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July 16 - August 5, 2020
What are you watching tonight? May I suggest Soldier Poet by Darcy Parker Bruce - co-presented by Silverthorne Theatre and Chester Theatre Company? The reading will launch on Silverthorne’s Facebook page and on its YouTube channel (search for Silverthorne Theater Co) beginning at 7:00 pm. A live Zoom audience discussion with the playwright, director, and cast members will follow. Go to Zoom.com and enter the meeting number 868 5785 3018 to join the discussion which begins at 8 PM.
The next issue will include events through August 12. 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
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YOUR EVENT HERE
$5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing!
Email me to reserve your dates.
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THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS:
from Howlround
Inequity by Design
by Elsa Hiltner
From the article:
The theatre industry has long had a liberal facade, one where everyone is treated like they’re valuable and like they belong, where systemic inequity does not thrive. Behind the scenes, though, the theatre industry uses pay secrecy to maintain a power dynamic at the expense of artists. For so long, theatre artists have not been able to know if they are being paid equitably. This has been institutionalized for the betterment of companies and to the great detriment of artists. It’s clear that our industry has been functioning with, and because of, egregious equity issues.
Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com
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PERFORMANCES and COVID-19 RESOURCES
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SILVERTHORNE THEATER ANNOUNCES
2020 THEATER THURSDAY PLAY READING SERIES
Following up on its highly successful Theater Thursday play reading series last year, Silverthorne Theater Company will take advantage of the use of online streaming to bring three new plays to the Valley and beyond this summer through the 2020 Theater Thursday Play Reading Series. All three plays in this year’s series will be streamed free to Silverthorne’s Facebook page and will feature live discussions with the playwrights following the readings. The series is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the generous support of the Greenfield, Hadley and Buckland Cultural Councils.
On Thursday, July 16, the second Theater Thursday play will be read as a co-production with the Chester Theatre Company and will be directed by CTC’s Danial Elihu Kramer. Northampton playwright Darcy Bruce’s Soldier Poet is a prize-winning piece that was premiered by Theatre Prometheus in 2017 at the Anacostia Arts Center in Washington D.C. The play centers on a gripping and timely story. In Aleppo two American Army Rangers rescue an injured Syrian woman about to give birth. At a nearby hospital, a neonatal nurse with an unwavering sense of duty struggles to save the lives of infants as her hospital is bombed.
The final 2020 Theater Thursday play, which streams on Thursday, August 20, is written by Northampton playwright, James McLindon – Distant Music. Penney Hulten directs this complex piece set in January 2000. On a snowy night in an Irish pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Connor, Maeve and Dev meet, each agonizing over an irrevocably life-changing decision. The three fight over religion and beer, whether truth exists at all, the differences between the Irish and Irish-Americans, the many failings (according to Dev) of the latter, and, finally, the capacity of stout to explain, metaphorically and metaphysically, most of life. The play, winner of numerous awards, has been produced across the country and is published by Dramatic Publishing. The playwright will join in for a live post-show talk about the play.
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MAJESTIC THEATER OFFERING ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT; INTERVIEW SHOWS AND CHILDREN'S THEATER PRODUCTIONS
West Springfield's Majestic Theater, which closed to the public in March due to COVID-19, is offering weekly online programs that feature popular Majestic entertainers being interviewed, as well as videos of favorite plays from previous seasons of the Majestic Children's Theater program, and an online talkback session about those plays.
“Behind the Curtain,” the interview show hosted by the Majestic's Producing Director Danny Eaton, is streamed live on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. To see the show, as well as the children's theater presentations, visit majestictheater.com. “Behind the Curtain” features performers with a long history with the Majestic who share their experiences as actors, singers, directors and more with Eaton. The guests take questions from the audience during the live show which is one hour long. Past guests have included actor/singer Ben Ashley, musician Mitch Chakour and Elvis tribute artist Ray Guillemette, Jr. Upcoming guests include:
- Thursday, July 16 – Actor/Singer Sue Dziura (“Home for the Holidays,” “The War and Walt Whipple,” “Next to Normal”)
Stephen Petit, director of the Majestic Children's Theater program, hosts “Majestic Children's Theater Online.” Each Wednesday, a video of a past performance is uploaded to majestictheater.com, and the following Sunday, Petit and cast members from that play host a live talkback and Q & A session with viewers online. Here is a listing of upcoming shows:
- Sunday, July 19 – “Mulan”
- Sunday, July 26 – “The Velveteen Rabbit”
- Sunday, August 2 – “Through the Looking Glass...and What Alice Found There”
- Sunday, August 9 – “Aesop's (Oh So Slightly Updated) Fables”
All “Behind the Curtain” and “Majestic Children's Theater Online” episodes are archived and available for viewing anytime at majestictheater.com. There is no cost to view these shows, but donations are encouraged.
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Dear Shakespeareans and Friends,
Despite COVID, Community Shakespeare has been going strong and saw its membership increase this past semester, which is terrific. Some of you have asked how you can help me and this program; it is easy, tell your friends, who will in turn, invite their friends.
COVID is still around us, and UMass is on lockdown for July and August. We will, therefore, continue meeting on Zoom. If it becomes safe to meet in person, I will let you know immediately. We are long overdue for our potluck!
If you do not have Zoom yet and want to participate in the summer program offerings, please email and I can help you.
If you would like to participate sporadically to the classes, or for shorter periods during class time, please do so. I understand that Zoom can be hard on the eyes, etc. Know that you are always welcome to join and be with us.
The following is the (unofficial) Summer Program Community Shakespeare 2020:
The Kinney Center will send the official program soon.
Community Shakespeare's summer program is different from the fall and spring offerings in that it focuses on the theater and its performance i.e., stage direction, actors, audience reception, music, and costumes.
July 2020
1) Shakespeare Aloud
Days: Monday July 20, 27
Time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Play: Much Ado About Nothing
Description:
Are you ready to take on the Shakespearean role of your dreams? Join us in Shakespeare Aloud. Each participant will take on a character and read the parts. Readings for each character will rotate amongst the members. Short presentations will be offered on topics related to the play.
2) Shakespeare in Translation
Days: Wednesday July 22, 29
Time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Play: Beaucoup de bruit pour rien
Description:
Are you curious about how Shakespeare sounds in another language? How his puns and wits carry over from English to French? The impact of Shakespeare's text in other countries? Enjoy the Bard in French and explore the beauty of his language in translation.
Bilingual edition translated by Jean Michel Déprats
Bilingual conversation as needed.
All levels of French welcome.
August 2020
New offering: Shakespeare and Films
Days: Monday August 3, 10,17, 24.
Time: 5pm to 6:30 pm
Play: Othello
Three productions of Othello with special features:
Orson Welles' Othello (1952)
Laurence Olivier's Othello (1965)
Othello with Laurence Fishburne, Irene Jacob, and Kenneth Branagh. Director Oliver Parker (1995)
Description:
Join us in watching productions of Othello as a whole and in parts. Discussion of the play will focus on the actors and their role in addition to audience reception. There will also be an exploration of specific topics along the way such as politics and race, with short presentations.
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K and E Theater Group Presents Local Spotlight Series this Summer!
K and E Theater Group is excited to present its LOCAL SPOTLIGHT SERIES on Facebook, IGTV and YouTube celebrating Pioneer Valley’s theater artists. KETG Artistic Director Eddie Zitka hosts the summer series streaming online every Tuesday and Friday starting on May 26th and through the rest of the summer!
Stay tuned and check out our lineup by liking us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribing to our YouTube channel! See you in the spotlight!
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National Theatre Live YouTube Channel
Streaming will begin at 2 PM EST.
Amadeus
Lucian Msamati plays Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s iconic play, directed by Michael Longhurst with live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia.
Streaming from 7pm Thursday 16 July until 23 July.
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From the New England New Play Alliance:
Virtual Theatre and Podcasts
The Silverthorne and Chester Theatre Companies present 
Soldier Poet
by Darcy Parker Bruce
directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer
July 16
In Aleppo, two American Army Rangers rescue an injured Syrian woman about to give birth. At a nearby hospital, a neonatal nurse with an unwavering sense of duty struggles to save the lives of infants as her hospital is bombed. Stream here.
Sparkhaven Theatre presents
Tales from Camp Strangewood:
The Puritans
by Phaedra
Michelle Scott
directed by Hannah Pryfogle
July 19
Tales from Camp Strangewood is an anthology, with every episode helmed by a new playwright, director, and team of actors. These chilling tales follow the eclectic inhabitants of Camp Strangewood as they encounter circumstances on the very edge of reality on the same particularly strange night. Over the course of six Sundays, audiences will follow campers and counselors coping with fear and isolation while the rules of the world they once knew fall apart around them.
In episode one, The Puritans, it’s July, there’s a full moon, and it's almost lights out. A coven of young witches must perform their arcane ritual tonight, no matter the cost. Stream here.
The Wilbury Theatre Group and WaterFire Providence present
FRINGEPVD
July 19-August 1
The 2020 Festival will feature performances streamed through the Wilbury Group and FRINGEPVD social media channels: Thirty-nine performances, as well as the first-ever digital Family Fringe Day, hosted by the Providence Community Library, which will feature games, stories, and crafts. Audiences may view the performances for free as they happen live, or purchase a 2020 Fringe Access Pass for $20 to view performances at their convenience on the FRINGEPVD website. Stream or buy a pass.
Boston Podcast Players presents
Ballahoo in the Hair Kitchen
by Mary McCullough
directed by Jackie Davis
Playwright Mary McCullough talks about growing up in the segregated South, a women's theatre tour of Africa and China, and the importance of adequate bookstore density. Then an excerpt from her play, Ballahoo in the Hair Kitchen introduces listeners to a little hoodoo, necrocosmetology and school desegregation. Stream the podcast.
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