Introducing PaintBox Theatre – My Home Base
Based in Northampton, MA, PaintBox is a theatre of imagination and improvisation for all ages. For the last fifteen years we have offered educational, exciting and inter-active entertainment for no more than what it costs to go to the movie. (Our concessions are much cheaper.)
We take traditional stories and well-known picture books and bring them to life. When working with traditional stories we devote a lot of energy to re-shaping the story to make sure it is fair. This leads to somewhat radical adaptations. Each show features 3 actors, the audience and a percussionist.
Gentle Warning:
The audience is always part of the show. We draft people to play speaking roles while the whole audience serves as the narrator and joins into the action. You have been warned. If you refuse to participate, cast members stop the play, come out into the audience and feature you doing a solo.
We have a large screen hanging over the stage. As a way to encourage reading, throughout the show we project messages onto the screen. If the message is in yellow, the whole audience has to read the words out loud. If the message is in red, the whole audience has to do as instructed.
Much of the show is improv’d. How much? It’s impossible to tell.
Why are we called PaintBox?
Instead of creating extensive scenery we ask audience members to paint pictures. Through our mailing list we send out a list of locales, characters and props. Then throughout the show, instead of scenery we project the images above the stage. Our artists range from 3 to 11 years old. The art is amazing. We also have an art gallery in our lobby where we display the originals. Children have an option to write about their process and we display the writing. Audience artists have been known to linger by their art and with a little encouragement they’ll share with you some background on their creative process.
We do three productions each summer for families and camp groups. During the school year we offer performances for schools and families at The Eric Carle Museum and the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls. Each Dec. we do The Santa Show – A holiday Celebration for the Whole Family. On the second Saturday in July we transform the city of Easthampton into a tropical isle and celebrate Pirate Day. Why? Because you know that deep down inside, everybody wants to be a pirate.
Click Here to Visit the PaintBox Theatre Site
Based in Northampton, MA, PaintBox is a theatre of imagination and improvisation for all ages. For the last fifteen years we have offered educational, exciting and inter-active entertainment for no more than what it costs to go to the movie. (Our concessions are much cheaper.)
We take traditional stories and well-known picture books and bring them to life. When working with traditional stories we devote a lot of energy to re-shaping the story to make sure it is fair. This leads to somewhat radical adaptations. Each show features 3 actors, the audience and a percussionist.
Gentle Warning:
The audience is always part of the show. We draft people to play speaking roles while the whole audience serves as the narrator and joins into the action. You have been warned. If you refuse to participate, cast members stop the play, come out into the audience and feature you doing a solo.
We have a large screen hanging over the stage. As a way to encourage reading, throughout the show we project messages onto the screen. If the message is in yellow, the whole audience has to read the words out loud. If the message is in red, the whole audience has to do as instructed.
Much of the show is improv’d. How much? It’s impossible to tell.
Why are we called PaintBox?
Instead of creating extensive scenery we ask audience members to paint pictures. Through our mailing list we send out a list of locales, characters and props. Then throughout the show, instead of scenery we project the images above the stage. Our artists range from 3 to 11 years old. The art is amazing. We also have an art gallery in our lobby where we display the originals. Children have an option to write about their process and we display the writing. Audience artists have been known to linger by their art and with a little encouragement they’ll share with you some background on their creative process.
We do three productions each summer for families and camp groups. During the school year we offer performances for schools and families at The Eric Carle Museum and the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls. Each Dec. we do The Santa Show – A holiday Celebration for the Whole Family. On the second Saturday in July we transform the city of Easthampton into a tropical isle and celebrate Pirate Day. Why? Because you know that deep down inside, everybody wants to be a pirate.
Click Here to Visit the PaintBox Theatre Site
