Pioneer Valley Theatre News January 21, 2021

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser January 21 - February 10, 2021 Whew! I'm sure you're all feeling relieved to have a successful inauguration in the past now. Hopefully COVID is on it's way out, the vaccines are on their way in, and we'll be back to live theatre before the end of the year. Fingers crossed.  We have a ton of workshops listed this week. Scroll all the way down or click to view the newsletter in your browser to make sure you aren't missing anything - lots of great things coming up! The next issue will include events through February 17. 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. 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 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. From the New England New Play Alliance: Virtual Theatre and Podcast The Valley Players presents A Life Altering Event by Jeanne Beckwith January 21-23 directed by Doug Bergstein Judith comes home to find her husband in shock. Dan has had an automobile accident from which he miraculously walked away without a scratch. He should have died, and now he is looking for a rational universe. While new friends Keith and Bonnie are visiting, a strange woman, Mary, shows up. She is the wife of the man in the other vehicle. It soon becomes clear that she and her husband were not as ordinary as they first seem, and the mystery that surrounds them includes a bag full of cash and a secret code. Mary disappears after she is asked too many questions, which prompts Detective Dolan to ask some questions of his own. Tickets: free (donations requested). Fresh Ink Theatre presents a reading of Shrike by Erin Lerch January 24, 2:00 pm directed by Joshua Glenn-Kayden When the alien Legion came, Sheena lost everything. All she has left is one final, unlikely dream: the Rebellion. But when she arrives, it’s to a Rebellion shattered by the loss of its leader, pushed to increasingly desperate measures – including working with their alien enemy. As tensions mount, Sheena has to face the question: when you have nothing left, what do you fight for? Tickets: free (donation suggested).   Company One presents Remaking America: An Inaugural Message to the New Administration January 26 Each new President pledges to “preserve, protect, and defend,” but which communities are at the front of that line? Company One’s Surge Lab playwrights — Inda Craig-Galván, Francisca Da Silveira, and Idris Goodwin — demand that we ALL move to the front by re-imagining our Better Future for housing, health, and education, along with local community leaders who have been doing the work. Tickets: free, registration required (donation suggested). 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 Grace streaming now See the annual public presentation by members of #DTFWAW as they share short pieces and works-in-process written in response to the word grace.   Gracefully Yours by Sharahn LaRue    How to be Graceful by Elizabeth M. Kelly   Notes from Isolation: Birthday Flowers by Nandita Shenoy   Scarecrow by Heidi Armbruster   Grace with a Capital G by Donna Eis    Repose  by Carolyn Baeumler   a selection from Dolly's Dream Bimari by Purva Bedi   Don't be a Karen, Mommy by Mary Bacon   In the Final Hours by Mariana Newhard   Beethoven's Dream by Maggie Diaz Bofill    Grace by Katie Kreisler   Change by Laura Gómez   Stream here.   Third Citizen Theatre Companypresents 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.  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 The Oracle Cassandra by Amanda Beveridge January 26 directed by James Peter Sotis The Making of Medea's Medea: A Mockumentary Play by Chas Belov January 26 directed by Peter Sampieri Tickets: $5 per week; $25 series pass. SILVERTHORNE THEATER LAUNCHES ITS “SHORT & SWEET (tiny) NEW PLAY FESTIVAL”   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/ Let's Play! Improv Games With Joy & Ease January 22nd at 12:00 PM More info. Let's play easy-to-learn, silly-fun improv games that will have you laughing, connecting...and experiencing the positive benefits of play! This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. (Note: This one is 45-minutes long.) 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. Happiness Meditation: Recharge, Reconnect, & Relax January 29th at 12:00 PM More info. Recharge during your lunch hour in this guided happiness-focused meditation that will (hopefully!) leave you feeling uplifted, joyful, and energized. This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. Introducing our Completely Ridiculous Winter Workshop Series! Tuesday nights from 6-8pm EST, starting February 2nd. 6 weeks. $295. Open to 12 students. Études are a rehearsal tool developed from Stanislavski’s final experiments. This course seeks to foster a dynamic interaction between actor and text. Through a series of exploratory improvisations called études, actors unpack and personalize the given circumstances — following their own impulses to achieve profound and thrillingly original interpretations. The course focuses on how to activate “bookwork” through imagination, awareness, and sense of spontaneous play. The method gives students practical tools to pull even the most intimidating texts off their pedestals and make them their own. Students will gain confidence in the legitimacy of their own impulses, having followed their interpretations of text and character to the furthest possible point. Sign up. Acceptance: Practice Through Improv February 5th at 12:00 PM More info. Practice the wellness mindset of "Acceptance" through a simple and silly improv game that will have you learning through laughter. This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. Happier Valley Comedy presents Establishing A Resilience Building Happiness Practice February 6 at 11:00 AM Like the flight attendants say, "Please put on your own oxygen mask before attending to others." How’s your energy tank these days? If you just sighed with fatigue or guffawed incredulously, this fun and informative remote interactive online presentation might be just what you need! Professional improv comedian and happiness coach Pam Victor invites you on an experiential exploration of happiness and resilience building habits to enhance self-care practices. Using the wonders of Zoom, you’ll gain 11 simple but profound practices to bring more self-care, gratitude, and play into your daily life. By the end of our time together, you will have a full stress-relieving toolbox to develop your own customized daily happiness self-care practice. More information. Introducing our Completely Ridiculous Winter Workshop Series! Sunday nights from 6-8pm, EST. Starting February 7th. ​6 weeks. $295. Open to 10 students. This workshop is designed to demonstrate to comedians of all kinds how their wayward point-of-view can help make them uniquely dynamic as actors. The workshop will also demonstrate to acting students how cultivating a comedy skill-set adds delight and ease to their process, and provides a pathway to more personal and electric performances in all genres and mediums. While this class is geared towards comics who are auditioning; working on a specific project; getting into writing for the screen or stage; or simply want to become all-around bolder, more sensitive and dynamic performers - all are welcome. Sign up.  Positivity Practices Through Improv February 12th at 12:00 PM More info. Join happiness coach Pam Victor in an experiential exploration of key Happiness Habits to bring positivity, well-being, and ease to your life. This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. Intentional Connection Through Improv February 19th at 12:00 PM More info. Intentional connection is profoundly necessary for health and happiness. This super-fun improv game has you connecting through laughter! This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. Self-Care & Happiness Habits: Intro to the Happiness Experiment February 26th at 12:00 PM More info. Explore some simple yet profoundly nourishing self-care daily habits to bring some extra joy and ease into your winter ... and the seasons to follow! This is part of the free Lunch & Laugh series of weekly online workshops, where individual workshops give you a bite-sized taste of one specific Happiness Habit from "The 30-Day Happiness Experiment Program" using playful learning exercises and engaging group connection. Northampton Community Making Space Where:  33 Hawley - Eli’s room When: Third Saturday’s of the Month from 4-7 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! 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|*