common
A shared experience of the centerpiece of the Town of Amherst

July 18, 2026 - 10:30am | 11am | 11:30am - Amherst Farmers Market

common is live theatrical experience on the Amherst Town Common to mark the town common’s place in history in the 250th year of the United States. Developed as a work for headphones and phones, users will scan a QR code prior to the start time to access the piece, then gather on the grassy south section of the common to wait for the experience to begin.

Inspired by the Common’s history and the early works of Thornton Wilder, common offers participants an imaginative reorientation of the town common while building a communal experience for all.  Featuring a simple, web-based soundtrack that leads you through the piece, audience members will be able to pocket their devices for the entire piece after tapping “Begin” so that they can attend to the world around them.

Created by John Bechtold with the support of Eggtooth Productions and produced by the Amherst Historical Society with support from the Amherst Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

This free, participatory event will require headphones and a connection to the internet while on the Amherst Town Common.  The program will be run 3 times: at 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30.  Information on how to access the program will be available at Amherst Historical Society’s Hands on History table at the Amherst Farmer’s Market that morning.

Length: ~10 minutes.  Appropriate for ages 12+. 

Made possible with grants from Amherst Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.