The spot for all MIFA Victory Theatre News and Updates!
Here are the things we have been working on…
Please join us for an update on our progress Wednesday, March 31st – 11 am outside 134 Chestnut Street. All are welcome. Plenty of room for social distancing. Please wear a mask.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tick Tick Tick Boom: MIFA Victory Theatre Restoration plans move forward with demolition of 134 Chestnut St. property.
HOLYOKE, MA – March 24, 2021 — MIFA Victory Theatre and Curran Construction begin demolition of the buildings at 134 Chestnut St., Holyoke MA as Phase 1 of the much-anticipated Victory Restoration begins. MIFA Victory Theatre purchased the 134 Chestnut St. property directly adjacent to the theater’s north side in 2019 to replace it with a completely new 14,500 sq ft building, the Victory Theatre Annex. The Annex designed by DBVW Architects will house essential service, facilities management, technical, dressing room, office, and loading dock space unable to be accommodated in the theater’s historic footprint and needed to make the Victory a state of the art 21st-century theater.
“Demolition of 134 is a critical moment in the Victory’s progress. By taking down 134 Chestnut St. we open the possibilities to allow larger theatre companies to come to Holyoke. Everything great about our city will be reflected in the wonderfully restored Victory Theatre. We’ve even saved some beautiful doors from 134 and a fireplace mantel to be installed in the D’Amour Room of the Victory,” said Don Sanders, Executive Artistic Director.
In Memory of legendary actor and MIFA artist
Hal Holbrook
1925-2021
|
|
|
|
“We mourn Hal Holbrook’s death but celebrate his artistry. MIFA Victory Theatre was so proud to present him in “Mark Twain Tonight!” at Holyoke High School in 2011. I’ll never forget my dinner with him at Tavern on the Hill, his happy memories of Holyoke, Massachusetts, having just come from visiting his former wife Ruby, our trip to the Stop and Shop that night where he was immediately recognized by the checkout clerk and his heart wrenching, but inspiring meeting with Holyoke High School students sharing his pain about being an abandoned child. Viva Hal, Viva Theater, Viva Holyoke.” -Don Sanders, Executive Artistic Director MIFA Victory Theatre
|
|
Hal Holbrook’s 2011 performance in Holyoke
|
|
https://conta.cc/2YAAoyq
“El Puerto Rico 3: Identity Duets – Virtual Concerts”
January 23rd at 7:30pm & January 24th at 2pm
ANNOUNCING MIFA VICTORY THEATRE 2020/2021 VIRTUAL SEASON FESTIVAL SEASON UPDATE
HOLYOKE, MA – MIFA Victory Theatre is excited to announce updates on its 2020/2021 festival season.
MIFA programming December ’20 to January ’21
Double Feature Theatre
- TORCHED! & THE RED ROSE from Pregones/PRTT – a MIFA EXCLUSIVE: Get ready for December Latinx Theater! MIFA Victory Theatre in collaboration with Nueva Esperanza presents the return engagement of New York’s Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (PRTT) in a double feature virtual stage reading of two plays. Original music by Desmar Guevara. TORCHED! written by Pregones/PRTT Artistic Director, Rosalba Rolón and THE RED ROSE original story “Little Things Are Big,” by activist Jesús Colón, adaptation by Rosalba Rolón. Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 13, 2020 matinee at 2:00 p.m. More details to come.
- Victory Theatre’s 100th Birthday Celebration! – Add a Birthday celebration to your New Year’s Eve plans. The Victory Theatre turns 100 on December 31! Stay tuned for a magical digital treat and specially MIFA commissioned centennial fanfare composed by Iván E. Rodríguez. SAVE THE DATE (12/31/20) and stay tuned.
- El Puerto Rico, The Rich Port 3 – A new year brings new music with El Puerto Rico 3 coming January 2021! The Victory Players Contemporary Music Ensemble will perform a virtual concert featuring MIFA commissioned duets by six composers: Gabriel Bouche, Carlos Carrillo, Johanny Navarro, Christian Quinones, Ivan E. Rodriguez, and Omar Surillo. Saturday, January 23, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. More information to be announced.
“Here we go, our wonderful programming is going virtual for YOU and the world!” – Don Sanders, MIFA Victory Theatre Executive Artistic Director
Over the past 26 years, MIFA has presented the finest examples of contemporary practice in performing, visual, and literary arts, bringing esteemed artists and world-class events to the region. This season is no exception! MIFA serves the economic revitalization of Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley through the preservation and reopening of the historical landmark Victory Theatre. While the Victory undergoes renovation, MIFA presents events in a variety of other venues and this season virtually, to enhance Holyoke and the region’s reputation in arts & entertainment and build an appetite for programming at the reopened theater.
Music performed by the MIFA Victory Players with
Music Director, Tian Hui Ng!
Tickets On Sale Now! https://www.whitesnakeprojects.org/operas/
Alice in the Pandemic A new digital opera in one act. “Alice, an ER nurse, arrives home. Her phone rings. It’s her mother, Mrs. Lee. Alice cuts her off. Alice’s phone rings again; caller ID flashes, “Mom.” Alice is about to cut her off again when a man’s voice startles her. It’s a paramedic; Mom is in the ambulance on oxygen. They’re taking her to The Fair. Alice googles Fair Hospital. Hundreds of variants of Fair Hospital pop onto her screen. She begins calling each one to try to find her mother…” https://www.whitesnakeprojects.org/…/alice-in-the-pandemic…/
*NEW Victory Memory*
Actress and Holyoke native Ann Dowd remembers watching “Mary Poppins” at the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, Mass. –Globe Archives
“The first movie that I can remember seeing [in a movie theater] was ‘Mary Poppins’ [1964]. When it was over, I didn’t want to leave my seat, I wanted it to start again. There was a little girl crying and her father was holding her because she was so sad that Mary Poppins left at the end. The name of the theater was the Victory Theater in Holyoke, Mass.” — Ann Dowd, Emmy winner, Best Supporting Actress, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” upcoming “Rebecca” remake; born and raised in Holyoke” – ‘When it was over, I didn’t want to leave my seat’: 28 celebs share their first movie theater memories, by Tim Nasson, October 9, 2020, Boston.com
“We have to save the arts for everybody.” – Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave said the arts needed to be saved for “everybody”. Photograph: Tim P Whitby/Getty Images
Renowned actress and MIFA Victory Theatre Board of Directors Honorary Chair, Vanessa Redgrave continues her advocacy for the arts. Read article: Vanessa Redgrave calls on businesses to help UK’s Covid-hit arts sector by Mark Brown Arts correspondent,
Congratulations to MIFA’s Victory Theatre architects DBVW
Architects on their two projects (International Tennis Hall of Fame and BankNewport) receiving 2020 Doris Duke Preservation Awards! DBVW’s outstanding historic preservation work is one of the many reasons we have chosen them to restore the iconic Victory Theatre.
More info here: https://t.e2ma.net/webview/zhvokd/afaf096cd9b54ddd493c14a3bfced4a3
“In times of crisis, we need culture to make us resilient, give us hope, [and] remind us we’re not alone.” – UNESCO
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month we are taking a look back at MIFA’s past few years of performances in Holyoke celebrating Hispanic arts and culture through…https://conta.cc/3dmcdup
Re-imagining what live events will look like when theaters and arenas re-open. Victory Theatre Director Don Sanders shares his take on 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵:
Excited to announce that we had our first virtual meeting the Victory Players ensemble and composers. Everyone is saddened by the facet that we all can not be together in Holyoke, but are looking forward to the “Meet the Players & Composers” videos!
Interview featuring Victory Players Artistic Director Tian Hui Ng:
A CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS OF “INVITATION TO A DIE-IN,” Artist Interview, JuneTHE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/uDgM_YPyM1Y” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
THE EL PUERTO RICO 3
REPORT . WATCH . ALERT
Postponed, but wait there’s more!
Update on the Victory Players Contemporary Music Ensemble concert El Puerto Rico, The Rich Port 3.
The 2020 live concerts and school workshops have been postponed until January 2021.
The next installment of the series will proceed as scheduled in June 2021.
This year we are making it Personal and Digital
Since we can’t be together in person, the Victory Players will come to you…READ MORE
The Victory Theatre’s roof was recently inspected and had repairs made as part of general upkeep for the building’s safety and security.
Latinx Theater Fall/Winter 2020! We are working closely with Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater to bring one-of-a-kind Latinx theater to Holyoke. Both live and virtual options are being discussed to ensure availability to everyone.
We are continuing to evolve plans and ideas on how we will celebrate the Victory Theatre‘s 100th Birthday Anniversary with you! More information to come.
Stay Connected
