Western Mass Theatre News October 16, 2025

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser October 16 - November 5, 2025 This week: To The Moon at Springfield Community Theater of MA, The Happy Accidents at the Marigold - a fundraiser for Scarlet Sock, and auditions coming soon for For Love! For Liberty! and much more! Max Hartshorne reviews Noises Off! at Ja’Duke here. The next issue will include events from October 23 - November 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 Benefit Concert for Scarlet Sock Foundation! October 18 at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton Tickets Available Here Springfield Community Theater of MA "To The Moon" Performance and Discussion October 16 at 6:00 PM at 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA More Information Springfield Community Theater of MA AUDITION: For Love! For Liberty! Oct 20, 2025 6 pm-8 pm at 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA More Information Valley Light Opera presents H.M.S. Pinafore November 6-9 at the Academy of Music 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 Springfield Community Theater of MA "To The Moon" Performance and Discussion / Domestic Violence Awareness Friendraising Oct 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA Springfield Community Theater of MA presents "To The Moon" by playwright Beth Kander. This hour-long docudrama is based on interviews with domestic violence survivors, weaving together their stories with humor, healing, and revelation. The play features survivors experiences and represent diverse voices captured through extensive research and interviews. This direct yet respectful portrayal offers hope, healing, and the powerful reminder that stories, not just statistics, have the power to change minds and save lives. ABOUT ALIANZA DV SERVICES Alianza DV Services is a vital organization serving the Western Massachusetts community, providing comprehensive support, advocacy, and resources for survivors of domestic violence. Based in Holyoke, Alianza works tirelessly to provide direct services, education, and community outreach, ensuring that survivors have access to the tools and support they need to rebuild their lives safely. 52summer.com LEADERS ACTING IN THE SHOW in order of appearance: *Helen Caulton-Harris, Commissioner, Springfield Health and Human Services *Julia O'Keefe Morning Anchor, 22 News *Libby Hernandez. Vice-Chair, Board of Public Works, Holyoke *Aria Acevedo, Detribalized Indigenous Latine actor, designer, writer, and educator, MassHire Department of Career Services, Statewide MSFW Outreach Specialist *Brenda Garton-Sjoberb Director of the Institute for Media and NonProfit Communications, WNEU *Cassie Sarno Director of Community Relations, Hampdan County Sheriffs Office *Mary Akers, Executive Director at Work Opportunity Center *Jill Monson-Bishop, Owner of Pop!More Confidence Coaching & Training & Associate Director of Marketing Chikmedia *Sheila Rivest Executive Director of the Carol Rivest Foundation Arena Civic Theatre Hedwig and the Angry Inch - A Rock Musical Fundraiser for TransHealth 10/16 - 7pm, 10/17 - 7pm The Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Ma. Arena Civic Theatre is proud to present a raw, rebellious new production of the cult-classic rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Directed by Megan Healey, this stripped-down, amped-up staging doubles as a fundraiser for TransHealth, a Western Massachusetts nonprofit that provides gender-affirming healthcare and support to the trans community.  Performances will take place at the historic Shea Theater in downtown Turners Falls. In a twist worthy of Hedwig herself, the roles of Hedwig and Yitzhak will be alternated between two powerhouse performers - Clay Gregory and Charlie William - each bringing their own fire and vulnerability to the stage.  Fueled by a blistering rock score and razor-sharp wit, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the story of a genderqueer East German rocker navigating heartbreak, identity, and radical self-invention.  This production honors the show’s gritty roots while pushing it into bold new territory/artistically charged, community-driven, and unapologetically queer.  Every member of the cast and crew is donating their time to ensure that 100% of proceeds support TransHealth’s mission of inclusive, life-affirming care. www.sheatheater.org For media inquiries, interview requests, or sponsorship collaboration, please contact Sue Dresser at arenacivicboard@gmail.com  Hedwig and the Angry Inch is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com) K and E Theater Group Presents the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Sunday in the Park with George at Northampton Center for the Arts, October 16–18, 2025   K and E Theater Group invites audiences to step into the world of Georges Seurat with Sunday in the Park with George, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. This stunning and deeply human work of art opens this fall at the Northampton Center for the Arts for six performances across two weekends: October 10–12 and 16–18, 2025.   Inspired by the famous pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, this landmark musical follows the fictionalized story of Georges Seurat as he obsessively creates his masterpiece while struggling to balance his passion for art with his relationships and responsibilities. With a lush and haunting score by Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George explores what it means to create, to connect, and to matter across generations.   K and E Theater Group’s production features Michael Graham as George and Nicki Elledge-Hickey as Dot/Marie, alongside an ensemble of some of the region’s finest performers: Carol Wrobleski, Elizabeth Monte, Emma Rucci, Gene Choquette, Jay Lee, Joshua Mason, Kerrie Maguire, Marylou Bage, Matthew Bussell, Nicole Newell-Marcus, Nikki Gorts, Tom LeCourt, and Eddie Zitka, who also directs this production. David Cavallin serves as music director.   Performances are: Thursday, October 16 at 8:00 PM Friday, October 17 at 8:00 PM Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 PM and 8:00 PM   All performances take place at Northampton Center for the Arts, located at 33 Hawley Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. Tickets are $27 and general admission.   Sunday in the Park with George is presented as part of K and E Theater Group’s fifth season, Color and Light—an homage to bold stories, brilliant music, and unforgettable artistry.   Tickets and performance information for Sunday in the Park with George are available at www.KETG.org.   MAJESTIC OPENS 28TH SEASON OF PLAYS WITH ONCE OCTOBER 16-19  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 The Greenhouse: Growing New Talent Every Saturday October 18th- November 22nd @ 5pm A limited run of up-and-coming improv teams in a WEEKLY show! Enjoy eight straight weeks of fresh, organic improv from two fan favorite teams: The Silver Lining & Oops, All Animals! The Silver Lining will treat you to silliness, connection, philosophizing, and in all likelihood at least one character named Miranda. Cauldron-stirring is not out of the question. Kristen Brookes, Hillary Bucs, Lynn Curry, Katharine Daube, Karin Perlman, and Kim Sherman. Oops, All Animals is a comedic menagerie that will have you cackling, roaring, maybe even braying, with laughter. The flock for this run includes Micaela Foster, Alyssa Diamond, Allison Reding, Derek Luthi, Andrew Golibersuch, Quinn Darrow, and Ben Freed. Tickets and More Information 1999 written by Stacey Isom Campbell, directed by Genée Coreno, and starring Zurie Adams, Caroline Festa, and Zoë Laiz; with understudy Diana Quetti. Performing at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre at Shakespeare & Company’s Campus (Lenox, MA) October 16 - November 2. Tickets are now available at https://www.wamtheatre.com/1999-2/. Written and directed by Court Dorsey, Swamped is a world premiere featuring Steve Eldredge, Joe Laur, Izzy Miller and Heather Willey; sound design by Brian Bender, set by Tim Holcomb, lights by Pedro. Captain’s lost his wife. He’s marooned in assisted living with his red state values — and his non-binary caretaker, Clove. The Captain’s almost-son Stephen loves Kat, a woman at a crossroads who doesn’t want a firm hand anywhere near her. Everyone is swamped, and knowing each other may be their only hope. Please join us for Swamped, a new play performed at the newly-equipped theatrical venue at the Wendell Meetinghouse (1 Morse Village Rd., Wendell MA 01379). Swamped runs Thursdays to Saturdays 10/16, 10/17, 10/18, 10/23, 10/24, and 10/25 at 7:30 pm, Sundays 10/19 and 10/26 at 2 pm. Advance tickets ($15-20): https://wendellmeetinghouse.ludus.com; tickets at the door $20-25 Advance tickets (use link above) are $20 for Friday-Sunday performances, $15 for Thursday performances. Online ticket sales end 4 hours before the event. Tickets at the door are $25 for Friday-Sunday, $20 for Thursday. Cash or check only. For all performances, students (with ID) $20, MA Card to Culture participants (with ID) $10. Swamped is a cautionary tale about the clash of red and blue state values — and the only road to reconciliation we have left. Our grateful appreciation to the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts for initial funding in support of the Wendell Meetinghouse’s theatrical lighting and sound capacities! YOGA PLAY By Dipika Guha Directed by Rose Schwietz Malla Oct. 17, 18, 22, 24, 25 at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. The Curtain Theater Yoga Play tickets Stressed-out yoga apparel CEO Joan is one bad decision away from a PR-nightmare of career-ending proportions. Her activewear giant Jojomon™ has recently been charged with fat shaming, exploitative labor practices, and cultural appropriation. To temper a furious customer base, Joan and her team hire yoga master extraordinaire Guruji to inject some much needed authenticity into the brand — which may be the worst (or best?) decision of their careers. Yoga Play plunges audiences into the corporate antics of the ultra-uninformed, sparking curiosity about what it really means to be authentic. Content Advisory: Racially and culturally sensitive themes and coarse language. Recommended for ages 13 and up “Yoga Play” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com Tickets and pricing: $17 general admission, $5 for students, seniors, and Card to Culture patrons, or $19 and $7 through the Fine Arts Center Box Office, which includes a $2 fee. Season and group discounts available Benefit Concert for Scarlet Sock Foundation! Join us on Oct 18th to hear The Happy Accidents (featuring Don Sonn, Eric Gagne, Nicky Turner, Zach Addington, Brian Hoffman and Misty Carter) at the Marigold Theater, Easthampton.  Doors open at 7pm. The Happy Accidents describe their sound as a ‘fun mix of tunes leaning into danceable classic rock’. This event will sell out so don’t wait to purchase your tickets below! All proceeds from tickets sales will benefit SSF. Tickets available here Not In Charge: Improv Comedy Inspired By True Stories Saturday, October 18th @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, with our newest friends: Micaela Foster, Derek Luthi, and Allison Reding Tickets and More Information Join us for a performance of Borderline Visible by the German-British artist Ant Hampton / Time Based Editions, which will be held at UMass Amherst, Smith College, and Amherst College on Oct 7, Oct 21, and Nov 20, respectively.    This is a novel approach to book-based art, where pages become the stage for a performance that wrestles with issues of public and personal memory, voluntary travel and forced migration. With support from across the Five Colleges, we are thrilled to be able to present the East Coast premiere of this unique event.   Tickets are free but space is limited. Please reserve here.   Borderline Visible (collective experience) by Ant Hampton /Time Based Editions   Urgent and rolling, this 80-minute experience, fueled with music by Oren Ambarchi and Perila, pieces together value and meaning from the very human ruins of aspiration, history, and language, as it shifts back and forth along a journeyed path between Lausanne (Switzerland) and Izmir(Turkey).    Time Based Editions separates the audio and visual into two separate elements and holds them together in the present of a book. Collectively, we dive into a here-and-now of the page: printed photography brought alive by a soundscape that both guides and surrounds us. Ant Hampton’s careful, at times miraculous, process of reconnection gradually lights up a constellation: voices and earthquakes, Sephardic diasporas, forced movement, breakdowns and dementia, swifts and swallows, T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, and a unique insight into atrocities at the eastern edge of Europe being funded from its center.   Ant Hampton (1975, CH) is a British-German performance maker and writer. His work since 1999 has often involved guiding people through unrehearsed situations and interactive relations, using automated devices. Many of his “Autoteatro” works continue to tour internationally in over 80 language versions, some of them without anyone needing to travel – a paradoxical outcome for an art committed to liveness and presence which in turn informed his 2021 advocacy and research project ShowingWithoutGoing.live – an Atlas. Together with David Bergé, he co-founded Time Based Editions in 2023. anthampton.com   Project supported by the Anthropocene Lab at UMass, UMass English Department, the Kinney Center at UMass, UMass Commonwealth Honors College, Smith College Theatre Department, Amherst College Theater & Dance Department, and Five Colleges, Inc. MAJESTIC THEATER PRESENTS STEEL MAGNOLIAS OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 30 West Springfield’s Majestic Theater will present the second production of its 28th season when Steel Magnolias takes the stage October 23 through November 30.  The Majestic Theater is located at 131 Elm Street in West Springfield, MA. Steel Magnolias, written by Robert Harling, blends humor with moments of emotional depth.  Set in a small southern beauty salon, the play showcases a group of strong-willed women who navigate life’s challenges with sharp humor and unfiltered honesty.  From snappy one-liners to playful gossip, the women’s interactions are full of comedic moments, with characters using laughter as a coping mechanism in the face of life’s toughest trials.  The 1987 play inspired a hit 1989 film that starred Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah and Julia Roberts. The Majestic Theater’s Producing Director Sue Dziura will direct the play.  Alexandra O’Halloran is stage manager, and Michael Garcia is assistant stage manager.  Scenic designer is Juliana Von Haubrich and Dawn McKay is costume designer. Dan Rist is lighting designer, and Marcus Kearns is production manager. The cast includes Maconnia Chesser (Clairee), Cate Damon (M’Lynn), Kait Rankins (Annelle), Angela Dias (Ouiser), Elaine Hom (Truvy), and Raya Malcolm (Shelby).  Understudies include Myka Plunkett, Rachel Lamarre and Laurie Nickerson. Tickets to the show range from $35-$38 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by calling (413) 747-7797, or online at https://www.majestictheater.com/steel-magnolias.  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 The LAVA Center The Time Is Now play festival Oct 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM Repeat 10/25/2025 @ 7 p.m. ; Repeat 10/26/2025 The LAVA Center 324 Main Street Greenfield, MA 01301 Performance times: Friday 7 p.m. RESILIENCE “Science is Dead!”, “Consultation”, and “We’re Running Out of Chairs” dir. Ash Goverman Saturday 7 p.m. URGENCY “Space Cat”, “Appreciation”, and “Six Polar Bears Fell Out of the Sky” dir. Kiersten Samalis Sunday 2 p.m. HOPE “A Letter From the Ocean”, “The Mermaid”, and “All Its Tainted Glory” dir. Penney Hulten The LAVA Center presents a 3-day festival of short climate change plays October 24, 25, and 26. Each performance date will center around a different theme: resilience, urgency, and hope. These themes will structure the weekend as we explore them through play readings, public discussion, and a small workshop. The Time Is Now acts as an avenue for a larger discussion to create ripple effects throughout the Greenfield community and Pioneer Valley. Participation by the audience members is invited but not mandatory. Light refreshments will be provided after the performances. The performances can be accessed online for purchase for one month after the festival on The LAVA Center’s website. The plays come from Climate Change Theatre Action, a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings as well as from LAVA’s locally produced climate change theater initiatives.” Sliding scale $5-$15, with $1-2 Card to Culture Friday 7 p.m. RESILIENCE “Science is Dead!” by David Geary “Consultation” by Dylan Van Den Berg “We’re Running Out of Chairs” by Kirby Vicente Directed by Ash Goverman Performed by Kendra Corrie, Barbara Friend, Holly Sroka, Clara Witty Saturday 7 p.m. URGENCY “Space Cat” by Lewis Hetherington “Appreciation” by Katie Pearl “Six Polar Bears Fell Out of the Sky” by Alister Emerson Directed by Kiersten Samalis Performed by Kendra Corrie, Barbara Friend, Priscilla Mollard, Lisa Ranghelli, Holly Sroka Sunday 2 p.m. HOPE “A Letter From the Ocean” by Caridad Svich “The Mermaid” by Nikhil Katara “All Its Tainted Glory” by Georgina HL Escobar Directed by Penney Hulten Performed by Guy Fiero, Trouble Mandeson, Priscilla Mollard, Holly Sroka, Charmaine Sutton *** This program is made possible by funding from Greening Greenfield and Mass Humanities. We are partially ADA compliant: our entire facility (including accessible, gender-inclusive bathroom) is on the ground floor. We strive to make our programming and events accessible to the widest possible range of community members. To inquire about accessibility, email info@thelavacenter.org. https://thelavacenter.org/events/climate-change-theatre-action-the-time-is-now/ EVENING OF NEW PLAYS TO BENEFIT LITERACY EDUCATION Valley Players will hold its first Take Ten celebration on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26 at Black Birch Vineyard, 108 Straits Road in Hatfield. The evening will showcase staged readings of six new 10-minute plays by playwrights from around the Valley, featuring a company of twenty Valley actors and directors. Half of net proceeds will be donated to The Literacy Project. Reservations can be made at valleyplayers.org and are on a pay-what-you-can scale starting at $15. In addition to the plays, audience members will be able to enjoy fine wines from Black Birch Vineyard, sodas, non-alcoholic beers and mocktails, and artisanal wood-fired pizza from The Vintner’s Slice food truck. They can also bring their own food to enjoy during the show. “The wonderful thing about an evening of ten-minute plays is the sheer variety of voices, styles, and genres,” remarked Valley Players president Matteo Pangallo. “It’s an opportunity to get a taste of just some of the incredible writing talent we have here in the region.” “This partnership with Valley Players is a wonderful example of how the arts and education can come together to strengthen our community,” said The Literacy Project’s executive director, Colleen Kucinski. “The generosity of their audiences will directly support adults working hard to improve their literacy skills and build brighter futures.” Valley Players received thirty-one submissions to its call for scripts, with the final six chosen through an anonymous review process by a panel comprising prominent members of the local theater community, made up of Christine Benvenuto, Chris Rohmann, Jarice Hanson, Cynthia Naughton, Miles Herter, and John Bechtold. More than thirty actors signed up for the open auditions, Pangallo noted, making Take Ten Valley Players’ largest collaborative project since its founding in 2024. The plays in Take Ten are “A Concern” by Anna Fox, directed by Tracy Grammer and featuring Lila Oren-Dahan and Sandra Wang; “Summer People” by Stephen Poulin, directed by Anna Morrissey and featuring Tracy Trimm and Anthony Charles Ferreira; “The Waiting Room” by E. A. Blair, directed by Jill Franks and featuring Christine Mirabal, Claire Frierson, and Heather Lattuca Ferrari; “Terms and Conditions” by Sarah Zureick-Brown, directed by Joe van Allen and featuring K. Dymek and Camila Mugnani Hallet; “This is Not a Play” by JSWalter, directed by Marty Bongfeldt and featuring Martin Konowitch, Ben Hersey, and Daniel Greycloud-Jacob; and “Letting the Cat Out” by Richard Ballon, directed by Alan Harris and featuring Emily Hazelton and Susan O’Hara. The Literacy Project’s mission is to expand access to education for adults across Western Massachusetts so they can engage meaningfully and equitably in the economic, social, cultural and civic life of their communities. They offer free literacy programs for adults to build reading, writing, math, and life skills. More information about The Literacy Project is available at literacyproject.org. Valley Players is an all-volunteer nonprofit group with a mission to enrich the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble, meaningful, and accessible theater. Valley Players uses community theater to help build community, donating half of net ticket proceeds to other Valley nonprofits. More information, including how to donate or become a business sponsor, is at valleyplayers.org. Smith College Theatre Department presents Eurydice October 29, 30, 31, November 1 at 7:30 PM Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. Tickets at SmithArts.Ludus.com. Free for Smith students by emailing boxoffice@smith.edu. What: A Happening V: The Bestiary at Where: the Shea Theater Arts Center When: on October 31 and November 1, 2025 Featuring: 50 Artists of all kinds in an immersive experience based upon Orwell's Animal Farm Utilizing source material from Aesop’s Fables, George Orwell’s Animal Farm, The Nutcracker, newly imagined cautionary tales, and creature myths of all origins, The Bestiary brings together over fifty artists from across the Connecticut RiverValley to create a participatory, interdisciplinary theatrical experience unlike any other. When audience members enter the Shea, they will walk into the world of Free Range Manor. Set five generations after the revolution of Animal Farm, the main level of the theater is home to barnyard animals preparing for their annual Open Forum, to which the Pigs in charge of the society have invited “feral” animals for the first time – conditional on their decorum. The basement of the Shea will be transformed into the Feral Forest, in which wild and post-domesticated creatures of the land roam and sow the seeds of rebellion against the oppressive Pigs. As visitors interact with actors, explore the expansive installations throughout the Shea, and watch performances unfold, it will become clear that the line between “civilized” and “feral” is not as firm as it seems, and that there is a new secret around every corner of this mysterious Bestiary. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Springfield Community Theater of MA AUDITION: For Love! For Liberty! A New Musical Oct 6 & 20 Oct 20, 2025 6 pm-8 pm 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA FUN NEW MUSICAL- Dont miss it!: Performances Jan 17&18 at 52Sumner Ave /Rehearsals start Dec 26. LEARN MORE & SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION at springfield-community-theater-of-ma.org https://www.springfield-community-theater-of-ma.org/ Needed: singers, dancers, actors: Major roles: 4 women, 3 men, Chorus: Middle School Children, Six Adults. Synopsis: A group of present-day middle school students visit Springfield Armory, dismissing history as boring until a reenactor grandfather transports them into Henry Knox’s daring 1775 mission to haul cannons through winter mountains. As the past comes alive—with Lucy Knox’s voice and women’s contributions revealed—the students discover history’s struggle, sacrifice, and inspiration. Chester Theatre Company in Chester, MA seeks a full-time managing director to partner with our co-artistic directors and our board of directors to lead our critically acclaimed summer theatre. Now in it’s 37th season, Chester Theatre Company produces contemporary professional Equity theatre in an intimate setting, creating community and offering audiences fresh perspectives on vital issues. We present exceptional performances, tell diverse stories, hold important conversations, lead theatre trips, educate across generations, and develop and support new work. We are committed to theatre as a means to explore and celebrate our shared humanity. The managing director will be expected to run the day to day operation of the theatre including overseeing marketing, box office, front of house, bookkeeping, facilities management, IT management, and fundraising as well as arranging two tours per year for 20-30 people. The work-load varies throughout the course of the year, with the most intense time being May-August. During the off season, (September-April), the organization has three employees (managing director and two part time artistic directors). From May-August that number increases to include 2-4 production personnel, actors and designers for each of four shows, additional office personnel, interns and volunteers. We are seeking candidates who are creative, strategic and inclusive and who have experience in theatre administration. Candidates should have a proven track record of collaboration and be comfortable working in a fast paced environment. A full job description is available at www.chestertheatre.org/education-oppportunities/job opportunities/ Qualifications: Previous theatre administrative experience Excellent written and spoken communication skills Experience with some or all of the following software: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Ovation (Audience View), Quickbooks, Constant Contact and WordPress Commitment to working with and creating community Commitment to anti-racism and equity, diversity and inclusion Driver’s License and Car How To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to info@Chestertheatre.org Apply by: November 01, 2025 Salary: $60,000 / About this Organization: Chester Theatre Companyis a professional theatre company located in the foothills of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. CTC produces 4-5 plays each summer, staged and performed by professional actors, directors and designers. Now in its 37th season, CTC has earned a reputation for excellence in contemporary theatre, consistently winning top honors with area critics. CTC has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its artistic and educational programming. CTC productions have gone on to Off Broadway engagements and regional, national, and international tours. Auditions: Enchanted April Easthampton Theater Company is excited to announce auditions for Enchanted April by Matthew Barber, based on the book by Elizabeth von Arnim. There will be two nights of auditions: November 10 and November 12 (by appointment only!). We are seeking eight talented and dedicated actors of a wide range of ages. All roles are available; none are pre-cast. We strongly encourage actors of all races, ethnicities, and gender identities to audition. Enchanted April is a gentle and beautiful story of the importance of platonic relationships, friendships among women, self-care, and rediscovering who you are when life has caused you to lose yourself. The original 2003 Broadway production was nominated for two Tony awards and won Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards. Synopsis: Enchanted April is a heartwarming, character-driven play set in 1920s England and Italy, following four very different women who escape their dreary lives and unfulfilling relationships by renting a castle on the Italian Riviera for the month of April. As they navigate clashing personalities, unexpected friendships, and personal awakenings, the women—and the men in their lives—are transformed by the beauty, freedom, and magic of their surroundings. With rich roles offering emotional depth, humor, and growth, Enchanted April is a rare ensemble piece that gives each actor the chance to shine in a story full of charm, change, and hope. The show is directed by Gilana Chelimsky and produced by Michael O. Budnick and Deb Jacobson. Auditions are by appointment only on November 10th and 12th at the First Congregational Church in Southampton, with callbacks (if needed) on November 19th. Performance dates are the weekends of March 14-22 in Easthampton. If you would like to schedule an audition, please sign up for one audition slot on our signup genius page AND fill out our audition form. You MUST sign up for a slot AND fill out the audition Google form to be booked for an audition. More information, audition forms, and scheduling information are located on the audition page on our website. More information about the company is available at our website at easthamptontheater.com. You can also visit our facebook page. Local theater companies and individual producers/directors are invited to come to PIC's Community-Wide Auditions on Fri and Sat Nov 21-22.  Actors will have the opportunity to introduce themselves, rehearse and present a cold reading scene, and engage in a brief group conversation about the scene. This is a great opportunity to meet new actors who you might be interested in casting in 2026 and beyond, and also be in a room with fellow theatermakers/producers/directors. There will be 4 time slots offered where up to 10 actors can attend at a time. PIC will be running and publicizing the auditions, and outside organizations, directors, producers, and other artists may attend for a single fee that gives access to all 4 audition sessions. More Details: WHERE: The Workroom at 33 Hawley St, Northampton WHEN: Fri Nov 21 4-5pm, 5:30-6:30pm               Sat Nov 22, 10-11am, 11:30-12:30am COST: $20/person visit www.playincubation.org for more info Register Here before October 20! WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Open Play! October 25, November 8, November 22, December 6, December 20 1:00-3:00 PM Every other week Northampton Karate, 320 Riverside Dr Florence MA Seriously? Two hours to goof around and play with your friends? You betcha! Let’s gather together every other Saturday. Leave your worries at the door, play some simple, silly games and laugh until our bellies ache. Come play! Sign Up 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