Western Mass Theatre News October 23, 2025

Your source for theatre events in Western Massachusetts.

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

Western Mass Theatre Newsletter View this email in your browser October 23 - November 12, 2025 Looking for something fun to do with friends this weekend? Consider Open Play! What could be better than an uninhibited, unashamed, unambitious afternoon of theatre games? If you are a new theatre company or just for some reason don’t see your name on the list of theatres at the end of this newsletter, send me an email with your name and website and I’ll add you! The next issue will include events from October 30 - November 19. 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 Open Play! Every other Saturday 1:00-3:00 PM at Northampton Karate More Information Here Valley Light Opera presents H.M.S. Pinafore November 6-9 at the Academy of Music Tickets and More Information Join us Nov. 7 for a celebration of the local Shakespeare community, gathering all who love these plays – dabbler and devotee, artist and academic, student and teacher, performer and patron – under one roof. 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 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 10/23, 10/24, and 10/25 at 7:30 pm, Sunday 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. 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 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/ The Greenhouse: Growing New Talent Every Saturday October 4th- November 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, Quinn Darrow, and Ben Freed. Tickets and More Information 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. ISMENE NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON VIDEO “Well, Ismene disappeared. That’s how the books have it. There is no poem, no song about me. A little ironic, isn’t it, that I’m the one who’s actually still here?” Jan Maher’s play Ismene, which played to sold-out houses at The LAVA Center in September, is now available for viewing on YouTube. Ismene, ancient Greek sister of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, is the forgotten child of family trauma. Enter Martha, who sees herself as small and unimportant. But it is her close observation and compassionate listening that allows Ismene — at long last — to tell her story and find peace and resolution. A lot can happen on a small bench in a small park in the space of an hour! Ismene stars Freya Andromeda as Ismene and Liza Manchester as Martha. Production Stage Manager and Assistant Director is Kiersten Samalis. Directed by the author, the video of the September performance is now available to view till the end of the year for a donation to LAVA’s Fall Funding Campaign. Sliding scale tickets available at https://www.tixtree.com/o/lava.   The production was made possible in part by a grant to the playwright from Greenfield Local Cultural Council. 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 to support LAVA’s mission to keep the vast majority of programming free of charge or for a free-will donation. 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. The Understudies: An Improvised Musical Saturday, November 1st @ 7pm It's the opening night of a brand new musical! Unfortunately, the show was never written or rehearsed. This is the moment we've been training for. Be part of the fun as the determined Understudies create an entire musical from scratch, with a little help from the audience. The Understudies are Scott Braidman, Kelsey Flynn, Paul McNeil, Mosie Senn-McNally, and Maile Shoul. With music by the amazing Jeff Kimball! Tickets and More Information St Rose De Lima & The MTD Group The Wicked Good Broadway Dinner Show November 6 and 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM St Rose DeLima Church Stage Chicopee, MA The Wicked Good Broadway Dinner Show! is a spectacular variety show that features a varitable smorgasborg of some of the best talent in the valley. The Gourmet Buffet, features everything made from scratch and is as locally sourced as possible. Dinner includes three appetizers, chicken Marsala with roasted and smashed potatoes, butternut squash puree, mixed green salad, and cupcakes for dessert. Tickets are $35.00 chrischem123@gmail.com To ensure we can accurately account for the number of attendees and prepare accordingly for the food arrangements, please purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door. UMass Fine Arts Center The Horse of Jenin By Alaa Shehada, A Troupe Courage Production Nov 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst In our fiftieth anniversary season, the Fine Arts Center celebrates the arts as a sustaining force in the lives of individuals and peoples from across the globe. Alaa Shehada’s "The Horse of Jenin" is a powerful example of art that sustains. Shehada is an actor and comedian who was educated in Jenin, Palestine at The Freedom Theatre Acting School, a company nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in February 2024. He is a co-founder of The Palestine Comedy Club, a core member of Troupe Courage in Amsterdam, and a clown doctor with Red Noses International. Built from the debris of a major invasion, the Horse of Jenin sculpture became a constant presence in Shehada’s life as he grew up in occupied Palestine. It stood proudly in the center of the city for twenty years, symbolizing hope and resistance. Then, on October 29, 2023, an Israeli bulldozer entered the city, ripping the sculpture from its place — and from its people. Now, Shehada is left to wonder, what happened to the horse? Constructed from fragments of Shehada’s memories, The Horse of Jenin is an entertaining, engaging, and humorous ode to the power of imagination and the resilience it inspires. The Horse of Jenin is a part of the Fine Arts Center's Asian and Asian American Arts and Culture Program and Codemakers series. https://arts.umass.edu/performing-arts/events/horse-jenin-2526 Total price starts at: $35.00. Total price for youth 17 and under and Five College students starts at: $20.00. Valley Light Opera H.M.S. Pinafore or The Lass Who Loved a Sailor 11/6 and 11/7 at 7:30 PM; 11/8 and 11/9 at 2:00 PM preceded by a pre-performance talk by Michael Greenebaum at 1:00 PM Academy of Music in Northampton Valley Light Opera celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a stunning production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore – the show that started it all! With the charm, manners, and romance of a Jane Austen novella, this beloved story about social status, rank, forbidden love, and societal pressures has transcended time for all the best reasons. Replete with gorgeous music, accompanied by a full orchestra, we’ll meet a cast of characters that are at turns funny, poignant, mysterious, haughty, and altogether fun to watch. With a charmingly nautical set and VLO’s famously beautiful costumes, this production will be a feast for the ears, eyes and heart. Whether you are already a fan of G&S, are curious to know why so many others are, or have young people in your life who would benefit from the perfect introduction to live musical performance and operetta, HMS Pinafore is a perfect show for you! Each showing of H.M.S. Pinafore will include a 15 minute intermission. Please come to the pre-curtain talk, starting at 1:00pm, before the two matinee performances on Saturday 11/8/25 and Sunday 11/9/25 . Michael Greenebaum, a founding member of VLO, will talk briefly about the history of Valley Light Opera, about Gilbert & Sullivan, and about HMS Pinafore. There will be time for questions and discussion. This event is participating in the Card to Culture Program! They will be offering 10 seats in the balcony at a discounted walkup price of $10 to any patrons with a valid EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card. To purchase these tickets, please visit or call the box office Tuesday through Friday between 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Limit 4 tickets per cardholder per show. Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Find out more at: https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/card-to-culture/ Fees always apply to purchase. Tickets can be purchased in person or over the phone Tuesday through Friday 3pm to 6pm. Tickets can also be purchased online at any time for no additional cost/fee. All Sales are final. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact the box office at boxoffice@aomtheatre.com or (413) 584-9032 X105. aomtheatre.com Northampton High School Performing Arts Frankenstein November 6, 7, 8 at 7:00 PM Northampton High School Northampton High School Theater Department will present a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This iteration of Frankenstein is from the perspective of Mary Shelley as she deals with personal loss and the demons that haunt her. Watch as Shelley herself narrates the story and personally dons the moniker of “Creature.” Characters from the beloved gothic tale come alive in a fresh way, animated by our talented cast and crew. Frankenstein will be performed at the Northampton High School auditorium on November 6th, 7th, and 8th at 7:00pm. $15 for adults and $10 for students. https://gofan.co/app/school/MA23957_1 Cadent Shakespeare Co. and Community Shakespeare of New England Remember Thy Friends: A Shakespeare Celebration Nov 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM Northampton Center for the Arts Flex Space, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA Community Shakespeare of New England and Cadent Shakespeare Co. warmly invite you to a celebration of the local Shakespeare community, gathering all who love these plays – dabbler and devotee, artist and academic, student and teacher, performer and patron – under one roof. The evening will feature brief reflections, guided conversation, and performances from local artists. We hope this event will strengthen our community in both spirit and action, with donations going towards plans for an interdisciplinary Shakespeare festival to help pollinate not only across companies and organizations, but also between an academic and an artistic approach to this work. Doors open at 7:00 pm, program begins at 7:30 pm. Suggested Donation: $10-25 Light refreshment will be available. cadentshakespeare.co/events We will also be dedicating space to feature other local Shakespeare organizations – if you are affiliated with a company or project and would like to share its information at this event, please reach out to sarahcorbynwoolf@gmail.com. Linda McCullough Moore Would You Like Angels With That? Nov 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM St Philip's Church, Main Street, Easthampton Mass This is a new one act play by author Linda McCullough Moore, a theater experience offering a chance to explore life's biggest questions and to laugh out loud at all the silliness we are. It offers a thoughtful journey through life's biggest decisions and smallest, most precious moments. Free and open to the public The afternoon performance will include beautiful music, and will provide a rich and thoughtful community experience of encountering the big questions, at the same time enjoying the true pleasure of laughing together, with maybe a few tears. Flip the Script Saturday, November 8th @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 September is Stephanie Carlson! Tickets and More Information UMass Fine Arts Center Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! by Hal Holbrook Nov 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas brings to life 'the nation’s one true comic genius' (The New York Times) in Mark Twain Tonight!, written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook. Thomas is the first and only actor authorized to perform the play since Holbrook retired from acting in 2017. Mark Twain Tonight! was the signature work of Holbrook’s long career, which spanned television, film, and stage. Holbrook first developed the one-man show capturing the wit and wisdom of the iconic American author in 1954. Over the course of the next sixty years, he performed and refined the work in more than 2,100 performances at college campuses, off-Broadway, and on to the Great White Way itself, and numerous national tours. Thomas, beloved by generations for his own iconic American role, John-Boy Walton, has starred on stage and screen for more than sixty-seven years. Most recently, he has been seen on Broadway in Our Town, on tour as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and in such hit TV series as Ozark and The Americans. https://arts.umass.edu/performing-arts/events/richard-thomas-mark-twain-tonight-2526 Total price starts at: $45.00. Total price for youth 17 and under and Five College students starts at: $20.00. AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES 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. UMass Theatre Department Audition Notice for The Interrobangers Nov 10 and 11 at 6:30 PM UMass Amherst BCA 413 Auditions for The Interrobangers by M. Sloth Levine Directed by Cordelia Winter Dwyer We are casting for the upcoming production of The Interrobangers, a play that blends mystery and theatrical imagination while asking what it means to be friends and what it means to be human. Performances will run March 6 to 13, 2026. Auditions are open to the public. WHEN: Monday November 10 and Tuesday November 11 at 6:30 p.m. Callbacks Wednesday November 12 at 6:30 p.m. WHERE: UMass Amherst Campus, Bromery Center for the Arts Room 413 Rehearsals will begin at the end of this semester for the first week of December and continue once the new semester begins at the end of January, running weekday evenings (Mon–Fri). Feel free to contact dwdwyer@umass.edu with any questions! CHARACTERS: Zodiac DuMaurier Late teens, identifies as cis (for now.) Not necessarily white, but he has white parents. Hank Mason Late teens, white cis man. Luna Takamoto Late teens, trans masc sansei, or third generation Japanese immigrant.. Dani Bundy Late teens, Black cis woman. Tess Mason/Bettie Roswell Tess is in her early 50s, Bettie in her mid-60s. Black, cis. Nathan Hobart/Mr. Dahl Nathan is a middle aged white man. Mr. Dahl seems perhaps inhuman. Sheriff Craig/Guy at The Jackalope Could be anybody, if you think about it. Special Casting Note: This production includes the role of Luna Takamoto, a late-teen trans masc sansei (third-generation Japanese immigrant). This role may not be played by a cis and/or White actor. Asian actors who are comfortable portraying a Japanese American are welcome. We are especially hoping to connect with trans and Asian-American performers in the Western Massachusetts area. All acting and performance experience levels are welcome; curiosity, interest, and a willingness to collaborate are the most important qualities. Enchanted April Five Female and Three Male Roles 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 - female and male roles. 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. Rehearsals start in January Sun 1-4, M/W 6:30-9:30. Performance dates are the weekends of March 14-22 in Easthampton. More information, audition forms, and scheduling information are located on the audition page on our website https://easthamptontheater.com/enchanted-april or directly to our audition information form at the following Google Drive link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rwgy5gc8kaf66g8eEQABtQivKiF9Q5vViNrB_8RtuOs/edit?usp=sharing Actors: Come audition for multiple local theater companies and individual producers/directors all at once at PIC's Community-Wide Auditions on Fri and Sat Nov 21-22.  You will have the opportunity to introduce yourself, rehearse and present a cold reading scene, and engage in a brief group conversation about the scene. This is a great opportunity to get to know theater organizations and makers who are casting pieces in 2026 and beyond. There will be 4 time slots offered where up to 10 actors can attend at a time. Actors may only attend 1 time slot and must sign up in advance to attend. Sign up for a spot here! WHERE: The Workroom at 33 Hawley St, Northampton WHEN: Fri Nov 21 Time Slot 1: 4:00-5:00 pm Time Slot 2: 5:30-6:30 pm Sat Nov 22 Time Slot 3: 10:00-11:00 am Time Slot 4: 11:30 am -12:30pm *SIGN UP FOR ONE TIME SLOT ONLY* WHO'S IN THE ROOM: FROM THE PIC TEAM PIC Admin and Artistic Advisory Team which includes representatives from Plays In Place, Silverthorne Theater Company, and Theater Between Addresses, as well as PIC's 2026 Playwrights THEATER COMPANIES: Easthampton Theater Company, Ethel The Barn, Human Agenda Theater, and Take My Shot Productions FROM THE LARGER COMMUNITY- Playwrights, Independent Producers, and Directors: Mary Beth Brooker, Jill Franks, Collette Paro, and Wendy Woodson 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!  From the Heart Studios Voice Lessons & Audition Coaching Online Voice Lessons and Audition Coaching with Nicki Hi! I’m a licensed music teacher and actor with degrees in Musical Theatre and Theatre Education. With over five years of coaching experience, I help singers and performers of all levels gain confidence, refine technique, and shine—on stage or in the audition room. Each lesson is personalized to your goals in a fun, supportive environment. I combine formal training with real-world experience to guide you every step of the way. For more information visit: nickielledge.com 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. This Year's Month-long Intensive for mid-career professionals launches December 27 Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training’s January Month-long Intensive is slated to run from December 27, 2025, through January 18, 2026, held at Shakespeare &Company’s campus in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Throughout the intensive, participants engage in voice, movement, dance, text analysis, exploration of the actor/audience relationship, sonnet work, scene work, clown, stage fight, and Master classes with Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, including in-depth discussions about the necessity of theater and the importance of the actor in today’s world. Senior Workshop Director Susan Dibble, who has served as a month-long intensive faculty member for all of its 45 sessions, said the intensive offers actor training that is timelessly applicable. “The January Intensive is a rigorous and rejuvenating program designed to activate a deep and powerful connection to the human experience, and to Shakespeare's language, in particular,” she said. “Theater artists will encounter multiple disciplines taught by a team of expert faculty, all of whom are committed to providing each participant with the opportunity for both personal attention and community. The breadth and the depth of this experience is readily applicable to both contemporary and classical material.” Complete applications are accepted on a rolling basis; arrival day is Friday, Dec. 27, and departure day is Monday, Jan. 19. For more information – including regarding the topics covered during the Intensive – email training@shakespeare.org. Photo Caption Training alums Oscar Quiroz & Sydney Endicott during the final scene-sharing of the 2025 January Intensive. Photo by Christina Lane 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