Pioneer Valley Theatre News November 23, 2023

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser November 23 - December 13, 2023 It's Thanksgiving and - whether you are just feeling grateful to be having a cozy meal with your friends & family or complicated about the holiday and the history of this country - I hope you get some restorative time. It's also, inescapably, a weekend of big spending. If you have any extra money (after your Black Friday purchases) consider saving something for Giving Tuesday. Many theatre groups could really use your generosity to continue making performances. I'm sure every local non-profit will be sending their pitch - and there is a list of local theatres at the bottom of this newsletter if you want to think about who you want to donate to this year.  The next issue will include events from November 30 - December 20. 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 Northampton Playwrights Lab presents Play by Play November 30-December 3 at A.P.E. Gallery  Tickets available 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 Five Ways to Maximize Your Theatre’s Social Media Presence by Trevor Boffone From the article:  As a content creator and a social media manager for theatre companies, I have experienced firsthand how social media can be a radical site for theatre companies to engage with audiences. While ticket prices continue to skyrocket and theatre companies struggle to fill seats, social media—especially video content—can reach thousands of viewers. Algorithms help content reach a company’s target demographic, which can create a sense of belonging. Social media is a vital asset that theatre companies and productions can harness to attract audience members and build community around the theatre’s culture. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (do I have to call it X?), and Facebook give theatres “free” tools to promote their work and find offline success. The possibilities are endless. Have you read an interesting article about theatre recently? Send it to me! pioneervalleytheatre@gmail.com PERFORMANCES “MOONGLOW” LIGHTS UP MAJESTIC STAGE NOVEMBER 23 – 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 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. “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2023” COMING TO MAJESTIC THEATER DECEMBER 7-22 Majesters Bring Night of Holiday-Themed Improv Comedy to Theater December 18 West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present its annual seasonal variety show, “Home for The Holidays,” December 7-22.  The family-friendly show, featuring Pioneer Valley-based performers, has become a tradition at the theater for more than a dozen years.  Similar in style to nostalgic holiday specials of years past headlined by Andy Williams and Perry Como, “Home for The Holidays 2023” will be co-hosted by singer Ray Guillemette, Jr., who has headlined countless "A Ray of Elvis" sold-out shows at the Majestic, and Ben Ashley, a Majestic favorite who has performed in several hit shows including “Mamma Mia” and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.” Joining Ray and Ben onstage will be several veteran Majestic performers, including Kait Rankins, Steve Sands, Nikki Wadleigh, Myka Plunkett, Brad Shepard, Lori Efford, and special guest Santa Claus.  The show will be directed by Stephen Petit, who also serves as production manager, and Mitch Chakour is the music director/arranger.  Set design is by Bev Browne, Dan Rist is the lighting designer, and wardrobe mistress is Christine Thompson. Tickets are $28 & $26 for adults, and $15 for children 10 and under, and are available by visiting or calling the Majestic Theater Box Office at (413) 747-7797 during its hours of operation (Monday – Friday 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 1pm).  “Holiday Stress Relief,” a night of improv comedy with The Majesters is set for Monday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m.  General admission seating is $15 at the door the night of the show. The Majestic is also selling its popular holiday gift packages which consist of gift certificates (redeemable for tickets and café purchases), café gift cards, and a gift item packaged in with the certificates, and they will be available during the holiday season. For additional information, visit www.majestictheater.com. CitySpace Bar Dykes: Merril Mushroom's one-act play December 8 and 9 at 7:00 PM, December 10 at 4:00 PM 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA 01027 Theatre artists, producers, and directors Emily Fuller and Erin Ferrentino present Bar Dykes on December 8, 2023 at 7 PM; December 9, 2023 at 7PM; and December 10, 2023 at 4 PM in CitySpace’s Blue Room at Old Town Hall at 43 Main St. Easthampton, MA. Tickets are sliding scale from $15-$40. Masks required. The one-act play Bar Dykes was written by lesbian playwright Merril Mushroom in the early 1980’s as a means to archive and preserve the cultural legacy of gay bars in the 1950’s. In the foreword to a recently published edition of the play, Faythe Levine and Caroline Paquita note: “In an era where dating apps have seemingly replaced ‘cruising,’ the much needed archiving of the dyke bar culture of the twentieth century has become imperative, in order to record this rapidly disappearing underground herstory.” The play will feature a queer cast and crew. Keep up to date on Bar Dykes as well as future queer community theater endeavors and productions at @queercommunitytheatre on Instagram. This is a Pay It Forward project. https://www.cityspaceeasthampton.org/all-events/#/events/79119 Improv Through the Ages at Northampton High School Friday Dec 8th from 7:00-9:00  On Friday December 8th, the Scarlet Sock Foundation will present an evening of fun, delight, and spontaneity with Improv Through the Ages!  The Scarlet Sock Foundation supports underrepresented populations by administering small grants to community organizations and individuals of all ages to increase exposure and access to social justice theater. Our efforts aim to increase the number of people from underrepresented populations involved in community-based theater by partnering with and providing funds for programming such as theater classes, the development of new plays, ticket purchases, pre/post show lessons, talkback opportunities, and other educational materials. We have funded social justice theater projects in Hampshsire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties. Scarletsock.org  Improv Through the Ages will feature Heidi Haas’s theater students, the Ookie-Wookies (grades 1st-4th) and the Pickle Heads (grades 5th-8th) and the Northampton High School troupe, Funktionlust! Special guests include Kelsey Flynn and Paul McNeil from Happier Valley Comedy.  Funktionlust, now in its 18th year is the only Improv group at NHS and has enough liveliness to power Childs Park! But with all their spontaneity and enthusiasm, they have entertained their audiences at Northampton’s First Night, Happier Valley Comedy, Click Workspace and with their fellow students at NHS!They are psyched to be on stage with all the other Improvers! The show is family friendly. Tickets are available at the door and the cost is suggested at $5 for students and $15 for adults. As it’s a fundraiser, audience members are encouraged to give what they can to support the Scarlet Sock Foundation’s mission.  “Mother Tongue,” by First Generation  Saturday, December 9th, 2023 Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity,  130 Pine St, Northampton, MA 01062 Ticket link Mother Tongue is an original multilingual physical theater performance, created by the Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble. Mother Tongue is inspired by the experiences of the ensemble members, their families and communities who are from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan/Darfur, Puerto Rico, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The 90 minute performance weaves together movement, music, dance, and stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, Spanish, and English. The  piece incorporates themes of language, culture, identity, diaspora, hypermasculinity, transphobia, racism, the school to prison pipeline and revolution.  Appropriate for ages 12 and up.  About Mother Tongue More at www.performanceproject.org AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES In 2024, PIC will be holding free, monthly salons called PIC PIPS, or Plays In Progress Series, at the Workroom (33 Hawley St, Northampton) featuring readings of new work in front of an audience. PIC is seeking a wide selection of plays representing diversity amongst the writers (age, race, gender, location, experience, etc) and diversity in terms of writing genre and approach to storytelling. PIC is specifically looking for plays with the potential to spark community conversation. From November 20-December 20, PIC is accepting submissions of full-length and one-act scripts-in-progress by local playwrights. Priority will be given to playwrights based in Hampshire, Hamden, and Franklin counties, but  playwrights also based in Worcester, Berkshires, Northern CT, and Southern VT may apply. Submission Form Due By December 20, 2023 We WILL continue to have a few multi-disciplinary salons this year which will feature short excerpts of works-in-progress (scenes, songs, poems, dances, video etc). If you are interested in sharing an excerpt of work, fill out the salon submission form here. 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#/ 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.     WORKSHOPS & CLASSES 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|*