In Piti Theatre classes, participants are encouraged to find their own strengths without judgement or competition. No previous experience is required.

Questions and registration: info@ptco.org or (508) 439 - 2069

Piti Theatre Youth Troupe - Registration Open for Fall Movie Project, Late August  - October, 2021

OldeColeraine.ShelburneFallsYouthTroupe

“We loved watching the show;
our children loved being part of it.” – C.W., Shelburne Falls

"Our daughter used to be shy but being in Youth Troupe has helped bring her out of her shell. Now she's comfortable speaking in front of groups." - D.G., Shelburne Falls

In Youth Troupe, we'll learn

  • acting
  • improvisation
  • play-making
  • magic
  • design

 

And we'll develop:

  • trust
  • confidence
  • teamwork
  • creativity!

Piti Theatre is now registering students who would like to be part of creating an original video production that will rehearse outdoors in the Hilltowns starting in late August, 2021. The content will be inspired by Piti's work over the last eight years bringing stories from Franklin County history to life and be presented as part of Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association's 150th anniversary celebration . . . Previous youth troupe performances, co-written by troupe members through improvisation and brainstorming, include "Greenfield's Grumpiest T-Rex Episodes 1 & 2", "Olde Coleraine", "The Town Around the Bend with Bill Harley" and "The Trash Lady".

Details:

- Ages 8 - 12 Note: adults, teens and parents of children younger than eight who would like to participate in various ways (set, costume, assistant directing, etc.) should contact us.
- rehearsal location: outdoors TBA in Shelburne Falls (and socially distanced)
- feel free to request a current copy of Piti's current COVID policy
- Carpooling may be available from Greenfield and Charlemont.
- cost: $90 - $140, sliding scale. $140 comes out to roughly $10/hour of instruction time and helps defray some of the cost for families with lower incomes. Need-based scholarships also available. Contact us if you would like to offer a scholarship for another family.
- register by emailing info@ptco.org
Listen to a rehearsal track of "Excuse us: the Meat-Eaters Song" by Mirin/Ferguson from our Youth Troupe production "Dexter and the Dinosaurs"

Valley Playwright Mentoring

Teens ages 13 and up will create original scenes drawing on their own imaginations and lives while developing trust, confidence, teamwork and creativity! The ensemble will then tour a finished performance to local high schools and in the community (or create videos/podcasts to share remotely given COVID). Director Jonathan Mirin has worked with teens at Mohawk Trail Regional High School, Turners Falls High School, Boston Arts Academy, New England Youth Theater, Boston University, The Freelance Players and Barrington Stage Company. This program runs during the school year. Participants who complete the program will receive a stipend. LEARN MORE & REGISTER.

CLASSES IN THE REPERTOIRE BELOW - LET US KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE INFORMED THE NEXT TIME WE OFFER THEM!

Physical Comedy

Jonathan Mirin as Sammy.Ellen Blanchette photo.

A theatre workshop for adults and older teens designed to help participants:
- be more present
- have more fun
- exhale
- understand how to construct basic clown scenarios for amusement at home, in the office and onstage
Jonathan Mirin has taught and directed theatre in the U.S. and abroad since 1998.
“Amazingly helpful . . . I feel reinvigorated about writing and also how my unique writing fits into the spectrum of comedy. Thank you.”
- Ruby Fox, Solo Performer
“It was great to find how physicality could feed the creative mind for writing. The specifics with my own characters were incredibly helpful.”
- Heather Houston, Graduate Student in Playwriting, Boston University
Cost: Pay what you think it was worth.

Critics respond to Jonathan’s previous solos:

“Mirin manages to find comedy in his struggle as he bounces between 20 different characters during this celebrated hourlong production." - Boston Magazine, “7 Events Worth Your Time This Month”

“A manic primer on the old saws of investing…” – Danny Hakin, The New York Times

“Jonathan Mirin has written a play for our time…could be Silicon Valley’s poet laureate.” – Mike Cassidy, San Jose Mercury News

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

More about Sammy at www.sammythehuman.com

Play in a Day

for ages 8 - 14Heath Bald Eagle Photo.web

Ready, steady, lights up! Participants will receive their scripts and themes at 10 am when they arrive and then proceed to create characters, choose their costumes and props, learn their lines (and make up new ones) and then perform their brand new plays! Potential themes include: The Dinosaurs of Greenfield, The Day Magic Went Wrong, Bea Can Bee, and It’s My World, Don’t Step on It.

Art'n'Nature

Create with nature, in nature and with nature's inspiration! Make potions, salves, natural paint, herbariums, Land art, natural creations; listen to nature stories, go on treasure hunts and more! Class leader Godeliève Richard designs Piti Theatre's productions and has been teaching art-making to young people for more than 10 years in the U.S. and her native Switzerland.

Soapstone Carving

This is an outdoor, meditative activity where you slowly shape stones into the form of your choice. Class leader Godeliève Richard designs Piti Theatre's productions and began teaching soapstone in 2003 at Creative Arts at Park in Brookline, MA and later in the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary after-school program.
 
 

Write That Thing

This is a creative writing workshop for ages 15+. Click here for more.

Sing and Dance in French

Sing and dance popular/traditional French songs  . . . "rondes"! Class leader Godeliève Richard is a native French speaker and has choreographed all of Piti Theatre's productions. She trained at the Centre de Danse International Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France and Ateliers de Danse Moderne de Montreal.