Spring in New England evokes images of receding snow, budding flowers and maple syrup. Here in Franklin County, members of the Piti Theatre Company enjoy syrup so much, they’ve hosted SYRUP: One Sweet Performing Arts Festival for the past 10 years.
Jonathan Mirin, who founded Piti Theatre Company with his wife Godeliève Richard in 2004, said the festival began as a way to connect with the community through the arts while celebrating the change in seasons.
“We like maple syrup. One of the functions of art is to mark a change, such as celebrating the seasons, which is what we’re doing,” Mirin said. “We thought the festival would be a good opportunity to bring artists from throughout New England here to Shelburne Falls.”
The event returns to the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center at 53 Main St. in Shelburne Falls on Saturday, March 9, and will include a second day on Saturday, March 23 at The Barn, an intimate performance space at 31 Water St. in Shelburne Falls.
Piti not only presents its own work during the SYRUP festival, but brings in artists from throughout New England who wouldn’t necessarily come to the hilltown. Past artists have included a circus troupe from Vermont and a mime who does ballet.
Over the course of 10 years, the festival has expanded and changed. The event was originally held in the Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, but two years ago the theater group ultimately moved the event to the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center, where there is a kitchen.
Mirin said that although the festival has always offered syrup tasting, he realized the festival was missing a natural pairing: pancakes and syrup.
“Providing food builds community because it gives people time to chat and enjoy each other’s company,” Mirin said.
Moving to the community center also allows the festival to incorporate more events.
“There are two larger spaces, so while a show is going on in one room, people can prepare in the other,” Mirin said. “It gives us more time in the day to make things happen.”
One of his favorite parts of the festival is seeing the youth troupe perform a song about spring.
“Our youth troupe made up a play about spring and even if its 15 degrees outside, there’s the feeling that spring is coming,” Mirin said. “We want to have everyone get excited about it. I once heard a man in his 70s say, ‘Each of the seasons has its charm.’ We take it for granted that we have four seasons; some places don’t.”
Mirin said the group has tried to change the performances every two years or so to give the festival variety. This year, “Olde Coleraine” will be one of the performances, which incorporates the history of the town into a musical theater show, last performed at the SYRUP festival in 2016. Both local adults and children will be performing.
The performing arts festival has also required help from faithful volunteers over the years. Stefan Topolski of Shelburne Falls said he started volunteering six years ago in hopes of bringing joy to the festival’s attendees.
“I love seeing people smile and making memories,” Topolski said. “One of the things that caught my eye was the professional talent. … We get world class acts and performances to the local level. It’s a small town and not everyone has the chance to travel and see some of these acts, so it’s really great that they can have this experience at the SYRUP festival.”
Topolski said he attributes the festival’s success to the dedication of Mirin and Richard.
His favorite part of the festival is “Olde Coleraine” because of one particular scene.
“The choreography of the show when it comes to one weaving scene is great,” Topolski said. “The kids bring the loom to life with string and they become the machine. It comes out of nowhere and it’s really eye-catching.”
Charlemont resident and volunteer Emily Gopen said she’s enjoyed seeing the festival’s evolution.
“Every year there are more members of the community, more kids and more time being spent bonding with one another,” Gopen said. “One of the highlights for me was when guest performers come back to teach a workshop for people in the community.”
She said the event is centered around family and maple syrup. One of her favorite elements was a unique syrup combination.
“Everyone loves syrup, and you can try different treats,” Gopen said. “I liked the Real Pickles, from Greenfield, with maple syrup.”
Mirin said he hopes the 10th annual festival will attract both people who have been going from the beginning and first-timers.
“We have long winters up here and, although we like all of the seasons, it can be difficult for people to get through the winter,” Mirin said. “With spring, there are all sorts of metaphors about hope and growth and we wanted to invite the community in to mark that change.”
Tickets for Saturday’s shows are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for children ages 12 and under and for EBT card holders. Tickets can be paid with cash or check at the door, online at ptco.org/syrup or by calling 1-800-838-3006.
March 23 is a free event recommended for ages 15 and up, where Mirin, clown-dancer Narieka Masla, pianist Laura Josephs and vocalist Christian Schwedbler will share their works-in-progress and receive feedback. Syrup tasting will break up the performances.
Reservations for the March 23 event are strongly encouraged. Email info@ptco.org to reserve your place.
The schedule for Saturday, March 9 is as follows:
■11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — A pancake brunch party featuring Piti Theatre Company’s Youth Troupe, Carrie Ferguson, a raffle, syrup tasting and more. Free admission.
■Noon — Singer-songwriter Carrie Ferguson plays selections from Piti’s “Greatest Bits, Vol. 1.” Free.
■2:30 p.m. — A performance of “Olde Coleraine” by Piti Theatre Company
■3:30 p.m. — A performance by Alex the Jester
■4:45 p.m. — Alex the Jester’s workshop “Primal Talk: Non-verbal Stuff Made Fun!” for teens and adults
The schedule for Saturday, March 23 is as follows:
■2 to 2:30 p.m. — Meet the artists (Piti’s Jonathan Mirin, clown-dancer Narieka Masla, pianist Laura Josephs and vocalist Christian Schwedbler) and taste maple syrup
■2:30 to 3 p.m. — Narieka Masla’s “Learning to Tango”
■3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. — Jonathan Mirin’s “Canary in the Goldmine”
■3:45 to 4:15 p.m. — Meet the artists, informal Q&A session and syrup tasting
■4:15 to 4:45 p.m. — Christian Schwedbler sings selections from Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams, Ravel and Ives accompanied by Laura Josephs
For complete festival information, visit ptco.org/syrup.
Staff reporter Melina Bourdeau started working at the Greenfield Recorder in 2018. Her beat includes Montague, Erving and Gill. She can be reached at: mbourdeau@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263.