‘Coming to the Light,
An Advent Progress’
Pierrot Productions presents a new, innovative comic drama for the holiday season, featuring 28 original spoken-word songs. Three actors, two young and one “old,” engage the audience and give voice to the songs in a journey of both heart and mind. The show performs one night only, Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley St., Northampton.
With various influences, “Coming to Light” is designed to be not only interactive — with an extended stage, audience on three sides, and no fourth wall — but also immersive.
Individual members of the audience will be invited at different times to step on stage and take the place of one of the Voices and read one of the songs for that Voice, reflecting the poetry slam quality of the play. The show mentions Christmas, but the essence of the play is nonsectarian. Non-Christian elements include klezmer songs by Jim Armenti, member of the band Klezamir. Some of Armenti’s own ballads are featured as well. $10 general admission, $5 seniors and students. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets available at
brownpapertickets.com/event/4450604.
— Brenda Nelson
Handel’s Messiah in Easthampton
Arcadia Players continues its 30th anniversary season celebration with their signature performance of George Frideric Handel’s Biblical oratorio Messiah on Friday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, at 33 Adams Street, Easthampton.
Led by guest conductor Woodrow Bynum, the performance features the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys of All Saints Cathedral, Albany, soloists Sarah Yanovitch, Margaret Lias, David Vanderwal and David Tinervia, and Arcadia Players, an instrumental ensemble of distinguished players from the Pioneer Valley and beyond. Woodrow Bynum, known to Arcadia Players audiences as a baritone soloist, is Director of Music at All Saints Cathedral, Albany, and conductor of the Cathedral Choir.
The choir, which is the oldest continually performing chorus of its kind in the country, includes members of various backgrounds, cultures and faiths. The sopranos are boys ages 7-14 with unchanged voices, while adult men sing alto, tenor and bass. The choir sings choral services at the cathedral during the academic year and is heard regularly in concert in New York’s capital region and beyond.
Purchase individual tickets at arcadiaplayers.org and present your receipt at the concert. Individual or group tickets ($25 each, 6+ people, single payment), may also be purchased by credit card at 413-586-8742. Any general admission tickets still available will be sold at the door for $35.