Pioneer Valley Theatre News January 19, 2023

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser January 19 - February 8, 2023 I've been sharing lots of articles from Howlround over the years, sometimes interspersing articles from other publications (American Theatre this week). Howlround seems to have a lot more podcasts these days, which are not quite as fun to share in print, although I do sometimes - so go check out their website if you are looking for more theatre news. And if you stumble across a great article you think more people should read, I'm more than happy to share any articles sent my way.  Read Max Hartshorne's review of Native Gardens at the Majestic here.  The next issue will include events from January 26 - February 15. 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 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 American Theatre Cripping Richard III: What Disabled Actors Bring to the Role by Jeffrey R. Wilson From the article:  Arthur Hughes playing Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company is the latest disabled actor to reclaim Shakespeare’s disabled character from a tradition of able-bodied actors “cripping up” to play disabled. Performances like Hughes’s illuminate the logic of “cripping,” a term of empowerment for acts that reconfigure stigmas associated with disability based on knowledge gained from disability activism and disability studies. The cripping of Richard III opens up discussions about the relationship between an actor’s and character’s identities while illustrating the recent push for fair hiring practices in theatre. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Come join the swimming, singing, and sparkling sea creatures in this delightful tale, complete with irresistible songs, stunning sets and costumes, and full live orchestra! Join us “under the sea” in UMass’s beautiful Bowker Auditorium; nine performances run January 19-22 and January 26-29, 2023. For tickets, just visit www.amherstacts.org! NATIVE GARDENS IN BLOOM AT MAJESTIC THEATER JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 12   West Springfield’s Majestic Theater continues its 25th Season with Native Gardens, a contemporary comedy by Karen Zacarias.  The play, which runs January 5 through February 12, looks at how next door neighbors in an affluent neighborhood in Washington, DC hash out border disputes and cultural misunderstandings.  The timely comedy focuses on Frank and Virginia Butely, residents of a lush home who fill their time with dinner parties and tending to Frank’s prize-winning garden.  When lawyer Pablo Del Valle and his pregnant wife Tania move into the fixer-upper next door, they challenge the status quo by cultivating a “native garden,” planting only vegetation indigenous to the area, and threatening Frank’s annual entry to the Potomac Horticultural Society’s neighborhood garden contest.   Danny Eaton is producing director, while James Warwick is directing the play.  Associate Producing Director/Stage manager is Sue Dziura, and Stephen Petit is production stage manager.  Aurora Ferraro is associate production manager, and Josiah Durham is technical director.  The set was designed by Greg Trochlil, Dawn McKay is costume designer, and Daniel Rist is lighting designer.    Cast members include J. T. Waite (Frank), Ellen Barry (Virginia), Peter Evangelista (Pablo) and Sara Linares (Tania).  They are joined by Tina Sparkle, Michael Morales and Mikey Perez.   Ticket prices range from $29 - $35 and can be obtained by visiting or calling the box office at (413) 747-7797 during hours of operation (Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)   Audience members are required to wear a mask while in the building unless actively eating or drinking in the café.  Doors to the theater will open one hour before the start of a show, which is also when the café opens.  For more information, visit www.majestictheater.com The Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare Returns to the Berkshires on February 11 Shakespeare & Company will stage a special, Valentine's presentation of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., featuring the cast of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare and directed by Kevin G. Coleman. I'll Be Thine, Valentine: Romeo & Juliet will be staged at the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company’s Lenox, Mass. campus, featuring Travis Ascione, Cameron Davis, Ptah Garvin, JoJo McDonald, Stephanie Neuerburg, Savanna Padilla, and Naire Poole, with costume design by Shakespeare & Company Costume Director Govane Lohbauer and production design by Devon Drohan. Tickets range from $25 to $35, and $12.50 for students; for more information, visit shakespeare.org, or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353. This production is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES  Wanted: director for new one-man show by critically acclaimed writer-performer of productions at the Edinburgh Fringe, United Solo Festival, One Man Standing Festival, and venues from Washington DC to Vermont. John Feffer’s latest play features Sherlock Holmes’s last case, the suicide of a famous Russian poet in Moscow in 1930. There’s no mystery who killed Vladimir Mayakovsky—but why did he do it? Hope I Die Before I Get Old combines video, music, dance, and puppetry in a multi-media exploration of artistic ambition, political revolution, and unrequited love. We are planning rehearsals in late spring/early summer 2023 and performances in the Northampton area in summer or early fall, with remounts elsewhere in the Northeast in 2023 and 2024. Please send resume and cover letter to stage manager Nikki Beck at nikkicbeck@gmail.com. Script available upon request. Majestic Theater 131 Elm St West Springfield, MA 01089 Theater Lighting technician needed. Part time.  Must be skilled in hanging and focusing theatrical lighting and is comfortable in a Genie personnel lift.  Knowledge of Theatrical LED Fixtures preferred but not necessary. Hourly pay depending on skill level and experience.  Must be available on Sunday nights with some daytime work also needed.  Send resumes to Associate Producing Director, Sue Dziura at sue@majestictheater.com Scenic Artist – MAJESTIC THEATER About the Company The Majestic Theater has been bringing locally-produced live, professional theater to the Pioneer Valley since 1997. Every season at the Majestic consists of five productions, including at least one musical, which typically run for six weeks. In addition to the subscription season, the summer includes children's theater, concerts, plays, improvisational comedy shows, and more. Job Description The Scenic Artist works closely with the Technical Director and Scenic Designer to accomplish all texture and painted effects of a production.  The scenic artist oversees painting crews as needed, but primarily works independently alongside the TD and Designer.  The successful candidate should have a working knowledge of all theatrical painting techniques and/or the self-motivation and determination to discover the best way to accomplish the work according to the design.  Carpentry and design skills are a plus. Experience in a professional or collegiate theatrical shop required.  Work schedule based upon productions: five season productions (August – April), children’s theater (May – June), additional productions as scheduled.  Short-term/Seasonal position, but could become full-time with the right candidate Hourly compensation based upon experience.  Hourly range $20 to $25. Housing Possible  Interested applicants should email sue@majestictheater.com with current professional resume and website/portfolio. Smith College Department of Theatre AUDITIONS: LA RUTA by Isaac Gómez directed by Monica Lopez Orozco To the U.S.-owned factories in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, La Ruta is just a bus. But to the hundreds of women who live, work and often disappear along the route, it’s so much more than that. Inspired by real testimonies, and using live music to evoke factory work and protest marches, La Ruta is a visceral unearthing of secrets buried in the desert and a celebration of the Mexican women who stand resiliently in the wake of loss. Auditions: Sunday, January 29 and Monday, January 30, 7:00-9:00 PM Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA Please let us know if you are interested but unable to make either date. Callbacks will be on Tuesday, January 31, 7:00-9:00 PM Rehearsals: Begin early March. Exact schedule TBD. We typically rehearse 5 days per week (Sunday through Thursday)  Performances: April 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 PM in Theatre 14 Casting Breakdown:  All of the characters in this play are Mexican. YOLI - a mother, 40s MARISELA - a mother, 40s IVONNE - a friend, 26 BRENDA - a daughter, 16 ZAIDE - a maquila worker, 40s DESAMAYA - a singer/musician who is both timeless and ageless WOMEN OF JUÁREZ - women who fill the world of Juárez, all ages Audition Prep: No appointment necessary. No preparation required, but auditioners are encouraged to be familiar with the text. If you are a strong singer and/or instrument player, please prepare a short, 32 bar cut of a song (roughly 1:15-1:30 minutes ) to bring into your audition. Genres to consider; folk, traditional (and/or regional) songs specific to any Latin American country, and blues. Perusal scripts available at Josten Library. Contact/Questions: Production Manager, Nikki Beck, ncbeck@smith.edu Greenfield Community College Auditions for THE MINUTES by Tracy Letts Sloan Theater at Greenfield Community College Auditions for THE MINUTES at GCC Theater Mon, Feb 6 & Tue, Feb 7 at 3:30pm, with Callbacks Wed, Feb 8 at 3:30pm. No experience needed for actors or backstage crew. Fresh from Broadway and 2022 Tony Award nominee for Best Play… The Minutes A comedy by Tracy Letts Directed by Tom Geha Described as a “scathing new comedy about small-town politics and real-world power, from the author of August: Osage County, exposes the ugliness behind some of our most closely-held American narratives while asking each of us what we would do to keep from becoming history’s losers.” – Concord Theatricals Setting: City Council Meeting in the fictional town of Big Cherry WORKSHOPS & CLASSES PRACTICE STUDIO with Chalia La Tour A Weekly, 90 minute Drop-In Class, ​​Open to All Levels of Experience Mondays starting January 9 | 12-1.30pm EST | On Zoom NEW PRICING FOR 2023! First Session for $5 / Drop-In for $15 / 4 Class Pack for $55 Click here to sign up for your first session! And click here to drop-in or grab a 4 class pack. Like any art form, acting is a practice. In Practice Studio you will be given held space to do just that. Practice. Practice tuning into yourself. Practice releasing & empowering your voice. Practice generously offering and vulnerably revealing yourself. Each week Tony Award nominee and Broadway Black’s Antonyo Award Recipient for Best Featured Actor in a Broadway Play, Chalia La Tour (Slave Play Broadway, Yale MFA) will guide you through a progression of exercises & deep internal exploration to aid you on a path where your artistry is ever growing. This class is perfect for maintaining a sharpness of skills, preparation for auditions, or revitalizing your connection to your work. What does practice make? Better. Submit your workshop, class, audition, performance, or any other theatre opportunity here! Pioneer Valley Theatre Companies Academy of Music Theatre Amherst Community Theater Arena Civic Theatre A.C.T. Youth 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 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 Mount Holyoke College Rooke Theatre No Theater Northampton Community Arts Trust Northampton Playwrights Lab PaintBox Theatre Panopera Pauline Productions Performance Project Phantom Sheep Players Play Incubation Collective 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 Theater Between Addresses TheatreTruck Turbulent Times Theater UMass Department of Theater UMass Theatre Guild Unity House Players Valley Light Opera Ware Community Theatre Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players World and Eye 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 TV/Radio and News Column Local Theater Critic Max Hartshorne 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|*