The Silver Chord Bowl returns Feb. 8
The Silver Chord Bowl, an annual a cappella showcase, will return this year at John M. Greene Hall at Smith College on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
Participating groups include the Northamptones (Northampton High School), Smith College Vibes, Berklee Upper Structure (Berklee College of Music), Amherst College Zumbyes, MIT Ohms, Notes over Storrs (University of Connecticut), and Viridescent (University of Vermont).
Steve Sanderson, of the Northampton Arts Council and WRSI 93.9 The River, will host. Smith College President Sara Willie-LeBreton and Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra will make guest appearances.
Advance tickets are $35 for premium reserved seating, $15 for general reserved seating; day-of tickets are $5 higher per category.
Tickets are available at freshtix.com/events/silver-chord-bowl-3, at State Street Fruit Store in Northampton, or at Cooper’s Corner in Florence.
Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet to perform at the Drake
The Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet will perform at the Drake in Amherst on Friday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.
The Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet is an intersection of generations and singular voices, where saxophone legend Jerry Bergonzi joins forces with bassist/composer Sean Pentland, pianist Julian Shore and drummer, Richie Barshay.
According to the event listing, “Pentland’s intricate and vivid writing is animated by the eminently individual sounds of the tenor master and younger stars, each prolific composers themselves. This project was spurred by the tragic and unexpected death of a friend and colleague, Sebastian Nay, with whom Bergonzi and Pentland were meant to reunite on a German tour.”
The new release from the Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet, “Windward” is dedicated to Nay and features music that would have been played on that tour.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, visit thedrakeamherst.org/events/bergonzi-pentland-quartet.
Immersive experience in Turners Falls
Eggtooth Productions will host the pop-up bar and immersive experience “Charley’s Tropical Bar & Board Game Palace” at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls on Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
From the event description: “Meet Charley, its fictional owner, who has invited you into his nostalgic bar full of 1990s mixtapes and warm memories. Set in the time capsule of the pre-2000s, we invite you to surrender your phone and your cares to an evening of live performances and more than a few immersive rewards along the way.”
Creator John Bechtold said, “Welcome to Charley’s — a moment’s escape to a cozy, analog bar replete with tabletop games, music, cocktails and cozy community vibes. And, for the adventurous, an unexpected journey into the mind of its owner.”
Tickets are $20 at sheatheater.org or at the door.
Audition for new plays about Massachusetts history
Plays in Place, which creates site-specific plays about history, is looking for non-union actors to audition for three original plays at Historic Deerfield’s Hall Tavern Visitor’s Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 3 to 8 p.m.
According to the listing, roles available include: Elihu Ashley, mid-20s, white, apprentice doctor and charismatic diary writer. Son of the town’s Loyalist minister, Elihu is less concerned about politics than having fun; David Dickinson, mid-20s, white, Elihu’s best friend who operates a store in town where the young people gather in the evenings to drink; Jinny Cole, early 50s, African/Black woman, enslaved in the Ashley household. A deeply spiritual storyteller with memories of being captured from Guinea; Cato Cole, 30s, Black (African), enslaved man in the Ashley house, Jinny’s son. Served in the French & Indian war; Mary Stebbins, 50, white mother of seven children and married to a prominent Deerfield businessman and Whig (Patriot); and Joe Stebbins Jr., mid-20s, white Mary’s son, recently married. An ardent Patriot — he will fight in the Continental Army at Bunker Hill.
Selected actors will receive $1,800 for three weeks of rehearsal and six weeks of performances.
The plays will be performed Friday, July 10 through Sunday, Aug. 16, on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinees.
Audition slots are 10 minutes each. Actors will read sides from the play.
To sign up for an audition slot, email co-producer Talya Kingston at talya.anne.kingston@gmail.com with a headshot or high-quality photograph and theatrical resume, express interest in a specific role, and Kingston will provide sides to prepare when confirming each actor’s audition time.
Queer dating show looking for participants
The radio program Queer Yenta Radio Hour, a matchmaking show for the LGBTQ community broadcast on WMUA 91.1 FM at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is looking for participants for its fourth season.
Each episode of the show Queer Yenta Radio Hour, hosted by DJ Bucky Downtown, features a different guest DJ with an ocean-themed nickname who plays some of their favorite music and chats with DJ Bucky about themselves, their interests, and what they want in a relationship. The show is open to anyone who is 18 or older, lives in western Massachusetts, identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and is not a cop. Polyamorous and non-monogamous connections are also welcome.
The show will broadcast every other Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. from Feb. 5. through May 28.
To apply, visit linktr.ee/queeryentaradio.
‘Land of the Free’ exhibit opens at UMass
The University Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will open a new exhibition by Camille Turner with an opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition, “Land of the Free,” focuses on New England’s ties to slavery.
“Land of the Free” looks at the history of 19 slave ships that brought enslaved Africans to the U.S. and imagines post-oppression futures.
“We’re thrilled to bring the timely and powerful work of one of Canada’s most beloved artists to our region and to premiere Turner’s newest work, ‘80 Died of Flux and Flu,’ filmed on campus during her residency at UMass this fall,” said Amanda Herman, associate director of the University Museum of Contemporary Art. “The exhibition invites investigation into a dark chapter of our history and, using stunning visuals and elements of science-fiction, offers a way to honor the lives lost and show a path forward rooted in liberation.”
The exhibition will be on display through May 8. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month when UMass is in session.
For more information, visit arts.umass.edu/visual-arts/museum-contemporary-art.
‘Heated Rivalry’-inspired dance party
The Drake in Amherst will host a dance party/DJ night inspired by the Netflix hockey romance drama, “Heated Rivalry” on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.
The venue boasts that the event will feature songs from the show — reworked for a dance club setting — and “classic gay anthems.”
“Heated Rivalry,” based on a novel by Rachel Reid, is about the long-simmering secret romance between hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Tickets are $20 early bird, $23 advance and $25 day-of via thedrakeamherst.org. This event is adults-only.
Majestic Theater launches apprentice program
The Majestic Theater in West Springfield is looking for apprentices for its upcoming season of shows for children.
The season includes the shows “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” and “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” and apprentices will perform in at least one of the two. They will also work in administration, technical theater, front of house, and/or theater education.
The program is open to current college students, recent graduates, and college-aged young professionals with a declared major in theater (or a related field) and/or relevant performance experience.
The program pays $250 per week, and some housing may be available. Apprentices will also be able to take part in educational workshops led by Majestic Theater staff and other industry professionals. The program runs approximately late June through mid-August.
To apply, visit majestictheater.com/apprentice. Selected applicants will be invited to interview. For more information, visit the link about or email program director Chelsie Nectow at education@majestictheater.com.