Western Mass Theatre News August 22, 2024

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser August 22 - September 11, 2024 I've been thinking that things are heating up in the Western Mass Theatre community too - this article from the Reminder agrees!  The next issue will include events from August 29-September 18. 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 Submit Your Theatre Event Amherst Community Theater - Auditions for Newsies! September 20-22 at Amherst Middle School More Information Starlight's Youth Theatre Fall Classes Beginning September 7  Register Now YOUR EVENT HERE $5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing! Email me to reserve your dates. Click to Access: Western Mass Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet PERFORMANCES My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion Aug. 22-24 at 7 pm; Aug. 25 at 2 pm. Workroom Theater, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA Present day, Ukraine. Sasha is a playwright who is starting to get some international attention. Her Mama refuses to leave her apartment in Kyiv despite the full-scale invasion. In this memory play, Sasha discovers her mother's resilience and uncovers why her 81 year old Mama refuses to leave and why Mama fantasizes about her role in winning the war. In learning about her Mama's life, Sasha and Mama find the love that underscores the very different lives they lead. www.bit.ly/fullscaleinvasion tickets are $24 students/seniors; $26 General Admission Shakespeare & Company presents the World Premiere of Carey Crim’s The Islanders, directed by Regge Life through August 25 at the Tina Packer Playhouse. Originally staged at Shakespeare & Company in 2022 as a reading in the Plays in Process series, The Islanders tells the story of two denizens of an underpopulated island in the Great Lakes: Anna (Michelle Mountain) and Dutch (“ranney”). For different reasons, Dutch and Anna have each retreated from mainstream society, but begin to forge a connection – however tenuous. Director Regge Life said he hopes The Islanders provides a blueprint for anyone who may now be questioning their identity and place in a turbulent world.  “Is now the time to retreat to an island of contemplation, or to stand tall right where you are, in the face of uncertainty?” he asked. This production is sponsored by Greg Lipper and Kate Kohler Amory. Tickets range from $22 to $72, and preview performances on July 25, 26, and 27 are 10% off. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit shakespeare.org or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353. Shakespeare & Company, in association with Great Barrington Public Theater, presents Jim Frangione’s Flight of the Monarch, directed by Judy Braha through Sunday, August 25 at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. This darkly comic play tells the story of two siblings, Sheila (Corinna May) and Thomas (Allyn Burrows), both born and raised in a small New England fishing village where they still live. It delves into what we owe to the people who know and love us best, and how family members’ needs and desires may push the boundaries of what we can be expected to do for others. Braha added the work explores how each sibling approaches adversity, but also how their lives are intertwined. "The siblings ride an emotional roller coaster as they attempt to decode the past and find their way into a future of their own making," she said. "There are moments of deep reflection, antipathy, and humor as the siblings navigate the challenges, both physical and cognitive, of growing older.” This production is sponsored by Shari and Steve Ashman and The Jacob Burns Foundation. Tickets range from $22 to $72; preview performance tickets on Saturday, August 3 are 10% off. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit shakespeare.org, or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353. Happier Valley Comedy The Happier Valley Championship Show Aug 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM The 4th Saturday of every month at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" meets The Super Bowl! Two funny teams face off in this fast-paced short form improv comedy show. Games are inspired by audience suggestions and participation and even scored by an audience panel of judges to see who can win the ultimate prize: YOUR LAUGHTER! (And some old trophies we found in someone's attic.) Our player roster includes Hillary Bucs, Chris "Tina" Cronin, Katharine Daube, Ben May, David Milgrim, Chris Mirabal, Dave Ruderman, Holly Ruderman, and Ivy Weiskopf. Our next show: Saturday, August 24th at 7pm Happier Valley Comedy Theater 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR FOR $15 THIS WEEK ONLY: 50% off show tickets with code SUMMER50 More Information Shakespeare & Company presents the World Premiere of Awni Abdi-Bahri’s Three Tall Persian Women, directed by Dalia Ashurina and staged at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre from August 30 through October 13. This comedic play is about generational differences, grief, control, and learning to let go; but more than anything, it’s a love story to immigrant mothers. Golnar, a punkish Iranian-American millennial, returns home to her mother Nasrin for the anniversary of her father’s passing and walks into hoards of family memorabilia that her grandmother Mamani has moved in with her. Originally staged at Shakespeare & Company in 2023 as a reading in the Plays in Process series, Ashurina said that the play explores how and why societies police women’s bodily autonomy. “We see how the women in this play are restrained by societal expectations, even in the safety of their own home," she said, "and how being honest instead of staying ‘peaceful’ can help each generation learn valuable lessons from one another.” Tickets range from $22 to $72; for more information or to purchase tickets, visit shakespeare.org, or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353.   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. Happier Valley Comedy Presents: Scripted/ Unscripted Aug 31, 2024 at 7:00 PM Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Hadley One scripted actor sticking to their lines... One improviser with no idea what scene they're in... One unique, messy, beautifully wild ride! Experience the fan-favorite mashup of theater and improv comedy, SCRIPTED/UNSCRIPTED! Inspired by the original show Gravid Water, which ran at the UCB Theatre in NYC.  This month's cast includes local actors Kyle Boatwright, Angélica Castro, Gabriel CiFuentes, and Moe McElligott. With improvisers Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman, Mosie Senn-McNally, and Pam Victor. https://www.happiervalley.com/5th-saturdays.html Play Incubation Collective All Ages Salon And Social Returns! ​When: September 8th, 1-3pm Where: The Workroom, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton Cost: FREE! ​Join us for our annual All Ages Salon where youth and adult artists will share works in progress and be in conversation with one another. We will close out the event with an all ages dance party! FREE to attend Got a work-in-progress to share? Click here!  ​Please use the downstairs doors, nearest to the courtyard. Outside doors will be open at 12:45 and will be locked at 1:10 so please arrive promptly. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES AUDITIONS Phoenix in the Holy Land A new play by JuPong Lin Directed by Ash Goverman Seeking an actor for the role of SALMA who... - holds a Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim identity - is female or non-binary - age 30-80 To audition, please email: ashley.goverman@gmail.com $100 Honorarium Performances: 7pm Saturday October 12 2pm Sunday October 13 Location: CitySpace (Easthampton, MA) This play creates spaces of deep listening and courageous conversations, as we witness the atrocities in Palestine and the surrounding regions.  Amherst Community Theater Auditions for Newsies! Friday, September 20 from 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm Saturday, September 21 from 10:00 am to 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:45 pm Sunday, September 22 from 10:00 am to 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:45 pm Callbacks will be on Monday, September 23 from 6:00-9:00 pm Amherst Middle School https://amherstacts.org/auditions/ Amherst Community Theater is pleased to announce auditions for ‘Disney’s Newsies’, Directed by Megan Healey with Musical Direction by Cindy Naughton and Choreography by Sue Dresser. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience. 9 performances in January, 2025! Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7-107 are encouraged to audition! WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Shakespeare & Company's free Behind the Curtain lecture series led by Shakespeare scholar Ann Berman. Featuring directors, cast, and design team members as guests, Berman examines various themes surrounding both the Shakespeare and contemporary productions slated for Season 2024 through talks designed to be accessible, engaging, and interactive. Berman holds a Master of Arts in Shakespeare Studies from King’s College, London, and explores topics ranging from historical parallels in Shakespeare’s plays to the effect costumes, scenic design, lighting, and more can have on audience response to a performance. This season will include seven Behind the Curtain lectures held from April through August; Spring talks will be held in the Jane Iredale Lobby at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, while Summer sessions will be held outdoors at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre in the Rose Meadow. Behind the Curtain lectures for the 2024 Season include: Saturday, August 24 – Three Tall Persian Women; guest to be announced All Behind the Curtain lectures are free, but tickets are required. For more information, visit shakespeare.org or call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353. Spend your summer Saturdays at LAVA with new free art, music and theater! WHAT: summer@lava: free visual and performing arts and workshops all summer long WHEN: every Saturday midday, June 22–September 28 WHERE: The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield https://thelavacenter.org/summer/  Join The LAVA Center in downtown Greenfield every Saturday this summer for art, music and theater! Our “summer@lava” series features new visual and performing arts and workshops, and happens every Saturday midday, so you can come after your weekly trip to the farmers market, and then hit up the rest of downtown’s cafes, restaurants, library, bookstores and shops afterwards! And best of all — all summer@lava programming is all FREE, funded by the Crossroads Cultural District and the Mass Cultural Council. Improv workshops Join local improv veteran Henry Balzarini every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., all summer through September for free improv workshops! Using improv games, we will become a fast thinking, in the moment, loose goose brigade. September 14: 2nd Saturdays are for experienced improvisers to join in, share games, and brainstorm. August 24 and September 28: 4th Saturdays are for everyone! — all are welcome, from brand-newbies to the most seasoned veteran, for a series of new improv games every time. Our summer@lava programming is FREE, funded by the Crossroads Cultural District and the Mass Cultural Council. Donations are always welcome! Storytelling Theater Workshop   WHAT: Theater and Storytelling Workshop with Alex DeMelo WHEN: Wednesdays and Saturdays: August 21 and 24; August 28 and 31; September 4 and 7; September 16 and 21; September 25 and 28; October 2 and 5; with performances open to the public Saturday, October 19 and Saturday, October 26 WHERE: The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield The LAVA Center is excited to host a theater and storytelling workshop led by Brazilian actor and director Alex DeMelo. This workshop will be a unique and enriching experience, centered around a celebration of diversity, resilience, and the power of storytelling. This workshop is open to anyone from all walks of life: those who have experienced incarceration, homelessness; individuals with disabilities; the LGBTQIA+ community; immigrants and so on. Our stories, our experiences, our voices all matter immensely and we welcome all stories in a safe and supportive environment. Through this workshop, DeMelo will offer a platform for participants to explore the art of storytelling and theater. Whether someone wishes to share their story or if they prefer to listen and observe, there is a place here. DeMelo says, “Together, we will weave tales, explore emotions, and uncover the transformative power of performance.” Admission to this workshop is on a sliding scale, from $1–$10 per session, but if you cannot afford to donate, no worries! To secure your spot or inquire further, contact Matthew Barlow at matthew@thelavacenter.org. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this empowering opportunity to connect, grow and shine on stage! This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Starlight's Youth Theatre Starlight Fall Acting Classes Beginning Sep 7, 2024 Grades 4-5 – The Jungle Book Saturdays, 9:45am – 10:30am This class will focus on character development- how their character walks, talks, acts, and reacts. They will learn about the importance of using those skills to express the character’s emotions, motivations, and actions. They will also learn about the importance of telling the story and working as an ensemble. Classes begin Saturday, September 7th at Mapleridge Church and Community Center Performances will be Saturday, November 2nd at the Eric Carle Museum Grades 6-7- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Saturdays, 10:30am – 11:30am When Lucy comes across the old wardrobe standing alone in the spare room, she thinks she has found a good place for hide and seek. But then she tumbles headlong into a magical world of fauns, dwarves, and giants, of animals that talk and horses that fly – the land of Narnia. It is so extraordinary that at first her brothers and sister don’t believe it could be real. Soon, though, Peter, Edmund and Susan find Narnia too and the adventures really begin. This class will focus on the play in its entirely- sets, costumes props and sound effects to bring this magical story to life. Classes begin Saturday, September 7th at Mapleridge Church and Community Center Performances will be Saturday, November 2nd at the Eric Carle Museum Grades 8-12- Act Now! Saturdays, 11:45am – 1:00pm This class will focus on strengthening your acting skills. We will first work on selecting, developing, and presenting monologues. Then your growth will continue as you work within an ensemble on short one acts and scenes. Classes begin Saturday, September 7th at Mapleridge Church and Community Center Performances dates and locations TBA https://starlights-youth-theatre.org/fall-classes-2024/ We are pleased to announce the launch of PIC Kids' Creative Workshop for Homeschoolers coming to Bombyx this fall! Registration now open This program offers young artists a chance to connect with other artistically minded kids for free play, theater games, and collaborative creation. Through a series of fun and creative activities, the participants will have the opportunity to work together as an ensemble to create their own unique theatrical works. For Ages 7-12 Tuesdays, 12-3pm Oct 1-Dec 3 (10 sessions) Cost: $350 Instructor: Sarah Marcus Location: Peacock Room, Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Florence Learn More and Register Submit your workshop, class, audition, performance, or any other theatre opportunity here! Western Massachusetts Theatre Companies Academy of Music Theatre Amherst Community Theater Arena Civic Theatre A.C.T. Youth Theatre Barrington Stage Company Berkshire Theatre Group Chester Theatre Company CitySpace Completely Ridiculous Productions Drama Studio Double Edge Theatre Easthampton Theater Company Eggtooth Productions Exit 7 Players Ghost Light Theater Great Barrington Public Theater Greenfield Community College's Theater Department Hampshire Shakespeare Company Happier Valley Comedy Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center Human Agenda Theater Ja'Duke Center for the Performing Arts K and E Theater Group Ko Theater Works/Ko Festival of Performance Majestic Theater Mount Holyoke College Rooke Theatre No Theater Northampton Community Arts Trust Northampton Playwrights Lab PaintBox Theatre Panopera Pauline Productions Performance Project Phantom Sheep Players Play Incubation Collective Plays In Place Real Live Theatre Serious Play Theatre Ensemble Shakespeare & Company  Shakespeare Stage Shea Theater Arts Center Silverthorne Theater Smith College Department of Theatre South Hadley Players Spindrift Theatre St. Michael's Players Starlight's Youth Theatre, Inc. Theater Between Addresses Theatre Guild of Hampden TheatreTruck UMass Department of Theater UMass Theatre Guild Unity House Players Valley Light Opera Valley Players WAM Theatre Ware Community Theatre Westfield Theatre Group Wilbraham United Players Williamstown Theatre Festival World and Eye Want to know even more about events in Western Massachusetts and beyond, including reviews, interviews, and previews? In the Spotlight, Inc. Berkshire on Stage Stagestruck ArtsBeat TV/Radio and News Column Local Theater Critic Max Hartshorne Copyright © 2024 Western Mass Theatre, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive the Western Mass Theatre Newsletter. This newsletter is published weekly on Thursdays and all information about upcoming performances and auditions is reader submitted. The newsletter is limited to information about theatre in Western Massachusetts. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences