Pioneer Valley Theatre News November 16, 2023

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser November 16 - December 6, 2023 Another exciting and busy week of performances: Angels in America at GCC, As You Like It with Junkyard Shakespeare, A Bright New Boise at HCC, Annie Jr in Turner's Falls, Footloose at St. Michael's Players, Moonglow at the Majestic, for Jude at APE, and more with Happier Valley Comedy and Starlight Youth Theatre. Two shows I would recommend especially this weekend: Olvidados at CitySpace and All Things Equal at the Academy of Music. More details about all of these shows below! The next issue will include events from November 23 - December 13. 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 Howlround Performance, Pro-Democracy Protest, and Activism Across Cultures by Kristin Idaszak From the article:  I arrived at the island of Štrelecky ostrov on a mild June morning, the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle in postcard-perfect formation in the distance. Carmen Lee, executive director of Theatre du Poulet and co-creator and co-director of Be Water, My Friend, hailed me with an unusual greeting: a drop of water she entrusted into my care. I carried the water, drawn from the Vltava River which coursed around the island, on the back of my hand. Then I added the water to a cascade of drops created by all the audience-participants in that morning’s performance. It was our first lesson in the power of collectivity: alone, our drops were vulnerable to evaporation or absorption, but together they created a waterfall. As a group, we manipulated the water on a clear plastic tarp redolent of a theatre game. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES Greenfield Community College Angels in America Thu Nov 16 7pm, Fri Nov 17 7pm, Sat Nov 18 (Closing Night) 7pm. Sloan Theater at Greenfield Community College Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner Directed by Tom Geha Ticket link: https://www.gcc.mass.edu/theater Tickets: $15 General Admission / $5 Students & Seniors Synopsis: Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning drama Angels in America is one of the great epic American plays of this past century. We meet Louis and Prior and Harper and Joe, two couples whose relationships are on the rocks; the former because of Prior’s AIDS diagnosis and Louis’ inability to cope with illness, and the latter because of Joe’s closeted homosexuality and Harper’s incessant fears and hallucinations. Angels in America continues this coming Spring with Part Two! Also, Life Behind the Lens: Selected Stories from 40 Years in the Movie Industry with Mike Haley, assistant director to the HBO film version of Angels in America. Wed, Nov 8 at 7pm, C208 at GCC. Junkyard Shakespeare presents As You Like It - an immersive outdoor production that invites you to step into the Forest of Arden (literally). Dates: November 16-17 @ 7pm November 18 @ 2pm Rain date: November 19 @ 2pm Location:* The Dingle 257 South St. Northampton, MA 01060 FEATURING: ORLANDO: Felix Beauchamp ROSALIND: Hilary Dennis JAQUES/CORIN: Mary Dennis DUKE FREDERICK/OLIVER/AMIEN: Jelena Djukic ADAM/TOUCHSTONE/PHOEBE: Chris Hahn SILVIUS/CHARLES: Jane MacLaughlin CELIA: Emma Elle Paterson LE BEAU/DUKE SENIOR/AUDREY: Justin Viz CREW: Design: Costanza Bugiani Mental Health Coordinator: Sarah Woolf *Please note: this is a private residence and not ADA accessible. You will be asked to walk up and down steep dirt paths in a dimly lit patch of forest. Wear supportive footwear. Please use your best judgment when determining if attending this show is right for you. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/junkyard-shakespeare-presents-as-you-like-it-tickets-715962983557?aff=oddtdtcreator Check out digital program to read more! We can't wait to welcome you to our Forest of Arden. https://www.hilarygdennis.com/junkyard-shakespeares-as-you-like-it Holyoke Community College Theater A Bright New Boise November 16 ay 7:30 PM, Friday November 17, 7:30pm (ASL Interpreted)  Saturday November 18, 2:00pm Saturday November 18, 7:30pm Leslie Phillips Theater, Fine and Performing Arts Building, Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke MA 01040 [2nd Floor] The Holyoke Community College Theater Department will present A Bright New Boise, by Samuel D. Hunter    After a tragic incident that resulted in the dissolution of his church, Will, age 39, is trying to reconnect with his teenage son Alex, who has been estranged since birth. To do so he applies for a job at Hobby Lobby in Boise Idaho where Alex is working for the summer. The store is managed by Pauline, a staunch advocate for order in a world of retail chaos. Also working at the store are Leroy, Alex’s fiercely protective older brother and Anna, a sweet and somewhat lost twenty-something.       A Bright New Boise was written by Samuel D. Hunter (Author of The Whale) and first produced in 2010 by Partial Comfort Productions at The Wild Project in New York City. The play earned Hunter a 2011 Obie Award for Playwriting. Hunter was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho and now lives in New York.   This show is appropriate for audience members 13 years of age and older. Contains strong language and graphic imagery. Performance Dates: Thursday November 16 7:30pm Friday November 17 7:30pm (ASL Interpreted) Saturday November 18 2:00pm Saturday November 18 7:30pm All performances will be in the Leslie Phillips Theater on the campus of Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke MA, 01040 [Fine and Performing Arts Building, 2nd floor] Running Time: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes This performance does not have an intermission   Tickets: HCC Students Staff and Faculty $5.00 General Admission $10.00 Seniors $8.00 Tickets available 1 hour before show, at the Leslie Phillips Box Office, or by calling 413 552 2528 to reserve tickets. https://www.facebook.com/hcctheater/ Great Falls Middle School/Turners Falls High School Annie Jr. 11/16 at 7pm, 11/17 @ 7p, 11/18 @ 7p and 11/19 @ 2p Turners Falls High school, 222 Turnpike Road, Turners Falls, MA Come join the beloved redheaded orphan who finds a life, and love, while capturing the heart of Daddy Warbucks and everyone around her. Cast includes Great Falls Middle School students w/some supporting TFHS students. Tickets sold at the door Adults--$10 Students & Seniors--$8 Children under 5--$5 St. MIchael's Players Footloose the Musical No. 16, Nov. 17, and 18 @ 7 p.m. and Nov. 19 @ 2 p.m. St. MIchael's Community Center 53 Somers Road East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Broadway musical featuring all those great 80's songs you love! stmichaelsplayers.com/tickets “MOONGLOW” LIGHTS UP MAJESTIC STAGE NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 3 Romantic Comedy Set in Lowell, MA is by Playwright Jack Neary The Majestic Theater will present an original work by Massachusetts playwright Jack Neary, Moonglow, as the second show of its 2022-2023 Season.  The romantic comedy will run October 26 – December 3 at the West Springfield venue, with Neary directing it. Moonglow is set in Lowell, MA and tells the story of Ray Healy, a middle-aged music teacher and Catholic school band director whose personal life is “a big question mark.”  When his secretary finally admits her romantic aspirations for their relationship, secrets about Ray’s past are revealed.  “Jack Neary’s plays have been favorites at this theater over the years, stated Danny Eaton, producing director for the Majestic.  “We’ve presented Jerry Finnegan’s Sister, First Night and The Porch to enthusiastic audiences and we’re happy to bring another of his romantic comedies to our stage.  Jack’s plays often portray elements of life in New England while presenting endearingly realistic characters facing relatable circumstances.” The cast includes Brian Argotsinger (Ray), Stephanie Carlson (Arlene), Rand Foerster (Father Hackett), Nora Streeter (Dorothy), Stephanie Craven (Clancy) and Margaret Reilly Streeter (Linda).  Sue Dziura is associate producing director.  Production stage manager is Stephen Petit, and Aurora Ferraro is associate production manager.  The lighting and scenic designer is Dan Rist, costume designer is Dawn McKay, and scenic artist is Braith Dicker.  Tickets are now being sold to all remaining plays in the Majestic’s current 2023-2024 Season, and range from $31 - $37.  Tickets to the Majestic’s annual Home for the Holidays show (December 7-22) are also now available and are $28-$26.  Box office hours are Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am-1pm.   The wearing of face masks in the theater is optional. 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 "for Jude" ​A one-act play adapted from the off-Broadway play Occupied Territories Created by Nancy Bannon and Mollye Maxner ​Readings on: November 17th at 7pm November 18th at 7pm  November 19th at 2pm ​ A.P.E. Gallery, 126 Main Street, Northampton MA Readings are FREE, but seating is limited.  Reserve seats HERE ​ In “for Jude”, two adult sisters reckon with their legacy as children of a Vietnam Veteran on the night of their father’s funeral. The powerful story integrates live performance with the artwork of Home/War/Home, creating a dynamic experience of theater and visual art.  CitySpace & Elisa Gonzales presents Olvidados: A Mexican American Corrido November 17 and 18 at 7:00 PM 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA 01027 Theatre artist Elisa Gonzales presents Olvidados: A Mexican American Corrido on November 17-18, 2023, 7:00 PM in CitySpace’s Blue Room at Old Town Hall at 43 Main St. Easthampton, MA. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for other general admission. Olvidados: A Mexican American Corrido, a one-woman play with music (by Elisa Gonzales, music and additional lyrics by Moises Vázquez), is about the many untold stories of the Repatriation, based on heart-wrenching true-life events. In 1931, as the Great Depression darkened America, a new xenophobia swept through the country, aimed at hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and their American-born children. In a solo performance that transcends time and space, we witness the Repatriation through the eyes of three courageous women spanning across several generations of a Mexican family, and the songs of a shape-shifting musician who immortalizes the immigrant experience through corridos. A 2022 Semi-Finalist for the Eugene O'Neill National Music Theatre Conference, Gonzales will present two public staged readings of the latest iteration of the play, followed by a moderated talkback after each presentation. Elisa Gonzales is a Pay It Forward recipient. Photo by Ben Barnhart. Tickets and More Information  The Academy of Music presents All Things Equal Friday, November 17th at 7:30 PM Written by Tony Award Winning playwright Rupert Holmes Starring Michelle Azar as Ruth Bader Ginsburg Directed by Laley Lippard Sponsored by Downton Valley Supreme Court Justice “RBG” welcomes a friend of the family to her cozy chambers to convey, over the course of ninety fascinating and often funny minutes, a sense of her life and its many trials: losing her mother the day before she graduated as valedictorian of her Brooklyn high school … being one of only nine young women studying law at Harvard while also raising a daughter and helping her husband battle cancer, fighting for women’s rights in the nineteen-seventies before condescending all-male courts, and taking courageous stands for human rights as a voice of reason amid a splintering and increasingly politicized Supreme Court. An evening with a great and compassionate icon of straight-thinking American justice emerges … an RBG who is not only “notorious” but victorious as she takes a stand for ordinary people facing the many challenges of a changing world. Bring your scrunchies, your hankies, your humor and your heart to this entertaining and uplifting event. Tickets here. Starlight's Youth Theatre Fall Performances November 18 at 11:00 AM Amherst Regional Middle School and St. Brigid’s Parish The following week check out Twelfth Night at St. Brigid’s Parish in Amherst  on November 18th at 11am! This 7th through 12th grade class tackles their biggest Shakespeare production yet! Tickets are $10 at the door for Twelfth Night. Happier Valley Comedy Presents Not In Charge November 18 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley HVC Presents: Not In Charge! Join the talented group Not In Charge for a fast-paced improv show inspired by true stories from the cast! Third Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $15 online and at the door. For more info: www.happiervalley.com/notincharge.html. Happier Valley Comedy Presents The Happier Valley Championship Show November 25 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley The Happier Valley Championship! In this competitive comedy show, two teams of improvisers face off through scenes and games to see who can win the ultimate prize: your laughter! Fourth Saturday of every month at 7pm at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater (1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, on rte.9). Tickets: $15 online and at the door. For more info The Northampton Playwrights Lab proudly presents their 2023 Play By Play Festival November 30 - December 3, 2023 APE Gallery Space, 126 Main Street, Nothampton Tickets available here Thurs 11/30 @ 7:30PM: PORT OF ENTRY by Talya Kingston Friday 12/1 @ 7:30PM: THE FADE-AWAY ADVANTAGE by Meryl Cohn Sat 12/2 @ 2:00PM: THE BUILDING by Betel Arnold Sat 12/2 @ 7:30PM: HAUNTED HOUSES by Peter Kennedy Sun 12/3 @ 2:00PM: THE FADE-AWAY ADVANTAGE by Meryl Cohn Sun 12/3 @ 7:00PM: HEDGES by Stephanie Carlson and THE BIRDS THE BIRDS THE BIRDS by Harley Erdman The Northampton Playwrights Lab, originally founded by Meryl Cohn, is a development workshop and creative laboratory for professional playwrights with an 18-year history in  Northampton. Members have had their work produced at theatres in New York, Boston, Cape Cod,  Provincetown, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Berkshires, and the Pioneer Valley. Play by  Play, which features local professional actors and directors, is a celebration of local talent and a new way to introduce theatre audiences to the innovative work being created by playwrights in the Valley.  Each new featured play will be performed in  Northampton’s beautiful A.P.E. Gallery, a popular space for art exhibits, literary readings, and  theatrical performances. Tickets will be available online at theticketing.co/o/npl23 . Additionally, very limited seating will be available at the door on a first come, first-served basis.  Early arrival is recommended.   PLAY SYNOPSES Port of Entry by Talya Kingston In the back office of a small New England airport, TSA agent Hank is training newbie Chloe on the day a new law—commonly known as “The Muslim Ban”—is suddenly enacted. When Jana arrives on a flight from the Middle East, they all become entangled in the chaotic fallout from this new government mandate. In a rapidly shifting political landscape, this new play questions who is protecting our country and who are they protecting it from? The Fade-Away Advantage by Meryl Cohn A writer and her lifelong best friend meet at a Provincetown Airbnb to discuss an emergency plan they made years ago… but which plan is it? The plan to live together for the rest of their lives? Or the plan that would separate them forever? How far would you go to keep a promise to a friend?  The Building by Betel Arnold Step into the world of The Building, where trouble looms and secrets hide. Join matriarch Agnes in her desperate attempt to rescue her granddaughter, Catalina, from the notorious Romero family. When Agnes learns Catalina has been secretly dating Arturo Romero, she conspires alongside squabbling neighbors Maggie and Lincoln to get Catalina far away from the struggles and hustles of people in The Building, no matter what it takes. But has Catalina already fallen victim to the same forces that have limited the lives of the women before her?   Haunted Houses by Peter Kennedy What is the true nature of a ghost?  What does it mean to be haunted?  It’s 1978, and New Yorker journalist Zachary Noel is investigating reports of paranormal activity at The Sunflower, a small inn owned by the Crane family in the heart of the historic “burned-over district” of upstate New York. Madame Irene, a psychic with ties to the nearby Spiritualist community of Lily Dale, is convinced that a poltergeist has attached itself to troubled teenager Rachel Crane.  As disturbing incidents mount, the Cranes agree to a seance to put their ghosts behind them-- once and for all. Hedges by Stephanie Carlson A 10-minute play about beloved pets, high hedges, and a little bit of Northampton history. The birds the birds the birds by Harley Erdman Things are really messed up on earth. So three birds take to the heavens to build a better world there. Will they succeed? How high will they need to fly? And what happens when a stubborn human being pursues them to the stratosphere? Add in a dash of Alfred Hitchcock and some original songs: the result is a madcap exploration of the climate crisis that seems to be coming sooner than we thought. CitySpace Unreconciled: A workshop production of the solo play November 30, December 1 and 2 at 7:00 PM, December 2 at 2:00 PM 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA 01027 Written by Mark Basquill & Jay Sefton, directed by James Barry, and performed by solo theatre artist, Jay Sefton, Unreconciled is the true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a play directed by a pedophile priest. The workshop production of the solo play chronicles a survivor’s journey as he confronts his past and discovers the courage to use his voice and redefine what reconciliation means. Tickets: $15.00 - General Admission Jay is an actor and licensed mental health counselor, originally from Philadelphia, and currently based in Easthampton, MA. He is in collaboration with a local SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) chapter and Silenced by Stigma. This event is a CitySpace Pay It Forward Project. Photo Credit: Andrew Greto https://www.cityspaceeasthampton.org/all-events/#/events/79105 What: A Drag For the Holidays, a family friendly drag holiday show featuring Joe Dulude II When: December 1 and 2 at 7:30 pm Where: Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA How: Tickets are $20 and children are free. Purchase at Sheatheater.org or at the door. Eggtooth Productions is pleased to bring back their traditionally untraditional holiday show for the seventh year at the Shea Theater. A Drag For The Holidays is a variety show that features Joe Dulude II of Providence, RI, Jane Williams of New Salem, MA, Myka Plunkett of Northampton, Kat Adler of Greenfield, Emily Pritchard of Amherst, and Lori Holmes Clark of Deerfield.  Dulude lived for several years in the Valley and is best known for his Broadway, film, and TV makeup designs for shows like Wicked, Annie Live! Jesus Christ Superstar live (Emmy Nomination), The Holdovers, Black Flame, Don't Look Up, The Gilded Age, Castle Rock, GhostBusters and many more. Quoted Joe Dulude II as Mr. Drag, "What happens when Mr. Drag comes back to visit his sisters for the holiday season only to find out that their whole world has been turned upside down into a strange and bizarre alternate reality?  Only a slew of song and dance numbers will help him make sense of it all….and of course a few several martinis.  Join us for this ridiculously fun Holiday Show filled with music, cocktails, confusion and of course cheers!  A Drag for the Holidays will lift your spirits with the characters you’ve come to love and the Shea’s new full bar of spirits promises to lift the rest of you!" THEY DON'T PAY? WE WON'T PAY! by Dario Fo and Franca Rame English translation by Jon Laskin and Michael Aquilante directed by Behnam Alibakhshi The Rand Theater, Bromery Center for the Arts Dec. 1, 2, 6, 7 & 8 at 7:30 p.m. Matinee Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets:  $17 general admission $5 students, seniors, and Card to Culture patrons Tickets sold through the Fine Arts Center Box Office (call 1-800-999-UMAS or visit the box office website), and at the door on the night of the show. The UMass Department of Theater is pleased to participate in the Card to Culture program. For details, please visit our Card to Culture page. Recommended for audiences age 12 and up What if people got so fed up about the rising cost of food that they started looting to fill their pantries? They Don't Pay? We Won't Pay!, by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, takes a real, not-so-funny situation and mines comedic gold by taking it to absurd extremes that include faked pregnancies, sit-com style slapstick, and a whole lot of poking fun at authority figures. UMass Theater presents Fo and Rame's farce in the Rand Theater from Dec. 1-8, with tickets onsale now. Concurrently to the show's run, the department is running a food drive for the Amherst Survival Center. Director Behnam Alibahkshi said he selected the play "because I was looking for something that related to my situation as an Iranian person and also related to the Unites States." Iranian currency devaluation means food prices are skyrocketing, and in the US, inflation means many households are struggling to afford the basics. Amherst Survival Center staff say current demand for their services far eclipses even the worst of the pandemic need. Alibahkshi was looking for something that would give people hope, and he knew comedy would offer that. "Talking about a very dark situation in a very funny way can reduce the amount of pressure in the situation," he said.  David Keohane, the play's dramaturg, added that the play's message of solidarity and collective action is both inspiring and relevant in a moment of heightened union activity around the world. Join UMass Theater for a production that gives us an opportunity to laugh at the absurdity of our present moment, and hopefully find a little relief along the way. LAVA Center to host Climate Change Theatre Action, “All Good Things Must Begin” play readings Saturday, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, 7 p.m. The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield https://thelavacenter.org/events/  Facebook event Climate Change Theatre Action is a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis, presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings. The theme this year, “All Good Things Must Begin,” is inspired by the journal entry of American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. Butler was incredibly prescient, writing about extremism, racial justice, and climate change some 30 years ago. By setting intentions and visualizing a positive outcome, she defied the odds and became the author of many celebrated novels, winning each of science fiction’s highest honors. While the worlds of her novels depict the violent challenges of today’s interlocking crises, her protagonists remain devoted to thriving, to achieving survival beyond the destructive and oppressive societies they come from. The climate crisis demands the same kind of imaginative leap: we will create a just and regenerative world only if we dare to imagine it first, and use that vision to guide us through the difficulties. We all need to be solarpunks and envision radical pluralistic futures where nature and community thrive, and where we reject the apocalypse and embrace counterculture, post-capitalism, and decolonization. The LAVA Center will present two programs of short plays as staged readings, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 pm and Saturday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. There is a $5–20 suggested donation for the plays — no one will be turned away for lack of funds. The December 2 program will be directed by Kiersten Samalis and will be followed by a facilitated debrief activity led by a local theater troupe to be confirmed. The December 9 program will be directed by JuPong Lin and will be followed by a facilitated debrief discussion led by Lin. The programs will also be available online, on demand for a short time following the live performances. Visit https://thelavacenter.org for details. Climate Change Theatre Action launched in 2015, and the LAVA team has been presenting these plays, in some form, since 2017, years before The LAVA Center was born! Greening Greenfield has been a supporter of this programming since the beginning. The Climate Change Theatre Action readings are part of LAVA’s two months of Climate Crisis, to get us both thinking about the Global Climate Crisis and to begin thinking of ways to adapt. On display through December are the Climate Crisis Community Photo Exhibit and local JuPong Lin’s installation on the climate crisis. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Call for auditions — a diversity of actors/activists welcome for play readings for Climate Change Theatre Action WHAT: Auditions for Climate Change Theatre Action 2023: “All Good Things Must Begin” WHEN: Auditions: Sunday, Nov. 19; and Tuesday, Nov 21. Two separate performances: Saturday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. both evenings. WHERE: Auditions on zoom; performances at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield The LAVA Center announces auditions for Climate Change Theatre Action: “All Good Things Must Begin,” a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis. We seek a wide diversity of actors to perform in staged readings in a variety of short plays. We especially encourage BIPOC actors and activists to join us. Honoraria offered! No memorization! Experience welcome but not necessary! No preparation required for audition. Auditions will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 19; and Tuesday, Nov 21. There will be two separate performances, on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. both evenings. There will be 1 or 2 rehearsals per program, including one in person. Click here to sign up for an audition slot: https://forms.gle/W71pGm61eQj1BDdz8  Questions? Email info@thelavacenter.org.  Academy of Music hiring a Theater Manager The Academy of Music Theatre, an 816-seat performing arts center, located in beautiful downtown Northampton, Massachusetts, seeks a Theater Manager who will ensure quality customer service and the smooth and effective operation of the theater during productions and other events. This individual is responsible for recruiting, training and supervising customer service staff, including house managers, concessions workers, and volunteers, and also oversees the activities of third-party vendors (e.g., caterers) who participate in supporting productions. The Academy is a fast-growing non-profit. Applicants with the following experience and skills preferred: Front-of-House Responsibilities: Provide appropriate house management for all rehearsals, performances and events, including development events Oversee all front of house staff and volunteers, including recruitment, hiring, scheduling Work closely with backstage staff to ensure a timely start to performances Assist Development Committee and Executive Director with development and community events planning Ensure that front-of-house staff follow proper procedures as established by the theater’s board and management to maintain guest safety and comfort Serve as the point person for handling any situations that arise with guests immediately before, during and immediately after performances. Supervise the maintenance and cleaning of public spaces, including the main theater seating area, lavatories, lobby and lounge, heating and cooling systems Supervise Box Office Arrange building maintenance with Central Services or outside vendors Tracking rental charges and fees and providing invoice for renters Concessions responsibilities Coordinate concession and merchandise displays in the concession area Manage vendors associated with concessions Maintain concession inventory and reports Apply for permits and licenses associated with concessions and vendor activities (e.g., liquor licenses, raffle permits) Volunteer responsibilities Recruiting, coordinating and training all front-of-house volunteers, including ticket takers, ushers, hosts, or reception workers Communicating opportunities to existing volunteers Providing proper supervision for volunteers at events at the theater Coordinating any artwork, seasonal decorations or advertisement on display Communications Manage social media accounts Manage E-newsletter Poster displays Marquee Any other tasks assigned by Executive Director Qualifications: B.A. in related field Strong knowledge of theater, performing arts and film and experience working in theater or a related field Excellent communication skills Ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities Customer service skills and experience Ability to manage staff effectively Strong familiarity with computer software, including word-processing, Excel spreadsheets, email, and Webmail. Knowledge of Box Office software helpful. Physical ability to lift and carry boxes, equipment and supplies up to 30 lbs. Physical ability to be on one’s feet for extended periods of time and to climb stairs to access balcony areas. Ability to work nights and weekends on a flexible schedule as required. Certified in first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preferred ServSafe or TIPS certification will be required upon employment How To Apply: Send résumé and three references by November 30th to Executive Director, Debra J’Anthony at djanthony@aomtheatre.com or mail to Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060. No phone calls please. For further information, please visit www.aomtheatre.com Apply by: November 30, 2023 Salary: $56,000 - $60,000 / About this Organization: The Academy of Music Theatre is an 816 seat non-profit performing arts center located in the beautiful college town of Northampton, Massachusetts. Starlight's Youth Theatre Spring Musical Auditons: Lion King and Fiddler on the Roof December 2 at 9:00 AM Mapleridge Church and Community Center, Sunderland, MA Lion King Jr. Classes Begin January 6th! Tuition $245 Grades 1st-3rd at 9am Grades 4th-6th at 10am All classes Satuday mornings at Mapleridge Community Center, Sunderland, MA Show on March 23 at Amherst Middle School Come to the meet & greet Register - Pick up Script - Sing some Songs Sat. December 2, 9:00-9:45, Mapleridge Fiddler on the Roof Classes Begin January 6th! Tuition $285 Grades 7th-12th at 11:15am All classes Satuday mornings at Mapleridge Community Center, Sunderland, MA Performances on May 3 & 4th at the Academy of Music Auditions Sat. December 2, 10-12, Mapleridge Sign-Up for an Audition Slot Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44A8AE2AA31-44722348-fiddle#/ The FAC is Hiring:  Business Manager Contract and Purchasing Manager Bookkeeper Website Manager Director of Education and Engagement Visual Arts Director Associate Director of the Augusta Savage Gallery  Production Manager Assistant See the full listings at:  https://careers.umass.edu/en-us/listing/ We're looking for a booking agent and/or tour coordinator to help us plan a local and regional tour of First Generation Ensemble’s Mother Tongue, a 90 minute multilingual physical theater piece. (info below). We have funding for a position averaging 20 hrs a month.  We’ve received a grant from the NEA specifically to tour Mother Tongue, and although we have extensive experience performing in our area (Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties), we need to hire someone with experience who can help to broaden the reach our of tour to other states.  We hope to find someone who can jump in asap and begin to connect with venues, reach out to new presenting partners, and developing our tour schedule for 2023-2024.  As a starting point, we already have a list of potential venues, some with already existing relationships and connections.  The Performance Project’s First Generation is a multilingual physical theater ensemble based in Springfield Massachusetts. Members participate in artistic and leadership training, community building, social justice dialogues, and intergenerational mentoring. First Generation  creates multilingual physical theater performances inspired by their own life experiences,  and the experiences of their families and communities. Their work touches upon themes such as diaspora, language, culture, xenophobia, transphobia, hypermasculinity, racism, the power of youth voice, liberation, and revolution.  $35/hr, approximately 80-100 hours of work CONNECTING WITH VENUES: (some known / some new)  REGION: Within 8 hrs drive  VENUES: theaters, colleges, community venues, high schools, social justice conferences, festivals, corporate events (if only!)  FEES FOR PERFORMANCES: to be negotiated  The Performance Project, based in Springfield MA, is seeking a Lighting Designer/Board OP, Sound Op and Stage Manager for a local and regional tour of First Generation Ensemble’s Mother Tongue, a 90 minute multilingual physical theater piece. We’ve received a grant from the NEA specifically to tour Mother Tongue, and although we have experience performing in our area (Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Massachusetts counties), this will be our first time touring to other areas in MA and nearby states.   We currently have two professionals (lights/sound) who know the show and have been running lights and sound, however they will not be available for all  performance dates, so we are looking for people to learn the show and take some of the performances. We do not have a stage manager and are looking to full that position.    Contact: Julie Lichtenberg info@performanceproject.org and Fig Lefevre Admin@performanceproject.org Mother Tongue is a devised multilingual physical theater piece created by the Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble. The piece is inspired by the experiences of First Generation ensemble members, their families and communities who are from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan/Darfur, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The 90 minute performance weaves together movement, music, dance, and stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, and English. The piece incorporates themes of language, culture, identity, diaspora, hypermasculinity, xenophobia, transphobia, racism, the school to prison pipeline and revolution.     The Majestic Theater Searching for a Tech. Director The Theater Project, inc., dba Majestic Theater, located in West Springfield, Massachusetts is seeking an immediate hire for a Theater Carpenter / Technical Director. The Majestic is a year-round 229 seat professional theater operating under and SPT6 contract with Actors Equity Association. We produce a five play subscription season September to June, in July and August a three production Children’s Theater, and musical concerts over the Summer. More at: majestictheater.com This is a full time position which requires a number of years of hands-on experience in live theater and a skill set that includes carpentry, welding, and rigging. The Technical Director should also be versed in both stage lighting and sound design. They are responsible for maintaining the scene shop in good working order with a focus always on safety. Additionally, from time to time, there may be repair and/or maintenance projects at the theater itself for which the TD is responsible. Interested candidates should send an email to Business Manager, Regina Diemand with cover letter and current professional resume. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Double Edge Theatre Community Day November 19 at 1:00 PM 948 Conway Rd. Ashfield, MA 01330 Community Day is back! After a temporary hiatus, we are happy to be bringing back Community Day! We welcome you to this free event where you can fly on bungees, sing and play music, and learn about what is happening at Double Edge! Community Day November 19, 2023 1 PM – 4 PM For more information or if you have questions, please call our office at: (413) 628-0277 More info FREE, No Registration Required Masks Requested K and E Theater Group’s Dance Studio Continues this Fall!   Join Eddie Zitka, Artistic Director of K and E Theater Group, two times a week learning musical dance choreography and feel more confident in your movement at your next audition! Studio lasts through November 16 – every session is different!   Classes available for beginners and intermediate/advanced dancers!   In the BEGINNER session   YOU CAN EXPECT: - Isolation warm-ups - Acting-based dancing exercises across the floor - A musical theater combination that will change weekly    In the INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED session   YOU CAN EXPECT: - Warm-up across the floor - A more complicated and technical musical theater combination that will change weekly - Combinations will be taught similar to an audition setting   Classes available for beginners on Tuesdays and intermediate/advanced dancers on Thursdays from 7-8 PM in Southampton, MA at the First Congregational Church of Southampton, 212 College Highway.   We’ve introduced new prices this fall with the new Dance Studio Punchcard – session pricing varies on the amount of times you come!   New pricing is below: INDIVIDUAL DROP-IN SESSION - $15 FIVE-SESSION CARD - $60 EIGHT-SESSION CARD - $80   Cash or check payment accepted at the door!   Check out www.KETG.org/dance-studio-2023 for more information and to sign up for your session! Each week's sign up will open the Monday prior. Happier Valley Comedy The Joy & Ease of Improv 1 Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley There are two sessions of this class! Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:30pm and Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30pm The class meets on 8 Wednesdays from November 29th - January 24th at either 5:00-6:30pm or 7:00-8:30pm. Would you like to play and laugh in a supportive community every week? Want to get better at thinking on your feet? Could you use some practice in mindfulness? Turning off your judgmental mind? Being brave? Would you like to become more confident speaking in public? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, The Joy & Ease of Improv 1 would be an ever so lovely way to spend 90-minutes each week. Happier Valley Comedy's Founder and Head of Happiness Pam Victor offers this welcoming introduction to her original improv curriculum for adults who want to try something fun, rewarding, and mind-expanding. You'll learn a mindful, easeful approach to improv comedy in an incredibly positive, accepting, playful way. Through improv exercises, games, and simple scenework, you'll practice the vital improvisation skills of paying attention, agreement, redefining and disempowering failure, quieting your inner critic and amplifying your authentic voice to invite more joy and ease into your work ... and much more. Plus, you'll join a community of kind-hearted, happier people! No experience necessary. Being funny is not required! At Happier Valley Comedy, we believe everyone can improvise. (No joke.) More information The Center for Actor Training at Shakespeare & Company will hold its 43rd session of its Month-long Intensive for mid-career actors at its Lenox campus from January 3 through 29. For six days a week, morning to night, participants immerse themselves in voice, movement, text analysis, exploration of the actor/audience relationship, sonnet work, scene work, clown, stage fight, and in-depth discussions about the function of theater and the role of the actor in today’s world. Director of the Center for Actor Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay said the Intensive offers training in classical text that can easily be applied to all forms of acting.  “The Month-long is a unique opportunity for actors to concentrate on their craft in a supportive and courageous community of artists,” she said. “Alumni of the Month-long routinely find that our training is transformative for their work and is applicable to contemporary as well as classical acting.” Complete applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the Intensive is filled, however an  early payment discount of $500 is offered until Saturday, Sept. 30.  A limited number of scholarships are available for People of the Global Majority/BIPOC artists through the Dennis Krausnick Fellowship Fund; scholarship applications are due Sunday, Oct. 1. Tuition costs include double-occupancy housing and all meals. Housing is located on the Shakespeare & Company campus; a limited number of single rooms may be available for an additional fee of $750. The campus is fully, COVID-19 vaccinated, including full-time employees, seasonal staff, artists, volunteers, and program participants. To ensure the health of the Shakespeare & Company community, all Center for Actor Training participants must be vaccinated against COVID-19 including the latest booster shot. Masks may be required for certain classes and events. As conditions of the global pandemic are ever-evolving, these guidelines are subject to change and will be updated accordingly.  For more information, including regarding the topics covered during the Intensive, contact training@shakespeare.org. 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 Easthampton Theater Company 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|*