Arts Briefs: Video store opens in Northampton, jazz series at the Carle Museum, and more
Visions Video, a nonprofit video store in downtown Northampton, will open to the public on Friday, June 27.
The store is at 183 Main St., in the former location of Spill The Tea Sis Apothecary. It operates on a tier-based subscription model: at the basic level, customers will pay $12 every month to take out up to three titles (out of a collection of thousands) at a time, and they’ll also be able to rent VCRs and DVD players.
The store is run by a volunteer collective of local film aficionados. In February, collective member George Myers told the Gazette, “If you ask people if they had a good memory of a streaming service, you’re going to be hard-pressed to pull much out, other than the fact that they saw a movie. But, if you ask people about good memories of video stores, they’ll be able to tell you tons and tons of things about the material space — the actual experience they had in there, the way in which they learned about films.”
As of this writing, the store has not yet posted its operating hours, but it will do so soon. For updates and more information about Visions Video, visit visionsvideo.org or instagram.com/visions.video.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst recently announced its new Sunset Thursdays series, a collaboration with the Northampton Jazz Festival. The series will bring free live outdoor jazz and global music to the museum every Thursday night between July 1 and August 31 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The first performers in the series are Ben Malnyoski Plus 2 on Thursday, July 3, and Ryan Hollander and Allan Bezama on Thursday, July 10.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic dinners.
In a press release, Ruth Griggs, president of the Northampton Jazz Festival, said, “Music and art go together like bread and butter. Add in the beautiful outdoor setting of The Carle, a picnic supper, and you have a wonderful family evening. The Northampton Jazz Festival is thrilled to partner with The Carle to bring a diversity of local jazz musicians to make the summer sunsets at The Carle linger a little longer.”
The Carle’s executive director, Jennifer Schantz, also said in a press release, “Summer at The Carle will be a feast for the eyes, ears, palate, and soul. With inspiration flowing from the galleries to the art studio to outside in the meadow, visitors will savor delicious food and drinks, and immerse themselves in jazz and global music. It is sure to become a highlight of the season.”
For a full list of performers and for more information about Sunset Thursdays and other summer programming at the Eric Carle Museum, visit carlemuseum.org/visit/events/summer-carle.
Equity and non-equity actors are invited to drop-in auditions for roles at the Majestic Theater’s 2025-2026 season, June 30 through July 2, from 6 to 11 p.m at the West Springfield theater.
Actors will read from sides provided by the Majestic; actors who have not auditioned with the Majestic before should prepare a one-minute contemporary monologue. Singers should bring tracks to be played on a Bluetooth speaker.
The season’s shows are “Once” (Sept. 4 - Oct. 19), “Steel Magnolias” (Oct. 30 - Nov. 30), “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (Jan. 8 - Feb. 15), “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” (Feb. 26 - April 4), and “Come From Away” (April 16 - May 31).
For more information, visit majestictheater.com/auditions.
The Goldenrod Country Inn in Worthington will host the second and final weekend of its production of the musical “Falsettos” at the Little Garden Theater, its new performance venue, on Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 28, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m.
The musical is about a gay man who leaves his wife and son and the resulting fallout that ensues.
“Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the story explores themes of modern family, identity, and the rise of the AIDS crisis — all told with humor, heart, and unforgettable music,” according to the event description.
Including fees, tickets range from $31.72 to $46.65 via Eventbrite.
Seventeen artists in Shutesbury will open their studios and homes to the public as part of the second annual Shutesbury Open Studios on Sunday, June 29, from noon to 5 p.m.
The work on display will include pottery, paintings, quilts, pottery, children’s books, jewelry, baskets, and more.
“This second annual event promises to be even more exciting than last year. Come join us for an uplifting, inspiring day. Support local artists, pick up something you love, fill your eyes with beauty, meet your neighbors and have some wonderful conversations,” the event description said.
For a map and a complete list of participating artists, visit greenbrownart.com/shutesbury-open-studios. The event is free, but the participating artists will have work for sale.
Playwright and licensed mental health counselor Jay Sefton will lead a one-day workshop, “From Personal Trauma to Public Stage,” in The Blue Room at CitySpace on Sunday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The workshop, according to the event description, aims to help participants “turn a long silence into a powerful voice. Your experience might be trauma based or simply emotional and worth sharing. Jay will help you mine your experiences as source material for monologues, storytelling and solo shows.”
Sefton is the writer and performer of “Unreconciled,” a one-man show about Sefton’s reckoning with his experience as the victim of childhood sexual abuse by a Catholic priest.
The suggested donation for participants is $50, but all donations will be accepted. To register, visit cityspaceeasthampton.org/#/events/142320.
Daily Hampshire Gazette
