<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right">Contact:
Kristen van Ginhoven</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.wamtheatre.com</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><a href="tel:518%20243%209627" value="+15182439627" target="_blank">518 243 9627</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><a href="mailto:kristen@wamtheatre.com" target="_blank">kristen@wamtheatre.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right">Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/7721581350/in/photostream" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157630923291270/</a><br>
</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center"><b><span>“WAM Theatre creates
‘like/unlike’ at WordXWord Festival”</span></b><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>PITTSFIELD,
MA (06-08-12)- WAM Theatre will be company in residence at the 2012 WordXWord
Festival from August 13-August 17. Over five days of public rehearsals in the
Upstairs at Spice Dragon on North Street, they will be working with an ensemble
of professional actors to create a free workshop performance on Friday, August
17 at 8pm of ‘like/unlike’, created and directed by Leigh Strimbeck, WAM
Theatre co-founder. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>‘like/unlike’
explores the impact of social media on women’s lives and will feature professional actors
Pooja Karina, Brenny Rabine, Erica Tryon and Kristie Wortman. Dramaturge Cindy
Parrish and Technical Director Robert Bovard are also working on the project.<br></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>“</span>This
show about social media and its impact on women and girls has been on my mind
for several years,” s<span>ays
Leigh Strimbeck, creator and director.</span> “What a thrill that WAM
Theatre is the company in residence at the WordXWord Festival and we are going
to be doing the first, very important phase of the work this August!<span> </span>I am particularly
excited that all rehearsals are open, and people can drop by Upstairs at Spice
Dragon and check out the process. The talkback after the show on Friday
night is something else I am counting on to be a dynamic part of developing
this work."<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in">WAM Theatre’s artistic director, Kristen van Ginhoven, says, ‘We
are grateful to the Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, MADMACS,
Pittfield Cultural Council, Spice Dragon and WordxWord for making it possible to do this
first workshop. We hope people will help us generate material for this workshop
by going to our Facebook and Twitter pages and joining the social media
conversations that are currently unfolding.’ <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in">Jim Benson, creator of the WordXWord festival, adds,” "This
residency enriches our audience's experience and broadens the festival's reach.
The subject addressed by this work seems especially relevant to a festival that
puts words, and the evolving way they are used, at center stage. Beyond this
single work, WordXWord also sees WAM Theatre as a dynamic partner in the arts,
with an impact - especially on the lives of the women and girls in our
community - that is positive and significant. We are thrilled to support their
work. ”<span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span>Public Rehearsal Schedule:</span></b><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>All takes
place Upstairs @ Spice Dragon, 297 North Street, Pittsfield, MA:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Monday,
August 13: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Tuesday,
August 14: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Wednesday,
August 15: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Thursday,
August 16: Noon-5pm, 7pm-10pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Friday,
August 17: Noon-5pm, 8pm Workshop Performance followed by a talkback.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>For more
information: </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank"><span>www.WAMTheatre.com</span></a><span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>About WAM Theatre:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WAM Theatre is a theatre company based in the Berkshires of
Massachusetts and the Capital Region of New York State. <span>Inspired by the book ‘Half the Sky: Turning
Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’ by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl
WuDunn, </span>WAM Theatre was founded in 2009 by professional theatre artists <span>Kristen van
Ginhoven and Leigh Strimbeck.</span> WAM’s philanthropic mission is two-fold;
first, producing theatrical events for everyone, with a focus on women theatre
artists and/or stories of women and girls; second, to donate a portion of the
proceeds from those events to organizations that benefit women and girls. WAM
has donated nearly $5000 to its beneficiaries by creating professional theatre
for everyone that benefit women and girls. <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank"><span>www.wamtheatre.com</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank"><span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span><b>UPCOMING WAM Theatre Events:</b> World Premiere of Susan Dworkin's 'The Old Mezzo' to benefit Shout Out Loud Productions-October 12-28: <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-old-mezzo/" target="_blank">http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-old-mezzo/</a><br>
</p>
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###<br><br clear="all">Kristen van Ginhoven<br>Artistic Director, WAM Theatre<div><a href="tel:518-243-9627" value="+15182439627" target="_blank">518-243-9627</a><br><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com" target="_blank">www.WAMTheatre.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/WAMTheatre" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/WAMTheatre</a><br>
<br><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=263XAT6LNRMZQ" target="_blank">Click here</a> to make a secure donation to WAM Theatre<br><i>Thanks for your support!</i><br><div><br>
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