Western Mass Theatre News September 11, 2025

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser September 11 - October 1, 2025 This weekend: Auditions for The Wizard of Oz! Auditions for Beauty at GCC! And also coming soon: Seeing Violet by Peter Snoad in Ashfield, and a great class for teens interested in acting on camera!  Once at the Majestic runs through mid-October: check out Max Hartshorne's review here.  The next issue will include events from September 18 - October 8. 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 Theatre - Auditions for The Wizard of Oz September 12-14 at Amherst Regional Middle School  More Information Here Teens on Camera Acting Workshop with Cherrix Casting October 2-30 at Northampton Center for the Arts More Information and Registration GCC presents auditions for Beauty September 15 and 16, 4-7pm at the Sloan Theater, GCC Story and Character Breakdown Here Pauline Productions & Devereux Productions present Seeing Violet  September 26-28 at First Congregational Church in Ashfield 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 MAJESTIC OPENS 28TH SEASON OF PLAYS WITH ONCE SEPTEMBER 11 – OCTOBER 19  West Springfield’s Majestic Theater open its 28th Season of plays with the musical Once, which runs September 4 – October 19.  The Majestic Theater is located at 131 Elm Street in West Springfield, MA. Once, with a book by Enda Walsh, and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, is a modern, heartwarming musical about an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant who form an unlikely bond over their shared love of music. Set against the backdrop of Dublin, the show captures the magic of creative connection, love, and the healing power of song. With a score that blends folk, pop, and soul, Once features intimate performances that bring out the raw emotions of its characters. James Warwick will direct the play, with the Majestic’s Producing Director Sue Dziura named stage manager.  Michael Garcia is assistant stage manager, and Maggie Hollinbeck is music director.  Scenic director is Juliana Von Haubrich, and Dan Rist is lighting designer.  Sound design/engineer is Ryan Hickey, and Dawn McKay is costume designer.  The cast includes Nick Anastasia (Guy), Hillary Ekwall (Bank Manager/Dance Captain), Maggie Hollinbeck (Baruska), Chris Cotten (Da), Katy Cotten (Reza), Kate Theis (Girl), Kevin Tracy (Billy), Omar Sandakly (Svec), Patryk Mathieu (Andrej), Michael Devito (Eamon), Violet Falkowski (Emcee), Eliza Wiener (Ex-girlfriend), and Josie Dziura/Jules Magoffin (Ivanka). 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 Shakespeare & Company MOTHER PLAY: a play in five evictions through October 5 70 Kemble St, Lenox MA 01240 With a martini in one hand and biting commentary in the other, matriarch Phyllis - headstrong, but resourceful - runs her household with a mix of tough love and theatrical flair, determined to prepare her kids Carl and Martha for the harsh realities of the world whether they like it or not.  As Carl and Martha navigate their own paths, Phyllis remains an ever-present force, doling out brutal honesty, unsolicited wisdom, and the occasional guilt trip with impeccable timing.  Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, Mother Play is a sharp-witted, darkly comedic exploration of family, identity, and survival spanning four decades, five apartments, and many hardships from cockroach infestations to painful conflicts. It premiered on Broadway just last year, earning four Tony nominations, two Drama Desk Awards, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. Tickets and More Information Performances of the original play Ismene to take place at The LAVA Center in September Antigone bade her sister say no more. “Your choice was to live,” she said, “mine to die.” —Antigone, quoted by Edith Hamilton The LAVA Center and playwright/director Jan Maher are thrilled to announce a special collaboration to present Maher’s play Ismene in mid-September. The project, made possible in part by the Greenfield Local Cultural Council, features Freya Andromeda in the title role and Liza Manchester as Martha. Fans of the classic Greek tragedies may (or may not) remember Ismene as the sister of Antigone and daughter of Oedipus. Over the course of several plays penned by Greek tragedians, her parents and all three siblings die. But there is no record of Ismene’s death. In Maher’s play she has been wandering the earth looking for resolution. When she meets Martha, a shy, journal-keeping woman, she is finally able to tell her own story in her own terms. Ismene debuted in Seattle where A. J. Mell in the Seattle Weekly characterized it as “Probing, sensitive, and accessible… rife with lyricism and unexpected humor.” Ken Freehill of Actors Equity Association called it “a brilliant script,” saying he was “thrilled to have been part of the audience.” Kiersten Samalis, who has acted, directed, stage managed and run tech for LAVA in several projects over the past couple of years is stage manager/assistant director for Ismene. This production of Ismene is a benefit in conjunction with LAVA’s year-end fundraising campaign. Patrons are invited to make a donation above their sliding scale ticket price ($1–$30) to support LAVA’s mission to keep the vast majority of programming free or donation-based. Performances are Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 14, 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.tixtree.com/o/lava. Made possible with funding from the Greenfield Local Cultural Council. For more information or to schedule interviews, contact jan@localaccess.org. Flip the Script Saturday, September 13th @7pm We invite a local playwright to bring an unfinished script to the show; an original work that's never seen the stage. Then we read the character descriptions, cast the show, and launch into its first ever performance. Once we run out of lines, we drop the scripts and improvise the rest of the play while the playwright watches in delight (or horror!) Featuring experienced improvisers Mandy Anderson, Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman, Moe McElligott, Laura Patrick, Pam Victor, and Kate Zak. Our playwright for Septmeber is Harley Erdman! https://www.happiervalley.com/2nd-saturdays.html KEVIN: A  Solo Performance with Multiple Voices Written & Performed by Kate Brandt directed by Talya Kingston at The Foundry, West Stockbridge, Thursday Sept 18 and Friday Sept 19 at 7:30pm KEVIN is a comedic solo performance about struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as a woman and mother. Through the lens of colorful characters, this piece brings levity to an otherwise heavy topic and aims to normalize the complexity of living, surviving and (hopefully) thriving in life, despite having compromised brain chemicals. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS CLICK HERE PIC will be presenting our 4th annual All Ages Salon and Social at a new location this year- outdoors at The Creation Station at 63 Strong St in Easthampton on Sat Sept 20 from 3-5pm. We're seeking adult and youth performers from all disciplines to sign up for this open-mic style opportunity. If interested in presenting, follow the link below to fill out the form. We will be in touch to confirm your participation. The All Ages Salon is FREE for all to attend. Adult performers are invited to share 5-7 minutes of original work, while youth performer can share 3-5 minutes. Pieces can be something new and in progress or something you've performed before. The performances will be followed by social time for the artists and audience to get to know each other and explore the beautiful outdoor grounds. Click the link for more information and to sign up as a presenter. If you plan to attend as part of the audience (it's free!), we'd love for you to let us know here! If you have any questions about the salon, please reach out to rachel@playincubation.org. Submission Form Not In Charge: Improv Comedy Inspired By True Stories Saturday, September 20th @7pm Don't miss this talented group of friends in an improvised show inspired by true stories from the cast! Not In Charge is Mandy Anderson, Maddy Benjamin, Sally Ekus, Julie Waggoner, Jim Young, and Kate Zak. Tickets and More info Pauline Productions & Devereux Productions Seeing Violet by Peter Snoad Sep 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM 9/27 at 2pm & 7pm, 9/28 at 2pm 1st Congregational Church of Ashfield Pauline and Devereux Productions' Workshop Production of Seeing Violet by Peter Snoad, Directed by Jeannine Haas  Playing One weekend only Sept. 26-28  Betsy and John, a modern couple in New England, are converting the carriage house at their old manse into an apartment. The renovation unearths a manumission paper for a woman named Violet as well as some human remains.  Who was Violet? What happened to her? Why is her freedom paper in the crawl space under the carriage house? And whose remains were found?  When a young woman arrives to rent the apartment, the mysteries begin to unfold in unexpected ways.  As clues to Violet's life are revealed, the lives of the couple begin to intertwine with hers in frightening and surprising ways. They struggle with this new light on their lives and their relationship. Is history simply stories of the past, or is history alive and present in our relationships and choices?  Betsy and John face these questions as they work their way through revelations of family, responsibility, and love.  Pauline and Devereux Productions are excited to bring this new, relevant play to life in their workshop production. Boston Playwright Peter Snoad will be present, along with the Producers, Director, Actors and Audience, for a Post-Show Discussion on Opening Night (Friday) as well as the Saturday and Sunday Matinees.  TICKETS: Seating is limited. Advanced Tickets are recommended  $35 Patron, $25 Regular, $20 Discount, $10 Youth (ages 14-21). https://theticketing.co/e/seeing-violet, or at Ashfield Hardware or at the Door (cash or check)  WHAT: Seeing Violet by Peter Snoad, Director: Jeannine Haas Featuring: Moe McElligott, Chip Roughton, Sabine Denise Jacques  WHERE: First Congregational Church of Ashfield, 429 Main St. (route 116)  WHEN: Friday, Sept 26 at 7pm, Saturday, Sept 27 at 2pm and 7pm, Sunday, Sept 28 at 2pm  For more information go to www.paulinelive.com  This production was made possible by grants from the Mass Cultural Councils LCC’s of Conway, Ashfield and Goshen. https://theticketing.co/e/seeing-violet Do-Si-Do: Three Improvised Duos! Saturday,September 27th @7pm A limited run on the 4th Saturday of the month! Bacon & Eggs... Peanut butter & Jelly... Pam & Scott... Some things are just better together! Experience some of the greatest pairs in history with Do-Si-Do! Each show will feature three fantastic two-person improv shows, followed by all six performers coming together to mix it up and play with everything they created in the first part of the evening. Hosted by the long-running duo We Made A Thing with Happier Valley Comedy's Founder and Artistic Director Pam Victor and Scott Braidman, this month featuring  Maddy Benjamin and Gabriel CiFuentes, and Sally Ekus and Kate Zak. https://www.happiervalley.com/do-si-do.html AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Holyoke Community College Theater Auditions: The Last Living Gun By Ryan Stevens  Directed by Cordelia Winter Dwyer  Leslie Phillips Theater  [Fine and Performing Arts Building] 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke MA 01040 Thursday September 11th 2-5pm  Auditions will consist of cold readings. Auditioners do not need to prepare monologues. Anyone is welcome to audition.  Callbacks if necessary will be held Friday September 12th 2-5pm.  Performance dates November 20th-22nd 2025  mwhiton@hcc.edu  For more info Fill out an audition form at this link https://forms.gle/p18oKkezefZYUxNLA facebook.com/hcctheater/ Amherst Community Theater Auditions for the Wizard of Oz 9/12: 6 pm-9:15 pm, 9/13: 10 am-6:45 pm, 9/14: 10 am-6:45 pm. Callbacks 9/15 6-9 pm Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut St, Amherst, MA 01002. Amherst Community Theater is pleased to announce auditions for The Wizard of Oz, directed by Stephanie Flinker with Musical Direction by Cindy Naughton and Choreography by Mary Ann Holmes. This multigenerational production features singing, dancing and acting for the whole cast. In addition to the traditional characters, there will be many featured roles for all ages in both Munchkinland and Oz: Harmonic Trees, Dancing Crows, Performing Poppies and more. You might even land a role as a flying monkey! Tappers are encouraged to come and share their skills.  Auditions will take place September 12-14 at the Amherst Regional Middle School, callbacks September 15. Nine performances in January 2025 at Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Children age 7 (and having entered grade 2) through adults are encouraged to audition! For an audition appointment and more information, including character descriptions and audition music, please visit amherstacts.org/auditions or contact producer@amherstacts.org. https://amherstacts.org/auditions/ Majestic Theater NEW VOICES--Call for Play Submissions Submission Deadline September 15, 2025 NEW VOICES at the MAJESTIC THEATER  New Voices is the Majestic Theater's new play development program designed to expand opportunities for playwrights and other theater-makers across the Pioneer Valley which includes North Central CT to Southern VT, and to introduce our community to new themes, ideas, and cultures we may not otherwise be familiar with. BIPOC, AAPI, and/or LGBTQIA+ playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit their work.  Two plays will be chosen by a diverse committee of theater professionals affiliated with the Majestic Theater and will go on to have a staged reading in November 2025. After being selected, New Voices playwrights are provided a team of professional artists, including a director and cast, to perform their play on the Majestic mainstage for an audience.  Readings will take place on Monday, November 17, 2025 and Monday, November 24, 2025 Submission Deadline for Playwrights: September 15, 2025 Email submissions to Producing Director, Sue Dziura at sue@majestictheater.com Greenfield Community College Theater Department Auditions for Fall Production of BEAUTY Sloan Theater at GCC Mon, Sep 15 at 4pm-7pm*  Tue, Sep 16 at 4pm-7pm*  Callbacks Wed, Sep 17 at 4pm*  *Plan on attending either Monday OR Tuesday for Auditions, as well as Wednesday for Callbacks. You can arrive anytime during the 3-hour audition time, but arriving closer to the start is better for pairing you with other actors. https://tinyurl.com/BEAUTY-Characters-Setting No audition preparation or production experience required. Flexible casting (12 actors total). Casting younger and older actors of all types. Open to all students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. Exit 7 Theater Auditions for Pride and Prejudice! Sep 29, 2025, 6:00 PM October 1st, 2025 6-9 37 Chestnut Street Ludlow, MA 01056 Jane Austen’s beloved classic novel is brought to fresh, fun new life in Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. There is little hope for the four Bennet sisters beyond “ensnaring” a wealthy future husband, but Lizzy dreams of more than the schemes and games of courtship.  Come audition for this exciting new take on a classic. Auditions will be open to all, and no roles are precast. Casting ages 16+. While we will take walk ins, we encourage you to follow our provided links to sign up for a timed slot in advance. Callbacks will be on October 3rd, by invitation. https://www.exit7players.org/auditions/pride--prejudice-auditions/ Show Dates: February 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2026  Rehearsal Dates: Our read through will be in late October, and we will begin our full rehearsal process in November. We will typically rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 and on Sunday afternoons/evenings. Tech Week will be February 1st-5th. There will be no rehearsal on Thanksgiving, or between the dates of December 23rd-January 4th.  Please note that the original version of Kate Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice has actors playing multiple parts. While we intend to separate these roles, we reserve the right to offer actors more than one part. The Mount and Straw Dog Writers Guild Invite Emerging Writers to Apply for the 2026 Writers Residency Hosted at The Mount in Lenox, MA The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, is once again collaborating with Western Massachusetts’ Straw Dog Writers Guild to offer a unique residency experience for nine emerging writers. The residency focuses on writers who are developing their craft in the genres of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and plays. The residencies run weekly from March 1 - March 21, 2026. Three writers will be selected for each week. Residencies include lodging at a neighboring inn, a workspace at The Mount, breakfast, lunch, and a $500 stipend. Applications opened on September 1 and will close on October 1, 2025, at 5:00 pm, or once 300 applications have been received. 2026 Residents and Finalists will be announced on December 14, 2025. Submissions are reviewed anonymously and ranked based on the following criteria: quality of writing, originality of voice, the potential for growth as a writer, and strength of the statement of purpose. Who is Eligible: Emerging poets, writers of fiction, or creative nonfiction who have not published a book or chapbook in any genre and will not have a book or chapbook forthcoming before March 1, 2026. For more information and access to the application form, visit EdithWharton.org or contact writersinresidence@edithwharton.org MA CULTURAL COUNCIL GRANTS Applications open as of today and due October 15, 2025. Check the MCC website and see if your agency is eligible.  Stage Manager Opportunity Easthampton Theater Company's March 2026 Production of Enchanted April. Detailed Information is available on our web site HERE. T This position includes a stipend. Rehearsals begin in January, 2026, with a read-through and some workshops in December. 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   JAN 17 & 18 – For Love! For Liberty! 300 miles with Knox's Cannons  - Original Musical, Auditions in Oct 6, 2025 at 6 pm! This original musical features a rebellious middle school history class and a reenactment grandfather and his bored grandchildren who are transformed at the US Park Services’ Springfield Armory when they learn about Henry Knox, the love of his life, Lucy, and his amazing trek from Fort Ticonderoga to Springfield, MA, and then on to Cambridge with 120,000 lbs of cannon in January 1776, a feat that saved the revolution! Needed: Actors, Singers, Dancers, Reenactors, Ages 10 and up! Join the MA250 Revolution Celebration!! WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Calling all Performing Artists! Ohketeau staff member Jasmine Goodspeed has worked on and developed a method of acting training that is rooted in the ceremony that can be found in and has developed alongside performance throughout space and time. She is thrilled to be providing a series of acting training workshops accessible for all skill levels. Have you only ever dreamt of acting but found yourself intimidated by it? Come and try this out! Are you a seasoned pro looking to find new tools for your box? Join us! This class will take place at Northampton Center for the Arts every second Thursday of the month from 7:00-9:00PM The first class will take place on September 11th. This workshop is totally free and open to the public! TEENS ON  CAMERA ACTING WORKSHOP  Calling all Aspiring Young Actors! (Ages 13-18) With Film/TV Casting Director, Marty Cherrix, whose most recent project is the Amazon hit TV series,“The Summer I Turned Pretty” Dates: Thursdays, October 2-30 Time: 3:30 pm - 4:45pm Location: Northampton Center for the Arts - Eli’s Room, 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA Tuition: $249 for five-weeks per individual To register for this 5 week class, email Marty at: cherrixclasses@gmail.com Whether you're just starting out or ready to sharpen your skills, this small-group class (max. 10 students) will give each actor the attention they deserve. No experience necessary — just passion and curiosity. In this fun, focused program young actors will learn:  Insider auditioning tips to begin building your Film/TV acting career  How to record auditions at home for submission to Casting Directors  How to breakdown a scene and a character for a powerful performance Techniques to build confidence, authenticity and ease on camera All of this and more in a professional, supportive setting Your instructors: Marty Cherrix, feature film and TV casting director with over 30 years experience. Member of CSA-Casting Society of America. Latest credits include the current Amazon hit TV series, “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”  Christine Stevens, actress, theater teacher and certified teacher of the Alexander Technique for actors. Classes are not a job interview or an audition. The presence of a Casting Director is not a guarantee or promise of employment. This class is for education experience only. www.cherrixcasting.com Double Edge Theatre Fall Training Intensive October 10-13   Our method is based on search, not on form. We offer an adventure with space for both wildness and vulnerability. The unique, holistic methodology employs the artist’s full potential – emotional, imaginative, physical, vocal – to drive ensemble collaboration, individual exploration, and performance creation. The training programs are led by the Ensemble, and take place on the Farm. We are still accepting applications, so apply today! Learn more and apply here Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training has announced its 2025 line-up of fall weekend intensive workshops, including sessions in New York City, Los Angeles, and at the company’s campus in Lenox, Mass.  Designed for professional actors and theater students who seek an introduction to Shakespeare & Company’s training methods, as well as alumni who wish to refresh and reconnect with the work, Shakespeare & Company’s Weekend Intensives integrate voice, movement, and monologue work. Sheila Bandyopadhyay, director of the Center for Actor Training, explained that Weekend Intensives are a great way for people to attune themselves to their bodies, voices and imaginative impulses in connection to text.  “Our weekend intensives are open to all who are curious about speaking Shakespeare. In addition to seasoned performers, directors, and educators, we often welcome people who love Shakespeare but are new to acting. It’s a welcoming environment,” she said. Upcoming Weekend Intensives run October through December, including: NYC Weekend Intensive Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5; LA Weekend Intensive, Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19; Lenox Weekend Intensive, Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9, and A new Alumni Advanced Weekend Intensive, held in New York City, Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7 Actors who have completed the Center for Actor Training’s January Month-long Intensive, Summer Shakespeare Intensive (formerly the Summer Training Institute), or Conservatory programs are eligible for a 15% alumni discount on Weekend Intensive tuition. Members of acting unions and of the Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) are eligible for a 10% discount on tuition. A student discount ($325) is applicable for those currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, and BIPOC discounts ($325) are available for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. These discounts may not be combined. The Lenox Weekend Intensive has single-occupancy dorm-style housing available on the Shakespeare & Company campus for $50 per night. Housing includes a shared kitchen and bathroom; linens are provided. For more information or to apply, visit shakespeare.org/actor-training, or call (413) 637-1199, ext. 114. 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