Pioneer Valley Theatre News May 16, 2024

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Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser May 16 - June 5, 2024 Mark your calendars now: My Mother Had Two Faces performs as part of MICAfest at 33 Hawley Street next Thursday, and Serious Play Theatre Ensemble's Moving Water and Easthampton Theater Company's The Man Who Came To Dinner both open June 20. Get your tickets today for all of these great shows!  The next issue will include events from May 23 - June 12. 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 MICAfest: My Mother Had Two Faces: Reflections on Beauty Aging and Acceptance May 23rd @7pm at the Northampton Center for the Arts Tickets Available Here Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents Moving Water & Climate Change Forum June 20-23 at the Workroom, 33 Hawley Street in Northampton Tickets and More Information  Easthampton Theater Company presents The Man Who Came To Dinner June 20-23 at Williston Theater, Easthampton Tickets and More Information 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 PERFORMANCES THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG TO CLOSE OUT MAJESTIC’S 26th SEASON MAY 16 – JUNE 2 The Play That Goes Wrong, a contemporary farce by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, will be onstage at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater April 18 through June 2.  The comedy takes place on opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s latest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, and things begin to spiral out of control.  An exasperated detective, a corpse who can’t play dead, an unconscious leading lady and other embattled and eccentric characters must overcome technical issues, forgotten lines and unreliable scenery in order to make it to the final curtain call.  The Play That Goes Wrong has been described as “part Monty Python, part Marx Brothers, part Sherlock Holmes, and all mayhem.”  The show has played to sold out audiences all over the world, and will be the final production of the Majestic Theater’s 26th season.  Its new season will debut in September. Cast members include Jack Grigoli (Chris), Scott Renzoni (Max), Shaun O’Keefe (Robert), Elizabeth Pietrangelo (Sandra), Josh Karam (Dennis), Mariko Iwasa (Annie), Liv Cunha (Trevor) and Weston Pytel (Jonathan).  Danny Eaton is producing director of the play, and Sue Dziura is associate producing director.  Stephen Petit is the director and production manager for the show.  Associate production manager is Aurora Ferraro, and stage manager is Hope Rose Kelly.  Dan Rist is lighting designer, and costumer designer is Dawn McKay.  Tickets are now available for The Play that Goes Wrong, and range from $31 - $37.  They are available either in-person at the box office or by calling (413) 747-7797.  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 Not In Charge May 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM The 3rd Saturday of every month at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley IMPROV COMEDY INSPIRED BY TRUE STORIES FROM A FAN FAVORITE GROUP ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 7PM Don't miss this talented group of friends in an improvised show inspired by true stories from the cast! Not In Charge is Mandy Anderson, Maddy Benjamin, Sally Ekus, Julie Waggoner, Jim Young, and Kate Zak. NEXT SHOW: Saturday, May 18th at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy Theater 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR FOR $15   PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS BEHIND THE FACADE:  An Evening at the Theatre features One Woman Show "My Mother Had Two Faces" My Mother Had Two Faces: Reflections on Beauty Aging and Acceptance, written and performed by Karin Trachtenberg, is coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts on Thursday, May 23rd @7pm. Presented by the Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art as part of their month-long MICAfest, this evening of theatre will also include a staged reading of “An Evening with Phineas” by MICA founder Lyza Fennell.   My Mother Had Two Faces is an autobiographical one woman dramatic comedy that dares to expose what lies beneath the mask of the perfect mother. Discovering her mother’s diaries after her passing, Karin, the heroine, begins to examine the history of their complicated relationship from the gritty, urban streets of New York to her Swiss mother’s manicured orderliness. The story follows her mother’s exodus from her homeland to pursue stardom, and how her fixation with beauty and outward appearances influenced Karin’s sense of worth.    Presented in a pseudo-fairytale style, utilizing multimedia and theatrical masks, this solo show tips the Disney delusion on its head, revealing the enchanted as well as the underbelly. Engaged in dialogue with her mirrored reflection, Karin wrestles with her own inner demons.  What does the mirror uncover when we strip away the makeup?   Coming off a triumphant multi-city tour, critics from Hollywood to New York City praised Ms. Trachtenberg’s performance as “riveting and poetic”, “nuanced and moving” and “an eye-opening journey”.  Following the Northampton appearance, My Mother Had Two Faces travels to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer for a month-long run. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of theatre, which will make you laugh, think and perhaps even see yourself reflected in a new light. WHEN: Thursday, May 23rd @7pm WHERE: Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton MA. TICKETS & INFO. Valley Players Bard in the Bar: Much Ado About Nothing May 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM White Lion Brewing, 24 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA The Valley Players will hold their first “Bard in the Bar” gathering at White Lion Brewing (24 North Pleasant Street in Amherst) on Thursday, May 23, at 7:00pm. For this “Bard in the Bar”, a company of Valley actors will perform an impromptu script-in-hand, drink-in-hand reading of Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The show is free, though tax-deductible donations to the Valley Players are welcome. No reservations are required for audience members to come enjoy the show and White Lion’s local food and craft beers. Anyone who wants to participate in the reading can sign up by emailing info@valleyplayers.org before May 22. Parts will be distributed randomly and no prior experience with Shakespeare or performance is required to get involved, but speaking roles are limited. www.valleyplayers.org The Valley Players is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble, meaningful, and accessible community theater. More information about the Valley Players—including how to join the email list, make a donation, become a business sponsor, or learn about upcoming productions and events—can be found at www.valleyplayers.org. Next Open Stage to take place at The LAVA Center Thursday, May 23 WHAT: Open Stage WHEN: every 4th Thursday, 6:30 p.m. signup and 7 p.m. showtime; next one Thursday, May 23 WHERE: The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield https://thelavacenter.org/events/very-open-mic-2024-04-25/ https://www.facebook.com/events/906347257500838/  The LAVA Center is proud to present a new performance series, the Open Stage, which takes place every fourth Thursday evening. Signups start at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. An open stage is similar to an open mic, but more inclusive to all types of the performing arts. Artists are encouraged to sign up to perform theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, magic, puppetry, circus, sideshow, comedy, improv — any form of art or entertainment that can be staged, in any stage of development. The Open Stage will have rotating hosts: local artists Nisse Greenberg, Nina Gross, Ezra Prior and Vanessa Query. Signup starts at 6:30, show starts at 7. There will be a five-minute limit for each act. Artists can plug into our sound system if they’d like audio to backup your act; plugin using 1/8″ mic jack input, please bring adapter if needed. Questions? Email info@thelavacenter.org.  There is an optional $5 suggested donation ($1 Card to Culture) for this show. The Happier Valley Championship Show May 25, 2024 at 7:00 PM The 4th Saturday of every month at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" meets The Super Bowl! Two funny teams face off in this fast-paced short form improv comedy show. Games are inspired by audience suggestions and participation and even scored by an audience panel of judges to see who can win the ultimate prize: YOUR LAUGHTER! (And some old trophies we found in someone's attic.) Our player roster includes Hillary Bucs, Chris "Tina" Cronin, Katharine Daube, Ben May, David Milgrim, Chris Mirabal, Dave Ruderman, Holly Ruderman, and Ivy Weiskopf. Our next show: Saturday, May 25th at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy Theater 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR FOR $15 Eggtooth Productions and The Shea Theatre are pleased to present Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando on May 30, 31 and the 1st of June at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $20 at https://sheatheater.org/ or at the door. Special VIP tickets for the first two rows are $45 and will feature some fun immersive elements.   Featuring the Shea’s own Linda Tardif in the title role, this ensemble cast includes Kyle Boatwright, Lindel Hart, and Rich Vaden with Broadway makeup artist and beloved character Mr. Drag, Joe Dulude II, as Queen Elizabeth. This fantastical production offers lighting design by John Bechtold, costumes by Christina Beam, and is stagemanaged by Nikki Beck. Orlando is made possible through the generous donations of the Markham Nathan Fund for Social Justice, the Montague Local Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Parker on Main of Greenfield, and Plum Boutique of Northampton.    Based upon the Virginia Woolf novel, this is the story of a young nobleman who is drawn into a love affair with Queen Elizabeth I. For a time, life at court is interesting enough, but Orlando yearns for something more. As he strives to make his way as a poet and lover, his travels through time and space keep him at the heart of a dazzling tale where gender and gender freedom shift regularly, often with hilarious results. Though deeply funny, the play is also heartfelt and moving, as Orlando seeks liberation through art, identity, gender, and time becoming a 20th century woman in the process.   An adaptation of the “longest and most charming love letter in literature,” written by Virginia Woolf for her lover, Vita Sackville-West, Orlando is a theatrical, wild, fantastical trip through 400 years of history. About her play, Ruhl writes, “Woolf apparently wrote Orlando with more joy, buoyancy, and speed than any of her other novels. The character of Orlando, based on Virginia’s lover Vita Sackville-West, famously begins life as a man in the Elizabethan era, trots through a couple more centuries, dodging various lovers, and in the 18th century, after a long sleep, wakes up, a woman. Woolf wrote in a letter, ‘I have written this book quicker than any; & it is all a joke; & yet gay & quick reading I think; a writer’s holiday.’   Orlando was light years ahead of its time (1928) in terms of its expansive, fluid, liberatory views of gender and sexuality. Conversations around gender have changed monumentally in the culture since I first adapted this novel in 1998. At times it feels as though we are only now catching up to Virginia Woolf, who wrote in A Room of One’s Own that the ‘androgynous mind is resonant and porous…transmits emotion without impediment…is naturally creative, incandescent, and undivided.’”   This dreamy adaptation is a magical and poetic dance between gender and through time, a fantastical world in which courtly movement and biographical narration combine to tell the story of a being who lives outside of human expectations, and enjoys the liberation that being alive has to offer.   The production is offered in support of the Collective at Lupinewood. https://www.lupinewood.com/ Easthampton Theater Company ETC Presents The Man Who Came to Dinner 6/20, 6/21 and 6/22 at 7:30PM and 6/23 at 2PM Williston Theater, 18 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA The Man Who Came to Dinner is a timely satire of celebrity, cult of personality and egotism - with strong relevance to today's fame-obsessed culture. Most recently revived on Broadway with Nathan Lane in the title role, the 2000 production was nominated for a Tony and Drama Desk award. Sheridan Whiteside – critic, lecturer, wit, radio orator, intimate friend of the great and near great – having dined at the home of the Stanleys, slips on their doorstep resulting in a tumultuous six weeks of confinement. Whiteside turns the Stanley household upside down, forcing everyone in town to cater to his egotistical demands. Meanwhile, his essential assistant has given her notice after falling in love with a local reporter. Whiteside must engage every weapon in his considerable arsenal of guile and manipulation to keep her in his employ – including blackmail, deceit, and the intervention of the glamorous actress Lorraine Sheldon and the elegant British wit of playwright Beverly Carlton. A three-ring circus of machinations and celebrity appearances ensues - characters that are loosely based on real-life figures. The Man Who Came to Dinner originally premiered on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on October16, 1939. The production ran for 739 performances and was followed by the hit 1941 movie featuring Bette Davis. A 1980 revival was nominated for Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Featured Actor and Actress in a Play. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Easthampton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency http://easthamptontheater.com Reserved seating is available in advance. Tickets may be available at the door subject to availability. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES LAVA seeks college-aged male-presenting actors to audition for play reading WHAT: Auditions for On the Boards ’24, table read of Acacia by Sam Rahman WHEN: Auditions Monday, May 20, 7 p.m.; performance Saturday, June 29, 7 p.m. WHERE: Auditions on zoom; performance at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield Audition form: https://tinyurl.com/LAVA-acadia-auditions  The LAVA Center announces auditions for On the Boards '24, a festival of new plays. We are seeking college aged male-presenting actors of any ethnicity to fill 3 roles in a table read of Acacia by Samuel Rahman, which will be performed on Saturday, June 29, 7 p.m. Modest honoraria offered! No memorization or advance rehearsals! Experience welcome but not necessary! No preparation required for audition. The Acadia audition will be held on zoom Monday, May 20, 7 p.m. on Zoom. Please fill out this form to audition, and we will follow up to confirm and send you a Zoom link. Questions? Email ashley.goverman@gmail.com.  Springfield Cultural Partnership Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts  Springfield Cultural Partnership has been approved for a $75,000 Our Town award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support Artists at Work Springfield. This is one of 68 grants nationwide, totaling $5 million, that the NEA has approved in the Our Town category. These creative placemaking grants support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into local efforts to strengthen and authentically engage communities, center equity, advance artful lives, and lay the groundwork for long-term systems change. “Projects like Artists At Work Springfield” exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensuring people across the country benefit.” "Artists At Work Springfield isn't just about creating art; it's about cultivating resilience, fostering community, and driving economic development. This program is not only nurturing creativity but also empowering artists to address critical issues and shape the future of our neighborhoods. It exemplifies the transformative power of the arts, showcasing how creativity can be a catalyst for positive change, social cohesion, and economic vitality. Together, through collaboration and artistic civic engagement, we're not just making art; we're building a brighter, more vibrant future for Springfield." - Karen Finn, Executive Director, Springfield Cultural Partnership. The Artists At Work program provides an equitable framework – structured as a dynamic network of partnerships between artists, cultural organizations, and community partners – that sets artists up with strong local and national contacts, professional development, and systems of support. AAW Artists are employed with a salary and health benefits for a period of one year to deepen their art practice and work collaboratively in response to local community needs across a range of issues including mental health, antiracism, migrant justice, climate resiliency, substance abuse recovery, cultural preservation, and youth welfare, among others. To date, Artists At Work has employed 70 artists and culture workers across 11 states, leveraging their power and creativity in partnership with over 80 cultural and community organizations throughout the nation.  Beginning on July 1, 2024, Artists At Work will offer 4 local Springfield-based artists a salary and benefits for the period of one year. In addition to continuing their own artistic practices, selected artists will work with local partners within the Springfield TDI District – focused around the Mason Square neighborhood – on artistic civic engagement projects that engage youth around community priorities laid out by the Mason Square TDI Partnership for the area’s future, centering on identity, history and belonging, and community safety and wellness. These engagements will be led by the selected artists with the support of community partners MLK Jr. Family Services and two local cultural organizations, the Springfield Armory and Springfield City Library, Mason Square Branch. While the exact form of projects will evolve over the term in collaboration with local youth, community, and partners, public-facing programming and projects will amplify and advance MLK Jr. Family Service’s mission and existing services while activating the cultural partners’ space and resources in service of the Mason Square community. We invite Springfield-based artists of all backgrounds and disciplines to apply (deadline: May 21, 2024) and take advantage of this unique opportunity to expand their artistic practice and contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of their community. Key details for Artists At Work (Springfield): ·         A one-year salary of $35,570 plus health benefits for four selected Springfield-based artists ·         A $5,000 project stipend for community engaged project ·         Mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities ·         Access to resources to develop projects with your community ·         Opportunities for public exhibitions, performances, and community engagement ·         Location: Mason Square, Springfield, MA Key dates for Artists At Work (Springfield): ·         Application Deadline: May 21, 2024 ·         Artists Notified by June 10, 2024 ·         Program Duration: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 To apply and learn more about Artists At Work, please visit https://www.artists-at-work.org/springfield. For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news. Majestic Theater 2024-2025 Season Auditions Actors Equity Principal  Auditions (EPAs): Monday June 10, 10 AM-6 PM Tuesday June 11, 10 AM-6 PM Non-Equity and Equity appointments: Monday June 3, 6-10 PM Tuesday June 4, 6-10 PM Wednesday June 12, 6-10 PM Thursday June 13, 6-10 PM Saturday June 15, 11 AM-4 PM Please visit the website to book your audition appointment online at https://www.majestictheater.com/  We are not able to accept video submissions at this time  Preparation:  Please note that there will only be an accompanist provided on June 10 & 11. If you are scheduled on 6/3, 6/4, 6/12, 6/13, 6/15, please bring a track to be connected via bluetooth speaker provided by the theater. Actors should be prepared to read from the script(s). Sides will be provided.  If this is your first time auditioning with us, please prepare a brief, contemporary monologue.  If auditioning for the musical, please prepare 16 bars of a contemporary musical theater song. Please bring your headshot and resume stapled together, if you have them; photos will be taken at the theater as well SHEAR MADNESS 1st Rehearsal 8/19/24 Runs 9/5-10/20/24 A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN 1st Rehearsal 10/7/24 Runs 10/24-12/1/24 INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP 1st Rehearsal 12/19/24 Runs 1/9-2/16/25 FENCES 1st Rehearsal 2/10/25 Runs 2/27-4/6/25 WAITRESS 1st Rehearsal 3/24/25 Runs 4/17-6/1/25 Please see linked casting breakdown for available roles  Valley Light Opera Auditions for Valley Light Opera's fall show "The McAdo" Jun 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM 6/14/24 at 5:00; 6/16/24 at 2:00 Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 N Maple St, Hadley, MA You LAUGH at the story, Now you’ll be SMITTEN with a new setting! Yes, The McAdo! For its 49th production, Valley Light Opera has chosen a version of The Mikado set in the Highlands of Scotland. This version from Gilbert and Sullivan Austin highlights VLO’s strengths in terms of music and costumes. Our stage director will be Jacqueline (Jacki) Haney and our music director will be Aldo Fabrizi. Performances will be held the first two weekends in November. The actual text of the show is only minimally changed. Please familiarize yourself with the roles, music, and storyline before your audition. The easiest way to do this is to visit the Gilbert and Sullivan Archive. If you are seeking a principal role, please prepare a selection from the show for the audition (we will have an accompanist). There may be dialogue readings, and there may be some dance steps. For more information and to sign up for an audition time click here. If for any reason you cannot be available for these audition times, please contact Coordinating Producer Ted Blaisdell at hagrid417@gmail.com to discuss alternatives. VLO is also offering an audition workshop on Wednesday June 12th from 6:00-8:00 PM at Wesley UMC to describe our audition and rehearsal processes, model a short physical and vocal warm-up, discuss audition selections, and answer any questions. Feel free to contact Coordinating Producer Ted Blaisdell at hagrid417@gmail.com or Stage Director Jacki Haney at jacquelinehaney@yahoo.com with questions. We can’t wait to share this wonderful version of this most popular Gilbert and Sullivan show with you and the Pioneer Valley! Ethel the Barn The Siege-A fundraiser for Palestine Jun 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM Ethel the Barn ETHEL is presenting a reading of THE SIEGE, by Palestinian playwright and former Artistic Director of the Freedom Theatre Nabeel AlRaee. This documentary piece depicts the events in 2002 when Palestinians sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity following Israel's siege of the city of Bethlehem. We are looking for 5 actors to do the reading. There will be one or two meetings priir to the actual event. All donations will be sent to Palestinian artists.Interested performers should contact me at : perlsteinj@gmail.com WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Shakespeare & Company's Center for Actor Training is currently accepting final applications for the 2024 Summer Shakespeare Intensive, slated for May 28 through June 23. Modeled after the Month-long Intensive, the Summer Shakespeare Intensive (formerly the Summer Training Institute) provides young actors the opportunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare six days a week for four weeks during our summer performance season. A typical day includes: 9 am to 12 pm – Voice and Movement classes 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm – Lunch 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm – Text/Scene work or specialized class 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm – Dinner 7 pm to 9 pm – Text or special class (some evenings will be off) The Summer Shakespeare Intensive is geared toward undergraduate theater students, recent graduates, and early career acting professionals, but it is open to open to a wide-ranging audience of performers and practitioners. The Summer Shakespeare Intensive schedule is based on a daily and weekly progression of exercises. Occasionally, special events are held, or time off for learning lines, readings, or research is given. There will be one day off each week, typically Mondays, and all scene work will culminate in a final showing of the scenes open to company members, family, and friends of the participants. For more information, visit https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/summer-shakespeare-intensive/, or call (413) 637-1199, ext. 114. Photo: Renata Wimer and Miles Harrison, 2019. Photo by Christina Lane. Shakespeare & Company's free Behind the Curtain lecture series resumes on Saturday, April 6, led by Shakespeare scholar Ann Berman. Featuring directors, cast, and design team members as guests, Berman examines various themes surrounding both the Shakespeare and contemporary productions slated for Season 2024 through talks designed to be accessible, engaging, and interactive. Berman holds a Master of Arts in Shakespeare Studies from King’s College, London, and explores topics ranging from historical parallels in Shakespeare’s plays to the effect costumes, scenic design, lighting, and more can have on audience response to a performance. This season will include seven Behind the Curtain lectures held from April through August; Spring talks will be held in the Jane Iredale Lobby at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, while Summer sessions will be held outdoors at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre in the Rose Meadow. Behind the Curtain lectures for the 2024 Season include: Saturday, June 22 – Shakespeare & Music with Artistic Director Allyn Burrows Saturday, July 13 – The Comedy of Errors with Director Kate Kohler Amory Saturday, July 27– Flight of the Monarch: Penning New Plays with playwright Jim Frangione Saturday, August 10 – The Winter's Tale with Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer Saturday, August 24 – Three Tall Persian Women; guest to be announced All Behind the Curtain lectures are free, but tickets are required. For more information, visit shakespeare.org or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353. MAJESTIC THEATER ANNOUNCES YOUTH THEATER WORKSHOP FOR SUMMER 2024 Two-Week Workshop Enrolling Children in Grades 5-8 for Theater Education Program The Majestic Theater has announced its new Majestic Youth Theater Workshop, for children entering grades 5-8 next fall, set for June-July 2024.  Sue Dziura, associate producing director at the Majestic will lead the theater education program in which participants will get a part, rehearse a play and perform the show in a period of two weeks. The workshop is designed for both beginners and more seasoned actors who want to hone the necessary skills to communicate effectively onstage.  Guided by Dziura and a staff of experienced theater professionals, the program will utilize theater games, improv, voice for the actor, movement work, scene study and ensemble-building exercises to develop each young actor’s toolkit.  The two-week program will culminate in two performances of “Snowderella” by Nate Eppler.  Every participant gets a role, or multiple roles, to allow young actors to learn and grow as performers on the Majestic Theater stage. Participants will begin to learn: ·        What skills are needed to be an actor and how to develop those skills ·        How to audition, have stage presence, vocal projection and physical comedy skills ·        The joy of working as an ensemble ·        How to perform live in front of their friends and families The workshop will take play Monday through Friday, June 24 through July 5 (not including July 4) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the cost to participate will be $380.  The performances of “Snowderella” will take place Friday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 6 at 2:00 p.m.  All performance tickets will be $10.  Participants must submit an application to be part of the program.  Applications are available at the Majestic Theater box office or online at majestictheater.com Registration is open now for Riotous Youth, Shakespeare & Company’s summer theater program for children and teenagers, slated to run from Monday, July 1 to Friday, August 16. These one-, two-, and three-week sessions are tailored to different age groups, introducing participants ages seven to 17 to the language, stories, characters, and ideas in Shakespeare’s plays through imaginative and playful methods. Exercises and games incorporating voice, movement, and acting enable participants to explore Shakespeare’s text emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Participants then create a performance piece based on their experience of the play, which they share with family, friends, and Company members on the final day of each session. 2024 summer sessions include: One-week session Julius Caesar: August 12 – 16 For Ages: 7 – 12  Tuition: $425 Two-week sessions Twelfth Night: July 1 – 12 (sessions A and B are waitlist only) Henry V: July 15 – 26 (session D: limited spots available) Love's Labor’s Lost: July 29 – August 9 (sessions G and H: limited spots available) For Ages: 7 – 15 Tuition: $825 Three-week sessions  Riotous Company For Ages: 14 – 17 Tuition: $1075 All sessions are held at the Shakespeare & Company campus at 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, Mass., and limited financial aid is available. Visit shakespeare.org/education to learn more and apply. For more information, contact Education Residency and Riotous Youth Programs Manager Caitlin Kraft at ckraft@shakespeare.org or (413) 637-1199 ext. 132.  The Shea Theater offers TWO two week sessions of summer theater with Atticus and Enzo Belmonte for children ages 8-12. Each day of the program will be dedicated to creating and rehearsing the immersive theater performance, as well as learning and participating in various acting games and workshops. The cost is $650 per session with a limit of 20 children in each section. This fee includes snacks but not lunch. To register: sheatheaterartscenter@gmail.com DATES: July 8-19, 2024 and July 22-August 2, 2024 Monday - Friday Program runs 9 AM to 3 PM. Performance of the immersive play will take place on the second Friday at 10 am at the Shea on 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA.   In this program, the performers will rehearse and perform in an immersive theater show based on a fairytale, a Shakespeare play, or a myth. This immersive approach encourages imagination, collaboration, and creativity while teaching acting and movement techniques in a nurturing and holistic environment. A check may be made to: Shea Theater PO Box 773 Turners Falls, MA 01376 Deposit of $100 is required at registration with remainder due by June 15, 2024 Atticus Belmonte is a writer, director, actor, and theater major at Bard College. He is a founder of Patch Productions that he formed with his brothers and several friends taking his immersive theater pieces to the Shea where they have offered several productions. Enzo Belmonte is 16 years old and grew up doing theater, specifically Shakespeare and immersive theater. He has a special skill set in technical theater and will create lights and sound for the show. The medium of Immersive Theater is an innovative theater format allows audience members to wander wherever they wish within a play, finding characters and scenes at their own will in different rooms and spaces. No audience member has the same experience; they all will see different scenes in different locations, piecing together the story as they go. Registration is now open! Is your creative kiddo ready for a fun-filled summer of a creating their own fairy tale, channeling their inner wild creature, going on a magical musical adventure, and channeling their inner clown? Does your tween or teen feel that creative spark? Registration is now open for PIC Kids Summer with options to pay in full or a deposit only. This year we are excited to have offerings for young artists ages 7-11 AND ages 11-15! For younger artists (ages 7-11) will adventure through the creative process as they explore theater, movement, and music. Each week follows a different theme, and all weeks will culminate in a sharing of the young artists' original work on Fridays at 2:30. JUL 22-26        Fairy Tale Mash Up! JUL 29-AUG 2  Growl and Groove AUG 5-9          Soundscapes and Sorcery AUG 12-16       Theatrical Clown 9am-3pm each day  $325/week Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Florence Older youth artists (ages 11-15) will explore all things ensemble, co-creating a brand new collaborative performance. Using theater games, writing exercises, improvisation, movement, songwriting, and art, participants will draw upon their dreams, original perspectives, and hopes for the future. All of this collaborative fun will culminating in a sharing at 4pm on Friday, August 16th. AUG 12-16       PIC Kids Ensemble: Our Dreams!​ 9:30am-3:30pm each day  $350/week The Workroom at 33 Hawley Street, Northampton Learn more and register​ Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training will host its 9-Day Intensive at its Lenox campus from Thursday, August 22 through Saturday, August 31.  Designed for mid-career actors, educators, directors, and others seeking professional and artistic development, the 9-Day Intensive is inspired by Shakespeare & Company’s Month-long Intensive. Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay said the workshop offers participants an opportunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare training and make connections with like-minded artists in a robust, accessible format.  “We regularly hear from artists in the mid-stages of their career that they wish they could attend our renowned Month-long Intensive in the winter, but their schedules simply do not permit them to do so,” said Bandyopadhyay. “For those out there who are juggling teaching, acting, directing, parenting responsibilities, and the like, the 9-Day Intensive is ideal.” The daily schedule includes classes in Linklater Voice, Movement, monologue and scene work, and the format and tuition include admission to three Shakespeare & Company shows staged at the height of its 2024 performance season.  Tuition is $1,495 with partial scholarships available for BIPOC artists. Early payment, alumni, and union member discounts are also available. Limited on-campus housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to apply, visit shakespeare.org or call 413.637.1199, ext. 114. 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 Human Agenda Theater 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 South Hadley Players St. Michael's Players Starlight's Youth Theatre, Inc. 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