Pioneer Valley Theatre News February 27, 2020

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser February 27 - March 18, 2020 Well, I've been in tech for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER all week, so obviously I think you should come see that! We open Friday and run for two weekend, closing March 7 at a matinee performance. And if Peter Pan and pirates aren't your cup of tea, there are about a thousand other shows this weekend - go check one out, or put something into your calendar for next week! The next issue will include events through March 25. 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 The Big Broadcast at Mount Holyoke College March 7 at 2:00 and 7:30 PM  Tickets Here 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 Grasping Whiteness and New Play Development Inspired by Community Organizing by Will MacAdams From the article:  In the climactic moment of Gasping Whiteness, a play I have been developing since 2016, two children—one Black, one white—turn to the audience and ask a series of questions that reflect their exploration of race with their parents: What will middle class white people give up to help end the era of white power? Will all of us, regardless of our race, look at the complicated relationship between race and class, and will we keep asking questions even when it gets hard? When we feel defensiveness rising up, will we realize we might just be afraid? 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 The Amherst College Department of Theater and Dance presents, Gossamer, written and directed by Sophina Flores '20, on February 27-29, at 8 p.m. in the Holden Theater. Gossamer follows three children and their mother through a dissociative fantasy world they have created as a response to trauma, trapped in the liminal space between death and life. Through surrealist movement, Gossamer carries us through a distorted narrative of a broken home - a family grappling with forgiveness, acceptance, and hope for recovery, while facing the truth that no one is innocent within the cycle of abuse. **This show includes adult content and sensitive material.** Tickets are free, reservations are recommended: (413) 542-2277, or email theater@amherst.edu. View and share our Facebook event page! What makes a theater piece? UMass Theater's The Water Station pushes the definition of the form. THE WATER STATION (Mizu no eki) by Ōta Shōgo Directed by Vishnupad Barve Feb. 27, 28, 29, March 4, 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 March 7 at 2 The Rand Theater Tickets $5 students and seniors, $15 general admission. Call 1-800-999-UMAS or reserve your tickets through the Fine Arts Center Box Office   A company of performers moving meditatively across a stage. Running water. Live classical piano. No dialogue. A sculptural set that is assembled over the space of 70 minutes. The UMass Department of Theater's production of The Water Station, by Ōta Shōgo, is a theatrical spectacle that encompasses sound, movement, and art. Running Feb. 27 to March 7, this production will introduce local theater-goers to a theater-maker whose intriguing work is infrequently staged in this country. Walking through a barren landscape, 18 travelers stop by a dripping water faucet at different times, interact with water and the surroundings, and continue on their separate ways, while a person living in a pile of objects witnesses their actions from above. No words are spoken but much is communicated in the subtle gestures and interactions between the characters as their lives brush up against each other. The travellers' journey prompts the audiences to embark on a parallel journey — a mental and spiritual one into our shared understanding and deeper connection to the living universe.  Director Vishnupad Barve, a graduate student in the department, likens the play to a piece of abstract visual art, in the sense that the process through which it came to be is as important as the final product that appears onstage. "How is it made, and what does how it's made tell us about the subject?" is the question he wants audience members to answer for themselves as they watch The Water Station unfold. "The audience is responsible for making meaning out of what they're seeing."  We invite you to join us in the Rand this winter to craft your own meaning from this unique exploration of time and space. *** More about the Department of Theater: umass.edu/theater To purchase tickets, call 1-800-999-UMAS or visit the Fine Arts Center Box Office online. $15 single tickets; $5 single tickets for students/seniors MAJESTIC THEATER SERVES UP THE PITCH FEBRUARY 27 – APRIL 5 West Springfield Production to Serve as World Premiere Run of Drama by Pioneer Valley Writer The Pitch, a contemporary drama by Pioneer Valley-based writer Stan Freeman, will debut at West Springfield's Majestic Theater February 27 for a six-week run concluding April 5, according to the Majestic's Producing Director Danny Eaton. The play tells the story of retired sportswriter Roger Pennell who reluctantly agrees to collaborate with a young reporter, Mike Resnick, on the biography of a boyhood friend of Roger's. That friend, Vernon Peters, was a pitcher who had been languishing on a farm team for the Yankees, but finally got the call that brought him to the mound at Yankee Stadium. Peters threw only one pitch that day, and his career in the Major Leagues abruptly ended. In digging into the story, the young writer discovers a secret at the heart of it all, a secret the older writer fiercely intends to protect. The cast includes John Haag (Roger), Julian Findlay (Mike), R. Steve Pierce (Vernon) and Katie Sloan (Pauline). Eaton is directing the play, set design is by Greg Trochlil, Dawn McKay is costume designer and the lighting design is by Dan Rist. Emily Paegle Bloch is stage manager and Stephen Petit is production stage manager. “This is a brand new play, and it certainly falls within our mission of supporting local artists,” said Eaton. “It's a fascinating, although fictional, baseball story that offers the themes of friendship, loyalty and betrayal set against the backdrop of the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees.” States Freeman, “You don't need to have a love of, or even much knowledge of, baseball to be interested in this play. You didn't need to have an interest in sales and marketing to find meaning in Death of a Salesman, either. The true focus of The Pitch is generational differences, ethics, as well as life decisions and their consequences, which are all universals.” 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).  The Smith College Department of Theatre presents Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice Music by Wayne Barker, based on the novel by David Barry and Ridley Pearson February 28 & 29, March 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM and March 7 at 2:00 PM Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, 122 Green Street, Northampton, MA The play, which is adapted from the children’s book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and features music by Wayne Barker, is a prequel to Peter Pan that upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be “The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up.”  From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, the play explores the depths of greed and despair... and the bonds of friendship, duty and love.   Playwright Rick Elice was drawn to J.M. Barrie’s classic tale from an early age. “When I was a boy, I wished I could fly, and the notion of being a boy forever was pure delight,” Elice says. “No homework, no chores, no responsibility, no sorrow. Now that I’m in the middle of my life, I understand what I’d have missed had I never grown up, or fallen in love, or stood my ground, or lost a battle—or written a play.”  Peter and the Starcatcher explores these themes in a fast-paced, irreverent, touching, and funny theatrical experience.  The cast of 10 play a variety of roles—including sailors, naval officers, pirates, orphans, mermaids, a plucky girl—and take the audience on a journey that shows how a nameless boy becomes Peter Pan. Along the way they encounter a secret treasure, a crocodile, mollusks, prawns, and a flying cat. Director Cathy Kennedy ’20 explains why she chose the Tony Award winning play, “I'm incredibly fascinated with storytelling-- what storytelling is and why we do it and why it's such an intrinsic human instinct.” She adds, “I'm also in a place in my life right now (and I know that most if not all of the people working on this show are as well) where I spend a lot of my time thinking about what it means to be an adult and how I am on the verge of being a Real Adult.” The Smith production frames the play around a group of childhood friends meeting as adults in their local bar to tell each other this story that they've grown up with. The concept is not unlike the design team of seniors—Priscilla Yichen Zhou, sets; Sasha Belcher, lights; and Nancy Gregory, costumes—who have bonded over 4 years of Smith theatre productions and grew up with the Dave Barry and Ridley Scott book Peter and the Starcatchers. “Designing costumes and puppets for this play is literally a dream come true,” says Nancy, echoing the enthusiasm of many on the cast and crew. Above all, Peter and the Starcatcher is a story of adventure and friendship that thrills audiences of all ages. The play is recommended for children ages 10 and up. And while this is not the same story that Disney made famous, it is appropriate for most children and loved by almost every adult. To accommodate family audiences, the final performance on Saturday, March 7 is a matinee with a 2:00 PM curtain.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors, and free for Smith students. More information and to purchase tickets online at www.smith.edu/smitharts.   $10 General, $5 Students/Seniors, Free for Smith Students Box Office: 413-585-3220 Email the Box Office: boxoffice@smith.edu www.smith.edu/smitharts About The Play Abuelita’s spirit guides us through various time periods illuminating intergenerational struggles and experiences of survival.     The piece is predominantly performed in English accompanied by bits in Spanish. Ticket sales will go towards the ReclaimPR fundraiser that focuses on supporting entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico. *Mature content - may not be suitable for young children*   SHOWTIMES 3. Holyoke, MA | Wistariahurst Museum | Sat 3.28.20 - 7pm   TICKETS   Pay What You Can. 5 tiers of pricing: $25 and up - RPR Supporter $25 - Full Ticket Value $20 - I Can Do $20  $15 - I Can Do $15  $10 - Student/Senior Citizen Discount (students must bring valid student ID)  5th Saturday FUNdraiser: SCRIPTED/UNSCRIPTED!   February 29th at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA)    See what happens when one actor holding their script is paired with one improviser, who has no idea what scene they're in. It's improv/theater magic! All proceeds to benefit Casa Latina. Saturday, February 29th 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. The Drama Studio presents Still Life with Iris Thursday, March 5th and 12th at 6:30pm Friday & Saturday, March 6th, 7th, 13th, & 14th at 7:30pm Sunday, March 8th & 15th at 3:00pm The Drama Studio, 41 Oakland st. The cast of Still Life with Iris includes actors ages nine to adult and tells the story of Iris, a young girl from the magical land of Nocturno where everyone holds their pasts in their coats. When the rulers of the land, The Great Goods, decide they want a daughter, they take Iris’s coat, erasing her memory and keeping her for themselves. Iris escapes and finds new friends to help her search for home, like Annabel Lee: a young lady of the sea, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: a boy who plays the piano and prefers to be called Motes. The three friends must join together to escape Great Island through the Tunnel of the Unwanted on their fantastic quest for freedom and for a place to belong. The cast includes Reagan Phillips, Teagan Allen, Rory Brennan-Staub, Sonja Funk, Luke Guy, Rosalyn Hudson, Regan Kleiner, Isaac MacArthur, and Glenn Yarnell of Springfield, Madeline Choiniere Barr, Sean Fazio, and Nadia Hayles of Longmeadow, Teagan Corthell and Jacob Fisher of Wilbraham, Caroline Matheson of South Hadley, Marcos Nieves of Chicopee, Aidan O’Brien of Belchertown, Ben Richards of Hampden, Miles Santanello of East Longmeadow, and Charlotte Watts of Windsor, CT. Directed by Dan Morbyrne. Set and Light design by Craig Milne. Light design by Craig Milne and Austin Yelinek. Prop Design by Austin Yelinek. Costume design by Julia Vincenza Whalen. Stage Management by Bridget Bushey.   Written by Steven Dietz. Tickets will go on sale on February 20th ($20 for adults and $10 for students) and may be purchased online through the Drama Studio website (dramastudio.org) or directly from lifewithiris.brownpapertickets.com. To buy tickets by phone call the Drama Studio Box Office 413-739-1983 during the following hours: M-F 4:30PM-7PM and Sat 10AM to 4:30PM. The Drama Studio is located next to the Forest Park Library on 41 Oakland Street in Springfield. The Mount Holyoke College Department of Theatre Arts presents Lizzie:  the musical by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt, directed by Michael Ofori. Performances:  Thurs-Sat, March 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 pm and Sun, March 8 at 2:00 pm in the Rooke Theatre on the MHC campus Tickets are:  $15 general and $10 for students & senior citizens. You may buy tickets now at:  www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/theatre Recommended for ages 16 and up Box Office email:  rookeboxoffice@gmail.com Box Office phone:  413-538-2406 THE BIG BROADCAST! RETURNS TO MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE’S CHAPIN AUDITORIUM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7, FOR TWO PERFORMANCES AT 2PM & 7:30PM The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College present the 15th edition of The Big Broadcast! on Saturday, March 7 at 2PM & 7:30PM at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, MA. Snow date is Sunday, March 8.. Created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, who is also onstage as “Matt Morgan”, The Big Broadcast!  is a re-creation of a live 1940's radio show featuring the Mount Holyoke College Big Band, Vocal Jazz, and Chamber Jazz Ensembles performing well-known tunes from the swing era and the American songbook. WWLP-TV meteorologist Brian Lapis is emcee “Fred Kelley” for his 13th consecutive season. Mount Holyoke alum, bassist and singer Caitlin Jaene Mercer, will join The Big Broadcast! as special guest.  Mount Holyoke College music faculty member Mark Gionfriddo originally created The Big Broadcast! for a small cabaret group he directed, and incorporated it into the concert season at Mount Holyoke College. It has since been designated as a Signature Event at the college. “Preparation for the show began early in January when my students and I researched live radio broadcasts of the 1940's: big band swing music, those great radio serials, and the commercials of the day," said Gionfriddo. “We incorporate all of those elements into our production to give the audience the feel of an authentic radio variety program on a fictitious station named WJAZ." According to Gionfriddo, this year’s program will include: Benny Goodman's "All The Cats Join In"; "It's Been A Long, Long Time" by June Christy and Stan Kenton; the Glenn Miller classic “A String of Pearls”; Peggy Lee’s “Black Coffee”, and a rare radio rendition of “On The Atchison, Topeka, and The Santa Fe” by the Andrews Sisters, which was never officially released. Mark Gionfriddo, creator and director (and “Matt Morgan”) of The Big Broadcast! Is well-known to area concertgoers as a piano soloist, coach/accompanist, composer/arranger, conductor and music director. A versatile musician, Mark is known for his diverse repertoire which includes classical, jazz, rock, and popular music. Mark has been based at Mount Holyoke College since 1986 where he is Coordinator of Piano Studies for the Department of Music as well as Director and Founder of the Jazz Ensembles. In addition, Mark is Catholic Music Director and conducts the Abbey Chapel Singers for the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. In 2000, Mark accompanied Garrison Keillor on the Chapin Auditorium stage in a New England Public Radio benefit show, and he conducted the MHC Big Band in 2006 during two episodes of the popular NPR public radio quiz show "Says You!" During the summers, Mark has been resident music director for Berkshire Theatre Group since 2011for their productions of Peter Pan, Seussical the Musical, Mary Poppins, Beauty and The Beast, A Christmas Carol, The Music Man, Tarzan, Shrek the Musical, and the Neil Ellenoff Musical Mondays series. Mark's production of A Class Act also appeared off-Broadway at the Robert Moss Theatre. Mark has recently reunited with the internationally renowned Young@Heart  chorus as pianist and arranger, a post he held from 1992-1998. He is also co-author of Good Night, Dear Hart, Good Night, a book about Holyoke's Hart-Lester H. Allen and the Ponzi scandal, on the Epigraph imprint. Brian Lapis ("Fred Kelley") joined the 22News Storm Team in 1996. He got his start in broadcasting at the age of 15 at radio station WILI, in his hometown of Willimantic, CT. He's worked as a radio on-air talent for stations in Hartford, CT; Philadelphia, PA; Syracuse, NY; and Providence, RI. Brian has a Bachelor's degree in Television Radio Film Management from Syracuse University. In addition, he holds a certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. This is his 12th season as WJAZ announcer and emcee “Fred Kelley”. In 2013, the National Weather Association named Brian “Broadcaster of the Year". Brian loves performing as “Fred Kelley”. “The combination of the opportunity for me to perform, the creative energy of the students and Mark Gionfriddo, and the great music makes this far and away my favorite event of the year," he said.  "As a 'student of broadcasting’, I am one who appreciates the Golden Age of Radio and just how hugely popular these variety shows were in their day.  I’d like to believe that if I were around back in the 1940s, I would have a gig like Fred Kelley’s." Caitlin Jaene Mercer, Mount Holyoke Class of 2002, is a self-described chanteuse style singer and a classically trained bassist, who performs original songs, jazz standards, and fronts her alternative rock band Blue Hippopotamus.Her career started when she played bass with the National Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. At Mount Holyoke, she was a founding member of the first Jazz Ensemble, and a singer with the a cappella V8s. After seeing Melissa Ferrick perform at Mount Holyoke’s Women in Music Festival, she chose music as a profession. She’s currently based near Philadelphia, where she mostly plays locally, but she performs nationally in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and more. Her website is: http://www.caitlinjaene.com/ and she’s online on Instagram and YouTube @CaitlinJaene. Performance sponsors of The Big Broadcast! are: Mount Holyoke College, New England Public Media, a partnership of New England Public Radio and WGBY; PRIME Magazine; WWLP-22News & The CW Springfield, The Republican powering MassLive and El Pueblo Latino, and Loomis Communities.  Tickets (general admission): $25.00 premium front and center seating.$20.00 regular seating. Senior Discounts: $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. Students: $10.00. Tickets are on sale at The Odyssey Book Shop, Village Commons, South Hadley; the UMass Fine Arts Center Box Office; and at the door (subject to availability). For phone orders, call 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS. For online tickets, visit www.fineartscenter.com. Doors open one hour prior to each performance. Chapin Auditorium is fully accessible. MAJESTIC THEATER PRESENTING MISGIVINGS The Majestic Theater in West Springfield will present a one-man comedy show, Misgivings, in March. Tuesday, March 17, the Majestic celebrates St. Patrick's Day with Misgivings, a comedic one-man, interactive show featuring Dave Kane as Father Patrick Aloysius Misgivings. Topics for discussion include blessings, blarney, bingo and one-liners about growing up Catholic. There will be shows at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and tickets are $24 & $26. To purchase tickets, visit the Majestic box office Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. They can also be purchased by calling (413) 747-7797 during box office hours. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Scarlet Sock Foundation is an exciting new non profit that provides grants to theaters and individuals who are involved in social justice related projects. We are looking for an intern to enhance our social media presence and do administrative upkeep. The position would be up to 10 hours a month. For more info contact Margaret Russo at scarletsockfoundation@gmail.com Come to the Cabaret! K and E Theater Group is holding auditions for our October 2020 Mainstage Production of CABARET! Auditions can be scheduled on February 27th or 29th in Amherst or Springfield. Thursday, February 27th in Amherst at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, 6:00-9:30 PM. Saturday, February 29th in Springfield at the Greene Room Performance Collaborative in the Eastfield Mall, 5:30-9:00 PM. Callbacks on Thursday, March 12th at the Bangs Community Center from 6-9:30 PM. Check out www.KETG.org/auditions for character breakdown and more information about how to sign up for your audition slot! CABARET runs October 9-11 and 15-17, at Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton. Don't forget to like us on Facebook or visit KETG.org for more information on our 2020 season! Smith College Department of Theatre AUDITIONS Spring Studio & Commencement Productions FIFTH PLANET by David Auburn, directed by Allie Burgess HERE WE GO by Caryl Churchill, directed by Kate Niemiec LOUISA MAY INCEST by Carolyn Gage, directed by Marty Bongfeldt FIFTH PLANET: Charts the friendship between two observatory workers as it waxes and wanes over the course of a year. HERE WE GO: A short play about death by Caryl Churchill. A funeral party for a man with an adventurous past and a ginger cat that needs a home. Where is he now? Is his heart lighter than a feather? How did he die? And what happens to his friends? LOUISA MAY INCEST: The writing of Little Women is interrupted when the character Jo March and her famous creator cannot agree on the ending. The struggle for control of the book becomes deadly when Jo accuses Louisa of repressed lesbian desires and incest memories. Auditions: Sunday, March 1, 7:00-9:00 PM, Acting Studio 1 Monday, March 2, 7:00-9:00 PM, Acting Studio 1 Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, Smith College Performances: Each play performs twice. (FIFTH PLANET and HERE WE GO share two performance nights.) April 30 and May 1 at 7:30 PM (FIFTH PLANET/HERE WE GO) May 14 at 8:30 PM and May 15 at 2:00 PM (LOUISA MAY INCEST) All performances are in the Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, Mendenhall Center, Smith College. Casting Breakdown: FIFTH PLANET: 2 Actors (1 M, 1 W - can be played by any gender) HERE WE GO: 3-8 Actors LOUISA MAY INCEST: 2 Actors Audition Prep: Sides will be provided from the script. No monologues or appointments necessary. Contact/Questions: Production Manager, Nikki Beck, ncbeck@smith.edu or ext. 3222 Scripts: Perusal scripts available in Josten Library, Mendenhall Center, Smith College www.smith.edu/theatre Silverthorne announces auditions for the Short & Sweet (tiny) New Play Festival   Silverthorne Theater Company is seeking 12 actors for 16 10-minute one-act plays.   Auditions for the Festival are scheduled as follows:             Sunday, March 1 from 6-9 pm in the LAVA Center at 289 Main Street, Greenfield             Monday, March 2 from 6-9 pm in the Coop Meeting Space, 170 Main Street, Greenfield   Performance dates:   Group #1        April 24, 25 @ 7:30 pm; April 26 @ 2 pm Group #2        May 1, 2, @ 7:30 pm; May 3 @ 2 pm Finals (top 4 plays from each week performed)  May 8, 9 @ 7:30 pm   Auditioners should prepare a memorized monologue, no more than two minutes long. Contemporary preferred – comic or serious (both if you like). Non-professional only.  Must be comfortable with physical activity, intimacy, and LGBTQ themes.   Auditions by appointment only. Call or write: 413-768-7514; silverthornetheater@gmail.com. Please send head shot and resume to our e-mail address.   The plays are a mix of serious dramas & comedies. All roles paid. The plays will be performed in groups of 8 per weekend, each with an ensemble of 6 actors. Roles are available for all genders and ethnicities.    Group #1 will be directed by Ben Ware; Group #2 will be directed by Julian Findlay.              The plays, several of which are by local playwrights, are the top picks from over 700 scripts from around the world. Rehearsals in Greenfield – schedule TBD.              Questions: 413-768-7514 or silverthornetheater@gmail.com   Looking for Performers (no experience necessary) "Elyon" is a choreopoem about gender identity, spirtuality, and family, which follows the happenings of a nonbinary teen, E, from the Bronx, who dissociates in and out of limbo, a place where gender expression is liberated from gender norms. Three divinities Muva, Kween, and Good Sis (inspired by Yoruba orishas) travel with E through time to embark on a journey of understanding past, history, self, and releasing generations of shame. E travels back in time unknowingly, entangling past memories of boyhood with those of family members.  The audition process is informal, all backgrounds are welcome as dancers and supporting roles. We meet Sat 4pm-7pm and Sun 10:30am-1pm; please contact Aamari Green at jog16@hampshire.edu for more details, and follow us on IG @elytheiya.  Roles: Lucian, Father, Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, The Birds/The Flowers Call for Directors for 2020-2021 Season   Silverthorne Theater Company is seeking applications for directing our upcoming season shows. Next year will see significant changes in the Silverthorne Theater Calendar   1. The Mainstage Season will begin in the fall of 2020 and go through to the spring of 2021. 2. This coming season we are scheduling 3 Mainstage Shows, each running for 3 weekends 3. The weeks will run Friday, Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee each of the first two weeks   Perusal scripts are available on request. If you are interested in submitting a proposal to direct one or more Season shows, please send the following: ·      A cover letter, describing what interests you about the play(s), and how you would schedule and conduct rehearsals. ·      Please include your availability and any potential conflicts ·      Resume of training and directing experience Please send to silverthornetheater@gmail.com by Monday, March 2. Please direct questions to 413-768-7514 or our e-mail address above.   October 2-17, 2020    THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP:A Penny Dreadful, by Charles Ludlam      This definitive spoof of Gothic melodramas, recently revived Off-Broadway to raves, is a quick change marathon in which two actors play all the roles. A sympathetic werewolf, a vampire and an Egyptian princess brought to life when her tomb is opened make this a comedy that has everything.    March 12-27, 2021                ADMISSIONS, by Joshua Harmon      Sherri Rosen-Mason is head of the admissions department at a New England prep school, fighting to diversify the student body. Alongside her husband, the school’s headmaster, they’ve largely succeeded in bringing a stodgy institution into the twenty-first century. But when their only son sets his sights on an Ivy League university, personal ambition collides with progressive values, with convulsive results. A no-holds-barred look at privilege, power, and the perils of hypocrisy.   April 30-May 15, 2021      SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, by Oliver Goldsmith.       First performed in 1773, this is a comedy of manners in which, in a polite society setting, the comedy arises from the gap between the characters’ attempts to preserve standards of polite behavior and their true behavior. A complex series of misunderstandings and practical jokes tie the Hardcastle family up in knots which the action proceeds to untangle.  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 The Laramie Project Auditions at Exit 7 Theater Written by Moises Kaufman and the members of Tectonic Theater Project Performances: June 12-14 and 19-21, 2020 Audition Dates: Monday, March 23 at 7pm Wednesday, March 25 at 7pm Callbacks (if needed): Monday, March 30 Auditions will be held at the Exit 7 Theater, located at 37 Chestnut Street in Ludlow, MA. Parking is available on Chestnut Street, or in the lot at the corner of Winsor and Chestnut Street. All those wishing to audition must be 16 years or older at the time of the first rehearsal, Monday, April 6, 2020 due to the graphic nature of the show. Those between the ages of 16-18 must have parent/guardian consent to participate. Those auditioning are asked to prepare a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue, this does not need to be memorized. Please NO monologues from The Laramie Project. Consider a monologue to PERFORM, it should allow for the actor to emote and be similar to the nature of this show. Cold readings will also be used. Casting size: 8+ (will vary based on those auditioning, meaning 8 may be cast but more may be considered) - actors will be playing multiple roles of varying ages/races/genders/sexualities. ALL ROLES are open and gender neutral casting will be in place. Synopsis: In October 1998 in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old student at the University of Wyoming, was tied to a fence post, severely beaten, robbed, tortured and left, alone, to die. His body -- battered, bloody, barely clinging to life -- was discovered eighteen hours later. He was rushed to the hospital and put on life support. He died five days later. The reason for this brutal crime? Matthew Shepard was gay. The hate crime attracted vast attention worldwide, bringing sexual discrimination and violence to the forefront of public discourse. The Tectonic Theater Project, led by their founder Moisés Kaufman, traveled to Laramie in the aftermath of the murder with the intent of creating a theatrical portrait of a town coming to grips with horrible, hate-fueled violence. Over the course of a year and a half, the group interviewed over 200 subjects, some directly related to the case and some regular citizens of Laramie. Out of these interviews, journal entries, and found texts, The Laramie Project was born. Hailed as one of the most captivating and encompassing pieces of contemporary theatre, the play shocks, challenges, and moves all who watch it as it reveals the lowest depths of hatred and greatest heights of compassion that lies within all human beings in any seemingly average community. Director: Chris Climo Producers: Megan Hoy and Jami Wilson Stage Manager: Bruce Torrey Assistant Producers: Leon Jerfita and Chris Torrey Rehearsals will start April 6, and will be on Sundays (1-4pm), Mondays and Wednesdays (7-10pm) until the last performance. Tech week will be June 7-11, 2020 (Time TBD) and is mandatory. This production will be performed to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Ludlow High School GSA. All profits will be donated to these organizations. If you should have any questions regarding the production or auditions, please contact the director Chris Climo at LaramieProjectE7@gmail.com. A copy of the audition form is available on exit7players.org CASTING CALL Seeking actors and actresses for the spring production of SANDY TOES & SALTY KISSES by Michael and Susan Parker, and directed by Joey Grabowski. Auditions, open to actors 18 and up, will be held on Monday April 6th and Thursday April 9 at 6pm in the Library at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street, South Hadley. The cast consists of 3 men and 4 women. Actors should bring a resume or be prepared to list experience; however, actors of all experience levels are encouraged to audition. Actors with questions about auditions can email the director at jgrabowski394@gmail.com. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, April 20 th and will continue on Monday and Thursday evenings. The show is scheduled to be produced at South Hadley High School June 11 th -14 th If unavailable to be seen in person, please email blackcattheater@gmail.com. For synopsis and character breakdown please see www.blackcattheater.pbworks.com. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Improv Storytelling Workshops at The LAVA Center Improv Storytelling Workshops with Amy Timmins and Marian Kelner Tuesday, Mar. 3 and Tuesday, Mar. 31, 7–8:30 p.m. The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield, MA March 3: https://www.facebook.com/events/585711158654748/  March 31: https://www.facebook.com/events/727748474420888/    CONTACT: info@localaccess.org or (413) 512-3063 Improv Storytelling will introduce participants to the principles and techniques of improv through various prompts and storytelling exercises, exploring both verbal and non-verbal formats. No previous acting or improv experience is necessary; just come with an open mind and desire to jump right in! Amy Timmins has led dozens of improv workshops at regional and international conferences, in schools, churches, and other community settings. She has developed sessions for college students, human service workers, seniors, chefs, executives, and individuals with disabilities. And she has created several original games of her own, with emphasis on improv storytelling. Amy has her undergraduate degree in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, and she’s practiced improv with the Chicago Dream Theatre, Stage 1 Acting Lab in Boston, and the Soho Loco Players in New York City. She earned her MEd from Antioch University, and has worked in the communications and public relations field since the 1980s—now serving as Vice president of Community Relations for ServiceNet. Co-facilitator Marian Kelner has been improvising her whole life, as all of us living beings do. This includes specifically-themed improv situations, such as classes with Happier Valley Comedy and participation in on-going Greenfield improv groups over the last five years. She brings the thinking on your feet skills and supportive nature developed over a long teaching career. Come to either or both of the sessions. FREE (donations welcome) For more details, visit our website, https://localaccess.org or our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/theLAVAcenter/. Join Strident Theatre for The Workshop! The Workshop is Strident's weekly drop-in monologue class at Pine Box Studios in the Arts and Industry Building, 221 Pine Street in Florence, MA, 6:30-8:30pm, taught by Artistic Director Susanna Apgar. This is a casual workshop setting class, designed for ALL skill levels, and it's a wonderful opportunity to network and toss creative ideas around with fellow actors and directors. No need to sign up ahead of time - simply show up with a monologue. Memorization is encouraged! Cost is a sliding scale / suggested donation anywhere between $5-$25+ per class. For more information, follow the event page! The Completely Ridiculous  Training Center   Get out of your head and into your body! Rediscover your fun! Reclaim your wonder and willingness to play with abandon! And then pour it all into your Acting!! In this two-part 8-week class Completely Ridiculous students will relentlessly pursue the Fun of Failure and then catapult themselves into text analysis and scene study. Acting as Play, 1pm-4pm at The Northampton Center for The Arts March 28th and April 4th, 18th, and 25th Having completed The Fun of Failure, Completely Ridiculous students will then move on to text, applying the same scale of vulnerability and fun to traditional monologue and scene work. In Acting as Play, students will be asked to get out of their heads and into their bodies; to take big risks before feeling “ready;” to find fun in whatever given circumstances the character has no choice but to endure; and to always lead with hope, regardless of the inevitable disasters laid out in the text.   Enrollment: At the moment, these classes are open exclusively to 16-18 year olds. They are meant to be taken together, but can be taken separately if need be. Enrollment priority will be given to students who sign up for both. Taken separately, each class is $175.  Taken together, the total cost is $300. To ask questions, or sign up, please email gabe.levey@gmail.com. Teacher Bio: A member of the 3rd graduating class at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (PVPA), Gabe grew up in Northampton, received a BFA in Acting from Boston University, an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama and now teaches Clown, Physical Acting, and Acting as Play at NYU Tisch School of The Arts. For more information and student testimonials visit: www.gabriellevey.com/testimonials.html 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 Completely Ridiculous Productions 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|*