Western Mass Theatre News February 13, 2025

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser February 13-March 5, 2025 Another weather day? In February?! Fingers crossed for no snow cancellations this weekend. In case you missed it, the performance of The Wedding Jester was rescheduled to February 23rd. See the listing below for more details and tickets.  The next issue will include events from February 20-March 12. 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 Junkyard Shakespeare presents Sweet Prince February 21 and 22 at The Workroom, 33 Hawley St. Tickets and More Information The Westfield Woman's Club presents Imaginary Friends Puppet Theater February 18 at Westfield Woman's Club Tickets and More Information Silverthorne Theater Company presents Listening for Love February 15 at 2pm and 7pm at CitySpace Tickets and More Information Exit 7 Players presents Blithe Spirit February 14-16 at Exit 7 in Ludlow Tickets and More Information  YOUR EVENT HERE $5 per week for your poster and ticket link in top billing! Email me to reserve your dates. Click to Access: Western Mass Theatre Personnel Spreadsheet PERFORMANCES The Smith College Department  of Theatre’s New Play Reading Series presents The Science of Torture by Pedro Eiras, directed by Rose Schwietz Malla Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 PM in Acting Studio 1 Set in 1963 during the Red Scare and rising tensions in Brazil, the play tells the story of a U.S. agent and a Brazilian translator as they collaborate on a manual for interrogation techniques aimed at suppressing communist movements. As Brazil plunges into a brutal military dictatorship, their work and friendship are tested, forcing them to confront the dark realities of their actions and their own identities.  For content warnings, email boxoffice@smith.edu. Free and open to the public. MAJESTIC THEATER PRESENTS INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP FEBRUARY 13-16 West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present Incident at Our lady of Perpetual Help, a comedy by Katie Forgette, onstage January 9 through February 16. Set in 1973, this play is a wild and tender comedy that focuses on the cash strapped O’Shea family. 19-year-old Linda O’Shea, the narrator of the story, tells the story of a family crisis of biblical proportions when a simple conversation between her and her younger sister, about the birds and the bees, was overheard by the parish priest. It was the most turbulent day in her life, and just might turn into a parish-wide scandal—if only her family would quit interrupting. The play will be directed by Rand Foerster.  Danny Eaton is producing director, and Sue Dziura is associate producing director and stage manager.  Stephen Petit is production stage manager, and the associate production manager is Aurora Ferraro.  Matt Whiton is the scenic designer, and the lighting designer is Daniel Rist.  Costume design is by Dawn McKay and Alan Schneider is technical director. The cast includes Sandra Blaney (Jo O’Shea), Cate Damon (Terri Carmichael), Jenna Burns (Linda O’Shea), John Baker (Mike/Lovett/Betty), Maggie Hamel (Becky O’Shea), and understudies include Christine Voytko (Terri and Jo), Julia Solecki (Linda), and Mark Dean (Mike/Lovett/Betty). Tickets to the show range from $35-$38 and can be purchased in person at the box office or by calling (413) 747-7797.  Box office hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Doors to the theater will open one hour before the start of a show, which is also when the café opens.  For more information, visit www.majestictheater.com Valley Players Love Letters February 14-15, Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30pm Black Birch Vineyard, 108 Straits Road, Hatfield, MA The Valley Players present A. R. Gurney’s award-winning play of romance-by-post, LOVE LETTERS. The show goes up February 7–15, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, at Black Birch Vineyard (108 Straits Road, Hatfield MA).  As part of the Valley Players’ mission to support the community through community theater, half of net ticket revenue from the show will be donated to River Valley Counseling Center, a nonprofit community-based mental health agency serving the Valley for over 70 years.  Simple by design but moving in effect, Love Letters takes the form of two characters sharing the letters they have written each other from second grade through their golden years, relating their struggles and triumphs, dreams and fears, and setbacks and second chances. Over the course of the evening, the often complicated, deeply touching, always messy story of their evolving love unfolds against the backdrop of the tumultuous events of the mid- to late-twentieth century.  The Valley Players production features two different Valley actors on each evening of the run. Chip Roughton, of Florence, and Kimberly Salditt-Poulin, of Amherst, play the roles of “Andy” and “Melissa” for opening night on February 7. David Bull, of Hadley, and Becca Greene-Van Horn, of Amherst, take the stage the next night, on February 8. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, the cast features Paul Rothenberg and Katie Hertel, both of Amherst. The closing night show will be performed by Lisa Parker, of Suffield CT, and Konrad Rogowski, of Chicopee. The show is produced and directed by Matteo Pangallo, of Shutesbury.  Tickets for Love Letters are available on a pay-what-you-can system starting at $15. Before the show and during intermission, audience members will be able to purchase fine wine by the glass from Black Birch Vineyard and a selection of sodas from Harmony Springs of Ludlow. A delectable spread of light bites will be available for purchase as well, including a grazing bar of custom-crafted charcuterie boards and pre-ordered snack boxes from E Silver Charcuterie of Westfield. Black Birch wines will also be available for purchase by the bottle to take home.  Seating is limited, so advanced booking is strongly recommended. The show runs one hour and forty-five minutes, with a fifteen-minute intermission, and includes adult language and themes that may not be appropriate for all ages. The doors open at 6:30pm each evening and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. www.valleyplayers.org New Springfield Community Theater Launches Valentine’s Week with Love Letters Performed by Mayor Sarno & Brenda Garton-Sjoberg / Kathy Tobin & Steve Hays The new nonprofit, Springfield Community Theater of MA, is the brainchild of Vana Nespor, artistic director, and Angela Park, executive director of  52Sumner. The group will offer its first five performances of Love Letters on Valentine's Week, February 13-15, featuring well known community leaders. Nespor invited Mayor Domenic Sarno to perform in the hilarious, touching show with media icon Brenda Garton-Sjoberg on Thursday and Friday nights, February 13 and 14, in a dinner theater setting. AND, media celebrity Kathy Tobin and the Drama Studios’ legendary Steve Hays to take over the roles at matinees on Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, and with a special Saturday evening, Feb 15, dinner theater finale.   “A special Valentine to our communities,” Nespor insists. Nespor and Park chose Love Letters for the group's fund raiser sendoff. “In this play, two friends read hilarious, poignant letters they wrote to each other throughout their lives. It reminds us to embrace love and life,” says Park. The idea really took off when the team reached out to four local leaders and television celebrities who immediately volunteered to help. Doors open at 6 pm for the dinner theater performances and at 1 pm for the matinees. The group worked with Nosh Restaurant and Café owner Teri Skinner to create elegant, high quality family style three-course dinners for the evening and towers of snacks for the matinees. Seating is at round, eight person tables. Wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available for purchase. For more information and tickets go to the websites for Springfield Community Theater of MA https://www.springfield-community-theater-of-ma.org/   and 52Sumner.com Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward Exit 7 Players Ludlow, MA True love never dies! That’s certainly true for a cantankerous novelist and his new wife, who mistakenly summon the spirit of his dearly departed first wife and find themselves in an otherworldly love triangle. Lighthearted and endearing, Blithe Spirit explores loss and love with tongue firmly planted in cheek in supernatural fashion combining farce, emotion, physical comedy and wit to goosebump-giving effect.  Tickets on sale now for shows February 14-16 at: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/exit-7-players/6645471c4c77d5141f5c59e7  Fri. Feb 14th 2025, 8:00 pm  Sat. Feb 15th 2025, 8:00 pm  Sun. Feb 16th 2025, 2:00 pm Join us for LISTENING FOR LOVE, Silverthorne Theater Company’s 2nd Annual Valentine's Cabaret! February 15th - Performances at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm at The Blue Room, CitySpace, 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA. We’ll sing musical theater favorites on the theme of love, including some favorites of our founder, Lucinda Kidder, in memory of her collaborative, curious spirit. Lucinda passed away in November 2024. Her joyful listening will always be the heart of Silverthorne. The Cabaret is a fundraiser for our 2025 Season – which we will publicly announce for the first time at the Cabaret. Come bask in the love on Valentine's Day Weekend! Our wonderful singers include Frank Aronson, Stephanie Carlson, Willow Cohen, Tahmie Der, Michael Garcia, Gina Kaufmann, Rose Schwietz Malla, Aaron Mancaniello, Chris Rohmann, and Sam Samuels, accompanied by Lauren Bell on piano. Get Tickets for Listening for Love Play Incubation Collective presents The Transformation, by Jem O'Hara Sunday, February 16th at 7:30 PM 33 Hawley Street, Northampton Synopsis: Iris and Morpheus dream of ascending the celestial hierarchy, and may have found just the way to do it. The Man grieves the loss of his brother and niece as war threatens his kingdom. The Woman, his queen, tries to support him and prevent disaster despite her own frustration and doubts about the king’s sanity. The arrival of Other Man further destabilizes the unhappy couple and threatens to shatter their world entirely. Can the gods somehow use this strife to their own advantage? The Transformation adapts the tragic story of Ceyx and Alcyone told within Ovid’s Metamorphoses by stripping away all but the essentials, to tell a story about unconditional love, friendship, and the forces that break them apart. More information here.   In 2025, PIC will host three PIC PIPS at the Workroom (33 Hawley St, Northampton). All PIPS begin at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 7:15. They are free to attend, and no registration is required. However, we will create a Facebook event for each PIP, and marking yourself as "interested" or "attending" there if you are thinking of or planning to come is very helpful for our planning. ​​ When attending, please use the downstairs doors, nearest to the courtyard. Outside doors will be open at 7:15 and will be locked at 7:45 so please arrive promptly. Potential snow date: March 2. The Westfield Woman's Club Imaginary Friends Puppet Theater February 18th 11am and 2pm Westfield Woman's Club 28 Court Street, Westfield MA 01085 A day of puppetry! The Imaginary Friends Puppet Theater will be stopping by for one day only. Two shows: 11am 'The Mystery of the Cookie Thief' and 2pm 'Rylie's Rotten Day'. Each performance is followed by a behind the scenes workshop. Make a puppet of your own to take home! Tickets and more info.  Tickets are $10 for one show, or $15 for both. Children 2 and under are free. This show is the first event in the 'The Sounds of Westfield' series, an interactive and educational music series brought in part with help from grants provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. First Open Stage of 2025 to take place at The LAVA Center Thursday, Feb. 20 every 3rdThursday, 6:30 p.m. signup and 7 p.m. showtime; next one Thursday, Feb. 20 The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield https://thelavacenter.org/events/open-stage-lava-2-2025-02-20/  The LAVA Center is proud to present a performance series, the Open Stage, which takes place every third Thursday evening. Signups start at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. An open stage is similar to an open mic, but more inclusive to all types of the performing arts. Artists are encouraged to sign up to perform theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, magic, puppetry, circus, sideshow, comedy, improv — any form of art or entertainment that can be staged, in any stage of development. Signup starts at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. There will be a five-minute limit for each act. Artists can plug into our sound system if they’d like audio to backup your act; plugin using 1/8″ mic jack input, please bring adapter if needed. Questions? Email info@thelavacenter.org.  There is an optional $1–5 suggested donation for this event. The LAVA Center is a community arts space in Greenfield, MA whose mission is to create opportunities and build inclusive community in and through the arts and humanities. We are focused on making The LAVA Center a space where all artists, including marginalized communities and individuals, can have their voices heard. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., in downtown Greenfield, MA. https://thelavacenter.org  Junkyard Shakespeare Sweet Prince February 21, 2025 at 8pm February 22, 2025 at 2pm and 8pm The Workroom, 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA 01060 Junkyard Shakespeare presents Sweet Prince, a one-woman adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet that challenges the audience to take a stand. Tickets and more info. Read more and help us pay our team a living wage. The Wedding Jester with John Feffer Join us in person on Sunday, February 23, 2025 @ 2:00 p.m., at the Yiddish Book Center In 1970, in a small village somewhere in Croatia, a stand-up comedian confronts the director of Fiddler on the Roof over errors in the film’s script. In a former life, the comedian was a badkhen, a jester who served as the emcee at Jewish weddings, and he’s familiar with shtetl life in ways that Fiddler’s non-Jewish director couldn’t possibly know. Along the way, The Wedding Jester—an original one-man show written and performed by John Feffer and directed by Josh Perlstein—traces the history of Jewish comedy from the weddings of the Old Country to the Borscht Belt of the United States. It challenges our notions of authenticity and of what is “too Jewish” or “not Jewish enough.” And it does what any good badkhen must do—it makes audiences laugh and cry.  Runtime: The performance is 60 minutes followed by a 30-minute Q&A.  Tickets and More Information The Smith College Department of Theater presents Scissoring by CQ Quintana, directed by Kelsey Rainwater on February 26, 27, 28, and March 1 at 7:30 PM in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre. When Abigail Bauer takes a job as a teacher at a conservative Catholic school, she is forced to step back into the closet against the wishes of her long-term girlfriend. As she struggles to reconcile her professional ambitions, personal relationships, religious beliefs, and internalized shame, Abigail receives guidance from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Eleanor’s devoted friend and lover, Lorena Hickok. Tickets $5-15 at smitharts.ludus.com. Scissoring explores the ways in which people can feel split into multiple, sometimes conflicting, identities. The New York Times called it a “pleasure to watch…about finding the courage to be fully oneself.” Playwright CQ Quintana is a queer Cuban-American writer who works in theatre, poetry, television, and lyrical nonfiction. Their plays have been developed at the Kennedy Center, Diversionary Theatre, and INTAR.  Scissoring was the culmination of their MFA in Playwriting at Columbia University and was a 2013/14 finalist in the Alliance/Keneda National Graduate Playwriting Competition. The play premiered in 2018 at INTAR in New York City. In Scissoring, Quintana examines the complex relationships between queer identity, religion, race, and professional opportunity. Guest Director Kelsey Rainwater, an actor and faculty at David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, has been the fight and intimacy coordinator on several Smith productions. She is excited to return to campus to direct this layered, provocative, sweet, and funny show. “What makes this experience even more meaningful is the chance to tell this story at such a crucial time in our country, at Smith—where young creators are encouraged to amplify their voices through art.” Rainwater observes,  “In a moment when people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and wxmen are increasingly marginalized, we are making a clear statement: these voices will be heard.” Set in New Orleans in 2018, Scissoring conveys the myriad intricacies of closeted life in the late 2010s when the city was recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Abigail’s partner is an artist and they live in the rapidly gentrifying Marigny, a bohemian neighborhood where they can be their authentic selves. St. Elizabeth Rose Catholic School, where Abigail teaches, is in Uptown, a wealthy, more conservative district. The stress of toggling between these two worlds, physically and emotionally, pushes Abigail to a breaking point. Quintana introduces Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok to serve as imagined guides for Abigail and heightens the theatricality with a sentient, opinionated school PA System. St. Elizabeth Rose’s principal, a fellow teacher, and a Catholic priest round out the ensemble cast. The New Orleans locales and Abigail’s interior thoughts are brought to the stage with sets by Isabel Kurzweil ’26, lighting design by Via Sussman ’26, costumes by Lily Sickman-Garner ’25 and sound by Reed Shaw ’27 with stage management by Tamarin Camp ’25. “We have such a wonderful group of creators on this, everyone involved knows how special this show is, and why it matters to tell this story,” says Rainwater. The message she wants the audience to take away? “That you are enough. All of you. Not one bit is out of place.”  There will be a talkback with CQ Quintana after the March 1 performance. For a list of content warnings, email boxoffice@smith.edu. AUGUST WILSON’S FENCES ONSTAGE AT MAJESTIC THEATER FEBRUARY 27 – APRIL 6  West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present Fences, the Tony Award and 1987 Pulitzer Prize Winning Drama by August Wilson onstage February 27 through April 6. Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the play focuses on Troy, a 53-year-old working class head of the household who struggles with providing for his family.  He lives with his wife, Rose, and his teenage son, Cory.  In his younger days, Troy was an excellent baseball player and even played in the Negro Leagues, but that was before the color barrier in Major League Baseball had been broken.  Fences explores the evolving challenge of a family attempting to build a safe home in the racially stratified 1950s suburban America. The play will be directed by Michael Ofori.  Danny Eaton is producing director, and Sue Dziura is associate producing director.  Stephen Petit is production stage manager, and the associate production manager is Aurora Ferraro.  Amari O’Connor is stage manager, Calypso Michelet is scenic designer, and Dan Rist is lighting designer.  Costume design is by Dawn McKay and Alan Schneider is technical director. The cast includes Dominic Carter (Troy), Martinez Napoleon (Gabriel), Greg Alexander (Jim), Kyle Boatwright (Rose), Silk Johnson (Lyons), Mike Daniel (Cory), and Louise Coly/Malayah Charland (Raynelle). According to Eaton, “Fences is a great, classic story in the way is provides a snapshot of the struggles faced in keeping a family together through everyday challenges.  August Wilson was a remarkable American playwright who wrote about his lived experience.  Fences is set in Pittsburgh, and Wilson channeled his understanding of growing up and living in that particular community to tell a compelling story.  His plays are character-driven, and he creates incredibly interesting characters who draw an audience in.” Tickets to the show range from $35-$38 and can be purchased in person at the box office or by calling (413) 747-7797.  Box office hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Doors to the theater will open one hour before the start of a show, which is also when the café opens.  For more information, visit www.majestictheater.com Wednesday March 5 & Thursday March 6 at 6:30pm (doors open at 6pm) Staged Reading of historical play: Blood on the Snow by Patrick Gabridge Produced by Historic Northampton in collaboration with Plays In Place Blood On the Snow takes us into the tense State House in Boston on the day after the 1770 Boston Massacre where decisions are being made that could unwittingly place the country on the road to revolution. Featuring an exciting ensemble of local professional actors: Matt Haas, Bill Stewart, Gabriel Levey, Andrew Roberts, Marcus Neverson, Lindel Hart, Scott Braidman, Patrick Toole, Luke Haskell, and Rich Vaden, and directed by Brianna Sloane. Each hour-long performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with the playwright and a historian. Tickets & more information: historicnorthampton.org   Eggtooth Productions & MASS MoCA KID5PACE: BY THE NUMB3R5 10am-5pm Wednesday-Monday through August! MASS MoCA, North Adams 7-11 year-olds are invited to join 11 year-old project manager Pax on an headphone-guided adventure to finish a MASS MoCA installation that only kids can complete!  Designed for 1-2 kid participants at a time, caregivers join their children in Kidspace at MASS MoCA for this 40-minute romp as they play a supporting role in this immersive experience where kids take full agency of the piece.  Free admission, along with full access to other Kidspace activities at MASS MoCA massmoca.org Created by Eggtooth Creative Director John Bechtold & collaborator Alli Ross. Music by Sam Perry. Featuring Pax Belmonte. Co-produced by Eggtooth Productions, Greenfield, MA. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Shakespeare & Company of Lenox, Mass., has announced the return of the Tina Packer Women of Will Directing Fellowship, launched in 2024 to further the development of early-career directors who identify as women and have a passion for Shakespeare. Created in honor of Shakespeare & Company’s Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, the fellowship was conceived and funded by actor and Shakespeare & Company training alumnus John Douglas Thompson, with matching funds from an anonymous donor. Additional gifts were also made by a group of women directors whom Packer mentored at Shakespeare & Company. “Fellows will join in creating a legacy of Women of Will mentoring others in the field, bringing a contemporary and culturally diverse female gaze to Shakespeare’s plays and the theater community,” said Thompson. The Women of Will Fellow is in residence at Shakespeare & Company during the summer rehearsal period of a Shakespeare production helmed by an experienced woman director, both observing and serving as Assistant Director throughout the process. The Fellow receives a stipend, housing, and travel reimbursement. Following their time at Shakespeare & Company, Fellows continue to receive support through continued access to their Mentor Director, the members of an advisory committee of women directors, and other members of the Company. The inaugural Fellow was Lauren Davis of Baltimore, Md., who assisted director Kate Kohler Amory with the production of The Comedy of Errors, and observed Packer directing a staged, enhanced reading of The Winter’s Tale. The 2025 Women of Will Fellow will assist and observe the production of The Taming of the Shrew, co-directed by Packer and Artistic Director Allyn Burrows. Fellowship dates are Monday, July 21 through Saturday, August 16.  While there are no specific degree requirements for this Fellowship, applicants will have completed their academic training and will have directed outside of an academic program for at least three years. They should have a demonstrated interest in directing Shakespeare, and some experience doing so. Candidates currently enrolled in graduate degree programs may apply if they will receive their degree by June, and meet the other criteria. Undergraduates, including seniors, are not eligible. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. So are directors who have previously worked in other areas of the theater, or who have reentered the field after a pause, if they meet the other criteria. “Early-career director” does not imply an age limit. Directors who meet the selection criteria are invited to apply no later than Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. A full description and application guidelines can be found at shakespeare.org. Seeking Stage Manager Easthampton Theater Company's June Production of Guys and Dolls Detailed Information is available on our web site HERE. T This position includes a stipend. Rehearsals begin in April, with a read-through in March. More information about the company is available at our website at easthamptontheater.com. You can also visit our facebook page at the link below: facebook.com/easthamptontheatercompany WORKSHOPS & CLASSES “Speeches and Soliloquies: Dynamic Language' February 14 at 1:00 PM Facilitator:  Zoe Littleton (Voice and Text Coach) Register Here Join Zoe Littleton, a seasoned Voice and Text Coach, for an engaging exploration of Shakespeare's most dynamic speeches and soliloquies. "Speeches and Soliloquies: Dynamic Language" is an interactive one-hour Zoom session that focuses on how to bring Shakespeare's iconic monologues to life, with a special emphasis on personal interpretation, vocal versatility, and emotional resonance. Zoe, who has a decade of acting experience and an MFA in Professional Voice Studies from the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, will lead participants in understanding how to effectively embody Shakespeare's language. Drawing on her experience working across leading UK and international drama schools and theatres, Zoe's collaborative coaching style will help participants feel confident navigating the intricacies of voice work, text analysis, and speech delivery. This workshop is ideal for actors of all levels, drama students, educators, and even those who are simply passionate about Shakespeare and wish to develop their vocal and interpretative skills in a fun, supportive environment. What to Expect from the Workshop: Dynamic Language Exploration: Dive into Shakespeare's most powerful speeches and soliloquies, breaking down their language and structure. Learn how vocal choices shape meaning, enhance emotion, and bring depth to the characters' words. Vocal Techniques: Zoe will guide you through practical voice exercises to unlock your unique vocal range, covering areas such as breath control, resonance, articulation, and pitch modulation. You will discover how to use your voice to convey complex emotions and ideas in a clear and compelling way. Personal Interpretation: Discover how to make Shakespeare's language resonate with your own experiences. Zoe's approach encourages each participant to explore personal connections to the text, bringing authenticity and originality to their performance. Interactive Participation: Engage directly with Zoe and fellow participants in this interactive session. Whether you prefer to actively participate or simply observe, the workshop offers a supportive space for real-time feedback, collaborative learning, and experimentation. Community Engagement: Connect with other like-minded Shakespeare enthusiasts in an inclusive learning environment. Share insights, ask questions, and take part in discussions that bring new perspectives to the Bard's work. About Zoe Littleton: Born and raised in London, Zoe spent ten years as an actor before transitioning into voice and text coaching. Her love for voice exploration led her to work with drama schools, theatres, and private clients in the UK and beyond. Zoe's coaching style is collaborative, creative, and rooted in an appreciation of individual needs. She strives to make every client feel empowered to take risks, broaden their vocal range, and express themselves fully. Whether it is accent work, text preparation, or public speaking, Zoe’s passion for voice as an expression of identity makes her workshops both inspiring and practical. Don't miss this chance to deepen your understanding of Shakespeare's language and improve your vocal skills! Join us for an enriching experience that will leave you more connected to the power of your own voice and the enduring impact of Shakespeare's work. The Westfield Woman's Club Exousia: a puppet film presentation and workshop with Bill Kassay Feb 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM Westfield Woman's Club 28 Court Street, Westfield MA 01085 Recognized for innovation and excellence in 2021 by the Jim Henson Foundation, 'Exousia' uses the medium of puppetry to address more mature subject matter, such as violence and war. After screening, master puppeteer will be on hand to talk about the transition from military life to children's theater, the process of creating a theater from scratch, and to answer audience questions. More information. This event is free and open to all. A short reception will follow. "Say What You Mean” Preparing Shakespeare for an Audition Feb 21, 2025 1:00PM EST Register Here Facilitator: Siubhan Harrison (Leading Actress, Royal Shakespeare Company) Recently performed in the RSC's “The Merry Wives of Windsor” as Mistress Alice Ford. Join Siubhan Harrison in a transformative one-hour workshop focused on preparing Shakespeare's text for an audition. Whether you're an actor with years of experience or someone just beginning to explore the world of Shakespeare, this workshop is designed to equip you with practical skills and insights to confidently bring Shakespeare's language to life during auditions. Siubhan's extensive career, which includes roles in productions like "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "The School for Scandal" at the RSC, as well as notable television credits such as "Holby City" and "Fifteen-Love," has given her a wealth of experience in tackling Shakespeare's challenging text. Her approach to acting focuses on making the Bard's language both authentic and accessible, encouraging actors to connect deeply with the meaning behind the words. What to Expect from the Workshop: Finding Authenticity in Shakespeare's Language: Learn how to interpret Shakespeare's text in a way that feels natural and sincere. Siubhan will guide participants through techniques to break down the language and uncover the raw, genuine emotion at its core, ensuring your audition is compelling and grounded. Practical Audition Techniques: Discover specific strategies for preparing and performing Shakespearean monologues for auditions. Siubhan will share tips on how to handle the verse, project confidence, and connect personally with the character you're portraying. Interactive Participation: Whether you're new to Shakespeare or a seasoned performer, this Zoom workshop offers the chance to work directly with Siubhan, receiving personalized feedback and guidance. Participants are encouraged to prepare a short monologue or scene to practice, allowing for tailored insights that will make your audition stand out. Breaking Down Barriers: If you find Shakespeare's language intimidating, this session will help demystify it. Siubhan's supportive approach makes Shakespeare approachable, breaking down complex text into manageable pieces that convey clear meaning and emotion. Community Engagement: Connect with fellow actors and Shakespeare enthusiasts. This workshop provides an opportunity not only to learn but also to engage in a supportive community where ideas and techniques are shared, enhancing your overall experience. About Siubhan Harrison:  Siubhan is an accomplished actress with credits spanning the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, and numerous productions across the UK. Her passion for both classic and contemporary theatre shines through in her dynamic approach to acting, which balances discipline with creativity, making her an inspiring guide for those preparing to tackle the challenging world of Shakespearean auditions. Whether you're auditioning for a Shakespeare play or simply seeking to improve your understanding of the Bard's language, "Say What You Mean" is an opportunity to develop valuable skills that will enhance your performance and deepen your connection to one of the greatest playwrights in history. "Bringing Yourself to a Shakespearean Text & Character" Feb 28, 2025 1:00PM EST Facilitator: Tyreke Leslie (Actor, Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's Globe) Register Here Join Tyreke Leslie, an emerging talent from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Shakespeare's Globe, for an engaging one-hour workshop titled "Bringing Yourself to a Shakespearean Text & Character." Whether you are new to performing Shakespeare or have experience but wish to deepen your connection with the material, Tyreke's workshop will help you bring authenticity, personality, and a fresh perspective to Shakespeare's characters and texts. Tyreke Leslie, a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, has already made his mark with roles in productions such as "As You Like It," "The Taming of the Shrew," and "First Encounters: Twelfth Night" for the RSC and Shakespeare's Globe. He was recently awarded a Commendation for the 2024 Ian Charleson Awards for his performance as Adam in "As You Like It." Tyreke's extensive experience, which also includes writing, spoken-word artistry, and directing, adds depth to his unique approach in exploring and embodying Shakespearean characters. What to Expect from the Workshop: Connecting Personally to Shakespeare's Text: Learn how to bring your own experiences, emotions, and individuality into the roles you play. Tyreke will guide participants through practical exercises to break down barriers and bring a personal, authentic connection to the Bard's language. Practical Performance Techniques: Tyreke will share valuable tips on preparing and performing Shakespearean speeches and soliloquies. You'll explore how to connect with the rhythm and meaning of the text while making it resonate with your own voice. Interactive Q&A on Performing Shakespeare: This workshop includes an open Q&A segment, where Tyreke will address questions about approaching, understanding, and performing Shakespeare, including insights on speaking verse, interpreting poetry, and his experiences as a member of the RSC. Approaching a Speech/Soliloquy: Learn how to dissect and explode a Shakespearean speech or soliloquy, moving beyond surface-level recitation to fully embody the character's intentions, emotions, and journey. Community Engagement: Engage with fellow participants who share a passion for Shakespeare. Whether you're actively participating or observing, you'll have the opportunity to share insights and experiences in a supportive community, making the process of learning Shakespeare collaborative and inspiring. About Tyreke Leslie Tyreke Leslie is an emerging British actor and artist whose work spans theatre, film, writing, and directing. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2022, Tyreke has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, and has facilitated workshops that inspire actors to connect deeply with their craft. His recent performance as Adam in "As You Like It" at the RSC garnered a Commendation for the 2024 Ian Charleson Awards. Tyreke's passion for storytelling, poetry, and movement informs his distinctive and authentic approach to performing Shakespeare's works. Whether you're preparing for an audition or simply wish to enrich your understanding of Shakespeare, "Bringing Yourself to a Shakespearean Text & Character" offers practical tools and techniques to bring the Bard's language to life in a way that is uniquely yours. PIC is thrilled to offer our first series of in-person classes for adults. Join the incredibly funny and talented Gabriel Levey this winter and spring for one or both of these fantastic offerings! This class costs $275   Acting as Play Tuesdays, 6-9pm:  March 25- May 20 *no class on April 22nd In this 8-week class, participants will be provided with a safe, brave space to:  Embrace the precarious pleasure of not needing to know what’s coming next  Find fun in whatever given circumstances the character has no choice but to endure And so much more! Acting as Play is a wholly unique approach to text and scene work, centering imagination, play and vulnerability as the foundation of all performance. Over the course of the class, all participants will have the opportunity to work on a monologue and/or a scene, depending on their interests. Learn More about both classes here! The Shea Theater is delighted to offer their second annual Immersive Summer Theater Program for Kids ages 8-12! *July 7-18 session 1 *July 21- August 1 session 2 *9-3 Monday-Friday *Performance at 2 pm second Friday  *Two week attendance not required to participate  *Cost is $450 with some scholarships available Registration opens at sheatheater.org on February 10. Questions? Please reach out to sheatheaterartscenter@gmail.com Testimonial from last summer:  My child loved the Immersive Theater Camp at the Shea! The theater games were super fun and they loved all aspects of rehearsal and performance for Alice In Wonderland. Atticus and Enzo manage to be both clear and fun Directors, and are doing a wonderful job nurturing the next generation of immersive theater enthusiasts. It was a big highlight of the summer! Each day of the program will be dedicated to creating and rehearsing the immersive theater performance, as well as learning and participating in various acting games and workshops. The performers will rehearse and perform in an immersive theater show based on a fairytale, a Shakespeare play, or a myth. This Immersive approach encourages imagination, collaboration, and creativity while teaching acting and movement techniques in a nurturing and holistic environment. The medium of Immersive Theater is an innovative theater format that allows audience members to wander wherever they wish within a play, finding characters and scenes at their own will in different rooms and spaces. No audience member has the same experience; they all will see different scenes in different locations, piecing together the story as they go. And if being onstage is not for your child, there is lots of backstage creativity  to be invented, too. SESSION ONE-We will perform a theatrical version of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, rewritten by Atticus Belmonte and incorporating themes and elements from various versions of the Oz story. SESSION TWO-We will perform Cinderella, primarily inspired by the Grimm Brothers' Aschenputtel and collaging imagery from other versions and fairytales.  Atticus Belmonte is a 20 year old writer, director, actor, and theater major at Bard College. He is a founder of Patch Productions that he formed with his siblings and several friends taking his immersive theater pieces to the Shea where they have offered several productions. Enzo Belmonte is 17 years old and grew up doing theater, specifically Shakespeare and immersive theater. He has a special skill set in technical theater and will create lights and sound for the show. Registration is now open! Is your creative kiddo ready for a fun-filled summer of channeling their inner wild creature, creating their own fairy tale, and discovering their inner clown? Does your tween or teen enjoy making things up on the spot, working as a team, and creating their own performances? Registration is now open for PIC Kids Summer with options for rising 2nd-9th graders. Younger artists (rising 2nd-5th graders) will adventure through the creative process as they explore theater, movement, visual art, and more. Each week follows a different theme, and all weeks will culminate in a sharing of the young artists' original work on Fridays at 2:30. Keep scrolling for detailed descriptions of each week. JUL 21-25        Growl and Groove JUL 28-AUG 1  Fairy Tale Mashup! AUG 4-8          Theatrical Clown 1 AUG 11-15       Theatrical Clown 2 9am-3pm each day  $350/week Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Florence   Older youth artists (rising 6th-9th graders) will spend each morning playing comedy improv games, and then apply those skills and concepts to the afternoon sessions, working as an ensemble to create (devise) their own original performance. With improv you never know what's going to happen, so these creative kids will be taking risks, laughing, and figure it out as they go! All of this collaborative fun will culminate in a sharing at 2:30pm on the Friday of each session. AUG 4-8       Improvise and Devise 1 AUG 11-15 Improvise and Devise 2​ 9:00am-3:00pm each day  $350/week 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 © 2025 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