Auditions for ‘Love Letters’

The volunteer theater company Valley Players will hold auditions for the play “Love Letters” by appointment only on Monday, Jan. 6, and Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst.

The show, according to the press release, “takes the form of two characters sharing the letters they have written each other from kindergarten through their golden years, relating their struggles and triumphs, dreams and fears, and setbacks and second chances. Over the course of the evening, the often complicated, deeply touching, always messy story of their evolving love unfolds against the backdrop of the tumultuous events of the mid- to late-twentieth century.”

Actors who have appeared in productions of this show include Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Taylor, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, and Desi Arnaz, among many other big-name performers.

Though the play is written for two characters, this production might cast up to eight.

Per the theater company’s tradition, in which half of the proceeds from a show go to a local organization whose mission is related to one of the show’s themes, the company will be donating 50% of the net proceeds to the mental health agency River Valley Counseling Center.

The show will run the weekends of Feb. 7-8 and 13-14 at Black Birch Vineyard in North Hatfield.

To book your 10-minute audition slot, visit valleyplayers.org.

Bach’s ‘Brandenburg Concertos’

The Berkshire Bach Society will perform its annual “Bach at New Year’s: The Six ‘Brandenburg’ Concertos” concert at the Academy of Music on Monday, Dec. 30, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

The group will perform all six of Bach’s acclaimed Brandenburg Concertos “that combine virtuosity, beauty, introspection, and pure toe-tapping joy” to “start your New Year on a high note,” according to the event description.

Tickets are $45 to $65 or free for students and children at aomtheatre.com, at the Academy’s box office, or by phone at 413-584-9032 ext. 105.

Hear the heir to cumbia

The Drake in Amherst will kick off their 2025 programming with an exciting show on Jan. 9, presenting cumbia accordionist Yeison Landero.

Landero grew up in Colombia, immersed in cumbia music; his grandfather, Andrés Landero, was a legendary musician known internationally as “The King of Cumbia.” Yeison Landero showed early musical promise and began performing with his grandfather at the age of 7. He has since taken on the mantle of his family’s musical legacy.

This is your chance to hear “the heir to cumbia” right here in the Valley (he’s performing at the Kennedy Center later in the month).

The Jan 9. show is at 8 p.m., and DJ Bongohead opens at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $22 in advance ($25 at the door) and can be purchased at thedrakeamherst.org.

Rock songs by a community chorus

The Northampton chapter of Rock Voices, a no-audition community chorus that performs rock songs while accompanied by local musicians, will perform at the Academy of Music on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The show will feature songs by Toto, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Foreigner, Radiohead, The Monkees, and more.

Tickets are $5 to $20 (or $10 through Card to Culture), not including fees, and can be purchased at aomtheatre.com, at the Academy’s box office, or by phone at 413-584-9032 ext. 105.

Local artists to display work at Cooley Dickinson

Starting Friday, Jan. 3, a group of six artists from Amherst’s Gallery A3 will exhibit their work at Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s North Gallery as part of the hospital’s Art and Healing Program.

The artists include Marianne Connolly (who will show photocollages), Laura Holland (photography), Karen Iglehart (oil paintings), John Krifka (oil paintings), Nancy Meagher (pencil drawings), and Larry Rankin (photography).

Ten percent of the sales’ proceeds will benefit hospital programs and services.

In a press release, Rhea Banker, manager of the Art and Healing Program, said:

“It can be so scary, as you all know, coming to the hospital, so to have some things of beauty on the walls of the hospital just brightens up a part of each day.”

Another group of A3 artists will also showcase their work at Cooley Dickinson in November and December 2025.

If you can’t make it to the gallery, check out the work at gallerya3.com/cdh.html.

Greenfield Arts Walk

Greenfield Arts Walk, which takes place on the last Friday of every month, will return on Friday, Dec. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event encourages community members to patronize businesses in downtown Greenfield and purchase works by local artists.

Participating arts venues include Madhouse Multi-Arts, The LAVA Center, Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, Artspace Greenfield, and more.

If you’d like to have your art displayed at an Arts Walk venue, fill out the portfolio submission Google Form via madhousemultiarts.com/greenfieldartswalk.