<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><span style="font-family:Cambria">August 20, 2012 </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Contact: Kristen van Ginhoven</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.wamtheatre.com</a></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><a href="tel:518%20243%209627" value="+15182439627" target="_blank">518 243 9627</a></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><a href="mailto:kristen@wamtheatre.com" target="_blank">kristen@wamtheatre.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right" align="right">



<span style="font-family:Cambria">Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157631125428950/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157631125428950/</a><br></span></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 style="font-family:Cambria">Tickets now on sale for WAM Theatre’s <i>The Old Mezzo</i></span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>






<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">WAM presents first World Premiere at the
Berkshire Museum</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">[PITTSFIELD,
MA] - Tickets are now on sale for WAM Theatre’s World Premiere production of <b><i>The
Old Mezzo</i></b> by Berkshire-based playwright Susan Dworkin. The production
runs October 12-28 at the Berkshire Museum at 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA.
In keeping with WAM’s double philanthropic mission, the beneficiary for the
production will be Berkshire-based Shout Out Loud Productions, a non-profit
helmed by Jeanet Ingalls that takes action to address sexual trafficking. Shout
Out Loud will receive up to 25% of the box office proceeds.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">WAM Theatre’s
artistic director, Kristen van Ginhoven, says, “WAM Theatre is excited to
follow in the footsteps of other professional Berkshire theatres by producing
at the Berkshire Museum, which has welcomed us with open arms. As a nomadic
theatre company, WAM Theatre always tries to find the perfect location for the
play we are producing and the Museum’s theater is ideal for <b><i>The
Old Mezzo</i></b>, our first World Premiere, which is set in a lecture hall and
takes the form of a master class.” </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><i><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Old Mezzo</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"> concerns the political awakening of a great
opera singer. Alyssa, the old mezzo, is driven by the recent death of a famous
conductor to teach a master class concerning the Politics of Singing. The class
becomes a play within a play where we revisit important scenes from Alyssa’s
past. She has assigned parts to four of her students and as the exercise unfolds,
we see how Alyssa had to risk her fame and success to preserve the freedom that
is so essential to the arts. By the end of the play, through a surprising
connection to recent events, the importance of politics in art is revealed. </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“Berkshire
Museum is delighted to host WAM Theatre this fall,” says Van Shields, Berkshire
Museum’s executive director. “The innovative nature of their work, from their
dedication to producing art that engages the community to their unique
philanthropic model, makes collaborating with them most rewarding. And that
they have chosen to produce a play by a Berkshire-based author makes this
production particularly appropriate for presentation in our theater.” </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><i><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Old Mezzo</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></i><span style="font-family:Cambria">is written by Berkshire-based playwright Susan Dworkin. Ms.
Dworkin is best known for her books <i>The Viking in the Wheat Field</i> and <i>The
Nazi Officer’s Wife </i>as well as her play <i>All Day Suckers</i>. She was
also a finalist for the Susan Blackburn Prize in 1980-1981 for her play <i>Deli’s
Fable</i>. Ms. Dworkin was one of the original writers and editors at Ms.
Magazine. </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Gloria
Steinem, when asked about Ms. Dworkin, recently said, “As a writer and as a
human being, Susan Dworkin has always had the ability to draw us into new
dreams of justice, and to make them irresistibly practical, humorous and human.
She makes clear that progress and pleasure go together.”</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">WHERE:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Berkshire
Museum</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">39 South
Street</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Pittsfield,
MA</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">WHEN:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Friday,
October 12 @ 8pm (Preview)</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Saturday,
October 13 @ 8pm (Opening Performance)</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Sunday,
October 14 @ 5pm*</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Friday,
October 19 @ 8pm</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Saturday,
October 20 @ 8pm</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Sunday,
October 21 @ 5pm*</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Friday,
October 26 @ 8pm</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Saturday,
October 27 @ 8pm</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Sunday,
October 28 @ 5pm</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><i><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></i></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">*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"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">TICKETS:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">$25 adults</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">$15 students
+ groups of 10 or more</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">$20 adults/
$12 students + groups (Preview Price for Friday, October 12 8pm Performance)</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Purchase
by calling <a href="tel:1-800-838-3006" value="+18008383006" target="_blank">1-800-838-3006</a> or online at <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.WAMTheatre.com</a>
</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">CREATIVE
TEAM:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Director-Kristen
van Ginhoven</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Scenic
Designer- Juliana von Haubrich</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Costume
Designer-Rita Watson</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Lighting
Designer-Meryl Joseph</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Sound
Designer-Brad Berridge</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Stage
Manager-Chris Donovan</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Technical
Director-Sam Craig</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Associate
Producer-Corissa Bryant</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The
production sponsor for this production is Mission Bar & Tapas. Other sponsors
include: Berkshire Museum, Adams Community Bank, Arizona Pizza, Berkshire Bank
Foundation, Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Interprint and Pittsfield Coop Bank. </span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Other
organizations that are helping make this production possible include:
Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Group, Luminix Light and Williams
College.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">About WAM Theatre:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">WAM Theatre
is a theatre company based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Capital
Region of New York State. Inspired by the book <i>‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide</i>
by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM Theatre was founded in 2009 by
professional theatre artists Kristen van Ginhoven and Leigh Strimbeck. 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 $5,000 to its
beneficiaries by creating professional theatre for everyone that benefits women
and girls. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank">www.wamtheatre.com</a>.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">About Berkshire Museum</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Berkshire
Museum is the first public museum in Berkshire County, established by Zenas
Crane in 1903 as a museum of art and natural history. The Berkshire Museum’s
mission is to <span>bring people together </span>for
<span>experiences </span>that <span>spark creativity and innovative thinking </span>by
making <span>inspiring, educational
connections</span> among <span>art, history
and natural science.</span> <b><i>Rethink!
American Indian Art</i></b><span> is on view
through January 6, 2013. </span>The Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation, Aquarium,
Alexander Calder Gallery, and other exhibits are ongoing. Little Cinema is now
open year-round showing independent films and screening opera and ballet
performances.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Museum
is located at 39 South Street (Route 7) in downtown Pittsfield. <span>Berkshire Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit </span><a href="http://www.berkshiremuseum.org/" target="_blank">www.berkshiremuseum.org</a><span> or call <a href="tel:413.443.7171" value="+14134437171" target="_blank">413.443.7171</a>. Museum admission is $13 for adults
and $6 for children. Members and children aged three and under enjoy free
admission.</span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-family:Cambria">###</span></p>


<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>



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