Western Mass Theatre News June 26, 2025

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser June 26 - July 16, 2025 This heat just makes me want to find an air conditioned theatre to sit in for the evening! It's another great week to see a show.  Don't forget: Happier Valley Comedy is offering a 50% off special summer ticket discount for newsletter subscribers: use the code "westernmasstheatre" to get your discount!  The next issue will include events from July 3 - 23. 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 Easthampton Theater Company Youth Theater Weeks July 14-18 and 21-25 at Williston Northampton School  Learn More and Apply Here Easthampton Theater Company Presents Guys and Dolls June 21-29 at Williston Theater in Easthampton Tickets and More Information Unreconciled Project / Majestic Theater present Unreconciled  June 26 and 27 at the Majestic Theater  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 JAY SEFTON’S AWARD-WINNING SOLO-PLAY “UNRECONCILED” PLAYS WEST SPRINGFIELD’S MAJESTIC THEATER FOR THREE SHOWS ONLY ON JUNE 26–27 The award-winning Unreconciled, based on the true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a school play directed by a parish priest later named in a grand jury report, plays the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, for three performances only on June 26 at 2PM and 7:30PM, and June 27, at 7:30PM. Co-written by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill, and performed by Sefton, Unreconciled is directed by Geraldine Hughes.  Unreconciled takes audiences on a magic carpet ride through parental love and bewilderment during difficult times in this moving portrait of working-class life in a whiskey-drenched, sports-crazed suburb of Philadelphia in the 1980s. This 80-minute solo performance chronicles a survivor’s journey as he confronts his past, navigates a victims’ reparations program set up by the Catholic Church, and discovers the courage to use his voice.  Just back from a highly acclaimed run in Los Angeles, Unreconciled was recently named an official selection for opening weekend at the Belfast International Arts Festival in October 2025. The show had its world premiere at Chester Theatre Company in 2024 and won the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association awards for Outstanding Solo Performance, Outstanding World Premiere of a Play, and was nominated for Outstanding Production of a Play. It has since played in Belfast, Ireland, New York City, Wilmington, NC, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, where it was named Stage Raw Magazine’s “Top Ten Recommended Picks.”  Unreconciled opened the 2025 season at Bare Bones Productions in Pittsburgh, and will be performed at the SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) National Conference in Harrisburg, PA in July.  There will be talkback discussions following each of the three shows.  The participants include Martin (Marty) Baron, former editor of The Boston Globe, during whose tenure the Globe won six Pulitzer Prizes, including for its investigation into the Catholic Church’s concealment of clergy sex abuse. That coverage was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie Spotlight. The talkback schedule is as follows: Thursday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m.—Len and Joyce Berkman and Jay Sefton, moderated by Melenie Freedom Flynn  Thursday, June 26 at 730 p.m.— Marty Baron and Jay Sefton, moderated by Dave Madsen Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.— Skip Shea, Nancy Eve Cohen, and Jay Sefton, moderated by Dave Madsen (Click here for full bios of the panel guests) For a production history of Unreconciled, biographies of its creative team, reviews, upcoming tour dates, and information on the Unreconciled Project, visit the website at unreconciledtheplay.com.  Tickets for all performances of Unreconciled are available at The Majestic Theater, 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com/unreconciled.  Easthampton Theater Company Presents Guys and Dolls! ...a musical fable of Broadway. Get your tickets now - good seats are filling fast. June 26-29, 2025 Williston Theater, Easthampton Directed by Eva-Husson Stockhamer Musical Direction by Deb Salli Produced by Michael O. Budnick Purchase Tickets Here! Guys and Dolls is a classic musical romantic comedy involving the unlikeliest of Manhattan pairings: a high-rolling gambler and a puritanical missionary, a showgirl dreaming of the straight-and-narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but. Guys and Dolls features some of Frank Loesser’s most memorable tunes, including the hilarious “Adelaide’s Lament,” the romantic “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” the exuberant “If I Were a Bell,” and the classic “Luck Be a Lady.” Easthampton Theater Company will present this fully staged show with a live band and some of the finest acting, singing and dancing talent in the region! OUR TICKETING SITE IS LOCATED HERE 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 Chester Theatre Company Magdalene The show times and dates are as follows: 6/26 at 2pm and 7:30 pm; 6/27 at 7:30 pm; 6/28 at 2pm and 7:30 pm; 6/29 at 2pm Chester Theatre Company, 15 Middlefield Road, Chester MA 01011 In this newest play by Mark St Germain, eighteen years after the death of Christ, Peter seeks out Mary Magdalene, whom he banished after the crucifixion. Peter needs an ally against a self-proclaimed Apostle angling for power in the growing church. In Magdalene, the author of Freud’s Last Session and Becoming Dr. Ruth offers a startling new look at two historical figures and the clash that impacts the course of Christianity. Tickets and More Information Don't forget to check out the rest of our 2025 summer season!  Magdalene June 19-29  A Hundred Words for Snow July 3-13  A Case for the Existence of God July 24-August 3  Mr Joy August 7-17 WHAT: On the Boards ’25: a festival of new play readings by (mostly) local playwrights WHEN: every weekend in June:  Friday–Saturday, June 27–28, 7p.m.; Sunday, June 29, 3 p.m. WHERE: The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield MORE DETAILS The LAVA Center is proud to present our third annual festival of new play readings by (mostly) local playwrights, “On the Boards.” This year’s festival will include new and developmental works by ten Massachusetts-based playwrights and five LAVA friends from further afield. Get a glimpse into the process of making theater, in this festival of readings of new works in several stages of development. On Fridays and Saturdays in June, there will be readings of plays that will culminate in a talkback session with the playwright. We welcome our audience to be part of the playwriting process by offering helpful, targeted feedback. There’s a different program every weekend, so come out to them all! On Sunday, June 29 there will be a shorter program of table reads, more casual presentations of shorter selections from six plays in development, also followed by talkback sessions. The schedule: Friday–Saturday, June 27–28, 7 p.m.: “Jane Austen Ruptured My Spleen” by James Anthony Merolla, directed by Jill Franks “Glaucman’s Syndrome” by Sam Rahman, directed by Glenda Christo Sunday, June 29, 3 p.m. — Playwrights presenting 15-minute slices of their work as table reads for targeted feedback: “The Voice” by Eva Schegulla “Consensuality” by Karina Lutz “Dreamzzz” by Ezra Prior “Muse-aterium” by Deborah Kearney “No Sweat” by Howie Faerstein “Travel Whore: The Backside of International Relations” by Jo-Anne Hart On the Boards ’25 is made possible by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the local cultural councils of Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Conway, Gill, Greenfield, Leyden, Northfield and Shelburne. 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. https://thelavacenter.org  Valley Players A Walk in the Woods June 27-28 at 7pm. June 29 at 2:30pm. First Congregational Church, 165 Main Street, Amherst, MA Valley Players will present Lee Blessing’s timely play "A Walk in the Woods", June 20–29, at the First Congregational Church in Amherst (165 Main Street). The show goes up at 7:00pm on June 20–22 and June 27–28 and at 2:30pm on June 29. Tickets are on a pay-what-you-can scale starting at $15 and are available at www.valleyplayers.org.  In keeping with Valley Players’ mission to support the community through community theater, half of net ticket revenue will be donated to the Amherst-based Peace Development Fund. Since 1981, the Peace Development Fund has worked to build the capacity of community-based organizations through grants, training, and other resources as partners in human rights and social justice movements, encouraging the development of diverse, self-sustaining, and economically viable communities to build a peaceful, just, and equitable world.  Praised by New York Magazine as “a minor miracle,” Time as “a work of passion and power,” and Drama-Logue as both “a marvelous piece of theater” and “a great treatise on the nature of mankind,” "A Walk in the Woods" follows the evolution of the personal and professional relationship between two nuclear disarmament negotiators—a Russian and an American—who meet informally in the woods outside Geneva over the course of a particularly tense year. Set in the waning days of the Cold War, Blessing’s play is a witty and moving exploration of conflict and coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy, and the critical role that making connections plays on the path to peace.  Valley Players’ production of "A Walk in the Woods" features Chip Roughton as American negotiator John Honeyman and Anthony Ferreira as Soviet negotiator Andrey Botvinnik and is directed and produced by Matteo Pangallo. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/a-walk-in-the-woods Seating is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged. A reservation will guarantee admission, but seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis and doors open for seating 30 minutes before curtain. The play runs approximately 2 hours, inclusive of a 15-minute intermission.  The mission of Valley Players is to enrich the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble, meaningful, and accessible community theater. Valley Players is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit that relies on the contributions of donors and business sponsors. To donate or become a business sponsor, join Valley Players’ contact list, or find more information about the group, visit www.valleyplayers.org. Scripted/ Unscripted  Saturday, June 28th @7pm 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. Featuring a rotating cast of experienced improvisers and talented local actors! April's Scripted actors are Stephanie Carlson, Michael Charland-Tait, and Moe McElligott! April's Unscripted actors are Scott Braidman, Maddy Benjamin, and Pam Victor! Special Summer ticket offer for Western Mass Theatre News readers! Enter code "westernmasstheatre" for 50% off your ticket purchase! https://www.happiervalley.com/scripted-unscripted.html Shakespeare & Company Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret July 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM July 6  70 Kemble St, Lenox MA 01240 A celebration of Shakespeare-influenced music, text, and storytelling for those both new to or familiar with Shakespeare, this devised production was co-created by Jacob Ming-Trent and Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director Allyn Burrows. It transforms the playhouse into an upscale club, complete with cafe tables, signature cocktails, and chandeliers. Ming-Trent features as both an actor and musician in Shake It Up, while Burrows directs.  “Shakespeare was the original rock and roller,” said Burrows. “Or if he wasn’t, his friends certainly were. Just as music washes over the landscape, Shakespeare’s poetry permeates our lives in ways we may not even be aware of. “Mashing Shakespeare’s words and songs that they influenced can create an alchemy worth exploring,” he continued, “and stir up a lot of fun in the process.” https://shakespeare.org/shows/2024/shake-it-up-a-shakespeare-cabaret-2/   Shakespeare & Company Romeo & Juliet July 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM August 10 Shakespeare & Co Presented under the Berkshires’ summer skies, Romeo and Juliet proves that even the ultimate case of love at first sight can lead to… well, chaos.  Meddling families and murderous duels meld to offer an evening of sword fights, swinging soirees, and secret weddings — but the play is also full of exuberant vulgarity, harsh brutality and above all, the tingling, unbearable delight of young love. https://shakespeare.org/shows/2024/romeo-and-juliet/   AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Smith College Department of Theatre is clearing out the prop storage this summer! If you are interested in some of the things we will be getting rid of (frames, baskets, books, bottles to start with but more as we go...) reach out to set up an appointment to look. Contact Amy Putnam at aputnam04@smith.edu to set up an appointment.  MAJESTIC THEATER ANNOUNCES AUDITION SCHEDULE FOR 2025-2026 SEASON Auditions for both Equity and non-Equity performers for roles in the upcoming 2025-2026 Season at the Majestic Theater will be held in late June/early July, according to Producing Director Danny Eaton.  This will be the 28th Season of performances since the venue was re-opened for live theater in March 1997. Auditions will be held at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on the following dates: Monday, June 30 – 6pm-11pm (Non-Equity Actors & Equity Drop-in) Tuesday, July 1 - 6pm-11pm (Non-Equity Actors & Equity Drop-in) Wednesday, July 2 - 6pm-11pm (Non-Equity Actors & Equity Drop-in) Equity Principal Actors and Non-Equity Actors will need to schedule their in-person auditions at the Majestic during the allocated times.  To book an audition time online, performers must visit https://www.majestictheater.com/auditions. All auditioners will read from sides (lines from a scene) provided by the theater. If you have not previously auditioned for the Majestic Theater, please also prepare a brief (one-minute) contemporary monologue. Monologues may be skipped due to time constraints. An accompanist will be provided on June 24 and 25 only. All others should bring tracks; a bluetooth speaker will be available. For questions about scheduling please contact Sue Dziura, Producing Director at sue@majestictheater.com. Actors will be auditioned for parts in the following productions: Once (musical), which runs September 4 – October 19, 2025, Steel Magnolias, which runs October 23 – November 30, 2025, The Hound of the Baskervilles, which runs January 8 – February 15, 2026, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, which runs February 26 – April 4, 2026, and Come From Away (musical), which runs from April 16 – May 31, 2026. Academy of Music Theater Manager Description: The Academy of Music Theatre, an 816-seat performing arts center, located in beautiful downtown Northampton, Massachusetts, seeks a Theater Manager who will ensure quality customer service and the smooth and effective operation of the theater during productions and other events. This individual is responsible for recruiting, training and supervising customer service staff, including house managers, concessions workers, and volunteers, and also oversees the activities of third-party vendors (e.g., caterers) who participate in supporting productions. The Academy is a fast-growing non-profit. Applicants with the following experience and skills preferred: Front-of-House Responsibilities: Provide appropriate house management for all rehearsals, performances and events, including development events Oversee all front of house staff and volunteers, including recruitment, hiring, scheduling, and training. Work closely with backstage staff to ensure a timely start to performances Assist Development Committee and Executive Director with development and community events planning Ensure that front-of-house staff follow proper procedures as established by the theater’s board and management to maintain guest safety and comfort Serve as the point person for handling any situations that arise with guests immediately before, during and immediately after performances. Supervise the maintenance and cleaning of public spaces, including the main theater seating area, lavatories, lobby and lounge, heating and cooling systems Supervise Box Office Arrange building maintenance with Central Services or outside vendors Tracking rental charges and fees and providing invoice for renters Concessions Responsibilities:  Coordinate concession and merchandise displays in the concession area Manage vendors associated with concessions Maintain concession inventory and reports Apply for permits and licenses associated with concessions and vendor activities (e.g., liquor licenses, raffle permits) Volunteer responsibilities Recruiting, coordinating and quarterly trainings all front-of-house volunteers, including ticket takers, ushers, hosts, or reception workers Communicating opportunities to existing volunteers Providing proper supervision for volunteers at events at the theater Coordinating any artwork, seasonal decorations or advertisement on display Communications Poster displays Marquee Any other tasks assigned by Executive Director Qualifications: B.A. in related field Strong knowledge of theater, performing arts and film and experience working in theater or a related field Excellent communication skills Ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities Customer service skills and experience Ability to manage staff effectively Strong familiarity with computer software, including word-processing, Excel spreadsheets, email, and Webmail. Knowledge of Mailchimp helpful. Physical ability to lift and carry boxes, equipment and supplies up to 30 lbs. Physical ability to be on one’s feet for extended periods of time and to climb stairs to access balcony areas. Ability to work nights and weekends on a flexible schedule as required. Certified in first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preferred ServSafe or TIPS certification will be required upon employment How To Apply: To apply: Send résumé and three references by July 4th to Executive Director, Debra J’Anthony at djanthony@aomtheatre.com or mail to Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060. No phone calls please. For further information, please visit www.aomtheatre.com, Apply by: July 04, 2025 Salary: $55,000 - $58,000 /About this Organization: The Academy of Music Theatre is an 816 seat non-profit performing arts center located in the beautiful college town of Northampton, Massachusetts. Pauline Productions/Devereux Productions Auditions - Seeing Violet - a new play by Peter Snoad Jul 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM 1st Congregational Church of Ashfield Pauline Productions and Devereux Productions are holding auditions for their upcoming collaboration of a Workshop Production of “Seeing Violet” a new play by Peter Snoad.  Auditions will be held on Monday, July 7 from 6-8:30 pm at First Congregational Church of Ashfield, 429 Main St., Ashfield MA. This is also where the play will be performed.  Production dates are Sept. 26, 27, 28 with tech week beginning Sept. 14. Rehearsals begin on or about Sept. 1st (location TBD) and will be 3 times a week–accommodating Actors schedules. All Actors will be paid for their work.  Local Actors (union and non-union) are invited to audition. (AEA agreement TBD).  TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION SLOT, contact Jean Devereux Koester at jeanjkemail@gmail.com. NO MONOLOGUE REQUIRED. ACTORS WILL READ FROM SIDES AT THE AUDITION.  ROLES: 5 Characters played by 3 Actors.  BETSY MARSH, White, 40’s- 50’s, a marketing specialist.  JOHN MARSH, White, 40’s- 50’s, a hedge fund manager, Betsy’s husband  IMANI DAWES, Black, late 20’s/early 30’s, a psychology student and a U.S. Army sergeant  VIOLET (same Actor who plays IMANI), Black, 20’s, an enslaved woman  OBADIAH MARSH (same Actor who plays JOHN) White, 60’s, merchant and investor, ancestor of JOHN  THE STORY: A cowrie shell, a manumission paper, and a human skull are unearthed during renovations at John and Betsy’s 18th century manse. The house has been in John’s family for 5 generations. Betsy is determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious “find”. Her dogged research reveals some unsettling truths: about the Marsh family’s secrets; about local resistance to confronting the community’s hidden history of slavery; and about her husband’s conviction that White people bear no responsibility to repair what happened in 1760. Through this experience BETSY and JOHN come to question their marriage, their priorities, and their future. Valley Players seeks play submissions for Take Ten, a staged reading showcase of new plays celebrating the Valley’s rich and diverse local writing talent. Take Ten will feature five brand new 10-minute plays written by Valley playwrights, chosen by leaders of the Valley theater community, directed by five Valley directors, and featuring a cast of Valley actors. Half of net ticket sales from the staged reading evening in October will be donated to The Literacy Project to support their work serving education and literacy needs across western Massachusetts. Playwrights seeking to submit a play for consideration must live in Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden County and only one submission per person will be considered. Plays must be no more than 10-12 pages, feature a cast of no more than three actors, and have not been performed, published, or received a public reading.  There is no entry fee and no limitation on the topic, style, or genre of the play. Playwrights whose work is chosen will receive a cash honorarium in addition to the staged reading. Additional rules and instructions are available at www.valleyplayers.org. Submissions must be received by email to info@valleyplayers.org no later than July 31, 2025. The mission of Valley Players is to enrich the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble, meaningful, and accessible community theater. Valley Players is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit that relies on the contributions of donors and business sponsors. To donate or become a business sponsor, join Valley Players’ contact list, or find more information about the group, visit www.valleyplayers.org. Salmon Falls Climate Action Performances Oct 14, 2025 porches of Shelburne Falls and Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls We are looking for directors and actors for three performances in October/November of about 12 five-minute climate related plays in Shelburne Falls. They are moving, surprising, and, at times, funny. It's part of the Climate Change Theater Action. We can choose from 60 skits written by people from all over the world. shelburnejackieb@gmail.com WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Theater enthusiasts are invited to go Behind the Curtain this spring and summer, through Shakespeare & Company’s series of discussions led by Shakespeare scholar Ann Berman. Held on select Saturdays throughout the spring and summer at the Shakespeare & Company campus, these free public talks offer audiences insight into the creative process of Season 2025’s productions, featuring directors, cast, and design team members as they explore themes, artistic choices, and behind-the-scenes stories. Behind the Curtain talks begin on Saturday, March 8, and continue through Saturday, August 16: July 5, 10:30 a.m. – Romeo & Juliet with directors Jonathan Epstein and Kevin G. Coleman (Rose Footprint Theatre, outdoors) July 19, 10:30 a.m. – The Piano Lesson with director Chris Edwards (Rose Footprint Theatre, outdoors) August 2, 10:30 a.m. – The Taming of the Shrew with directors Tina Packer and Allyn Burrows (Rose Footprint Theatre, outdoors) August 16, 10:30 a.m. – Mother Play with director Ariel Bock (Rose Footprint Theatre, outdoors) For more information and to reserve free tickets, visit shakespeare.org/talks-tours, or call the Box Office at 413.637.3353. Photo Caption: Ann Berman, far right, leads a series of free Behind the Curtain talks in the spring and summer at Shakespeare & Company. Pictured are director Dalia Ashurina (far left) and playwright/cast member Awni Abdi-Bahri of Three Tall Persian Women, which debuted at Shakespeare & Company last year. Photo by Eran Zelixon. 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. A Weekend, Laboratory Workshop for Performers, Creators, and Shakespeare Enthusiasts Shakespeare & Company invites actors, directors, physical theater artists, and Shakespeare lovers to take part in Devising Shakespeare: Creating New Work From Old Wit, a dynamic, weekend-long laboratory workshop led by Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay from Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13, at the Shakespeare & Company campus in the Berkshires. This hands-on workshop offers participants a concentrated opportunity to explore Shakespeare’s language through movement, ensemble work, and theatrical creation. Drawing on her background as a seasoned theater devisor and former Head of the Dell’Arte International Physical Theatre Program, Bandyopadhyay will guide participants through techniques for deconstructing and reinventing Shakespearean text, transforming it into bold new work. “A lot of theatre artists are interested in how to make something new from something classic,” said Bandyopadhyay. “This workshop is a way to gain skills, explore new creative territory as well as use text as a springboard for physical image and action.” Participants will form a temporary ensemble to experiment with physical storytelling, textual analysis, and devised creation. The weekend will culminate in a casual showcase of works-in-progress, open to friends, family, and the public. No prior devising experience is required, but an interest in physical performance is strongly recommended. Workshop Schedule: Friday, July 11 – 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 13 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuition is $375, with discounts available for artists of the Global Majority. Additional discounts are available for alumni (15%) and union members (10%). A limited number of on-campus housing spots are available at $75 per night, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Housing includes private bedrooms with shared kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces.  Learn more at shakespeare.org/actor-training or email training@shakespeare.org. About 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 worldwide to work with the Company’s faculty.   Photo Caption: Shakespeare & Company has announced a weekend-long devising laboratory workshop led by Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay from Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13, at the Shakespeare & Company campus in the Berkshires. SUMMER NIGHTS YOUTH THEATER Now taking applications for our second annual FREE program for ages 12-17 In Easthampton, MA on the campus of Williston-Northampton School July 14-18 and July 21-25 Go to easthamptontheater.com for more information and check out our flyer.   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! Summer Theater Workshops August 4-8, 8:30am-4:30pm 33 Hawley Street, Northampton MA This is a one week process-focused theater workshop that is tailored to the group's interest and skills. Ages 7-12 will explore storytelling, group work, improvisation, how to stage a theater production, and building social-emotional skills. Ages 15-18 will focus on monologues, partnered scene work, and how to create a character. Both groups perform for family and friends at the end of the week. Ages 7-12 is full day and Ages 15-18 is half day. https://www.nohoarts.org/theatre-and-film Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training will host a 9-Day Intensive at its Lenox campus from Wednesday, August 20, through Friday, August 29.  Designed for mid-career actors, educators, directors, and others seeking professional and artistic development, the 9-Day Intensive is inspired by Shakespeare & Company’s Month-long Intensive. Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay said the workshop offers participants an opportunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare training and make connections with like-minded artists in a robust, accessible format.  “The 9-Day intensive is a unique opportunity for mid-career artists to enjoy a workshop which is both professional development and a replenishing creative retreat,” said Bandyopadhyay. “The training is balanced between focused studio time, theater-going, and building lasting connections.” The daily schedule includes classes in Linklater Voice, Movement and Dance, Monologue and Sonnet work, Structure of the Verse, and the Actor-Audience Relationship, and the format and tuition include admission to three Shakespeare & Company shows staged at the height of its 2025 performance season.  Tuition is $1,495 with partial scholarships available for BIPOC artists. Early payment, alumni, and union member discounts are also available. Limited on-campus housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis for an additional $400. For more information or to apply, visit shakespeare.org or call 413.637.1199, ext. 114. Photo Caption: Director of the Center for Actor Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay and Month-long Intensive alumnus Davis Brinker at Shakespeare & Company's campus in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training will host a 9-Day Intensive in August. 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. 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