Virginia Woolf show to support LGBTQ youth

Eggtooth Productions will present Sarah Ruhl’s “Orlando,” an adaptation of the famous Virginia Woolf novel, at the Academy of Music on Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m.

According to a press release: “This is the story of a young nobleman who is drawn into a love affair with Queen Elizabeth I. For a time, life at court is interesting enough, but Orlando yearns for something more. As he strives to make his way as a poet and lover, his travels through time and space keep him at the heart of a dazzling tale where gender and gender freedom shift regularly, often with hilarious results. Though deeply funny, the play is also heartfelt and moving, as Orlando seeks liberation through art, identity, gender, and time becoming a 20th century woman in the process.”

The production has a specific trans-inclusive focus, and proceeds from the show will benefit a new Academy program for LGBTQ teenagers that will run this fall. In a statement, artistic director Linda McInerney said, “There’s no more important time than now to support, celebrate, and care for our trans and queer community. The danger to them is real and the threats are terrifying.”

“This production of Orlando offers the chance to connect allies and queers in a beautiful and positive way through celebration and affirmation,” she added. “We may sit together in community and for 90 minutes feel safe and joyful knowing that we really are one.”

Admission is free for all students (with ID) at the door or $20 at aomtheatre.com.

Worthington bar debuts summer music series

Liston’s Bar and Restaurant in Worthington will debut a new Thursday Night Live music series starting Thursday, May 15, and running every Thursday until September from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“With performances spanning multiple genres, the Thursday Night Live series will offer something for everyone — from toe-tapping folk to soulful jazz, and rock classics to upbeat funk. Whether you’re coming for a relaxed evening with family or a lively night out with friends, this event promises to be a memorable experience,” a press release said.

Brigid Ryan, owner and events manager at Liston’s, also said in the release, “We’re proud to showcase the incredible talent while providing a space for people of all ages to come together and enjoy live music in a beautiful, welcoming environment.”

This month’s bands are North Country Band on May 15, Appalachian Still on May 22 and Misty Blues Band on May 29.

Performances will be outdoors, weather permitting, and will be open to audiences of all ages. Guests can use available seating or bring their own lawn chairs.

Admission is free. To see the full lineup, visit instagram.com/listons_bar.

Artists: submit work as ‘memory as protest’

A.P.E. Gallery in Northampton invites artists in all disciplines to submit work for a group exhibition called “Records: Memory as Protest.”

“In an era of media repression, book bans, mass censorship, and the war being waged on education, the act of both individual and collective remembrance are powerful forms of social action,” the artist call said. “Records: Memory as Protest is interested in any and all work relating to memory as a form of protest.”

Submissions are due by Saturday, May 31. Artists will be notified by email by Sunday, June 15. Artwork must be available for the entire month of September.

For more information, including how to apply, visit apearts.org/submissions.html.

Art exhibition about climate change

The Smith College Alumnae House Gallery is hosting “Eco-Anxiety/Global Warming,” an art exhibition about climate change, through Tuesday, July 29.

The works, a series of watercolor monotypes, were created by Jane Goldman, Smith College class of 1973.

According to a press release, “Dark humor sets the tone, inspired by silent film comedians, especially the great Buster Keaton. In this context the silent comedians represent all of us, experiencing global crises in slow motion. Like them, we watch the planet beset with catastrophe in ever faster motion.”

The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Audition for ‘Chicago’ in Turners Falls

The Ja’Duke Theater will hold auditions for a summer production of the musical “Chicago” at its space at 110 Industrial Blvd. in Turners Falls on Thursday, May 22, at 6 p.m.

The musical is about a young woman, Roxie Hart, who is sent to a women’s prison in Chicago after she murders the man she’d had an affair with. Some of its most famous numbers include “Cell Block Tango,” “All That Jazz,” and “Mister Cellophane.”

Auditions are open to adults with intermediate to advanced dance skills. Actors should bring character shoes if possible and should familiarize themselves with the provided character sides.

Rehearsals start Monday, May 26, and the production will run the weekends of July 12-13 and July 18-20.

For more information, including character sides and a rehearsal schedule, visit jadukeshows.com/auditions. If you’re unable to attend on the 22nd, email jaduketheater@gmail.com for an alternate date.

New movie zine seeks submissions

“Soft Focus,” a new local print zine about movies, is looking for writing and art submissions for its first issue.

According to the zine’s website, this includes “personal essays, reviews, interviews, creative non-fiction, humor pieces, cultural criticism, odes, love letters, artwork, photography, comics, etc. We are not currently accepting fiction stories or pieces that are overtly academic in nature (we want this zine to be accessible to a wide audience).”

The theme for the first issue is “Favorites,” and work submitted should explore “movie watching/making through a personal and emotional lens.”

Submissions are open through Tuesday, July 1, at 11:59 p.m. Writing pieces should be no more than 800 words. Art submissions should be no more than three high-resolution JPEG and PNG files.

For more information, including submission instructions, visit linktr.ee/softfocuszine. All contributors whose work is chosen for publication will receive a copy of the zine.

Two Amherst high schools get new murals

The local arts nonprofit The Color Collaborative recently completed murals at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and Summit Academy.

Each mural was designed with the theme “Imagined Worlds,” designed to answer the question “What would a world look like where you feel happy and safe?” according to a press release.

The Color Collaborative is also looking to bring murals to 10 schools by the year 2030.

“Imagined Worlds is not just about painting murals — it’s about making space for young people to be seen, heard, and to imagine better futures for themselves and their communities,” said Sharon Leshner, mural designer and artistic director at The Color Collaborative, in a press release. “The art and the mental health work go hand in hand. The mural uplifts the mood and spirit of everyone who passes through.”

To learn more about The Color Collaborative, visit thecolorcollaborative.org/home.