Saturday, January 20, 2018, 6:00 pm
Repeats until Sunday, January 21, 2018, 1:00 pm
Free Admission!
The Young Shakespeare Players-East Present King Henry IV, Part 1
“Give me life!” – Falstaff
Turners Falls, MA – The Young Shakespeare Players-East present their Fall/Winter production of King Henry IV, Part 1. This play is one of the best kept secrets in Shakespeare, one that many Bard-lovers count as their very favorite, particularly for its comedy and rich language, which includes many of the best insults to be found in his (or anyone else’s) writings. It’s a play perfectly suited to our time, the story of a young prince’s coming of age, trying to figure out what is (inherited or taken) power worth as he journeys through three distinct worlds and finds empathy for his kingdom’s disparate populations—be they perfidious politicians, overheated rebels, or raucously witty commoners.
With twenty-four youth actors drawn from across western Massachusetts and southern Vermont, YSP East will accomplish feats that few theater companies anywhere would believe is possible:
· An unabridged, unedited Shakespeare production
· Actors ages 8-18 who perform with full understanding of Shakespeare's language
· Three casts alternating roles across performance nights
· Nearly 100%-youth tech crews (who are also the actors in another cast)
· Free performances in an exquisitely restored architectural gem
The Young Shakespeare Players (YSP) East, a volunteer run non-profit theater program founded in 2012, invites young people ages 8-18 to perform full-length works of Shakespeare. It is the very first YSP chapter outside Madison, WI, and the proud recipient of the Bardie People’s Choice Award: Best Shakespeare Educational Program (K-12). Its motto, from Hamlet, is “the readiness is all.” At YSP East there are no auditions—all participants receive substantial speaking roles.
Free Performances at the Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA:
· Tues, Jan 16, Wed, Jan 17, and Fri, Jan 19 at 6pm
· Sat, Jan 20 at 10:30am and 6pm
· Sun, Jan 21 at 1pm
All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. No reservations required. Doors open 20 minutes prior to each show. Delicious concessions available for sale. For more information: www.
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Exciting News for A Happening IV: Leviathan
Cloudgaze and Eggtooth Productions are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant from the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice to support our 2024 Immersive Arts Festival, “A Happening IV: Leviathan.”
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 30 local artists. Audiences will experience otherworldly environments and narratives inspired by folklore, fairy tales, horror motifs, American literature, and the mythos of the Old Testament, all of which delve into the central question guiding the festival: "What does it mean to encounter something greater than yourself and to be consumed by it?" Through this theme, we explore how a community reemerges and imagines itself after destruction and transformation.
With the support of the Markham-Nathan Fund, we are excited to create an event that complicates perspectives and fosters meaningful dialogue. We are grateful for this partnership and for the work of the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice.
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!