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<p class=""><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Press images
available at </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157635251271398/"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157635251271398/</span></a><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Contacts:</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Kimberly Rawson,
Publicist, (413) 445-4467; </span><a href="mailto:karawson@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">karawson@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Kelly Galvin,
Assistant to the Artistic Director, (518) 243-9627; </span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><a href="mailto:kelly@wamtheatre.com">kelly@wamtheatre.com</a></span></p>
<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">WAM Theatre Announces
Northeast Regional Premiere of</span></b></p>
<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">“Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet
Defends Her Life Tonight”</span></b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"></span></p>
<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">The production will run from Nov. 7
through 24 at the St. Germain Stage</span></u></p>
<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">in the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing
Arts Center</span></u></p>
<p class=""><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman'">PITTSFIELD,
Mass. (Sept. 9, 2013) — WAM Theatre announces its Northeast regional premiere
of “Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight”, written by
Lauren Gunderson and directed by Kristen van Ginhoven. The production, which will
run from Nov. 7 through 24 with preview performances on Nov. 7 and 8, will be
held at the St. Germain Stage in the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts
Center, 36 Linden St., Pittsfield. Tickets are $15 for previews; all other
performances are $10 to $30. For tickets and more information, see </span><a href="http://www.WAMTheatre.com" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">www.WAMTheatre.com</span></a><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> or call (800) 838-3006.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">“Emilie:
La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight” had its world premiere in
2009 at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, Calif. The play has been
described as “fiercely inquisitive and joyfully sexy” (The San Francisco
Chronicle) and an “ambitious, highly theatrical romp that literally crackles
with electricity” (LA/OC Examiner).</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">Emilie
Du Châtelet (1706-1749), best known for her 15-year-liaison with Voltaire, a
French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher, was far more than a
great man’s mistress. She became a highly regarded interpreter of modern
physics and a master of mathematics and linguistics during the Age of
Enlightenment. In the play, Emilie searches for a formula that will convince
the world of her worth by tallying her achievements in love and philosophy.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">“Presenting
this play continues WAM Theatre’s mission to highlight the stories of women and
girls. Emilie Du Châtelet was a fascinating woman who lived life fully and
transformed her existence beyond societal expectations. We are very excited to
share her story,” said Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">Kim
Stauffer, whose credits include “Mary Stuart” and “Macbeth” at New York
Classical Theatre, “Crime and Punishment” at Chester Theatre, and “A Streetcar
Named Desire” and “The Crucible” at Barrington Stage Company, will play the
role of Emilie. Voltaire will be portrayed by Oliver Wadsworth, whose credits
include the National Tour of “Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang”, “The Well” at The
Public Theatre and “Fully Committed” (Metroland Best Performance) at Capital
Repertory Theatre. Additional cast members include Suzanne Ankrum (Tennessee Shakespeare
Company), Brendan Cataldo (Adirondack Theater Festival), and Joan Coombs
(Shakespeare & Company).</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">Established
in 2009, WAM Theatre is a comparative newcomer to the area’s performing arts
scene. Under the artistic direction of van Ginhoven, the company has rapidly become
a strong community presence through its mission to create theatre for everyone
that benefits women and girls. “In a relatively short time, WAM has sent shockwaves
throughout the Berkshire theatre community,” notes Berkshire Fine Arts in a
recent review. WAM Theatre has been hailed for its “superb casts, equal of any
we see at the four major theaters in the summer” (Berkshire On Stage) and its
dual mission: “Two birds, one stone; theatre for cause, cause for theatre” (Did
You Weekend?).</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">In
keeping with WAM Theatre’s unique double philanthropic mission, a portion of the
proceeds from each production is donated to an organization that benefits women
and girls. Proceeds from “Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life
Tonight” will benefit Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program for Girls
(ROPE), founded by Pittsfield community leader Shirley Edgerton. ROPE is a
program for young women in Berkshire County, with a particular focus on young
women of color, that teaches the skills and confidence needed to succeed in
today’s world. WAM Theatre’s donation will go towards a college tour for ROPE
participants at the culmination of their program.</span></p><p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:115%">Corporate
and foundation support for “Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life
Tonight” is provided in part by Adams Community Bank; Berkshire Bank; Cohen
Kinne Valicenti Cook, Attorneys; Greylock Federal Credit Union; Interprint; Mass
Humanities, Nicholas L. Parsenios, Attorney at Law; Pittsfield Cooperative
Bank; and Toole Insurance Agency. Media Sponsors include Berkshire Magazine and
The Rogovoy Report.</span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><b style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">About WAM Theatre</span></b></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">WAM
(Women’s Action Movement) Theatre is based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts
and the Capital Region of New York State. Inspired by the book “Half the Sky:
Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas Kristof
and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM Theatre was founded in 2009 by professional theatre
artists Kristen van Ginhoven and Leigh Strimbeck. </span></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman'">WAM
Theatre’s philanthropic mission is two-fold: first, to create theatrical events
for everyone, with a focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and
girls; and second, to donate a portion of the proceeds from those events to
organizations that benefit women and girls. Since 2009, WAM Theatre has donated
more than $7,000 to its beneficiaries. For more information, see </span><a href="http://www.WAMTheatre.com" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">www.WAMTheatre.com</span></a><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:'Times New Roman'">.</span></p>
<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"># # #</span></b></p>
<p class=""><b style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Calendar Listings:</span></b></p>
<p class="" style="line-height:115%"><b style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">WAM Theatre Presents: “Emilie: La
Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight”</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Nov. 7 through 24
at the St. Germain Stage in the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center,
36 Linden St., Pittsfield, Mass. Tickets: $15 previews; all other performance:
$10 to $30. Reservations: (800) 838-3006 and <a href="http://www.WAMTheatre.com">www.WAMTheatre.com</a> </span></p>
<p class=""><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Performance dates and times:</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Thursday, Nov.
7: 7:30 p.m. (preview)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Friday, Nov. 8:
7:30 p.m. (preview)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Saturday, Nov.
9: 7:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Sunday, Nov. 10:
2 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Friday, Nov. 15:
7:30 p.m. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Saturday, Nov.
16: 7:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Sunday, Nov. 17:
2 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Friday, Nov. 22:
7:30 p.m. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Saturday, Nov.
23: 7:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">Sunday, Nov. 24:
2 p.m.</span></p>
<p class=""><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></b></p>
</div>-- <br><font style color="#339999" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Kimberly Rawson Communications </font><div><font style color="#339999" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><a href="tel:413.445.4467" value="+14134454467" target="_blank">413.445.4467</a></font></div>
</div>