AMHERST – Valley Players will hold auditions for its June 2026 production of Shakespeare’s
The Tempest on February 23 and 24 at the Bangs Community Center (Amherst, MA). The show
goes up June 11–12 and 19–21 as a picnic-theater performance on the lawn at Black Birch
Vineyard (Hatfield, MA) as a benefit for the Center for New Americans, a local nonprofit
organization supporting immigrant and refugee families in the Valley community.
No prior experience is necessary to audition, but an appointment is required. Appointments can
be made by visiting valleyplayers.org. Call-backs will be held on February 26, 7pm–9:30pm, at
the Bangs Center. Rehearsals will be late March through June on Monday and Thursday
evenings and Sunday afternoons.
The Tempest is directed by Jill Franks and produced by Matteo Pangallo, with stage management
by Chris Pifer and choreography by Susan Dibble. Valley Players is also seeking a music
director and a costume designer/coordinator for the show. Anyone interested in applying for
one of those openings can email info@valleyplayers.org.
Valley Players is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to enrich the
quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts by producing nimble,
meaningful, and accessible community theater and donating half of net ticket proceeds to other
Valley nonprofits. In its first two years, Valley Players’ productions have raised funds for Cancer
Connection, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, River Valley Counseling Center,
Community Aid Pioneer Valley, the Peace Development Fund, the Literacy Project, and Way
Finders. More information about Valley Players, including how to donate, become a business
sponsor, or join the email list, is at valleyplayers.org.