Western Mass Theatre Newsletter |
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July 23 - August 12, 2026 |
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| If you go see one show this weekend, make it Unreconciled at the Academy of Music! (But if you have time for two, check out Deep Blue Sound at Silverthorne!) And there are even more opportunities listed below - take a look at the full newsletter for more information about upcoming shows, workshops, and other opportunities.
The next issue will include events from July 30 - August 19. 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
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Real Live Theatre presents staged reading of The Winter's Tale
Sunday, August 2 at 5:00 PM at Shea Theater Arts Center
Tickets and More Information |
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Silverthorne Theater Company presents Deep Blue Sound by Abe Koogler
directed by Ezekiel Baskin
JULY 23 - 26
Where did those whales go? Nine actors play multiple characters in this joyful exploration of interwoven friendships, passions and losses -- an uplifting Our Town for our time.
Get Your Deep Blue Sound Tickets Here
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Unity House Players
ROBOT NATURE
7/24 @ 7:30PM, 7/25 @7:30PM, 7/26 @ 2PM
245 Porter Lake Drive
https://www.uuspringfield.org/events/unity-house-presents-robot-nature
Unity House presents ROBOT NATURE, a new musical comedy by Tammy Mader & Ian C Weber.
The key to world peace is in the hands of seven singing, dancing robots and the top scientists who created them. With so much on the line, tempers flare, accidents happen. What comes to light is true human nature - and robot nature!
The show explores themes of science, social justice, work-life balance, and ethics, through a hilarious script and high-energy musical numbers. |
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Plays in Place and Historic Deerfield present the premiere of: A STAKE IN THE GROUND: 1774 by Talya Kingston, Valyn Lyric Turner & Patrick Gabridge directed by Brianna Sloane
In the summer of 1774, seeds of revolution begin to germinate in Deerfield when a Liberty Pole
is brought to town. The characters in three new one-act plays explore the political divisions,
tangled family relations, and the complexities of enslavement from all sides. Join this vibrant,
immersive examination of the historical split that will define America.
featuring: Yar Petrov, Mario Longo-Imbimbo, Lena Vani, Rae Janeil, Marcus Neverson, Tracy Grammer, & Noah Braunstein. Understudies: Maizy Broderick Scarpa, Destini Stewart, Richmond Wills & Harrison Wright. Costume Design by Brittney Belz. Stage Management by Nikki Beck & Madison VanDuerzen.
July 24 - Aug 16 (Fri & Sat at 6:30pm, Sun at 2:30pm) Tickets and more information: www.historic-deerfield.org/events/a-stake-in-the-ground-1774/ |
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Shakespeare & Company and Spirit of the Circus Presents: Circus & The Bard: The Next Chapter.
July 24-26 at 11:30 and 2:30pm
70 Kemble St. Lenox, MA 01240
Circus & the Bard: The Next Chapter bounces back July 16–26 at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm at the Tina Packer Playhouse!
Co-created by Allyn Burrows, Robin Eldridge, and Pedro Reis, Co-directed by Allyn Burrows and Pedro Reis
Shakespeare & Company and Spirit of the Circus reunite for a playful mash-up of jaw-dropping circus acts paired with Shakespeare’s beloved characters. When high-flying feats meet the Bard’s words, sparks fly, laughs abound, and something truly magical happens.
Tickets are $35 for adults, $22 for ages 13-22, and $15 for ages 3-12. Tickets are on sale now at shakespeare.org, or by calling the Box Office at (413) 637-3353 Join us on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23, for relaxed, sensory-friendly performances.
What is a Sensory-Friendly Performance? Sensory-friendly performances are adapted to be less overwhelming and to welcome individuals with a range of sensory needs, including people who are neurodivergent; those with cognitive, social, or physical challenges; first-time theatergoers, and others. These performances offer pre-show materials such as story synopses and “what to expect” guides, along with reduced-intensity lighting and sound, dimmed house lights, and clear theater maps. Performances are relaxed; audience members are free to come and go, and total quiet is not expected. These shows are open to all patrons.
https://ci.ovationtix.com/403/production/1262276
This show is presented in collaboration with Spirit of the Circus |
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Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre
"The 39 Steps"
Performance Dates and Times: Thursday, July 23rd, 7:30pm Friday, July 24th, 7:30pm Saturday, July 25th, 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Kendall Sports & Dance Complex's Studio Theatre (6 Dunlap Pl. South Hadley)
Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre proudly presents “The 39 Steps” adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel of John Buchanen from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock, playing July 17th-July 25th in the Studio Theatre of Kendall Sports & Dance Complex.
Our first season closes with a fast-paced comedy thriller packed with spies, mystery, and nonstop laughs. When ordinary man Richard Hannay becomes entangled in an international espionage plot, he is swept into a whirlwind adventure across Britain. Featuring a handful of actors playing dozens of characters, The 39 Steps is a wildly inventive theatrical experience that combines Hitchcock suspense with hilarious physical comedy.
This production is directed by Mochael Ofori with Set Design by Alina Tschumakow, Costume Design by Jensen Glick, Lighting Design by Sam Skynner, Sound Design by Kirk Longhofer.
Tickets: $15 General Admission | $25 Season Pass For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit mhcsummertheatre.ludus.com or contact us at MHCSummerTheatres@MtHolyoke.edu. |
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Great Barrington Public Theater
iBoss
Jul 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
7/24 at 7:30pm, 7/25 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm (opening night), 7/26 at 2:00pm, 7/29 at 7:30pm, 7/30 at 7:30pm, 7/31 at 300pm and 7:30pm, 8/6 at 7:30pm, 8/7 at 7:30pm, 8/8 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, 8/9 at 2:00pm
The Great Hall at Saint James Place 352 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA
In a not so distant future, the rapidly accelerating intelligence of AI systems has created "Lisa." Powered by AI, she wields enormous power. Shockingly, Lisa displays an emergent property of AI — sentience.
And from this newly sentient being something else emerges: an emotional agenda. As Job Johnson begins his first in-person evaluation, it's clear this isn’t going to be just another day at the office.
https://greatbarringtonpublictheater.thundertix.com/events/261549 |
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PREMIERE
AMCHITKA
A New Play by Mark St. Germain
Directed by Julianne Boyd
July 24-August 8
In a monitoring station at Amchitka, a volcanic island 170 miles off the coast of Alaska used for underground nuclear testing in the 1960s, three scientists find themselves cut off from the outside world as an event seems to be underway. But what? A new philosophical thriller by Mark St. Germain, author of Magdalene and Freud’s Last Session.
CLICK HERE FOR AMCHITKA TICKETS |
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Unreconciled Project presents
Unreconciled with Bessel van der Kolk and Licia Sky
Jul 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Academy of Music
Galvanizing audiences nationally and internationally, UNRECONCILED is a solo tour de force of daring to stand up to an institution that wants nothing more than silence.
Thirteen-year-old Jay Sefton dreamed of being an actor and was cast as Jesus in a school play directed by the parish priest — later defrocked and named in a grand jury report for sexual abuse of minors.
Told with unflinching honesty and surprising humor, Sefton exposes the wider system that denies justice to survivors, taking audiences on a magic carpet ride through love and bewilderment in a whiskey-drenched, sports-crazed suburb of 1980s Philadelphia, where daily life is punctuated by church bells.
UNRECONCILED is the winner of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Award for Best New Play and Best Solo Performance.
https://aomtheatre.com/aom_event/unreconciled/
The show will be followed by a discussion on healing trauma through theatre with Bessel van der Kolk (bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score and foremost expert on trauma) and Licia Sky, (co-founder of the Trauma Research Foundation). |
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HVC Presents... Gluttony, The Silver Lining, and Oops All Animals!
Saturday, July 25th @ 7pm Enjoy three of our community's best independent teams making everything up on the spot! At the end, ALL the performers will play together, inspired by anything that happened in the show. Don't miss this night full of talented players!
The Silver Lining will treat you to silliness, connection, philosophizing, and in all likelihood at least one character named Miranda. Cauldron-stirring is not out of the question. Kristen Brookes, Hillary Bucs, Lynn Curry, Katharine Daube, Karin Perlman, and Kim Sherman.
Oops, All Animals is a comedic menagerie that will have you cackling, roaring, maybe even braying, with laughter. The flock includes Micaela Foster, Alyssa Diamond, Allison Reding, Derek Luthi, Quinn Darrow, and Ben Freed.
Craving something sweet, sour, bitter, salty, rich, spicy, and with a moist crumb? Get your fill of belly laughs with Jem O'Hara, Adi Heller, Evi Mahon, Sarah Zureick-Brown, and Lauren Anderson in Gluttony!
https://www.happiervalley.com/hvc-presents.html |
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MAJESTIC CHILDREN’S THEATER:
THE LIGHTNING THIEF
July 26, 27, 28, 29
[Recommended for ages 7+] Adapted from the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Lightning Thief is a high-energy, rock-infused musical that brings Greek mythology to thrilling life for young audiences. When Percy Jackson discovers he’s the son of a Greek god, he’s swept into an epic adventure filled with monsters, heroes, and unforgettable music. With humor, heart, and plenty of action, the story explores friendship, courage, and what it means to embrace who you are. Already beloved by kids, teens, and parents alike, this exciting theatrical journey is a dynamic, engaging experience for audiences of all ages.
BUY TICKETS ($12.00) |
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Shakespeare & Company Presents: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
July 30 - August 23 at 2pm and 7pm
70 Kemble St. Lenox, MA 01240
Shakespeare & Company Presents: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune By Terrence McNally, Directed by Nicole Ricciardi July 30-August 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
Set over the course of a single late night in a small Hell’s Kitchen apartment, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune is a tender, funny, and deeply human play about two people standing at the edge of connection. Frankie, a guarded waitress, and Johnny, an earnest short-order cook, work together at a Manhattan diner. After their first date, they find themselves in bed—and talking through the night.
What unfolds is an intimate conversation filled with humor, vulnerability, and longing. Johnny, a hopeful romantic, believes he may have found something rare and real. Frankie, shaped by past disappointments, keeps her defenses firmly in place. As they circle each other—sometimes clashing, sometimes connecting—the play reveals the quiet courage it takes to risk love after life has left its marks.
Accompanied by the soft glow of Debussy’s “Clair de lune,” playing on the radio at Johnny’s request, McNally’s play blends gritty realism with gentle romance. Both funny and achingly honest, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune explores loneliness, resilience, and the possibility that even late in the night—and later in life—love may still be waiting.
Tickets are $40-$99 and are on sale now at shakespeare.org, or by calling the Box Office at (413) 637-3353
Content Advisory: Frankie & Johnny takes an honest, often funny look at two adults on the late-night hours of a first date. Please be advised that the production includes moments of sexual intimacy and brief nudity.
https://ci.ovationtix.com/403/production/1262803 |
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Shakespeare & Company Presents - Shake It Up: The Remix
Jul 31, 2026 7:00 PM
8/1 @ 3:30pm, 8/2 @ 3:30pm & 7pm, 8/3 @ 6pm
70 Kemble St. Lenox, MA 01240
A blend of modern music and Shakespearean verse. Co-created by Allyn Burrows and Jacob Ming-Trent, Directed by Allyn Burrows
July 29-August 2 at 3:30 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm at the Tina Packer Playhouse
The hit that had audiences on their feet returns—revved up and remixed. The Tina Packer Playhouse transforms once more into the Elephant Lounge for Shake It Up: The Remix, an exuberant mash-up of modern music and Shakespearean verse. Audiences are invited to clap, sing, stomp, and dance in the aisles as the players unleash a breathless, rocking revue
Tickets are $25-$78 and are on sale now at shakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at (413) 637-3353
https://ci.ovationtix.com/403/production/1262277 |
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The Understudies: An Improvised Musical Saturday, August 1st @ 7pm It's the opening night of a brand new musical!
Unfortunately, the show was never written or rehearsed. This is the moment we've been training for. Be part of the fun as the determined Understudies create an entire musical from scratch, with a little help from the audience.
The Understudies are Scott Braidman, Kelsey Flynn, Paul McNeil, Mosie Senn-McNally, and Maile Shoul. With music by the amazing Jeff Kimball!
https://www.happiervalley.com/understudies.html |
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Real Live Theatre
RLT's staged reading of The Winter's Tale
Aug 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Shea Theater Arts Center
Join us for a celebratory fundraising staged reading! The Winter's Tale: Resolve You For Amazement (ei blot til lyst) Adapted & directed by Toby Vera Bercovici
RLT and friends come together for a weekend intensive to create a staged reading of an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s weird and wild play The Winter’s Tale - a play that starts as a tragedy and ends as a comedy!
With live music by Sam V. Perry
Featuring the performing talents of: Ezekiel Baskin, Harley Erdman, Jeannine Haas, Rachel Hall, Moe McElligot, Dan Morbyrne, Ellen Morbyrne, Alexandra O'Halloran, Sam Perry, Myka Plunkett, Linda Tardif
RLT is fundraising to support ongoing work on When The Mind's Free and The Birth/Death Project. Tickets for this reading are any price you are able to offer - and we thank you deeply for your support!
https://rltwinterstalereading2026.eventbrite.com |
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Green Brain Theatre
The Pharmacists
Thursday August 6th @ 7pm Friday August 7th @ 5:30pm MASKS REQUIRED Friday August 7th @ 8:30pm CitySpace Easthampton, MA
“But without the power of an ‘I’ or a ‘we’ in the back, even hoping becomes flat.” — Ernst Bloch
"The Pharmacists" by Jeremy Geragotelis
Three pharmacy workers conspire to give away medication to the public for free. This short-lived scheme changes these run-of-the-mill folk irrevocably, pushing them toward each other and toward the hope of a more livable future.
https://events.humanitix.com/the-pharmacists |
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Flip the Script Saturday, August 8th @7pm We invite a local playwright to bring an unfinished script to the show; an original work that's never seen the stage. Then we read the character descriptions, cast the show, and launch into its first ever performance. Once we run out of lines, we drop the scripts and improvise the rest of the play while the playwright watches in delight (or horror!) Featuring experienced improvisers Mandy Anderson, Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman, Moe McElligott, Laura Patrick, Pam Victor, and Kate Zak.
https://www.happiervalley.com/2nd-saturdays.html |
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| | AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES |
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Submissions are Open!
Submission Opportunities for PIC PIPS and Development Workshops for the 2027 season are officially open!
Submission Form
What is PIC PIPS?
PIPS stands for Plays In Progress Series. Plays that have been selected as part of PIPS receive a single developmental worksession with actors and a dramaturg, followed by a public reading of their piece and developmental conversation, or other form of engagement with the audience. PIC assembles the cast and assigns a dramaturg from our roster of artists. The playwright and a dramaturg work together to develop questions to share with the audience after the reading as part of the developmental conversation or engagement, and in this way the audience serves as a sounding board for further development of the piece. PIC also provides extensive notes from this conversation so that the playwright can focus on engaging with the audience and hearing the feedback. This program is reserved for scripts in a variety of developmental stages.
What types of pieces are a good fit for PIC PIPS?
*Full-length plays that have a complete draft. The draft could be in its first or final version, or anywhere in between but, regardless of stage, the playwright would benefit from seeing how it sits with an audience.
A play written a while ago that would benefit from a new/modern audience.
A full draft the playwright has had for awhile and would benefit from hearing it one last time before sending it off into the world for potential production.
*If your submitted script is not yet complete, you must submit a minimum of 20 pages PLUS a rough outline of your expectations for the rest of the play. Playwrights must be able to complete a first full draft in advance of any worksessions with PIC in order to qualify for this program. |
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Submissions are Open!
Submission Opportunities for PIC PIPS and Development Workshops for the 2027 season are officially open!
Submission Form
What is the Development Workshop?
The Development Workshop is reserved for pieces that have a first full draft and could use an intensive period of writing and hearing the work out loud with actors. This opportunity provides a minimum of 8 hours of developmental work sessions with actors and other support artists over multiple days, culminating in a reading and developmental discussion, or other form of engagement, with an audience. As with PIPS, PIC provides extensive notes from the discussion.
What types of pieces are a good fit for the Development Workshop?
*A full-length play or musical that needs an overhaul which could be achieved by having actors and other artists in the room. The necessary work could be on the entire script or specific sections.
A play/musical that was written a long time ago and needs an update for a modern audience. A script by a playwright interested in what actors’ perspectives will provide for the characters
A script that needs further development of character arcs
*If your submitted script is not yet complete, you must submit a minimum of 20 pages PLUS a rough outline of your expectations for the rest of the play. Playwrights must be able to complete a first full draft in advance of any worksessions with PIC in order to qualify for this program.
Submissions are open to anyone within a one hour radius of Hampshire County Mass.
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Playwright Commission Opportunity: A New Play About Shays' Rebellion The Majestic Theater invites submissions from playwrights interested in developing an original full-length play about Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787)—a defining yet often underrepresented event in American history that began in Western Massachusetts. Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, this commission will bring to life the true story of Daniel Shays, the thousands of farmers, veterans, and residents who joined the uprising, and the profound impact their actions had on the young nation. Rooted in historical research and community engagement, the commissioned play will explore the rebellion through the voices and lived experiences of those who shaped it, creating a work that is both historically grounded and theatrically compelling. Developed in conjunction with the national America 250 initiative, the project seeks to reflect on our nation's past, honor the contributions of those whose stories have too often gone untold, and invite audiences to consider the enduring themes of economic hardship, civic responsibility, power, resilience, and the future we hope to build together.
About the Commission The selected playwright will spend approximately one year researching, writing, and developing a new full-length play in collaboration with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team. Throughout the process, the playwright will work closely with Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, participating in regular conversations, script development sessions, and dramaturgical support as the work evolves. The project is designed to be highly collaborative. Research will be enriched through conversations with local historians, educators, artists, and community members, allowing the playwright to engage deeply with the people and places that shaped this pivotal moment in American history. A small curatorial committee representing a diverse cross-section of theater artists, historians, educators, and community members will review submissions and select the commissioned playwright.
What We're Looking For: We are seeking a playwright who is excited by the challenge of transforming historical events into compelling theater. Rather than simply recounting history, we hope to commission a writer who can uncover the human stories within Shays' Rebellion, creating vivid characters and emotionally resonant drama grounded in historical truth. Applicants should demonstrate: Excellence in dramatic writing. An interest in history, biography, or stories inspired by real events. A collaborative spirit and openness to feedback. Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines. Curiosity, imagination, and a desire to engage meaningfully with community history.
Playwrights from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Eligibility Applicants must: Have had at least one full-length play fully produced. Demonstrate the ability to complete projects on schedule. Be available to collaborate regularly with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team throughout the commission period. Be willing to participate in weekly meetings (in person and/or via Zoom) over approximately twelve months. Be interested in conducting research and engaging with community members as part of the writing process.
Commission Process Following selection, the playwright will embark on an approximately year-long development process that includes research, outlining, drafting, revision, and script development. Working alongside Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, the playwright will receive ongoing artistic support while maintaining their own creative voice. Throughout the process, the Majestic Theater will facilitate opportunities to connect with historians, educators, and community members whose perspectives will help inform and enrich the work. As the script develops, the Majestic Theater will host staged readings with professional actors, giving the playwright the opportunity to hear the work, receive feedback from the artistic team, historians, community members, and audiences, and continue refining the play throughout the commission. The goal is to create a powerful new American play that honors the history of Western Massachusetts while speaking to audiences through timeless themes of community, democracy, resilience, and the complexities of the American experience. Submission Materials Please submit the following: Cover letter describing your interest in the commission A 1–2 page proposal outlining your artistic vision for the project Résumé or curriculum vitae One sample of a previously produced full-length play Production history (or equivalent evidence of at least one fully mounted production) Two professional references
Compensation This is a paid commission made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Commission fee and project details will be discussed with finalists. How to Apply Please submit all application materials as a single PDF (when possible). Submission Deadline: August 20, 2026 Email submissions to: Sue Dziura
Producing Artistic Director
Majestic Theater Email: sue@majestictheater.com Subject Line: Shays' Rebellion Playwright Submission – Your Name Questions regarding the commission may also be directed to Sue Dziura at the email address above. About the Majestic Theater The Majestic Theater is a professional producing theater in West Springfield, Massachusetts, whose mission is to create and maintain performance opportunities for Pioneer-Valley-based theater artists and professional productions for local audiences at accessible prices. Through this commission, the Majestic seeks to foster the creation of a significant new American play that celebrates the rich and complex history of Western Massachusetts. The Majestic Theater is committed to creating an inclusive artistic environment and welcomes submissions from playwrights of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.
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Summer Youth Theater Programs
Easthampton Theater Company is running 2 weeks each of Summer Nights youth theater programs in Springfield and Easthampton, MA! Open by application only until full, and provided at no cost to teens entering grades 7-12. We are also offering scholarships to attend Williston's new theater day camp program in Easthampton! Please go to easthamptontheater.com for more info and to apply, and direct any questions to info@easthamptontheater.com |
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Academy of Music Theatre
Academy Youth Productions Summer Musical Theatre Workshops
July 27-31, 9am-3pm; August 3-14, 9am-3pm
Academy of Music Theatre
There are still spots available for the Academy of Music's summer musical theatre workshops for kids! All workshops run 9am-3pm, Monday through Friday (no weekends), at the Academy of Music.
Second Act! EXPRESS is a one-week session for ages 10-12, July 27-31.
Encore! is a two-week session for ages 13-16, August 3-14.
https://aomtheatre.com/workshops/ |
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| | | Play Incubation Collective Summer Program Theatrical Toolkit July 27-31 9am-3pm Rising 2nd-5th graders Instructors: Tracy Einstein and Richie Barshay Theater lovers unite! In this one-week workshop, you’ll get to build your skills as a performer and join a supportive community of creative kids. Through theater games, movement and scene improvisations, songwriting and prop and set design, you’ll explore key elements of performance and ensemble building. The work will culminate in an end-of-week sharing where you’ll get to showcase your theatrical toolkit! |
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| | | Play Incubation Collective Summer Program |
Playmaking Journey August 3-14
9am-3pm Rising 2nd-5th graders Instructor: Brianna Sloane This fun-filled two-week workshop will guide participants through all of the elements of theatrical storytelling as you get to create your own original play. The first week will be spent building our ensemble and exploring theater, improv, and movement games in order to generate stories, dialogue, and characters. Inspired by all of that idea generation, the director will create a script for the second week and participants will experience all aspects of the rehearsal process culminating in a short performance on Fri Aug 14th. Through it all, there will be lots of space for collaboration, imaginative play, learning new skills, and making new friends!. |
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| | | Play Incubation Collective Summer Program |
Improvise & Devise August 3-7 9am-3pm Rising 6th-9th Graders Instructor: Anna Fox Enjoy making things up on the spot, working as a team, and creating your own performances? Whether you’re new to improv or very experienced, this session welcomes all skill levels and will provide plenty of opportunities for growth We will spend the mornings each day playing comedy improv games, and then apply those skills and concepts to our afternoon sessions, working as an ensemble to create (devise) our own original performance. The exciting part of improv is that it’s all made up, so while the games have structures and rules, we won’t know what will happen until we’re all in the room exploring together. So let's take risks, laugh and figure it out as we go! |
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The Joy & Ease of Improv One-Week Intensive Aug 10th-13th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Happier Valley Comedy's Founder and Head of Happiness Pam Victor offers this four-day intensive for adults who want to try something fun, rewarding, and, quite possibly, mind-expanding. You'll learn a gentle, easeful approach to improv comedy in a positive, patient, and accepting atmosphere that will get you up on your feet and out of your head. Through improv exercises, games, and scenework, you'll practice the vital improvisation skills of paying attention acutely, accepting other people's ideas, redefining and disempowering failure, staying in the moment, quieting your critical voice to amplify your authentic voice, inviting more joy and ease into your work, and much more.
In this four-day intensive, you'll get all of the core exercises from the regular weekly Improv 1 class plus time to practice key skills through games while fostering class cohesion over the course of four meetings from 6-9pm. After completing this four-day intensive, beginning improvisers will be eligible to take Improv 2. (Though some choose to take the 8-week Improv 1 for the full experience.) Experienced improvisers who have graduated from all core levels of another improv comedy school or have performed improv for more than one year may be eligible to move on to Improv 3 with permission from HVC leadership.
No experience necessary. Being funny is not required! Shy people and introverts are welcome. At Happier Valley Comedy, we believe everyone can improvise. (No joke.)
https://www.crowdwork.com/e/the-joy-ease-of-improv-one-week-intensive |
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Clown - One Day Workshop
Aug 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Northampton Karate, 320 Riverside Dr Florence MA
In this 4 hour workshop we will begin to explore the comic world of the clown. Through a series of movement exercises, improvised songs and group games we will bring our bodies and imaginations to life, and reignite our appetites for pleasure and play - all in service of uncovering our most authentic selves.
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Gabriel Levey is a teacher, actor, coach and theatre maker committed to the power of empathic vulnerability and unabashed play. He works across genres and venues, helping actors and audiences step into their full selves, and laugh until their stomachs ache.
A maker of theatrical comedy, Gabe's original work includes: Dwellicle 109 (IRT); Brainsongs, or the play about the dinosaur farm (Yale Cabaret); And now we do LINDBERGH’S FLIGHT by Bertolt Brecht (Yale Cabaret); The Most Beautiful Thing in the World (Yale Cabaret/Boston University/Cloud City); How to Help the Self When the Self Needs Help with Carol A. Jantsen (The Peoples Improv Theater); and most recently A Super Serious and Not at All Funny Reading of Stories I Wrote After Brain Surgery. Recent acting credits include Three Sisters (Two River Theater), Intimate Apparel, The Cake (Silverthorne Theater) and Pulling at the Roots (Plays in Place).
Gabe's passion for teaching and for developing fun and physical approaches to acting led him to co-found (along with Christopher Bayes and Annelise Lawson) The Pandemonium Studio, a studio for the study of Clown, Commedia, and Improvisation in New York City. In the fall of 2019, with a focus on just, inclusive, diverse, and anti-racist actor training, as well as the creation and production of new works of theatrical comedy, Gabe founded Completely Ridiculous Productions. During the pandemic, the company transformed into The Completely Ridiculous Conservatory, a six-week online acting program that, within its first year, welcomed over 100 students from all over the world.
He has also taught in traditional university settings such as NYU, Smith College, Amherst College and the Yale University Summer Program; high school settings such as The Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, and The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School in Massachusetts; as well as renowned regional theaters such as The Alliance, Berkshire Theater Group and Northern Stage, and more nimble institutions such as the Pine Box in Florence, MA, and The Funny School of Good Acting in Brooklyn, NY.
Gabe received a BFA in Acting from Boston University, and an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. He is currently based in Western Massachusetts.
Recent press about Gabriel's neurodiversity and how it's embedded in his teaching and the world of the Clown. |
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