<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 of cast: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157631052808990/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157631052808990/</a> <br>
</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"><span> </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>Cast Announced for
WAM Theatre’s World Premiere of The Old Mezzo</span></b></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-size:10.0pt">Presented in October at the Berkshire Museum</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center"><font size="4"><b><i><span>Starring
Elizabeth Donnelly, Rylan Morsbach, Erin Ouellette, Eileen Schuyler and Ryan
Winkles</span></i></b></font><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center" align="center"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>PITTSFIELD,
MA (03-09-12)- WAM Theatre’s October 12-28 World Premiere production of <b><i>The
Old Mezzo</i></b> by Berkshire based playwright Susan Dworkin will feature professional
actors from Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, the
Capital Region of Upstate NY and beyond. </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"><b><span>Eileen Schuyler</span></b><span> of the Capital Region (NY) will play the title role of
Alyssa, the old mezzo. Ms. Schuyler has worked with professional theatres
across the Capital Region and beyond including Stageworks/Hudson and Capital Repertory Theatre,
most recently in their critically acclaimed production of <i>33 Variations</i>. <b>Ryan Winkles</b>
of Berkshire County will play Joe, one of Alyssa’s students. Mr. Winkles is
familiar to Berkshire audiences for his many notable and wide-ranging roles at
Shakespeare & Company, most recently as Ferdinand in <i>The Tempest</i>. <b>Rylan Morsbach</b>
will play Billy, another of Alyssa’s students. Mr. Morsbach is from the Pioneer
Valley and wowed audiences in the summer of 2011 with his tour de force solo
performance in Pauline Productions <i>Scaramouche
Jones</i>. Alyssa’s other two master class students will be played by <b>Erin Ouellette</b> of the Capital Region, graduate
of Shakespeare & Company’s Conservatory and recently seen at Hubbard Hall
in <i>Amadeus</i>, and <b>Elizabeth Donnelly</b>, a Connecticut based actress with credits
ranging from Hartford Stage in CT to Stoneham Theatre in MA. Both Erin and
Elizabeth were part of WAM Theatre’s sold out 24hr Berkshire/Capital Region
Theatre project held in April at Shakespeare & Company.</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"><b><i><span>The Old Mezzo</span></i></b><span> 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>
<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"><span>Tickets,
ranging from $15-$25, can be purchased 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>. The production runs October 12-28 at the Berkshire Museum
at 39 North Street, Pittsfield, MA, playing Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm
and Sunday at 5pm. </span><span>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><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"><b><i><span>The Old Mezzo</span></i></b><i><span>
</span></i><span>is written by
Berkshire based playwright Susan Dworkin. </span>Ms. Dworkin is best known for
her books <i><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Viking in the Wheat Field</span></i> and
<i><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Nazi Officer’s Wife </span></i>as well
as her play <i><span style="font-family:Cambria">All Day Suckers</span></i>. She was also a
finalist for the Susan Blackburn Prize in 1980-1981 for her play <i><span style="font-family:Cambria">Deli’s Fable</span></i>. Ms. Dworkin was one of the original
writers and editors at Ms. Magazine. </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">Gloria Steinem, <span>when
asked about Ms. Dworkin, recently said</span>, “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></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"><b><span>WHERE:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Berkshire
Museum</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>39 South
Street</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Pittsfield,
MA</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"><b><span>WHEN:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Friday,
October 12 @ 8pm (Preview)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Saturday,
October 13 @ 8pm (Opening Performance)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><span>Sunday,
October 14 @ 5pm*</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Friday,
October 19 @ 8pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Saturday,
October 20 @ 8pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><span>Sunday,
October 21 @ 5pm*</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Friday,
October 26 @ 8pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Saturday,
October 27 @ 8pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Sunday,
October 28 @ 5pm</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"><span>*Performance
followed by a talkback</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><i><span> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span>TICKETS:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>$25
adults</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>$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>$20
adults/ $12 students + groups (Preview Price for Friday, October 12 8pm
Performance)</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"><span>Purchase
by calling <a href="tel:1-800-838-3006" value="+18008383006" target="_blank">1-800-838-3006</a> or online at </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" target="_blank"><span>www.WAMTheatre.com</span></a><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"><b><span>CAST:</span></b></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"><span>Elizabeth
Donnelly*- Sally/Pow</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Erin
Ouellette - Marcy/Marcelle</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Rylan
Morsbach - Billy/Captain Billy/Louie</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Eileen
Schuyler*- Alyssa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Ryan
Winkles*- Joe/Johannes</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"><span>*Member
of Actors Equity Association</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b><span>CREATIVE TEAM:</span></b></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"><span>Director-Kristen
van Ginhoven</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Scenic
Designer- Juliana von Haubrich</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Costume
Designer-Rita Watson</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Lighting
Designer-Meryl Joseph</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Sound
Designer-Brad Berridge</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Choreographer-Rosie
Spring</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Stage
Manager-Chris Donovan</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Technical
Director-Sam Craig</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Associate
Producer-Corissa Bryant</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Graphic
Designer-Enrico Spada</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"><span>The production sponsor for this production is Mission Bar
& Tapas. Other sponsors include: Adams Community Bank,
Arizona Pizza, Berkshire Bank Foundation, </span><span>Berkshire Museum, </span><span>Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP,
Greylock Federal Credit Union, Interprint and Pittsfield Coop Bank. </span><span style="font-family:Times"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span> </span><span style="font-family:Times"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><span>Other organizations that are helping make this production
possible include: Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre
Group, Luminix Light and Williams College.</span><span style="font-family:Times"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<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"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span>###</span></b><b><span></span></b></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>
<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>
</div>
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