Beginning June 8, the stage will come alive for the summer months with concerts and other entertainment.
Danny Eaton, producing director at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield.
The 2011-2012 season at the Majestic Theater may have come to an end, but the lights won’t be off for very long at the West Springfield entertainment center.
Beginning June 8, the stage will come alive for the summer months with concerts and other entertainers from a mentalist to a medium, open mic and improv nights, and even a children’s theater.
“While it is certainly true that having a summer season keeps our theater active and viable, it’s really all about being able to support local musicians and other entertainers, giving them more exposure and the chance to earn more money without having to split it at the door. All of this falls right into our mission, from the main stage shows we offer during our regular season to our summer events,” said Danny Eaton, founder and producing director at the Majestic.
The doors swing open once again on June 8 with “O Yes I Will.” The tour-de-force comic performance, written by Deb Margolin and performed by Valley favorite Jeannine Haas, is headed for performance to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“It’s a zany piece all about this woman who is kind of enamored with anesthesia and goes under the knife, but keeps talking and talking during the surgery, and when she comes out of the operation they tell her about what she did. She gets all freaked out about what she might have said and ends up taking some truth serum. She then goes on this imaginary trip thinking about what if she did this or did that, and then plays out these scenarios in her brain,” said Eaton.
Eaton said he is excited to be offering audiences many new concerts which have been added to this year’s lineup. Among the new tribute shows slated this summer include performances dedicated to the music of the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Moody Blues, Prince and Rod Stewart.
Eaton said they are bringing back last year’s improv night – led by RBIT (Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe) cofounder Frank La Frazia – which he said “went really well and people loved it.”
“It’s a typical improv situation where they perform the usual improv games, set up different scenarios, then take audience suggestions. For example, they might tell the audience that two people are about to meet, then it’s up to them to suggest things like who they are, where they are meeting and why,” said Eaton.
Tickets for improv night shows on July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22 are $5.
The Majestic’s Open Mic Nights – when area singers, musicians, comedians, magicians and other performers who want to show off their talents in the spotlight – will also return on July 10, 17, 24, 31 and Aug. 7 and 14, along with Grand Finale show on Aug. 21. Tickets are $5 except for the finale.
As in the past, audience members will be able to vote for their favorite performers. Weekly cash prizes will be awarded to the acts that earn the most ballots, then each top act will face off for grand prizes and higher payoffs at the Grand Finale Show.
And, the Majestic Children’s Theater, directed by Meghan Lynn Allen, returns once again to stage “The Princess and the Pea,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” and “The Tale of the Frog Prince.” All reserved seats are $8 and those who purchase tickets to all three shows get free popcorn at each play.
“Our children’s theater is such a great training ground for young actors who get a real job as actors and are paid for it. The plays are professionally produced and not downsized for little kid,” said Eaton.
The complete concert series lineup of summer shows at the Majestic Theater is as follows:
June 8-9 – “O Yes I Will,” written by Deb Margolin, a tour-de-force comic performances by Jeannine Haas, $18 and $20
June 15 – George Govoni, $14 and $16
June 16 – Beach Boys tribute band, $21 and $23
June 22 – Docs Who Rock, a United Way fundraiser, $20 in advance, $25 at the door
June 23 – Disturbed Theater, $14 and $16
July 6 – Merrick Section & Friends, $15 and $17
July 7 – Beatles for Sale, $18 and $20
July 12 – Rainy Day People, a tribute to Gordon Lightfoot and Jim Croce, $15 and $17
July 13 – Ray Guillemette’s “King Country,” $19 and $21
July 14 – The Pencils, $15 and $17
July 19 – Rick Larrimore’s “Blondes Have More Fun” Rod Stewart Tribute, $18 and $20
July 20 – “Messages from the Other Side,” featuring medium Lisa Lanno, $15 and $17
July 21 – Jimmy Mazz and Patrick Tobin in “One for the Road,” a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, $20 and $22
July 26 – Luther Johnson’s “Prince Tribute,” $15 and $17
July 27-28 – Joe Canata & the Memories, also featuring the Dreamtones, $21 and $23
July 29 – Frank Manzi & Friends, $13 and $15
Aug. 2 – Tom Ingram Band - $15 and $17
Aug. 3 – Alive She Cried – the Doors Experience, $15 and $17
Aug 4 – “All Along the Watershops,” featuring Eva Capelli and Joe Carvalho along with the Watershops Band, $15 and $17
Aug. 5 – “Brainstorming,” featuring mentalist Rory Raven, $13 and $15
Aug. 9 – Brad Shepard with Richie Mitnick, $16 and $18
Aug. 10 – Donna Lee & Landslide – Fleetwood Mac tribute, $16 and $18
Aug. 11-12 – Ray Guillemette’s “A Ray of Elvis,” $19 and $21
Aug. 16 – Lindsey La Belle, $15 and $17
Aug. 17 – “A Singer’s Journey” featuring Vickie Phillips, $16 and $18
Aug. 18 – Moody Blues Tribute Band featuring Russ Brooks, $21 and $23
Aug. 19 – “Outlaw Women of Country Music,” featuring AJ Jansen and her band, the Country Midnite Renegades,” $17 and $19
Children’s Theater
“The Princess and the Pea,” by Hans Christian Andersen, adapted by Michele L. Vacca, July 9, 10, 11, 30, 31 and Aug. 1
“Rumpelstiltskin,” by Robert Kinerk and Stephen Murray, July 16, 17, 18 , Aug. 6, 7, 8
“The Tale of the Frog Prince,” book by Kathy Hotchner, lyrics by Bill Roser, Steve and Kathy Hotchner, music by Bill Roser, July 23, 24, 25, Aug. 13, 14, 15