifts are acknowledged with appropriate recognition and appreciation Analyze donor giving patterns to increase donor retention, upgrading, and conversion rates Perform other projects as assigned by the board leadership Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in the relevant area preferred Development experience, including personal interactions with major donors High level of computer literacy, preferably with a development management database and research software. Detail-oriented and committed to accuracy Excellent oral and written communication skills Creative problem solver Ability and desire to work as a member of a team Self-starter, and proficiency in organizing and managing projects Good judgment and ethical behavior Experience with event planning and/or crowdfunding desirable Enthusiasm for the mission of CitySpace. Please include a cover letter, resume, and names of three references. The review begins immediately. Applications accepted until the position is filled. CitySpace does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. FULL LISTING The Play Reading Co-op is currently seeking submissions of full length plays from New England writers for a monthly, ongoing reading series. The mission of the co-op is simply for local theater makers to have a chance to get in a room together to work on high quality material for our own learning, enjoyment, and camaraderie. It's also a great way to learn about new works and writers. The reading is intended to be informal and without an audience other than other co-op “members” and potentially a friend or colleague(s) of the writer. If the writer is looking for a discussion or feedback afterward, we are happy to make space for that as well. We are ideally looking for plays with at least 2 female identifying roles.  http://www.rachelfhirsch.com/play-reading-co-op WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Local Access to Valley Arts to host grand opening weekend for new arts space in Greenfield Arts nonprofit organization Local Access to Valley Arts is thrilled to announce the opening of its new performing arts and community space in downtown Greenfield, MA! The LAVA Center is a new performing arts incubator, black box theater and community space in the heart of the Cultural District in downtown Greenfield, MA—the crossroads of the Upper Pioneer Valley. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., in between TD Bank and the Pushkin Gallery. With a focus on creating opportunities in and through primarily the performing and literary arts, the LAVA Center will host a wide variety of arts events, classes, and workshops as well as be a space to display and sell art made by local artisans. The LAVA Center’s grand opening will coincide with Greenfield’s annual Winter Carnival, with events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1–2. All events will take place at 324 Main St., Greenfield, MA. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/546330569285742/  Confirmed events: Friday, Jan. 31, 4:30 p.m.: LAVA Grand Opening Party with the Farley String Band, followed by watching the parade from our stoop at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 1 p.m.: Kids Story Hour with author-educator Doug Selwyn Saturday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.: Strings for Kids Advanced Ensemble Performance Saturday, Feb. 1, 5:30 p.m.: BYO Performance Salon: bring something performative to share, such as your favorite poem, something you’ve written, musical instruments, etc. Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.: Silverthorne Theater Fashion Show! Sunday, Feb. 2, 5 p.m.: Community potluck and discussion of what you’d like to see happen in our space! Accompanied by a traditional Irish music session. More events to be announced! Learn more about Local Access to Valley Arts and our new space at http://localaccess.org or https://www.facebook.com/theLAVAcenter/. 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 CitySpace Cold Spring Community Theatre Drama Studio Double Edge Theatre Eggtooth Productions Exit 7 Players Franklin County Youth Theater Ghost Light Theater Greenfield Community College's Theater Department Hampshire Shakespeare Company Happier Valley Comedy Ja'Duke Center for the Performing Arts K and E Theater Group Ko Theater Works/Ko Festival of Performance Majestic Theater New Century Theatre No Theater Northampton Community Arts Trust Northampton Playwrights Lab PaintBox Theatre Panopera Pauline Productions Real Live Theatre Red Thread Theater Royal Frog Ballet Serious Play Theatre Ensemble Shakespeare Stage Shea Theater Arts Center Silverthorne Theater Smith College Department of Theatre St. Michael's Players Starlight's Youth Theatre, Inc. Strident Theatre TheatreTruck Turbulent Times Theater UMass Theatre Guild Valley Light Opera Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players Want to know even more about events in the Pioneer Valley and beyond, including reviews, interviews, and previews? Pioneer Valley Theatre Google Calendar In the Spotlight, Inc. Berkshire on Stage Stagestruck ArtsBeat Radio and News Column 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|*