About three years ago, my wife and Piti Theatre Company production partner Godeliève Richard became mysteriously ill. She was continuously dizzy with heaviness and tingling in her limbs, weakness, difficulty thinking, poor coordination and sometimes felt like she was losing her mind.

The good news -– thanks to some very lucky referrals – is that today she is much better. It turns out she had parasites and Lyme disease, but the source of the worst symptoms was electrohypersensitivity or EHS. EHS is a physiological condition characterized by neurological and immunological symptoms upon or following exposure to electric or magnetic fields (EMF) or electromagnetic radiation (EMR) found everywhere today from sources such as cell phones, your computer’s airport, cordless phones, wireless speakers and other electronic devices. With all the environmental and food industry concerns to worry about, the fact that we are now all bathing in higher and higher levels of electromagnetic radiation, usually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is not something we want to think about.

But people like my wife are suffering the costs directly and intensely, while  many others suffer to a lesser degree. We are functioning at less than our capacity, feeling tired, our chronic illnesses aren’t getting better, cancer rates are increasing, etc. Children (in the womb and out) and the elderly are among the most vulnerable, along with those who are ill. But . . . what can you do about it ?

We’ve discovered you can do quite a lot and I have included some informational websites at the end of this article. The World Health Organization has placed cell phone use in the same cancerogenic category as lead, chloroform and engine exhaust. Our personal conclusion is that the danger is intense and not limited simply to cancer and cellphones.

On the hopeful side, the most dramatic improvement for Godeliève was when a man came to our apartment in Switzerland and placed a small rectangular box filled with ground quartz on our fusebox. His name is Richard Neubersch and he is the founder/inventor behind a father-son company called Swiss Harmony. We feel that his invention can be of service to many people and are excited to be bringing his son Neel here from England from April 24 – 29, including a public talk at Green Fields Market, 144 Main St. in Greenfield MA on Wednesday, April 24 at 6 pm. He will also be at the Amherst Sustainability Festival on the Amherst Town Common on April 27.

In Neel’s words, “participants will learn about the influence that high frequency electrical emissions can have on them, and the illnesses that they can lead to. It will be made clear to them how the mechanics, involved with the ‘law of resonance’ and ‘law of attraction’ work and how that ties in with the Swiss Harmony technology. They will receive simple tips and tricks on how to reduce their exposure to these high frequencies and steps that everybody can follow to help themselves.”

Neel’s time here is very limited. He will be installing Swiss Harmony in  homes and businesses and giving as many free consultations as he can manage. If you would like to speak with him, please contact us or come to the talk. If you have another venue for him to give a talk, please contact us as well.

Not surprisingly, electromagnetic radiation has become the topic of our next theatre production. The first step of creating the show will be collecting testimonials about people’s experiences with electrosensitivity. Let us know if you would like to be part of the creative process! Relevant websites: www.swissharmony.co.uk, www.radiationrescue.org, www.weepinitiative.org Our contact info: Jonathan and Godeliève, 413-625-6569, jonathan@ptco.org, www.ptco.org

Solo Performance Traces Playwright/Actor’s 20-year Journey with Crohn’s Disease

After tour stops in Boston, New York City, Helsinki, Atlanta, and around New England, Jonathan Mirin’s comedic solo performance about growing up with Crohn’s disease comes to Clark University’s Tilton Hall, 950 Main Street in Worcester on May 1st at 3:15 pm. The free hour long show will be followed by a short talk back with the performer and is open to the public.

More about 28 FEET

More about the Summit

• Greenfield, MA: Academy of Early Learning, Wed., April 10 at 9:30 am
• *Warwick, MA: Warwick Town Hall, Tues., April 16 at 1 pm
• *Amherst Sustainability Festival, MA: Amherst Town Common, Sat., April 27 at 10 am
• Cambridge River Festival, MA: Children and Family Stage on the Charles River near Harvard Square, Sat., June 1 at noon
• Neuchâtel, SWITZERLAND: Jardin Botanique, Saturday June 15 at 2 pm and 4:30 pm

*Followed by a honey tasting of local, national and international honeys offered by Harvard Square honey boutique Follow the Honey. Audience members will also receive packets of organic flower seeds after the show offered by Vermont’s High Mowing Seeds.

SYRUP: One Sweet Performing Arts Festival

March 8 – 10 in Shelburne Falls, MA

We look forward to presenting another delicious potpourri of world class theatre, music, dance, syrup tasting, interactive children’s performances, special guests, and workshops for all ages. Three varieties of Shoestring Farms’ maple syrup (at least) will be available for sampling in the lobby on March 9, an intermission treat which goes nicely with complimentary organic pickles from Real Pickles. This year’s headline performers are Connecticut’s award-winning Masque Theater who have performed on four continents for over a million people since 1980. More at www.ptco.org/shows/syrup

SYRUP on Facebook

Directions to Memorial Hall

March 8 at Memorial Hall, 4:30 – 5:30 pm: Children’s Mask Making Workshop Masque Theater offers “Paper Pattern Mask-Making Workshop” for grades K-5. Participants will cut out a wearable mask, decorate it and find the emotion behind it. Children can then decorate Memorial Hall with their masks and participate in a mask parade during Saturday’s festival – or just take them home. $5 (workshop only), $8 (workshop plus ticket for Saturday)

March 9 at Memorial Hall, 2 pm & 7 pm: Performances and . . .

Saturday afternoon 2 pm All Ages Show

- Piti Theatre Company’s “To Bee or Not to Bee” with special guests from Ballet Renversé

- a short piece from Masque Theater

- children’s mask parade

- Ballet Renversé’s “Dance of the Honeybees”

- a special visit from a group of teens from Orange known as the Wheeler Play Group who have created a short & sweet comedy based on our SYRUP Story guidelines.

7 pm show for ages 8+

- Masque Theater’s signature 20+ mask variety show “This World, the Next and then the Peach Orchard”

- juggling, sketch comedy and theatre from national touring comedic actor Jack Golden

- brother-sister acoustic bliss from June and the Bee

- SYRUP favorite Noho singer-songwriter Carrie Ferguson

Both intermissions include a raffle and syrup tasting. $5 (afternoon), $12 (evening), $15 (all day bucket pass). Tix at the door (cash or check only).

March 10 at  Hart Yoga in Shelburne Falls, 1 – 4 pm Mask Movement Workshop for ages 15+ An opportunity to learn mask work from Larry Hunt, the nation’s leading mask performer in an intimate setting! Mask Movement is “for theatre/movement students or professionals interested in exploring the non-verbal elements of masks, or anyone else who wants to have fun.” See images and read a full description by clicking here. $30/$20 for students (financial aid available).

Register for workshops by emailing info@ptco.org with the number of places you’d like and for which session. Note: Mask Movement is limited to 15 participants. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.

SYRUP around the Village Merchants and restaurants around Shelburne Falls are joining Piti Theatre in SYRUP’s celebration of sap. Discounts are valid March 8, 9, and 10. Participants include:

Mocha Maya’s: 10% off with your ticket or workshop registration

Baker’s Oven Bistro: 20% off (food only) with your ticket or workshop registration

McCusker’s Market: a free maple cookie with your ticket or workshop registration and a purchase

Serious Whimzy Gallery: Free samples of a maple sugar black tea that is made with local New England maple syrup and blended by Tea Guys in Hatfield.

Thank You 2013 Sponsors!

(Check out 2012 Sponors here )

Thank You 2013 Sponsors!

(Check out 2012 Sponors here )

Angels

Producers

Tire Warehouse, Greenfield

Directors

Baker’s Pharmacy

The Benson Place

Berkshire Insurance Group, a Berkshire Bank Affiliate

Blackmer Insurance

Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors

Eddie’s Wheels

Franklin Community Co-operative (McCusker’s Market and Green Fields Market)

Greenfield Co-operative Bank

Greenfield Savings Bank

Hilltown Families

Kyro Media

Mirick Insurance

Radio Shack Greenfield

Solar Store of Greenfield

South River Miso Company

Trailside Health

Hart Yoga

Actors

Molly Cantor Pottery

James M. Collins, DDS Family Dentistry

The Haymarket Cafe

Pro Tech Automotive

Shelburne Falls Yoga

With Door & Raffle Prizes From:

Nancy L. Dole, Books and Ephemera

Elmer’s Store

Davenport Mobil

Goulds’ Sugar House

The Pieropan Christmas Tree Farm

Plants for Pleasure

Real Pickles

Roundabout Books

JH Sherburne Fine Art & Serious Whimsy

Stephen Earp Redware

Funders

Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

This program  is supported in part by a grant from the Buckland Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Special Thanks to the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association

Download a SYRUP 2013 sponsorsheet

Contact us about Sponsorship and Raffle Prize Donation Opportunities!

info@ptco.org or 413-625-6569

• Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton MA: Saturday, February 16 at 2 pm. Includes post-show honey tasting donated by Harvard Square honey boutique Follow the Honey.
  

• Amazing Things Arts Center Framingham MA: Saturday, February 23 at 2:30 pm. Includes post-show honey tasting donated by Harvard Square honey boutique Follow the Honey.

• SYRUP: One Sweet Performing Arts Festival, Memorial Hall, Shelburne Falls, MA: Saturday, March 9, Afternoon for family audiences begins at 2 pm, Evening for general public at 7 pm. Mask making workshop for children on 3/8, Mask and movement workshop for adults on 3/10. Includes post-show honey tasting donated by Harvard Square honey boutique Follow the Honey.
  

• Bethel, Maine: March 29

• Warwick, MA: Spring 2013 date TBA

• Amherst Sustainability Festival, MA: April 27

• Cambridge River Festival, MA: June 1

Updated performance times will be added to this post as they are confirmed.

The french version of To Bee or Not to Bee will continue touring in Switzerland on June 15th with two outdoor afternoon performances at the Jardin Botanique, Neuchâtel.

le mercredi 21 à 16h30; suivie d’une rencontre avec Daniel Deleury et un rucher didactique de l’Espace Abeilles, Cernier

le dimanche 25 à 16h30; suivie d’une rencontre avec Christophe Praz, expert d’abeille de l’Université de Neuchâtel et Daniel Deleury avec un rucher didactique de l’Espace Abeilles, Cernier

le mercredi 28 à 14h00 et 16h30; suivie d’une dégustation de miels offerts par Cérès et d’une rencontre avec Daniel Deleury et un rucher didactique de l’Espace Abeilles, Cernier

reservation 032 967 90 43

prix: enfant 10.-  adulte 15.-

Des infos sur cette production: www.ptco.org/shows/abeille

Download affiche

avec le soutien de: Ville de La Chaux-de-Fonds, Cérès, Espace Abeilles, Université de Neuchâtel