Western Mass Theatre Newsletter |
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| | | What a lovely warm autumn week - for so many reasons! Not the least of which is how many excellent shows are coming up - get out your calendars and get your tickets now!
The next issue will include events from November 12 - December 2. 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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| Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents Stage Combat with Poles Sunday, November 15, 10-4:30 in Eastworks Register Here |
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| John Feffer presents The President October 30, 31, November 1, 4, 14, 15 st CitySpace in Easthampton Tickets and More Information |
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| Easthampton Theater Company presents Auditions for Godspell November 10 and 11 in Southampton Sign Up Here |
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MAJESTIC THEATER PRESENTS LEND ME A TENOR THROUGH NOVEMBER 29 Much-beloved Modern Farce Blends High-Class Chaos With Comedy West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present the second production of its 29th Season of plays with the popular comedy Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig. The show will open on October 22 and run through November 29 at the West Springfield venue. Myka Plunkett is directing the play, and Michael Garcia is stage manager. Iaslyn Lewis is assistant stage manager, and scenic designer is Dan Rist. Production manager is Marcus Kearns, lighting designer is James McNamara, and Dawn McKay is costume designer. The cast includes Sam Samuels (Saunders), Sarah Keyes (Maria), Peter Evangelista (Tito), Christopher Marcus (Max), Mona Tiglio (Julia), John Pagliarulo (Bellhop), Raya Malcolm (Maggie), and Dorine Tayts (Diana). Understudies include Nicholas Futris (Max & Bellhop), Abigail Drumm (Maggie), and Myka Plunkett (Juilia, Diana & Maria) Tickets to the plays range from $36-$39 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by calling (413) 747-7797, or online at www.majestictheater.com. Box office hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
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| | Brush up on your vocabulary — Spelling Bee is coming to UMass Theater!Tickets are on sale now for our season opening musical. |
Sweet, funny, poignant, and delightful — these words spell out the award-winning musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which opens the UMass Amherst Theater mainstage season on Oct. 30.
Tickets are now on sale for our production, which is directed by Professor of Performance and Directing Gina Kaufmann, who's responsible for several recent Silverthorne Theater shows.
"It's a joyful musical comedy with so much heart, as each middle-schooler deals with the very real pressure to be the best," Kaufmann says. "I also love that there is audience participation. Several audience members are on stage as spellers at each performance!"
That right folks: willing participants are given the chance to volunteer to go up on stage to "compete" against our cast of spellers, adding an exciting element of unpredictability to each performance! (No singing or spelling skills required!)
As the title indicates, this musical revolves around the lives of a group of young teens competing in a local spelling bee, using their turns at the mike not just to spell words but to sing out their frustrations and triumphs. Meanwhile, the adults administering the bee have their own personal travails to contend with. Who will hoist the trophy? Who'll be sent offstage with only the consolation of a box of apple juice? And who needs a long vacation?
"Spelling Bee," says Theater major Eliza Epstein, who proposed the show for the season and is now serving as dramaturg, "bridges the gap between performance and competition, two high-stake challenges that call for massive amounts of effort from actors and competitors. Yet characters are able to grow and change in this world full of pressure, finding hope, love, and alternatives to perfection."
This show was our students' overwhelming choice for a musical to present this year, and we think their instincts are right on! Tickets are now on sale for this production — grab some for your family now! Show DetailsThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
By William Finn (music and lyrics) and Rachel Sheinkin (book)
Director: Gina Kaufmann
Nov. 5, 6 & 7 at 7:30
Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
The Rand Theater
Pricing: $19 for General Admission. $7 for Students, Seniors, and Card to Culture (for EBT, WIC, ConnectorCare cardholders)
Advance sales through the Fine Arts Center Box Office, door sales of all remaining tickets begin one hour before show time.
This show is recommended for ages 13 and up due to adult humor and situations, and references to sexThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com |
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Greenfield Community College
THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER
Nov 5, 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7pm and Nov 8 & 15 at 2pm
Greenfield Community College's Sloan Theater
GCC Theater presents Laramie Project: Ten Years Later by Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber Directed by Tom Geha
Fall Performances Week 1 Thursday, November 5, 7 p.m. Free Preview Friday, November 6, 7 p.m. Opening Night (followed by talkback) Saturday, November 7, 7 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2 p.m. Matinee
Week 2 Friday, November 13, 7 p.m. (followed by talkback) Saturday, November 14, 7 p.m. Sunday, November 15, 2 p.m. Closing Matinee
Most of the cast and crew from our sold-out Spring production of The Laramie Project will be returning to perform in The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later this Fall. The second part chronicles the long-term effects of Matthew Shepard’s murder on the citizens of Laramie. Riveting and thought-provoking, this companion piece to the famed docudrama, The Laramie Project, presents a town wrestling with its history and legacy.
On October 6, 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard left the Fireside Bar with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. The following day he was discovered on a prairie at the edge of town tied to a fence, brutally beaten, and close to death. Six days later, Matthew Shepard died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado. On November 14th, 1998, ten members of Tectonic Theatre Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming and conducted interviews with the people of the town. Over the next year, the company returned to Laramie six times and conducted over 200 interviews. These texts became the basis for the play The Laramie Project.
Ten years later on September 12th, 2008, five members of Tectonic returned to Laramie to try to understand the long-term effect of the murder. They found a town wrestling with its legacy and its place in history. In addition to revisiting the folks whose words riveted us in the original play, this time around, the company also spoke with the two murderers, McKinney and Henderson, as well as Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard. The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a bold new work, which asks the question: How does society write its own history?
The play runs 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Note: The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a stand-alone play. Meaning that you can understand and enjoy it without having seen the first part.
gccfor.me/tickets
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Valley Light Opera
Fiddler on the Roof
Nov 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
11/6 at 7:30 PM; 11/7 and 11/8 at 2:00 PM with 1:00 PM special talk
Academy of Music in Northampton
Valley Light Opera presents Fiddler on the Roof, with a large, exciting cast, great choreography, a full orchestra, and stunning sets and costumes. The story centers on Tevye, a milkman in the fictional village of Anatevka, who attempts to maintain his Jewish traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family's lives. He must cope with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters, who wish to marry for love; their choices of husbands are successively less palatable for Tevye. Fiddler on the Roof is a perennially powerful musical about the exquisite joys and devastating sadnesses of daily life. Its lasting power as a piece of theatre comes from the loveable, familiar characters and their recognizable experiences that resonate with audiences of all ages. Fiddler celebrates how the people of Anatevka (like so many people around the world and throughout history) pursue life's joys - love, family, and freedom - in the face of great sorrows. There is so much humor and love among the people of Anatevka, and their highs are a strong contrast to the pain of exile from their home. In our current moment, the story of Fiddler on the Roof will resonate with many people’s experiences of exile, discrimination, and the strength to grow roots in a challenging environment. Fiddler on the Roof features music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein. Set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in or around 1905, it is based on "Tevye the Dairyman" and other short stories by Sholem Aleichem. Sebastian Schulman of the Yiddish Book Center will give a talk about the Sholem Aleichem Tevye stories at 1:00 p.m. for both matinees.
AOMtheatre.com/#events
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. This production is licensed by Music Theatre International. Stage Director: Rose Schwietz Malla Music Director: Matthew Bertuzzi Choreographer: Marybeth Mizula Vargas |
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Happier Valley Comedy
Gluttony Improv Comedy
Nov 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Happier Valley Comedy, One Mill Valley Rd. (Suite B), Hadley, MA 01035
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!
Gluttony has been a featured team in Happier Valley Comedy’s Greenhouse show and 2026 Happiness Festival. We have also performed in The Laurel Park Arts series. We’re known for our high energy, quirky characters, and quick wits.
https://www.crowdwork.com/e/community-comedy-night-november-6th-6pm
Community Comedy Nights provide time, space, and applause for performers of all levels in our community. Join us for student showcases, independent teams, and experimental forms - mostly improv, but occasionally you'll get a song, sketch, story, or a bit of standup comedy. |
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| | | False Exit
Nov 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM The Shutesbury Library, 66 Leverett Road, Shutesbury
A staged reading of a French farce. A young couple hold a funeral for a 102-year-old relative. What could go wrong? |
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The Understudies: An Improvised Musical Saturday, November 7th @ 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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First Pick Games
The Number Goes Up!, an immersive theatre gameshow experience
Nov 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Quonk, 122 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060, United States
Step into a gameshow where the whole audience gets to play!
Trivia, word puzzles, physical challenges, communication games, guess-the-password, and many other gameshow classics with a Quonky twist. You, alone or with friends, in a team, working together to make the NUMBER GO UP.
Imagine the lights coming up on a room split into four roaring teams, a giant number glowing on the screen, and a host about to ask you to do things you haven't done since recess.
This is part gameshow, part team sport, part the best party you've ever been picked first for. Can you make the number go up?
Four Teams Puzzles & Word Games Cup-Stacking and other Physical Challenges Improv Challenges ️ Trivia For All Types …and a hidden secret game!
But here's the twist… you're never playing alone. Beyond the buzzers and the big swings lies the real secret of the night: the wins are shared. Every point — yours, or a total stranger's two rows over — pushes your team's number higher. And the higher it climbs, the better your shot at the Final Round.
Play the games you love. Sit out the ones you'd rather watch. Cheer for everybody. The night is yours!
NEW FOR NOVEMBER: Keight Leighn joins as a guest co-host! Quonk's own Keight joins Nathan to deliver the fun. New co-host, new games, and new prizes.
https://www.quonkhampton.com/games/
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The 4th Annual Improv For All Ages is back! On Friday, November 13th, the Scarlet Sock Foundation will present an evening of fun, delight, and spontaneity at Northampton High School. The Scarlet Sock Foundation supports underserved communities by administering small grants to community organizations, schools and theater companies. Our hope is to increase exposure and access to social justice theater for children, young adults and emerging theater artists. Our efforts aim to partner with and provide 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 fund social justice theater projects in Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties. To learn more, please visit Scarletsock.org
Contact Person: Heidi Haas, 413-626-5840 Heidi@scarletsock.org
Led by Heidi Haas, Improv For All Ages will feature the talents of children and teens from ages 5-13 and the Northampton High School troupe, Funktionlust! Plus a group of local adult improvisers. Funktionlust, now in its 21st year, is the only improv group at NHS. 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 again with all the other improvisers! 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. |
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The Drama Studio
Whistling Opening Night!
Friday, November 13th 7:30 PM
The Drama Studio 41 Oakland Street, Springfield, MA
Whistling Written by Charlie Watts Directed by Patrick O'Konis and Amelia Hays-Rivest Performing: November 13-15 & 20-22, 2026 In a modern world plagued by ancient problems, four Wind Spirits try to free themselves from the tyrannical rule of King Aeolus in their new home of Corinth. But when a major storm strikes, the humans of Corinth must decide who is truly at fault: the new windy residents or the king? In an epic story based loosely on the Odyssey, these characters must figure out how to trust each other and work together to fight for their freedom before their time runs out.
https://dramastudio.org/tickets |
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The President written and performed by John Feffer November 14, 15
Two years into his presidency, Peter Peters faces plummeting poll numbers, rising opposition, and a credible terrorism threat. In response, he is on the verge of declaring martial law. His opponents are hoping instead for a democratic uprising. The President—an original one-man show written and performed by acclaimed playwright John Feffer--puts our perilous and polarized politics under a magnifying glass just in time for the midterm elections. It's a funny, harrowing, and ultimately inspiring 70-minute performance. Hailed as a “brilliant writer and performer” by the Washington City Paper, Feffer last appeared at CitySpace in his show The Wedding Jester. |
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Academy of Music Theatre
Letters Aloud: Before They Were Famous
Nov 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Academy of Music Theatre
Sometimes, being famous is all about hard work. And sometimes, it’s an accident. In either case, fame teaches you things—about yourself, about hard work, about enjoyment, about pride, and about your impact on the world and others. From humble beginnings to adoring fans to looking back on achievements and lessons learned, we chart the course of celebrity through the correspondence of luminaries like Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, Elvis Presley, Emily Dickinson, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe, and Tom Hanks. Expect to hear letters from and to a few celebrities who appeared on the Academy of Music stage as well.
Get a new perspective on fame from the famous in Letters Aloud's most popular show!
https://aomtheatre.com/aom_event/letters-aloud-before-they-were-famous/
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 7:30pm Doors open at 7:00pm Tickets are $27.43 including fees and can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com, or by calling the Academy box office at 413-584-9032. The Academy is offering a limited number of seats at a discounted price through the Card to Culture program; call or visit the box office for more information. |
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Flip the Script Saturday, November 14th @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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Join PIC for the public reading of our final reading of 2026:
THE OPHELIET PROJECT, written by Maizy Broderick Scarpa.
Featuring: Xinef Afriam, Francesca Hansen-DiBello, and Adriana Piantedosi.
Dramaturgy by Avi Klipfel
And Program Coordination by Nikki Beck
Synopsis: Decades after a formative summer training together in the youth troupe of a prestigious Shakespeare festival, a trio of friends reunite to perform a pared-down version of Hamlet. But after deciding on a whim to reassign Hamlet’s soliloquies to Ophelia, the compulsion to question the status quo overflows past rehearsals, challenging not just how they view Shakespeare's masterpiece, but also their friendship and the theater company that brought them all together.
The reading begins at 7:30pm. Doors will open 7:00pm. No entry after 7:45pm. Please enter the 33 Hawley Building via the downstairs courtyard. The reading will take place in The Workroom.
Tickets
What is the Incubation Residency?
The Incubation Residency is an opportunity for a playwright to develop a brand new script over the course of 9 months with a hands-on creative support team that may include actors, dramaturg, director, theatrical artistic advisors, fellow playwrights, and more. The 9 months culminate in a public presentation (reading) of the work in process and may include a dramaturgically-led discussion with the audience to further aid in the development of the play. All artists involved, including the playwright are paid for their time and artistic expertise.
Incubation Residencies are $12 to attend, but no one is turned away from lack of funds. If the ticket price is out of reach for you, please select the subsidized ticket option. If you are able to contribute to our subsidized ticket fund, there will be an opportunity to do so at time of registration. Reserve your ticket now by any form of payment. Cash or check only at the door. |
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A FREE SPECIAL EVENT:
Queen Esther: A Heretical Play from Early Modern Spain
by Harley Erdman
Directed by Aaron Henne Featuring Robinson Alvarado-Vargas, Abbi Andrews, Eliza Epstein, Willie E. Jones III, and Maya Quiñones. Music provided by Brian Repeta.
Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rand Theater, Bromery Center for the Arts, UMass
Free and open to the public. No registration required. In this Illuminated Lecture, a form that weaves theater and music into an academic lecture, UMass Professor Harley Erdman, with the support of five student actors, shares his research on a play from 1613 that landed its playwright, Felipe GodÃnez, in jail for heresy. What made the play so dangerous to the Inquisition? Erdman delves into the playwright’s crypto-Jewish background and shows how some extraordinary choices in the play might have held a hidden meaning for audience members who were of Jewish heritage but forbidden from practicing their religion or expressing their culture in public. Join us for an entertaining and memorable take on an academic lecture, on a fascinating subject. A co-production of UMass Theater and theatre dybbuk. This event is made possible in part by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Comparative Literature, the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and Spanish & Portuguese Studies. |
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Mount Holyoke College Department of Film Media theater
"Clue" at Rooke Theater
Nov 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM
11/20 - 11/21 @ 7:30pm, 11/22 @ 2:30pm
Rooke Theater, 1 Lower Lake Rd. South Hadley MA. 01075
The Mount Holyoke College Department of Film Media Theater proudly presents Clue, a hilarious, fast-paced murder mystery based on the beloved board game and cult-classic film. Full of outrageous characters, unexpected twists, and plenty of laughs, this production invites audiences to put their detective skills to the test.
Written by Sandy Rustin and based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, Clue features additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price and original music by Michael Holland. The play is based on the Paramount Pictures motion picture and the Hasbro board game CLUE.
It’s a dark and stormy night, and a cast of oddball characters has been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each guest has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well, dead. So whodunit? Join the iconic suspects Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to uncover the murderer at Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep audiences guessing until the final twist.
This production is directed by Michael Ofori, with set design by Katherine Simon, costume design by Katherine Stebbins, and lighting and sound design by Amber Tanudjaja.
Performance Dates and Times: Thursday, November 19, 7:30 pm Friday, November 20, 7:30 pm Saturday, November 21, 7:30 pm Sunday, November 22, 2:30 pm
Tickets: $10 General Admission | $5 Students For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit mhc.ludus.com or contact us at PerformingArts@MtHolyoke.edu
mhc.ludus.com |
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| | | Holyoke Community College Theater
Arranged, Proposed, Overruled !
Nov 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Friday November 20th, Saturday November 21st 2:00pm, Saturday November 21st 7:30pm
Leslie Phillips Theater
The Holyoke Community College Theater Department will present: Arranged Proposed Overruled !
A trio of one act plays
The Proposal By Anton Chekhov, directed by Denise Boutin A Marriage has been Arranged by Alfred Sutro directed by Michael Pray Overruled by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Gabriel CiFuentes
https://hcctheater.ludus.com/index.php
This show is appropriate for audience members 13 years of age and older.
All performances will be in the Leslie Phillips Theater on the campus of Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke MA, 01040 [Fine and Performing Arts Building, 2nd floor]
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes This performance does not have an intermission Tickets: General Admission $10.00 |
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Annual event brings together nearly 500 high school students to mount full productions of Shakespeare plays
Since 1988, Shakespeare & Company’s Education Program has brought together high school students from across the region to introduce and nurture a love of theater and language through the Fall Festival of Shakespeare.
Back for its 38th year, the Fall Festival of Shakespeare includes students from 10 schools in Massachusetts and New York, supported by a cadre of 20 Shakespeare & Company directors, six costume designers, and five production designers.
Nine weeks of after-school rehearsals, set builds, weekly “common class” workshops attended by all participants collectively, and culminate in full-scale productions at each school and on the main stage at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse during Fall Festival Weekend, Thursday, Nov. 19 through Nov. 22. Kevin G. Coleman, director of Shakespeare & Company’s Education Program, said, “The festival celebrates the work, the creativity, the courage and the working together of nearly 500 students.
“There are no prizes, no trophies, no awards,” he said. “It’s never been and never will be a competition. Instead, the festival is an opportunity to appreciate the bravery, the risk-taking, the humor, the mischief and the heartbreak of these great plays, and all of the students who bring them alive.”
Fall Festival of Shakespeare performances are open to the public. This year, shows produced by students from high schools in Berkshire and Columbia counties will perform at the Fall Festival in the course of four days:
38th Fall Festival Schedule Thursday, November 19 6:15 pm – Berkshire Waldorf High School’s The Winter’s Tale Directed by Lydia Duff & Mitchel Csermak Production Design by Rayne Barrett Costume Design by Rin Menge 8:30 pm – Monument Mountain Regional High School’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Directed by Malle Winters & Adam Koda Production Design by Alex Drake Costume Design by Anna Vernetti
Friday, November 20 6:15 pm – Pittsfield High School’s Romeo & Juliet Directed by David Bertoldi & Kristin Yates Production Design by Tapanga Hill Costume Design by Anna Vernetti 8:30 pm – Mt. Everett Regional School’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Directed by Madeleine Maggio & John Leggett Production Design by Alex Drake Costume Design by Anna Vernetti
Saturday, November 21 1:15 pm – Lenox Memorial High School’s Julius Caesar Directed by Victoria Rhoades & Leslie Field Production Design by Rey Hankinson Costume Design by Lezlie Lee 3:30 pm – Springfield Central High School’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre Directed by Ellie Bartz, Ryan N. Murray, & Maurice Doran Production Design by Tapaynga Hill Costume Design by Aimee Green 6:15 pm – Mt. Greylock Regional School’s Cymbeline Directed by Erin Jones & Luke Haskell Production Design by Rey Hankinson Costume Design by Cal Murphy 8:30 pm – Lee Middle & High School’s Hamlet Directed by Abigail St. John & Lochlan Angle Production Design by Rayne Barrett Costume Design by Aimee Green
Sunday, November 22 1:15 pm – Taconic Hills Jr./Sr. High School’s Love’s Labour’s Lost Directed by Kirsten Peacock & Kirsten Mulrenan Production Design by Grace Goosman Costume Design by Silas Leiter 3:30 pm – Chatham High School’s Twelfth Night Directed by Nick Nudler & Madeline Weltchek Production Design by Grace Goosman Costume Design by Silas Leiter 5 pm – Closing Reverence
Tickets and multi-show passes are now on sale for all Fall Festival weekend performances at Shakespeare & Company. Individual show tickets are available at both general admission and student prices. In addition, a generous group of donors has pledged $50,000 to benefit Shakespeare & Company’s Education Program and the Fall Festival of Shakespeare. Now through November 22, every donation to the Fill the Quill Match Challenge will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. Thanks to Community Television for the Southern Berkshires, The Fall Festival of Shakespeare will stream live via CTSB and the Cablecast app on Roku, iOS, Apple TV, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. For more information, visit shakespeare.org. For more information about the festival, visit shakespeare.org, or call the Box Office at 413.637.3353. For more information on donating to the Fill the Quill Match Challenge, email development@shakespeare.org. Photo Caption: Students from Pittsfield High School's 2025 production of Hamlet; photo by Four Wings Photography About Shakespeare & Company Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists. |
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Wilbraham United Players
A Christmas Carol
11/20, 11/21, 11/27, 11/28, 12/4 & 12/5 at 7:30pm; 11/22 & 12/6 at 2:30pm
Fellowship Hall at Wilbraham United Church at 500 Main St in Wilbraham, MA
A Little Christmas Magic Comes to the Stage in Wilbraham! Get ready to leave “Bah, humbug!” behind! The Wilbraham United Players are bringing Charles
Dickens’ beloved A Christmas Carol to the stage in a fast-paced, hilarious, and imaginative adaptation by Olivier Award-winning playwright Patrick Barlow.
Directed by Deborah Trimble, the production stars Doug Lebelle as Ebenezer Scrooge, with Shaun Barry, Kiernan Cone, Amanda Emet, Steven Close, and Rylee Santiago portraying dozens of characters in this energetic and inventive holiday production.
With simple props, rapid character changes, physical comedy, and plenty of theatrical imagination, this fresh take on a Christmas classic promises an evening filled with laughter, heart, and holiday spirit.
Performances run November 20-December 6, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:30 PM. There will be no show on Sunday, November 29th. Performances take place in Fellowship Hall at Wilbraham United Church, 500 Main Street, Wilbraham, MA.
Tickets are available online at www.wilbrahamunitedplayers.org. Seating is limited, so reserve your tickets early! Follow Wilbraham United Players on Facebook and Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos, updates, and more.
Celebrating their 70th anniversary season, the Wilbraham United Players invite you to make A Christmas Carol part of your holiday tradition! Come for the laughs. Stay for the magic. And rediscover the spirit of Christmas!
Established in 1956, Wilbraham United Players is a non-profit community theater dedicated to enriching lives through the performing arts.
https://www.wilbrahamunitedplayers.org/buy-tickets |
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READING OF KING LEAR TO BENEFIT LIFE PATH’S SENIOR SERVICES For their fourth “Bard in the Bar” reading, Valley Players will present Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, King Lear, featuring a cast of over twenty actors from across the region. The reading will be on Saturday, November 21, from 6pm to 9pm at The Brewery at Four Star Farms (508 Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, MA). “Bard in the Bar” is an unrehearsed, script-in-hand, drink-in-hand reading of a Shakespeare play in a local bar to benefit a local cause. All participants are volunteer performers, and most roles are distributed at random. To sign up for the chance to get a role, email info@valleyplayers.org before November 7. Anyone not participating in the reading can still watch the show, bring a bite to eat or enjoy a fresh slice from Flis Pizza’s onsite wood-fired oven, grab a beverage from the Brewery’s delicious autumn lineup of craft beers and non-alcoholic drinks, and enjoy the show. Admission to the reading is free, but donations are being collected at the show and at valleyplayers.org. Half of donations will go to support Valley Players’ upcoming Season Four in 2027 and half will go to Life Path (lifepathma.org). For over 50 years, LifePath has provided a large array of supportive programs aimed at helping older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers across Franklin County and the North Quabbin region to live more independent lives. Life Path’s programs range include care at home support, nutrition, financial, health and wellness services through workshops, counseling, support groups, grants, and more.
Valley Players is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with a mission to enrich the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble, meaningful, and accessible community theater that helps build community. A core part of that mission is donating half of its net ticket revenue to other nonprofits serving the Valley. More information about Valley Players, including how to make a tax-deductible donation, become a business sponsor, sign up for auditions, or join the email list, is at valleyplayers.org.
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Not In Charge: Improv Comedy Inspired By True Stories Saturday, November 21st @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, Jim Young, and Kate Zak.
https://www.happiervalley.com/notincharge.html |
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| | AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES |
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| | Show description: All Together Now! is a gender inclusive, multimedia kid’s show. It’s about a neighborhood of people who share their stories, skills and resources with each other to create projects out of recycled materials that uplift their community. The goal of the show is to help create a world where people of all genders and abilities feel celebrated, liberated, and love themselves. All Together Now! builds upon shows like Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and will include both animated and live-action segments. This is for a short animated segment of an episode, casting for the roles of “Grandma” and “Jessie.” Grandma has three lines and Jessie has 6 lines.
Details: Payment: $150 flat rate for two hours. Non-union. Please send a recording introducing yourself and reading the sample lines of the character you are interested in playing, in a few different ways. A recording on a phone or computer mic is fine. Please also send a link to a demo if you have one. Please send recording by December 1st. Materials can be emailed to: sunnyallis88@gmail.com
Character List: (Age 18+ actors to play the following): Jesse: 10-year old gender-expansive boy. Frankie’s best friend. Extroverted, and also highly creative. Loves dressing up in costumes, biking around town, performing, and making projects with Frankie. Grandma (Dolores): 60s. Enthusiastic and spunky. Very loving and supportive of Frankie, her Grandkid. Owns the hardware store in town and teaches people how to use power tools and build creative projects out of repurposed materials. A do-it-yourself kind of person.
Sample Lines: GRANDMA (Flips pink pancake) Hey Jesse! Are you excited to make your costume today? GRANDMA (Scans the crowd) Janice. Lily. Eli. Marcus. Cosmo. Carl. DJ Rebel Grrl. Finn. (pauses, opens the door) Let’s make stuff–D.I.Y. Style! JESSE Yeah! And I can’t wait to see what everyone else is going to build at the work party. Janice gave me a bunch of glitter and neon paint leftover from her zine-making workshop that we can all use. It’s gonna be SO RAD! |
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Smith College Department of Theatre AUDITIONS ANTIGONE, PRESENTED BY THE GIRLS OF ST. CATHERINE’S by Madhuri Shekar, directed by Tabitha Reid
In this fast-paced portrait of mid-90s teenage girlhood, the St. Catherine’s drama club is struggling to put up its first school play—Sophocles’ Antigone. Staging this tragedy at a strict, all girls’ Catholic school is challenging enough, but when an unforgivable betrayal rocks their tight-knit community, the girls are forced to grapple with questions of friendship, righteousness, and whether (or not) the show must go on.
Character Description: We are actively seeking actors of ALL identities, to play alongside a cast of Smith/Five College students. JAMIE REED – Mid-40s, male. The new Drama teacher for St. Catherine's and director of the school play. Smart, charming, very good at what he does. Becomes involved in an offstage romance with a sixteen-year-old student. There is no intimacy required for this role. What we’re looking for: Self-Tape Video Auditions 1) A slate that includes your name and where you are currently based. 2) A headshot and resume 3) A video link to you performing the side linked here. Video guidelines: Record yourself horizontally in front of a blank background from at least the torso up, lit from the front. Record sides with someone else from offscreen reading with you. Memorization is appreciated, but not required. For Jamie, we are looking for a take that is personable, grounded, and reflects his deep passion for his work. If you need help or have questions about recording your video audition, feel free to email our Director (tereid@smith.edu). Please send video auditions to tereid@smith.edu and rmreed@smith.edu and make sure we are able to access the link.
We are looking for an actor who is Western Mass based and able to commute to rehearsals and performances at the Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts on Smith College campus.
In-Person Auditions: Sunday, November 8 and Monday, November 9, 7:00-9:00 PM. Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA Please let us know if you are interested but unable to make either date. Callbacks will be on Wednesday, November 11. Audition Prep: No appointment necessary. Sides from the script will be available at the audition for cold reads. No preparation necessary, but reading the script prior to auditioning is encouraged. Perusal scripts available at Josten Library. Contact/Questions: Production Manager, Nikki Beck, ncbeck@smith.edu
Production Schedule
Rehearsals will begin on Monday, January 11.
During Smith’s January-Term, rehearsals will take place Sundays-Thursday 1-5pm.
Beginning on Monday, January 25, rehearsals will take place Mondays-Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm and Sundays 1-4pm. You likely will not be called to all of these rehearsals.
Tech Dates Thursday, February 18 (6:00-10:30 PM) Friday, February 19 (6:00-10:30 PM) Saturday, February 20 (12:30-5:30, 7-10:30 PM) Sunday, February 21 (12:30-5:30, 7-10:30 PM)
Final Dress Rehearsal (photos) Tuesday, February 23 (6:00-10:30 PM)
Performances (in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre) Wednesday, February 24 – 7:30 PM; cast & crew call 6:00pm Thursday, February 25 – 7:30 PM; cast & crew call 6:00pm Friday, February 26 – 7:30 PM; cast & crew call 6:00pm Saturday, February 27 – 7:30 PM; cast & crew call 6:00pm
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Announcing Auditions for Godspell - Nov 10 & 11
Callbacks Nov 15 (by invitation)
Easthampton Theater Company will be holding auditions for our March, 2027 production of the beloved musical Godspell (2012 version.) Auditions will be held November 10 and 11th with callbacks (by invitation only) on November 15th. For audition information or to sign up for a slot (mandatory) please click
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V85ouxsHkJ2q0US_daUnDKr82aQJztygseHJjssuouQ/edit?tab=t.0
All roles are open, none are precast. Actors 18+ of any gender, race and background are encouraged to audition
Director: Eleanor Tynan
Music Director: Kyle Langlois
Choreographer: Tori Guzman
Stage Manager: Heath Trudell
Producers: Michael Budnick, Deborah Jacobson
Rehearsals begin in December and performances are in Easthampton March 13, 19, 20 at 7:30PM and March 14, 21 at 2PM
Any questions not answered by the audition info link may be sent to director@easthamptontheater.com
Audition Info Here
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| | | Local theater companies and individual producers/directors are invited to come to PIC's Community-Wide Auditions on Sunday, December 6th. Actors will have the opportunity to introduce themselves, rehearse and present a cold reading scene, and engage in a brief group conversation about the scene. This is a great opportunity to meet new actors who you might be interested in casting in 2027 and beyond, and also be in a room with fellow theatermakers/producers/directors. There will be 4 time slots offered over the course of the day, where up to 10 actors can attend at a time. PIC will be running and publicizing the auditions, and outside organizations, directors, producers, and other artists may attend for a single fee that gives access to all 4 audition sessions.*
More Details:
WHERE: The Workroom at 33 Hawley St, Northampton
WHEN: Sunday, December 6th 3:30-9:00pm
COST FOR ORGS/PRODUCERS/DIRECTORS: $35/person Registration for Orgs/Producers/Directors closes on November 8th! *Please see note on ticketing page regarding attendance by multiple individuals from the same organization. |
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ANNOUNCING TWO SERIOUS PLAY SUNDAY TRAINING WORKSHOPS
We believe in the power of socially engaged theatre artists to participate in creating a more just, equitable and compassionate future. We develop workshop relationships built on mutual trust and whole-body listening and responding. We welcome work with actors and non-actors alike, with diverse backgrounds and different points of view. Serious Play Instructors: Michael Pray, Marcus Neverson, Steph Reyes & Sheryl Stoodley
SP- STAGE COMBAT WITH POLES TRAINING WORKSHOP:
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15 - 10am - 4:30pm SP STUDIO #233, Eastworks, Easthampton An exciting SP STAGE COMBAT TRAINING WORKSHOP developed in collaboration with actor/director Jonathan Croy (Shakespeare & Co. Lenox) for our co-directed production, Shakespeare’s TITUS ANDRONICUS. Using 2 wooden poles, designated sword and maul, and stressing slow motion action, partners learn the correct footwork and the specific physical targets, how to attack and parry and other stage fight stances to choreograph simple, safe fight compositions. Stage combat is about precision, control & teamwork. Adding vocal sound and music are ways to sell the fight to an audience, but these emotional elements are only added once the fight has been extremely well rehearsed. This technique can also be used to choreograph and rehearse a multiple-partnered battle scene onstage. Registration Form & Waiver found at our website: www.seriousplay.org For more information contact: seriousplaytheatre@gmail.com. or call 413-588-7439
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| | | November 21 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm The Open Training will begin with a tour of the Double Edge Farm Center followed by a two-hour training session led by the ensemble at the Ashfield Community Hall. There will be tea and coffee provided after the training session. This is an ideal opportunity to get a sense of what we do and how we work. All levels – even the simply curious – are welcome to attend. |
Open Training + Out of the Darkest Forest Ticket: We are currently offering a combined ticket that includes a ticket for Out of the Darkest Forest on November 21 at 7 pm on the evening of the Open Training. |
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The Joy & Ease of Improv 1 Two sections: Wednsdays at 5pm and at 7:15pm Meets weekly for 8 sessions, beginning December 2nd
Would you like to learn improv, play, and laugh in a supportive community?
Do you want to get better at thinking on your feet?
Could you use some practice turning off your inner critic?
Would you like to become more confident speaking in public?
Curious about how this whole improv comedy thing works?
If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, The Joy & Ease of Improv would be an ever so lovely way to spend a couple hours 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 grow in a way that's fun, rewarding, and connection-rich. 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 learn the core improvisation skills of paying attention, acceptance and agreement, redefining and disempowering failure, quieting your inner critic and amplifying your authentic voice to invite more joy and ease ... and much more. Plus, you'll join a truly special community of kind-hearted, happier people!
Prerequisite: None. 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.)
More info and register at HappierValley.com |
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The Center for Actor Training launches its 46th session of its flagship program in January 2027
The Center for Actor Training at Shakespeare & Company will hold the 46th session of its Month-long Intensive for mid-career actors at its Lenox, Mass. campus from December 28, 2026 through January 23, 2027.
For six days a week, morning to night, participants immerse themselves in Linklater 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.
Senior Workshops Director Susan Dibble said the Intensive is the Center for Actor Training’s flagship program, offering the most comprehensive immersion in Shakespeare & Company’s teaching methods and aesthetic. "Our goal in the Month-long Intensive is to awaken the actor's vocal, physical, emotional, and imaginative responsiveness to language,” she said. “Every participant receives careful, individualized attention, and our faculty teaches in an integrated way, so that every class complements and builds on the others." A number of core faculty members are returning this session, including Sarah Kate Anderson, Sheila Bandyopadhyay, Andrew Borthwick-Leslie, Marie Ramirez Downing, Michael Hammond, Rory Hammond, and Michael F. Toomey. Caroline Stefanie Clay will also be joining the Month-long Intensive faculty for the first time. Clay is a 30-year veteran of Broadway, film, television, and regional theater, and became a Designated Linklater Voice teacher in 2025. Internationally renowned teacher and performer Merry Conway will be returning to offer Movement and Wit & Wordplay classes. Conway is one of the Founding Teachers for Shakespeare & Company, introducing clown into the Company's pedagogy. She has worked as a teacher, performer, and coach for more than 50 years, including serving as movement coach for Anna Deavere Smith for 10 years. Complete applications are accepted on a rolling basis; arrival day is Sunday, December 27, and departure day is Sunday, January 24. For more information regarding the topics covered during the intensive, contact training@shakespeare.org. Photo Caption: Training alums Anna Kritikos and Lakshmi Bose, 2026 Month-long Intensive. Photo by Christina Lane Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training The aesthetic of Shakespeare & Company was devised by Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, Founding Director of Training Kristin Linklater, and a cadre of expert teachers. The Center for Actor Training’s approach is continually investigated, redefined, and reinvigorated, and welcomes actors, directors, writers, and teachers from all over the world to work with the Company’s faculty.
About Shakespeare & Company Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists. |
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| | | Western Massachusetts Theatre Companies |
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