Pioneer Valley Theatre News January 14, 2021

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser January 14 - February 3, 2021 We have quite a few workshops listed this week - don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom to view the whole list - or click view in your browser to make sure you can see the entire email. Two of the workshops are featured here at the top - take a look! The next issue will include events through February 10. 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 Workshop: Recycled Puppets and The Throw Away World January 23, 24, 29, 30 More information and register here. Winter Online Acting Classes January 9-February 13 More information and registration. YOUR EVENT HERE $5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing! Email me to reserve your dates. Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Google Calendar Click to Access: Pioneer Valley Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet THIS WEEK IN THEATRE NEWS: from Howlround Beyond Wandering by Kate Bergstrom From the article:  Have you ever looked at the world’s first-ever website? Uploaded in 1991, it’s a white page filled with clear and concise text, in black with blue hyperlinks. The “World Wide Web” allures in its deceptive simplicity; the site’s one-sentence description titillates: “a wide-area hypermedia information retrieval initiative aiming to give universal access to a large universe of documents.” The hyperlinks have intriguing titles like “What’s out there?,” “People,” and “How can I help?” Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES From the New England New Play Alliance: Virtual Theatre and Podcast   Breaking Light Productions presents Mrs. Hawking, Part 6: Fallen Women by Phoebe Roberts and Bernie Gabin January 15 In the sixth installment of the Mrs. Hawking series (stream episodes 1-5 here), Mrs. Hawking's great rival has been vanquished, but the struggle has left rifts in the once-close bond between our heroes. They find themselves alienated and in pain, even as they must take on the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper. CN: gunshots, mentioned spousal violence, mentioned violence against sex workers. Streaming as part of Arisia 2021, New England's largest and most diverse sci-fi and fantasy convention. Convention registration required. Registration: $25.   Breaking Light Productions presents Gentlemen Never Tell by Phoebe Roberts and Bernie Gabin January 16 & 18 In this comedic spinoff of the Mrs. Hawking series, we follow dashing, bisexual rake Justin Hawking on a business trip to Venice. He is there to make deals and make love, not necessarily in that order, but he must interrupt his dalliances long enough to stick up for those without his privilege to float through life. Streaming as part of Arisia 2021, New England's largest and most diverse sci-fi and fantasy convention. Convention registration required. Registration: $25. The Wilbury Theatre Group presents The Race by Mark Binder January 15-31 directed by Brien Lang Two job seekers from vastly different backgrounds vie for the same position in a large, faceless corporation. Each reveals uncomfortable truths from their past while dodging land mines from their competition and dealing with an increasingly demanding disembodied interviewer. Neither’s future is certain as the audience becomes an integral part of the selection process. Tickets: $20.   Dorset Theatre Festival's Women Artists Writing Group presents Notorious streaming now New short pieces and works in progress responding to the word "notorious". The Lost Art of Crying by Nandita Shenoy   Mary Forgives  by Mary Bacon   Notoriously Shitty  by Laura Gómez   Scarecrow  by Heidi Armbruster   Cleo and Henry at Christmas by Maggie Bofill    Nature Calls by Sharahn LaRue   Suspended by Carolyn Baeumler Bost   An excerpt from A Poem and a Mistake  by Cheri Magid   Stream here.   Third Citizen Theatre Company presents Digital Dionysia now-January 26 A ten-week series of new, contemporary short plays inspired by classical Greek theatre and mythology and produced by local creative teams with playwrights from New England and beyond. These plays reintroduce familiar characters and settings in ways that are surprising, hilarious, thought-provoking, and always original.  Nemesis by Andrea Aptecker January 12 directed by Alexandra Smith Octavian Augustus: A Tale of Topping by Nic Sommerfield January 12 directed by Jillian Blevins Persephone at the Motel 6 by David Lewison January 19 directed by Emily Grove A Midsummer Night's Slam by Arianna Rose January 19 directed by Danielle Woods Izzy at Zoom Therapy by Jillian Blevins January 19 directed by Peter Sampieri Tickets: $5 per week; $25 series pass. Sunderland Public Library presents Sunderland Short Story Series January 22 at 6:30 PM Actors Court Dorsey and Terry Jenoure will perform two stories: The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, and The Cracked Mirror by Wangari Maathai, respectively.  This is a virtual event over Zoom. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85950674484 www.sunderlandpubliclibrary.org/programs-from-home In conjunction with our mission to promote unheard voices, Silverthorne Theater Company is assisting with this important project by Time To Tell. Survivors’ Voices: Works of Resilience Written and Read by Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse A FREE, LIVE ZOOM EVENT ON JANUARY 22 AT 7:00PM, JANUARY 23 AT 3:00 PM AND 7:00 PM, AND JANUARY 24TH AT 3:00 PM, 2021 (REGISTRATION REQUIRED, SESSIONS LIMITED TO 50 PEOPLE) Each showcase will highlight 8-9 survivors reading their original writing and then a dialogue between the audience and the artists. Click here to register today: Survivors’ Voices Event Registration More information. SILVERTHORNE THEATER LAUNCHES ITS “SHORT & SWEET (tiny) NEW PLAY FESTIVAL”   In March 2020, twelve actors, two directors and sixteen playwrights were poised to begin rehearsals for Silverthorne Theater Company’s Short & Sweet (tiny) New Play Festival, a project long in the making and finally ready to go!   Then the Covid 19 pandemic hit and on March 14, the door slammed shut on live performance throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.   Undaunted, the production members regrouped and throughout the summer and fall transformed each of the ten-minute playscripts into screenplays! With small casts and good weather, the Company’s tech director John Iverson was able to film each short piece in outdoor locations as we pivoted our operations to meet the new reality. “The whole process has been incredibly exciting,” said STC Managing Director Lucinda Kidder. “The final product, these short films, in many ways have benefitted from the audience experience possible in this medium.”   Thus, on February 12, 13 and 14, the Short & Sweet Festival will finally be launched! Here’s how it will work:   On Friday, February 12, the following plays will be screened, beginning at 7:30 pm. The Group A line-up, all directed by Julian Findlay consists of Choices, by James McLindon (Northampton MA); Canvas, by Andrew Heinrich (San Antonio TX); Interventions, by Greg Lam (Milton MA); Webster’s Bitch, by Jacqueline Bircher (Brooklyn NY); Cell Phone in the Yoga Class, by Michele Markarian (Cambridge MA); A Gift, by Jonathan Prouser (Western MA); Second Look, by Nick Malakhow (Brighton MA); and People Will Talk, by Scott Mullen (Burbank CA).   On Saturday, February 13, the Group B plays, under the direction of Ben Ware, will screen, again beginning at 7:30 pm. The line-up is Jump, by Gina Femia (Brooklyn NY); Indelible, by John Bavoso (Washington DC); Four Daughters, by Ellen Wittlinger (Haydenville MA); Raghead, by Tom Coash (New Haven CT); Family Game Night, by Peter Kennedy (Williamsberg MA); Mishpocha, by Emily Bloch (Easthampton); and A Wake, by Brian Petti (Slate Hill, NY).   Following each night of plays, viewers will be asked to select their Top Four Favorite Plays! Then on Sunday, February 14, the chosen Eight Favorite Plays will be screened again, beginning at 7:30 pm.   Viewers will be able to buy individual tickets for any of the three nights of plays for $15 each, or get a Festival Pass for all three nights for $35! The links to the online screening site are provided once tickets are purchased. Details and links to the ticketing site may be found on the Special Events page at Silverthorne’s web site: https://silverthornetheater.org/  The Short & Sweet (tiny) New Play Festival is sponsored in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.   AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES K and E Theater Group Auditions: HELLO AGAIN Audition submissions and materials accepted until January 24, 2021! K and E Theater Group can't wait to say HELLO AGAIN! Auditions to be held by video submission until January 24, 2021. Callbacks to be held over Zoom. Check out www.KETG.org/AUDITIONS for more information about the show, character breakdown and for audition submission requirements. HELLO AGAIN runs September 9-12, 2021, at Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton. Don't forget to like us on Facebook and Instagram and visit KETG.org for more information on our supersized Season Two! WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Starlight's Youth Theatre Winter Online Acting Classes Classes run January 9-February 13 Financial Aid is available We are happy to announce a Winter Term of Zoom classes for January and February on both Saturday mornings and Monday evenings.  Classes include Musical Theatre, Storytelling, Acting for Film, Directing Workshop, Aesop's Fables, and The Jungle Book. https://www.starlights-youth-theatre.com/ Northampton Community Making Space Where:  33 Hawley - Eli’s room When: Third Saturday’s of the Month from 4-7 Jan 16 Feb 27 Who: Our Community Cost:  Free - there will be a  voluntary (NOT required) collection jar to help pay for the space rental What:  Northampton Community Making Space As we continue to figure out how to be artists in this time, I would like to offer a space for us to make in a community, while still paying attention to the care that we need to take of ourselves and others in the times of COVID 19.  Please join us at 33 Hawley on the third Saturday of the month from 4-7 in Eli’s Room for community making.   All experience levels are welcome.  Who is a maker?  A maker is a writer, a painter, a mover, a quilter, a weaver, a poet, a photographer, a digital artist, a filmmaker, a woodworker, a stained glass artist, a performer, a musician, a potter, a philosopher, an activist - so many things that it defies definition.  A maker is someone who looks around them and asks of themselves and others, “what can this idea become?” A maker is in continuous evolution.  We will each have a 6’ space. You will be provided a table, a chair or easy chair, a dedicated power strip, and a drop cloth. You will need to bring your own materials and tools.  Please bring projects that are appropriate for working on in a group setting.  There will be three foot aisles between each space, and masks will be required at all times.   The space will accommodate 10 people at one time.  You may stay for the full three hours, or just drop in for an hour or so.  In order to organize our safe attendance, please follow this link to sign up for a time.  Please indicate your interest and the time that you would like to attend by following the link and signing up for a slot. I hope you are able to join us for making in community   See you soon! Recycled Puppets and the Throw Away World VIRTUAL ZOOM WORKSHOP Dates and times (eastern standard):  Saturday January 23 @ 1:00- 3:00 pm Sunday January 24 @ 1:00- 3:00 pm Friday January 29 @ 7:00- 9:00 pm Saturday January 30 @ 1:00- 3:00 pm Website: http://www.worldandeye.com/recycled-puppets-and-the-throw-away-world.html  TEXT and DETAILS: Recycled Puppets and The Throw Away World How can objects found around the house be brought to life? What stories do they have to tell?  Engage with others in short scenes and discussions about objects that are precious and the cost of knick knacks on the planet. Have fun discovering characters, stories and scenes through the magic of animating puppets made of a crumpled paper, an old baby blanket, a discarded umbrella. Explore sustainability in a completely new creative hands on approach. Special Introductory New Year Offer: $50 for all 4 meetings For information and to register: http://www.worldandeye.com/recycled-puppets-and-the-throw-away-world About the facilitator: Jean Minuchin runs The World and Eye Arts Center, which produces hands-on workshops, exhibits and performance about social issues through the arts. Jean has 20 + years in arts education in schools and community. Her own works are a mixture of multi-disciplinary puppetry and storytelling. www.jeanminuchin.com                                    Contact: jean@worldandeye.com    BERKSHIRE FILM AND MEDIA COLLABORATIVE (BFMC) PRESENTS TWO ONLINE WORKSHOPS ON SCREENWRITING AND PITCHING WITH HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER/AGENT MARILYN R. ATLAS ON JANUARY 23 AND 30 The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative presents two online workshops with the renowned Hollywood producer, literary manager and screenwriter Marilyn R. Atlas, as part of its continuing mission to provide learning opportunities for the film community in Western Massachusetts. Atlas will present “Creating Memorable Characters” on Saturday, January 23 from 3PM-5PM ET, and “The Importance of Pitching” on Saturday, January 30, from 3PM-5PM. During the latter workshop, some participants will have the opportunity to pitch their film and video projects to Atlas.  Some writers talk about creating connections with their characters so deep that the characters feel like real people. But how do you bring memorable, three-dimensional characters to life enough to make that connection? In the first seminar, Atlas will use examples and lead exercises from the relationship based screenwriting guide she co-authored, Dating Your Character (Stairway Press). The Pitch class will cover many critical topics including: adapting your pitch to the audience you’re pitching to, mistakes people make when pitching, understanding the market and projects worthy of pitching, and the importance of the “hook.” Diane Pearlman, Executive Director of BFMC comments, “These seminars are for authors, screenwriters, playwrights, directors, producers or anyone who wants to tell an impactful story. Do you have an idea for the great film or TV series? You don’t need to be in NY or LA to create content these days - you just need the proper tools. So we’re thrilled that Marilyn is bringing her incredible expertise to our community” Marilyn R Atlas, a Hollywood Talent/Literary Manager and Producer, has long been committed to diversity and portrayal of strong female protagonists. She’s the producer of the HBO Sundance winning film Real Women Have Curves (now in development as a Broadway show) and The Choking Game on Lifetime among other films. Marilyn also produced several plays including the award winning To Gillian on her 37th Birthday. She has spoken at numerous writers’ conferences throughout the US and Europe. She’s currently developing projects based on diverse characters such as the Gary Phillips crime books and the award-winning middle school book series, The Code Busters Club for television, as well as developing a limited series in conjunction with Maten, a Chinese-based production company. Atlas co-authored the  relationship-based, screenwriting guide Dating Your Character (Stairway Press).  Tickets are $55.00 for one workshop and $95.00 for both. Student tickets are available at $45.00. Tickets for both workshops are available through EventBrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-pitching-classes-wliteraryagent-author-producer-marilyn-atlas-tickets-136106812139 The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) is a creative economic engine that supports production and workforce development in Western Massachusetts. BFMC develops educational and workforce enrichment courses, offers networking events for industry professionals, acts as a resource for visiting productions, creates jobs within our communities in the film industry and provides an on line production guide and locations database as a resource for filmmakers. BFMC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For details: www.berkshirefilm.org. Submit your workshop, class, audition, performance, or any other theatre opportunity here! Pioneer Valley Theatre Companies 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 Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center 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 Department of 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|*