71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 413-648-SHEA

Young Shakespeare Players East Present: Twelfth Night

Sunday, January 15, 2023, 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm
Performed by a dedicated ensemble of young performers ages 8-18. Free and open to the public. No reservations. All are welcome!

YOUNG SHAKESPEARE PLAYERS EAST RETURN

TO THE STAGE WITH:

TWELFTH NIGHT BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

AT THE SHEA THEATER IN TURNERS FALLS, MA

Performances are Open to the Public -- Admission is Free

Turners Falls, MA ­­The Young Shakespeare Players (YSP) East is a non-profit theater program where youth between the ages of 8-18 perform full-length, original works of Shakespeare. Young Shakespeare Players was founded in 1980 by the late Richard DiPrima in Madison, Wisconsin. YSP East is proud to be the first and only YSP ‘chapter’ outside of Madison.

DiPrima noticed years ago that many programs for children underestimate their ability to think deeply and work hard. He said that at YSP it is our job to say to young people ‘you can use this marvelous material with your own marvelous minds.’

YSP’s methods promote involvement by the ensemble members in every aspect of a production. In addition to acting, the participants provide input into casting, provide backstage technical support, they assist colleagues with memorizing, and, most important, help direct productions by giving one another constructive comments. This method creates an environment in which the actors teach and learn from each other.

Twelfth Night has been called "the most nearly perfect happy comedy ever written." It is one of Shakespeare's greatest masterpieces — filled with lyricism and music, beautiful language, disguise and surprise, and some of the funniest scenes and characters Shakespeare ever created. The play deals with themes very relevant today such as loss, love, gender, empathy, and bullying.

Two casts are performing Twelfth Night at the Shea Theater, January 13-15, 2023. Admission is free and open to the public, all ages welcome. Delicious concessions are available for sale, all proceeds support YSP East’s scholarship fund. Come to the Shea and enjoy the show!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Underwriters

Australis Aquaculture • Artisan Beverage Cooperative • Benjamin Company • Berkshire Brewing Company • Cohn and Company Real Estate Agency • Community Credit • Common Capital • Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts • Connecticut River Internists • Dean's Beans • Easthampton Savings Bank • FirstLight GDF Suezna •Gagne Wealth Management Group • Gill Tavern • Gilmore and Farrell Insurance Company • Goff Media • Great Falls Harvest • Green River Festival • Greenfield Community College • Greenfield Cooperative Bank • Greenfield Savings Bank • Loot • Massachusetts Cultural Council • Montague Bookmill • Montague WebWorks • Northeast Solar • People's Pint • Rainmaker Consulting • The Rendezvous • Solar Store of Greenfield • Stobierski and Connor • Told Video • True North Transit • Turn It Up

Exciting News for A Happening V: The Bestiary

Cloudgaze and Eggtooth Productions are thrilled to announce that we have received generous grants from the Mass Cultural Council as well as the Community Foundation of Western MA to support our 2025 Immersive Arts Festival, “A Happening V: The Bestiary.”

This festival will transform the Shea Theater into an exploration of theme, hosting installations, music, theatrical performances, and movement pieces, featuring the collective contributions of over 50 local artists. Audiences will experience otherworldly environments and narratives inspired by Aesop's Fables, George Orwell's Animal Farm, newly imagined cautionary tales, and creature myths of all origins.

Thanks to the Mass Cultural Council for their vital support this year.We'd also like to thank the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for their support in the form of a Flexible Funding grant. We couldn't do this work without you!