<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-050404d1-4b90-f0e8-8e0d-3d43060f49a7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">August 2, 2016 </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com">www.wamtheatre.com</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><a href="mailto:pr@wamtheatre.com">pr@wamtheatre.com</a>; 518.243.9627</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Press Photos can be found at:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/</a></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">WAM Theatre Announces Casting for Fresh Takes Reading of “Samsara”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Lenox, MA [August 2, 2016] - WAM Theatre is pleased to announce the cast for the fourth in their</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> 2016 </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Fresh Takes</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> Play Reading Series, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Samsara</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> by </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lauren Yee</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">directed by WAM Theatre Co-Founder </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Leigh Strimbeck.</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> The reading will take place</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">on </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Sunday, August 21 at 3 pm </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">at </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">No. Six Depot Roastery and Café</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">, 6 Depot Street in West Stockbridge, MA. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Katie and Craig are having a baby, with a surrogate who lives in India. A month before the baby’s due date, Craig travels to the subcontinent, where he meets Suraiya, their young, less-than-thrilled surrogate. As all three “parents” anxiously wait for the baby to be born, flights of fancy attack them from all sides, in the form of an unctuous Frenchman and a smart-mouthed fetus. WAM Theatre is proud to share this vibrant and whimsical take on modern day colonialism.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The cast includes </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Suzanne Ankrum</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> (WAM Theatre’s </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Emilie</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">,  New Century’s </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The How and the Why</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">) as Katie, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Jonathan Albert </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">(acting and playwriting professor at Union College) as Craig. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Lipica Shah</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> (Gulfshore Playhouse’s </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The Who and The What</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">, NY Fringe Festival’s </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Coping</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">) as Suraiya, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Imran W. Sheikh </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">(recently seen at Artists Rep and San Jose Rep) as Amit, and</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> Jean-Remy Monnay</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> (Founder and President of Soul Rebel Performance Troupe) as the Frenchman. For detailed information on the cast go to: <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/samsara/">http://www.wamtheatre.com/samsara/</a></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Asked what enticed her to direct Samsara, Strimbeck said, “I like the script a lot because it has a little bit of a whimsical element to it. It’s about the drive people have to start families, which I certainly understand, and I love the diversity that is built into the casting.”</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Since 2014 the Fresh Takes series has been introducing Berkshire audiences to ground-breaking works by established women playwrights, focusing on relevant, provocative, uplifting plays that encourage dialogue and deal with current and controversial issues in artful ways. The 2016 Fresh Takes season is sponsored by No. Six Depot and Kristin and James Hatt.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">After </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Samsara,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> the Fresh Takes Series concludes with </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Grand Concourse</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> by </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Heidi Shreck</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">, directed by </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Sheila Siragusa,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> on September 11. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">About the Playwright: </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lauren Yee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Debut. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Plays:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Include </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ching Chong Chinaman </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Pan Asian, Mu Performing Arts, SIS Productions, Impact Theatre),</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Crevice </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Impact Theatre), </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Hatmaker’s Wife </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Playwrights Realm, The Hub, Moxie Theatre, AlterTheater, PlayPenn), </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hookman, In A Word, King Of The Yees, Samsara, And The Tiger Among Us</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Venues:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Her work has been developed at Lincoln Center/LCT3, the Goodman Theatre, The Public Theatre, Second Stage, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, Center Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kitchen Dog, Magic Theatre, and others. Former Dramatists Guild fellow, MacDowell Colony fellow, Public Theater Emerging Writers Group member, Women’s Project Lab playwright, Second Stage Shank playwright-in-residence, and Playwrights Realm Page One resident playwright. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Awards:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Her play </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Samsara </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">has been a nominee for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the L. Arnold Weissberger Award. Her play </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Hatmaker’s Wife</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> was an Outer Critics Circle nominee for the John Gassner Award for best play by a new American playwright.</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Et Cetera:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> She is currently a member of the Ma-Yi Writers’ Lab and a Playwrights’ Center Core Writer. Lauren is under commission from the Goodman Theatre, Lincoln Center/LCT3, South Coast Rep, Mixed Blood, and Encore Theatre. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Training:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> BA: Yale. MFA: UCSD. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Online:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><a href="http://www.laurenyee.com/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.laurenyee.com</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">About the Director: </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Leigh Strimbeck</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre: </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Co-founder of WAM, created and directed in association with TIS the devised pieces </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MIRROR, MIRROR</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and  “</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I’m Not a Feminist, But….”</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 24 Hour Theatre Projects . </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Elsewhere:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> The Artistic Director of the Theatre Institute at Sage (TIS); artist in residence in the theater program at Russell Sage College; associate member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE) and a member of Actors’ Equity Association. At TIS she adapted, directed and toured </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Trojan Women </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">in 2013, directed </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On the Verge, Spring Awakening, Grounded</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Wait Until Dark. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Currently Leigh is writing a play in celebration of Russell Sage College’s centennial</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Yours,” </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">based on 100 years of the student newspaper. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Regional directing:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fools Rush In</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Voice of the Prairie, Sea Marks, The Nest, Daytrips, The Baltimore Waltz</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Death of a Salesman </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">for BTE;</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Children of a Lesser God, On the Verge, Tonight We Improvise, The Mystery of Irma Vep </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Private Eyes</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for other regional theaters. Co-writer and director of </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Berwick, America</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">! and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This House Builded,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> both history plays commissioned by their communities. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Acting:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Martha in </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (twice), Grusha in </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Caucasian Chalk Circle</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, Petruchio in </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taming of the Shrew</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; and Lady MacDuff in Saratoga Shakespeare Festival’s </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Macbeth.</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Last summer Leigh was seen at Shakespeare and Company understudying Tina Packer in the new play </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mother of the Maid</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> by Jane Anderson – performing five times during the run. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Films:</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">UnCivil Liberties,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fighting for Freedom</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Little BiPeep</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, for which she won a best supporting actress award at Atlantic City Cinefest. To see Leigh’s acting reel go to:</span><a href="http://leighstrimbeck.com/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> leighstrimbeck.com</span></a><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Et cetera: </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Leigh is also the lead communications coach for the New York State Defender’s Institute Basic Trial Skills Program.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">AT A GLANCE</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Fresh Takes Play Reading Series</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Curated by WAM Theatre’s Artistic Associate Molly Clancy and hosted by No. Six Depot Roastery and Café on 6 Depot Street in West Stockbridge, MA, on select Sundays at 3 pm. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The 2016 Fresh Takes series is sponsored by No. Six Depot Roastery and Café and Kristin and James Hatt.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">There are only 30 tickets available per reading. Tickets are $20, which includes a post-show conversation and the opportunity to meet the cast and director. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Café. For tickets and more information visit:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/">http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/</a></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">August 21, 2016 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Samsara</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">by Lauren Yee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">directed by Leigh Strimbeck</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">September 11, 2016 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Grand Concourse</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">by Heidi Shreck</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">directed by Sheila Siragusa</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">OUR SEASON SPONSORS</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our 2016 sponsors include the Adams Community Bank, Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Canyon Ranch, Custom Business Solution, Dylandale Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Garden Gables, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, International Schools Theatre Association, Interprint, Dr. Jay Wise, DDS & Dr. Casey Jones, DMD,  Jon Gotterer DMD, Keator Group, LLC, Lee Bank, Lenox Education Enrichment Fund, Massachusetts Cultural Council, MAXYMILLIAN Technologies, Nina Molin MD, No. Six Depot Roastery and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Café,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Petricca Industries, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, RB Design Co., The Rookwood Inn, Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, Toole Insurance, A. von Schlegell & Co., The Sherman Investment Group-RBC Wealth Management, and Zabian's Fine Jewelers.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Lenox, Alford-Egremont, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern Berkshires , Washington Cultural Council, Monterey Cultural Council, Stockbridge Cultural Council, West Stockbridge Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council – local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">ABOUT WAM THEATRE</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as philanthropy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Inspired by the book </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Over the past six years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $21,000 to eight nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 175 theatre artists. In addition to the main stage productions and special events, WAM Theatre’s activities include a comprehensive educational outreach program and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. For more information, visit </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><a href="http://www.WAMTheatre.com">www.WAMTheatre.com</a></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"># # #</span></p></span><div> <br></div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">-- <br>Gail M. Burns<br><div><i>Marketing + Publicity Associate<br></i></div><div><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.WAMTheatre.com</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> </span><br></div><div><div><div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline"><span dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr"><span><img width="0" height="0"><span>413-274-8122</span><span></span></span></span></span><br><br></span></a></span></font></div><i style="font-size:12.8px">Our 7th Season:</i><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/special/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">Special </a><span style="font-size:12.8px">| </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/2016-24-hour-theatre-project/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">24hr Project</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> | </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">Fresh Takes</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> | </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/stars-in-the-orchard-2016/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">Stars in the Orchard</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> | </span><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-bakelite-masterpiece/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">Bakelite Masterpiece</a><br style="font-size:12.8px"><br style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Make a donation </span><a href="https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/WAMTheatreInc/donate.html" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">now</span></a><span style="font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to WAM Theatre!</span></font></span><br></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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