This weekend: holiday shows and showcases in full swing! It’s a busy weekend before things quiet down before the new year.
Here’s a little holiday penguin friend (drawn by Madison VanDeurzen)!
The next issue will include events from December 25 - January 14. Submit upcoming events via the link below or by emailing me before Tuesday at midnight. Any questions, comments or feedback? Email me at westernmasstheatre@gmail.com
Dec 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM Unity House Players, 245 Porter Lake Dr, Springfield, MA
Annual free community show! Laugh off that holiday stress with us as Phantom Sheep Players celebrate and satirize the season with live improv and new sketch comedy!
150 Bridge St, Springfield MA (Hope Center for the Arts)
Thursday, Dec 18 at 7:30 PM
Friday, Dec 19 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, Dec 20 at 8 PM
Sunday, Dec 21 at 3 PM
An intimate, black box performance that highlights the raw craft of acting and adaptation.
Presenting scenes from film and TV as live theatrical performances, revealing what changes—and what becomes more alive—when stories written for the screen move to the stage.
Come for free · Donate $10 if you can
https://www.facebook.com/share/1c1kSQBdnv/
Contact 413-523-9017, our FB event page, or DM @richport.theare.group on Instagram for more information
MAJESTIC THEATER WELCOMES AUDIENCES HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
DECEMBER 18-21
Home for the Holidays will return to West Springfield’s Majestic Theater December 4-21. The Majestic Theater is located at 131 Elm Street in West Springfield, MA.
The family-friendly show, featuring Pioneer Valley-based performers, has become a tradition at the theater for the past several years. Similar in style to nostalgic holiday specials of years past headlined by Andy Williams and Perry Como, “Home for The Holidays 2025” 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 singer/songwriter Madison Curbelo, a 2024 semifinalist on NBC’s The Voice television program, along with several veteran Majestic performers including Michael Garcia, Christine Greene, Steven Sands, Kait Rankins, Lori Efford, plus a special appearance by Santa Claus. Kyle Langlois is music director for the show, and other musicians include Jacob Nichols, Cliff Schofer and Don Rovero. Myka Plunkett is directing Home for the Holidays, and Jackie Purcell is stage manager. Daniel Rist is lighting designer, and Kyle Langlois is musical director.
Tickets are $30 & $28 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). Tickets can also be purchased online here.
Valley Players proudly present Joe Landry’s "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play", December 19, & 20 at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, MA! Doors open for dinner at 5:30pm, show starts at 6:30pm.
This dinner-theater production imagines the beloved holiday classic as a 1940s radio play, performed live on stage with foley sound effects and a cast of six actors playing all 40 roles! Directed by Chris Rohmann and featuring Valley players Jane Barish, Jen Campbell, Mark Dean, Ben Hersey, Alex Manugian, and Joseph Van Allen, with sound effects by Chip Roughton, stage management by Jason Fregeau, costumes by Piper Pichette, and vocal musical arrangements by Nettie Harrington Pangallo. Produced by Matteo Pangallo.
Tickets on a pay-what-you-can scale and half of net performance ticket revenue from this production will be donated to the Springfield- based affordable housing nonprofit Way Finders. During the show, Valley Players will also be holding a food drive for the Amherst Survival Center and audience members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to contribute.
Your ticket includes a gourmet three-course meal, with choice of entree, featuring locally sourced ingredients (tax and tip included; drinks not included). Reservations are required and close three days before the performance date. Walk-in admission is not available.
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Beetlejuice JR.
Dec 19 and 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM 15 Mulligan Drive, South Hadley MA 01075
PVPA's Theatre is excited to present Beetlejuice JR, the frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture turned Broadway phenomenon.
Lydia Deetz is a strange and unusual teenager, still grieving the loss of her mother and obsessed with the whole “being dead thing.” Lucky for Lydia, she and her father move to a new house haunted by a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter shows his true stripes, unleashing a (Nether)world of pandemonium.
With music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Eddie Perfect and a book by Tony Award-nominated pair Anthony King and Scott Brown, Beetlejuice was nominated for eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best New Musical.
Produced in cooperation with Music Theatre International.
Directed by AJ Kirby.
Assistant Director: Robbie Coolong, PVPA '28,
Stage Manager: Taylor Santos PVPA '26, and
Assistant Stage Managers are Madeleine Wells, PVPA '29 and Ella Kirchner PVPA '30
www.pvpa.org/shows
Tickets available online at pvpa.org/shows Tickets available at the door (+$2/tix) on a space available basis.
Not In Charge: Improv Comedy Inspired By True Stories
Saturday, December 20th @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, Micaela Foster, Derek Luthi, Allison Reding, Julie Waggoner, Jim Young, and Kate Zak.
Please prepare 16-32 bars (or approx. 1 minute) of a song in the style of the show.
An accompanist will not be provided. Please bring a track on an aux cable compatible device or be prepared to sing acapella.
Also please prepare a short 1 minute comic monologue that showcases your style and a strong character.
Please expect to stay to learn a short movement combination (dance call later that day).
You are encouraged to bring your theatrical resume, but not required.
A photo and/or video may be taken at auditions.
Please be familiar with the show, schedules, character information, and requirements (available on our website). All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Call for director: The VLO presents Fiddler on the Roof, (November, 2026)
Valley Light Opera is seeking nominations and applications for stage director for our 51st annual production, Bock, Harnick, and Stein’s "Fiddler on the Roof", to be performed November 5-8, 2026, at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Stage Director Description: The stage director (SD) creates the overall artistic concept of the show. The SD works closely with the musical director as well as the set and costume designers, the choreographer and technical director to carry out the concept. The stage director also rehearses principals and chorus in dialogue, acting, blocking, and dancing.
An honorarium of $1,000 will be paid at the completion of the performances.
For those interested in applying as stage director, proposals should be submitted by January 10th, 2026. Proposals should be submitted to VLO president Kathy Blaisdell at: kathy.blaisdell222@gmail.com and must include the following:
· Letter of interest and artistic concept (no more than 3 pages)
· Theater or music resume
· References Nominations are also encouraged and may be submitted to the same email address.
Applications will be reviewed as they arrive, starting immediately. Finalists may be invited to make a presentation to the VLO Board after January 10th. An electronic perusal copy may be requested by emailing kathy.blaisdell222@gmail.com.
The Valley Light Opera is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization based in Amherst, MA. Each year for over 50 years the VLO has produced fully-staged, orchestrated and lavishly costumed productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and other musical theater works. Rehearsals are typically in Hadley or Amherst, and performances at the Academy of Music in Northampton. Applicants who are unfamiliar with VLO are encouraged to explore our website at vlo.org.
Questions? Please email VLO president Kathy Blaisdell, at kathy.blaisdell222@gmail.com.
APPLAUSE Auditions Book by Betty Comden & Adolph Green Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Lee Adams.
Male and Female Leads and Ensemble auditions by appointment only Sunday, January 25th and Tuesday, January 27th
Easthampton Theater Company is excited to announce auditions in January for the musical Applause, book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Lee Adams. We are seeking talented and dedicated actors of a wide range of ages. All roles are available; none are precast. We strongly encourage actors of all races, ethnicities, and gender identities to audition. Applause is based on the 1950 film All About Eve and the short story on which the movie is based, Mary Orr's "The Wisdom of Eve". The story centers on aging star Margo Channing, who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and possibly her man. The original 1970 Broadway production was nominated for ten Tony Awards and ultimately won four: the overall production won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Lauren Bacall won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and Ron Field won both the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Choreography.
The show is directed by Manuel Morales and produced by Eva Husson-Stockhamer. Our music director is Evan Kos and our choreographer is Brianna Husson-Stockhamer. Several roles in this production are open to actors of any gender identity. We encourage all performers to audition for the roles that resonate with them. We are conducting auditions by appointment only Sunday, January 25th and Tuesday, January 27th at the Easthampton Congregational Church. Performances will be held at the Williston Theater in Easthampton and are on June 5th* (invited dress,) 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. The readthrough will take place in early March 2025. Rehearsals will start in earnest at the middle of March. All actors will not be called for every rehearsal. However, all actors are required to be available every day during production week, which will start on Monday, June 1st.
...for more audition information, audition form and sign-up link.
If you experience any issues accessing the audition materials (including music, PDF files, or other resources), or if you require any assistance or accommodations to participate in the audition process, please contact us at info@easthamptontheater.com. We are happy to help ensure an accessible and inclusive experience for all participants.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
This Year's Month-long Intensive for mid-career professionals launches December 27
Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training’s January Month-long Intensive is slated to run from December 27, 2025, through January 18, 2026, held at Shakespeare &Company’s campus in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.
Throughout the intensive, participants engage in voice, movement, dance, text analysis, exploration of the actor/audience relationship, sonnet work, scene work, clown, stage fight, and Master classes with Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, including in-depth discussions about the necessity of theater and the importance of the actor in today’s world.
Senior Workshop Director Susan Dibble, who has served as a month-long intensive faculty member for all of its 45 sessions, said the intensive offers actor training that is timelessly applicable.
“The January Intensive is a rigorous and rejuvenating program designed to activate a deep and powerful connection to the human experience, and to Shakespeare's language, in particular,” she said. “Theater artists will encounter multiple disciplines taught by a team of expert faculty, all of whom are committed to providing each participant with the opportunity for both personal attention and community. The breadth and the depth of this experience is readily applicable to both contemporary and classical material.”
Complete applications are accepted on a rolling basis; arrival day is Friday, Dec. 27, and departure day is Monday, Jan. 19. For more information – including regarding the topics covered during the Intensive – email training@shakespeare.org.
Photo Caption
Training alums Oscar Quiroz & Sydney Endicott during the final scene-sharing of the 2025 January Intensive. Photo by Christina Lane
Clown I Class
1-4pm Saturday January 10th - February 28th Northampton Karate, 320 Riverside Dr Florence MA
Over the course of this 8-week intro to clown class we will investigate a series of games and exercises built to help relinquish our need to get things right, bring our bodies and imaginations to life, and reignite our appetites for pleasure and play - all in service of making people laugh!
To be clear - this not a class in which you learn how to juggle, make a balloon animal, put on some oversized shoes and head off to the big top. NO! This is a class in which you will have the opportunity to step away from your adult responsibilities and play like a kid again, to reclaim your unbridled curiosity and virtuosic delight, and to fall in love with everything that makes you YOU. Simply put, this is not a class about being funny - it’s a class about being human.
