Here we go! Spring show seasons are underway with many performances listed, and many more coming soon (see the audition section if you want to get involved!) Hope to see you at the theatre soon.
The next issue will include events through March 11. 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
“I can’t have my white students reading the text of A Raisin in the Sun out loud in class.” A white professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee (BoCo) made this comment during a Conscientious Theatre Training Workshop for faculty last fall, and many of his peers nodded in agreement.
Moderator Nicole Brewer didn’t hesitate in pressing him. “Why not?”
Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
Smith College Department of Theatre New Play Reading Series presents
LIFE SENTENCE
Written by Mary Beth Brooker MFA ’20
Thursday, February 13 – 7:30 PM
Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA, Smith College
directed by Mary Beth Brooker and Marty Bongfeldt MFA ’21.
When guests come to dinner and invite their hosts to play illusion games, a family’s history is seen in a new light.
Free and open to the public.
“DEATHTRAP” SET FOR FEBRUARY 13 - FEBRUARY 16 AT MAJESTIC THEATER
The latest production in the Majestic Theater's 23rd Season is “Deathtrap,” which runs 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).
UMASS NEW PLAY LAB produced by Maegan Clearwood, Bianca Dillard, Josh Glenn-Kayden and Tatiana Godfrey
directed by Josh Glenn-Kayden
Walden
by Amy Berryman
Feb. 14, 15, 20 at 7:30
Feb. 22 at 2
The Curtain Theater
Audience members are encouraged to stay after the performance for a conversation about the play.
Two sisters working out family tensions amid a climate crisis and the settlement of Mars. Four meddling kids and a dog confront the unexplainable and question their identities.
The pair of plays selected for this year's UMass Theater New Play Lab — running Jan. 31-Feb. 22 — use sci-fi conventions as a way to look at familiar issues from a new angle. Now in its seventh iteration, Play Lab offers our team of graduate student dramaturgs and director, as well as our cast of undergrads, the opportunity to work on selecting and shaping new work fresh from the brains of emerging playwrights.
As valuable as the creative members of this enterprise are, though, there's one more element needed for a successful Play Lab, and that's the audience. Getting a work in front of community members who share their honest reactions is crucial to the Play Lab process, because it offers playwrights and our team an in-the-moment barometer of which parts of the script are successful and what needs more work. Those changes are often made in between performances. We've seen whole scenes added, even titles changed, over the course of a Play Lab run based on audience reactions and feedback gathered during the post-show conversations held after every performance. It's an immediate way for theater-goers to affect the direction of their favorite performing art!
About this year's plays:
Walden by Amy Berryman is an extraordinary piece asking the questions about the relationships between the human spirit and scientific discovery. In the not-so-distant future, climate change has intensified and scientists are recommending that we colonize elsewhere. Cassie, a NASA botanist, returns from her year-long deployment in space and is shocked to find her sister, Stella, a former NASA architect, engaged to an Earth Advocate. As the twins grapple with questions of rivalry and love, humanity hangs in the balance.
Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, and $7.50 general admission. All audience members are invited to the free post-show conversation after every performance. Come see both plays, or see a play twice and watch it evolve.
Ja’Duke Theater is ready to impress with their first show from the Broadway Junior Series, Frozen Jr.
Don’t miss out on Ja’Duke’s Frozen Jr, February 14, 15 at 6:00pm and February 16 at 2:00pm. For more information and to purchase tickets visit, www.jaduketheater.com.
Part of the Broadway Junior Series, Frozen features a cast of 2nd – 12th graders from all over Franklin County. Don’t let the “Jr” fool you…this is no small production. With exciting magic and gorgeous sets to back them up, these students shine bright as Disney’s well-loved characters.
Frozen is the timeless tale of two sisters, pulled apart by a mysterious secret. As Elsa struggles to find her voice and harness her powers within, Anna embarks on an epic adventure to bring her family together once and for all. Both are searching for love. They just don't know where to find it. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!
Don’t miss out on Ja’Duke’s Frozen Jr, February 7, 8, 14, 15 at 6:00pm and February 9, 16 at 2:00pm. For more information and to purchase tickets visit, www.jaduketheater.com.
Tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for children and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at www.jaduketheater.com/frozen-jr or in person at the Ja’Duke Theater Box Office. Box office operating hours are Monday through Thursday 5:30 – 7:00, and one hour before show time.
Contact Info:
Kimberly Williams
Ja’Duke Theater
110 Industrial Blvd, Turners Falls, MA
413-883-1179 jaduketheater@gmail.com
Arena Civic Theatre presents V-Day ACT The Vagina Monologues 2020 February 15 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
The Episcopal Church of Saint James and Andrew, 8 Church St., Greenfield MA
Arena Civic Theatre kicks off it's 50th Anniversary season with a V-Day production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues. V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls, cisgender, transgender and those who hold fluid identities that are subjected to gender based violence. Together we RISE with groups all over the world on this day to free all women from sexual, physical, racial, economic, political, socio-cultural, ideological and climate crisis violence.
All proceeds from both performances will be donated to the GCC Women's Resource Center. Not recommended for children.
SILVERTHORNE PRESENTS SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY PERFORMANCES OF A. R. GURNEY’S LOVE LETTERS
You know it is the season of love when stores begin to sprout heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and cute teddy bears with red bows. For those who are looking for another way to share the Valentine season, Silverthorne Theater Company presents noted playwright A. R. Gurney’s classic Love Letterson February 14-16 at the new LAVA Center at 324 Main Street, Greenfield.
Three different Franklin County couples will perform the piece on three consecutive days. On Friday night at 7:30 pm, Ginger Carson and Kevin McVeigh of Greenfield will read the roles of Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Saturday, it will be Northfield Mount Hermon Choral Director Sheila Heffernan and her husband Bill Hattendorf’s turn, also at 7:30 pm. The 2 pm Sunday matinee will feature Conway’s Joan and Mike Haley as the couple. Silverthorne co-founder David Rowland directs all three couples.
Seating for each show is limited to 36, with reserved table seats at $50 and general admission row seating at $35. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-r-gurneys-love-letters-tickets-90663692545. A fundraiser for Silverthorne 2020-2021, the performances will also feature, wine/beverage tastings by local wineries; and an opportunity to win one of an art photographer Frank Aronson’s stunning pieces.
Love Letters is unique and imaginative theatre piece which, in the words of the author, "needs no theatre, no lengthy rehearsal, no special set, no memorization of lines, and no commitment from its two actors beyond the night of performance." It is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. As the actors read the letters aloud, what is created is an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling pair of character studies in which what is implied is as revealing and meaningful as what is actually written down.
Exit 7 Players presents Noises Off Feb 14, 15, 21, 22 at 8pm; Feb 16 and 23 at 2pm
Exit 7 Theater, 37 Chestnut Street, Ludlow, MA 01056
Michael Frayn's Noises Off takes a fond look at the follies of theatre folk, whose susceptibility to out-of-control egos, memory loss, and passionate affairs turn every performance into a high-risk adventure. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production of Nothing On in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance towards the end of a debilitating run. Frayne gives us a window into the inner workings of theatre behind the scenes, progressing from flubbed lines and missed cues in the dress rehearsal to mounting friction between cast members in the final performance. Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and -- of course -- flying sardines!
Directed by Bruce Torrey
Cast List:
Lloyd -- Jason Rose-Langston
Dotty/ Mrs. Clackett -- Theresa Allie
Garry/ Roger-- Ryan Bird
Brooke/ Vicki-- Krystle Bernier
Poppy-- Angela Sanches
Frederick/Philip-- Terrance Peters
Belinda/Flavia-- Gilana Chelimsky
Tim-- Mark Hildreth
Selsdon-- Dan Jarvis
The Happier FAMILY Comedy Show
February 15th 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, February 15th 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!
February 15th 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, February 15th 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.
Blank - An Original Solo Play About the Truths of Adoption and Identity
You are invited to an award-winning, nationally acclaimed solo play exploring adoption and identity written & performed by Brian Stanton. Playing 12 characters, Brian embarks on a mythical quest ultimately discovering the horrific truth of his birth, an instinctive love for his birth mother and a grateful dedication to his adoptive family. This special one-time only theatre event takes place on Sunday, February 16th, 7:00 PM at the Northampton Center for the Arts Flex Space at 33 Hawley Street. Portions of the proceeds for this event benefit the 2020 ArtsEZ Grant Round administered by the Northampton Arts Council.
Ticket Information:
Advanced Tickets Available Online - http://blank.brownpapertickets.com/ or by calling 1-800-838-3006; In Person at State Street Fruit Store in Northampton, Cooper’s Corner in Florence, or A.J. Hastings in Amherst. Advance Price General Admission All Ages - $20 (Available online or in person); Day of at Door Price General Admission All Ages - $25. Tickets will be available at the box office of 33 Hawley Street starting at 6:00 PM on the day of the event.
The Academy of Music presents Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's The Rainbow Fish February 17, 2020 @ 1pm
Academy of Music
Sponsored by Smith College and The O'Connell Companies
Join us for Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s elegant new show, The Rainbow Fish. This original stage adaptation of some of Marcus Pfister’s most wildly-popular stories will enchant even the youngest child with the magical glow-in-the-dark tale of the beautiful fish who learned to share his most prized possession. With innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects and evocative original music, this experience is sure to be a family hit. Stay directly after the show for a Q & A session with the performers!
Storytelling Standup Showcase
February 21st 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, February 21st 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.
The Happier Valley Championship!
February 22nd 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, February 22nd 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.
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
1. Northampton, MA | Academy of Music | Sat 2.2.22 - 7pm
2. Springfield, MA | Scibelli Hall Theater at STCC | Sat 3.21.20 - 7pm
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
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).
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
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
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
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
Queer & Now Auditions February 23, 12:00-6:00 PM
UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, Room 204
Queer & Now is an unapologetically feminist, trans-inclusive, futuristic devised physical theater company that combines drag, lip syncing, and dance to create evenings of joy, liberation, and empowerment for its performers and audiences. wearequeerandnow.com
Our newest installment will be centered on queering practices in sex education. Using lip sync, dance, humor, and a whole lot of honesty, we will tackle underrepresented issues in sex ed.
Please come out and audition to be part of this exciting new work.
Auditions will be group exercises with other folks who have signed up for your time slot. You do not need to prepare anything for the audition. All we ask is that you come dressed to move.
We strongly welcome performers of all identities! You do not need to have any drag experience to be a part of this ensemble.
Rehearsals will take place on weekends between March–April, supplemented by occasional weekday evenings, as available.
All possible dates include: March 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29; April 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, 26, 30.
Schedule will be finalized based on team availability.
The rehearsal process will include an in-progress showing at UMass in early May (date TBD depending on team availability – either May 1, 3, 5, or 6).
Additionally, ensemble members must be available for a 3-day residency at The Foundry in West Stockbridge, MA from May 14–16. Housing can be arranged for this residency.
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
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.
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, 2020THE 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.
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
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Happier Valley Comedy presents Laugh With Your Loved One February 14 at 5:30 PM
Happier Valley Comedy Theater, 1 Mill Rd, Hadley, MA
Spend your Feb. 14th celebrating laughter with your loved one! You both are invited to join Head of Happiness Pam Victor in a joyful and easeful exploration of improv comedy exercises and games specifically for absolute beginners
- even those who might be a little (or a lot) nervous about improv -
in an evening of fun and giggles. What better way could there be to celebrate love than laughing together?
This 90-minute beginners improv workshop is designed especially for you and your
romantic partner, favorite pal, BFF, and/or dear family member to connect through comedy.
Prerequisite: None! This beginner's workshop is designed for people ages 18+ who are new to improv!
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.
The Fun of Failure, 1pm-4pm at The Northampton Center for The Arts February 15th, 22nd, 29th, and March 7th
Through a series of games, students will strengthen their ability to listen and work together as an ensemble. This class will strengthen the student’s ability to listen; to play without shame; to be generous with others and themselves; to be courageous and vulnerable enough to fail, fail again and then fail better. Skills gained in this class can be applied to many aspects of life including leadership, self-confidence and acceptance, as well as community and civic engagement.
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
Prepare: Clothing comfortable to move in. Layers or cover to prevent chill.
Feet or stage footwear preferred. (The studio floor is carpeted.)
Workshop: This is a laboratory and training workshop for the actor to deepen their inner sense of the body within the macro structure of gesture. Solo and group exercises are implemented to assist in bringing the physicalemotional-
imaginative state of being into the foreground and free us from social and mental conditioning. We bring the lab to a close with the performance of a basic story structure: arrival–encounter–transformation–exit.
The aim here is for the actor-performer to experience clarity and playfulness independent of artifice, character, or script.
About the instructor:
Daniel performs in the universal style of the great clowns with contemporary comic and dramatic influences, verbally and nonverbally. He’s toured the six Georgspalast variete theaters in Germany, played the roles of Sgt. Cadwallader in The Unexpected Guest and Ellard in The Foreigner, and Eugene in the award winning short film, Eugene. With a degree in Theater from Hampshire College (MA) he trains at the Celebration Barn (ME) with Dody DiSanto, Avner Eisenberg, and Aitor Basauri.
The Workshop is Strident Theatre's weekly drop-in monologue class, EVERY WEDNESDAY, at Pine Box Studios in the Arts and Industry Building, 221 Pine Street in Florence, MA, 6:30--8:30pm.
This is a casual, workshop setting class, designed for ALL skill levels. No need to sign up ahead of time - simply show up, with your monologue memorized. If you'd like to get up and work, there will be a sign up sheet when you arrive (first come, first served). If you'd like to simply observe and give some audience feedback, that's great, too. The class will be headed up by Strident's Artistic Director, Susanna Apgar.
Cost is a sliding scale / suggested donation anywhere between $5--$25+ per class. As with everything we offer, we'd like to make this class as accessible as possible to as many folks as possible. So, if a higher scale is not a good fit for you right now, that's fine - come anyway! If you are in a position to offer a bit more, to cover a neighbor, or to help grow this class and to bolster our general programming, that's wonderful!
Building / logistics / accessibility info: there is a ramp from the front parking lot to the first floor of the building, where our class is held. We are NOT fragrance-free, and there are fluorescent lights. THE ROOM IS QUITE WARM, SO PLEASE WEAR LAYERS AND BRING WATER! This is a class for ADULTS only. Please enter through the "Central Entrance" door and follow our signs.
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