<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-30ff434b-7092-77fb-a3c7-26e4b2851ff6"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">February 24, 2017</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.wamtheatre.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:pr@wamtheatre.com">pr@wamtheatre.com</a>; 413-274-8122</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157648698789976/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/</span></a></p><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre Announces First 2017 Fresh Takes Play Reading March 12 </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">LENOX, MA (February 24, 2017) -  WAM Theatre is delighted to announce that their 2017 Fresh Takes Play reading series will begin with </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Flora and Fauna</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> by Alyson Mead, winner of the Arizona-based Bridge Initiative: Women in Theatre New Work Contest.  The play chronicles the celebrations and challenges of a female friendship that spans almost 30 years. Additionally, this opening reading of the Fresh Takes Series will be a partnership with the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers, with a portion of the box office proceeds from the reading going to the Festival.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The WAM reading will take place at 3:30 pm on Sunday, March 12 at No. 6 Depot in West Stockbridge. WAM Artistic Associate and Fresh Takes Curator Producer Molly Clancy will direct. The Cast includes MaConnia Chesser (WAM Theatre’s </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Grand Concourse</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> ) and Lori Evans (Shakespeare & Company’s</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Emperor of the Moon)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I’m honored to be directing </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Flora and Fauna</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for WAM, and excited about our national collaboration with The Bridge Initiative and our local partnership with The Berkshire Festival of Women Writers,” said Molly Clancy. “Supporting women artists is at the heart of WAM’s mission, and I am especially passionate about supporting new plays written by women. Joining together with other organizations, nationally and locally, that share those same values is a wonderful way to open our 2017 season.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Bridge Initiative is an </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Arizona nonprofit working to identify and empower female artists in the Southwest region. One of it’s co-founders and co-producing artistic directors, Tracy Liz Miller, was a director for WAM’s Fresh Takes reading series in 2013. This year’s </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> New Work Contest received more than 163 eligible plays and musicals, submitted from 25 states, the District of Columbia, and international locations.  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“It seemed absolutely necessary to me to connect with WAM Theatre as soon as Brenda Foley (Bridge Initiative’s other co-producing Artistic Director) and I began to look at partnering with other companies to give our playwright more development opportunities,” Miller said. “Having proudly worked with Kristen previously, I knew that WAM's mission aligned with ours and that the combination of the Fresh Takes series and our new play contest was a perfect fit. We all look forward to helping Alyson meet her artistic mission with this play.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"The Berkshire Festival of Women Writers is delighted to be partnering with WAM Theatre for the first of the 2017 Fresh Takes series,” Jennifer Browdy, BFWW Founder and Director explained. “WAM and the BFWW share the common goal of cultivating and sharing the voices and visions of women writers, so it’s a natural partnership for us. I’m looking forward to being inspired by </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Flora and Fauna</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">!"</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(255,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre will announce the full schedule for their 8th season, including the rest of the Fresh Takes series, on February 28.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">AT A GLANCE</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">March 12, 2017</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reading of The Bridge Initiative: Women in Theatre New Work Contest winner</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Flora and Fauna</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">by Alyson Mead</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">directed by Molly Clancy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">featuring MaConnia Chesser as Adele and Lori Evans as Ginnie</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2017/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2017/</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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 3:30 pm. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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><a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2017/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2017/</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT THE CAST</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MACONNIA CHESSER* </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Adele</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Grand Concourse (Fresh Takes: Play Reading Series), The Revolutionists (reading/co-production with Chester Theatre). </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Elsewhere</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">:  Shakespeare & Company (company member), Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Totem Pole Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, York Shakespeare, NJ Repertory (company member), Theater Alliance, African Continuum Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Folger Theatre. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Film & TV:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> The Wire, Nothing But the Truth, cigarettes for breakfast, Ghosts of Hamilton Street, Diseasels. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Training:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Shakespeare & Company, National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Alcorn State University. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Awards:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Helen Hayes nomination – Outstanding Ensemble (Insurrection).  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Upcoming:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">  Mrs. Dickson in Intimate Apparel with Shakespeare & Company. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">LORI EVANS </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ginnie</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Debut </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Elsewhere:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> A member of Shakespeare & Company since 2012,  Emperor of the Moon (Doctor), Private Eyes (Frank) where she also teaches and tours in the nationally acclaimed education program directing in the Fall Festival of Shakespeare (2013-2016), Riotous Youth,  and in numerous residencies. Regionally: Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears (Book-It Repertory); Iris (Majestic Theater); Pericles & Julius Caesar (Engaged Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Hubbard Hall); Wonderland (Theater Simple); Into the Woods (Mount Baker Theatre); Red Hot Patriot (reading Aglet Theatre Company). </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FILM/TV:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Commercials/Direct Response Spots Northwest local </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Et cetera:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> In grateful appreciation of WAM’s creative vision.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: ALYSON MEAD</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WAM Theatre: </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Debut </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Elsewhere: </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Her award-winning plays have been staged at Off-Off Broadway and regional theaters around the country and in London, including La MaMa, St. Mark's Church, 8BC, Pasadena Playhouse, Venus Theatre, Women Playwrights Conference, Limelight, the Other Space Theater, the Hudson, Atwater Village Theater and Sacred Fools, among others. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Training: </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mead studied at Yale University, the Slade School of Art in London, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and with iO West, UCB and Tectonic Theatre Project. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(58,58,58);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Et cetera: </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She’s published by Original Works Publishing, and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Playwriting Unit and the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Website: </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Visit </span><a href="http://www.alysonmead.com" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.alysonmead.com</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: MOLLY CLANCY</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Artistic Associate, Fresh Takes Play Reading Series Curator & Producer, Director for </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Water by the Spoonful </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Last Wife</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, Assistant Director for </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In Darfur</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">How The World Began </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Regional Theatre:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Molly currently works at Shakespeare & Company as the Publicity Director and previously worked at Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL) and Home Made Theatre (Saratoga Springs, NY).  Additional Directing: SDC Foundation Observership Class 2015 – 2016, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Charlotte’s Web</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Wizard of Oz</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (Forest Lake Theatre) and </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Rwandans’ Visit</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (Lougheed Festival of the Arts at SUNY Potsdam). Additional Assistant Directing: Alice Reagan’s </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Or,  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Shakespeare & Company),</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taibi Magar’s </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Comedy of Errors </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Shakespeare & Company)  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Training:</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> SUNY Potsdam (BA in Theatre and English).</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Twitter: </span><a href="http://mollyclancyy/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">@MollyClancyy</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT THE BRIDGE INITIATIVE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Bridge Initiative is an Arizona nonprofit working to identify and empower female artists in the Southwest region, with the aim of gender parity across all theatrical disciplines.  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Its mission also includes bridging the gap between academia and the professional world to encourage students to envision a clearer path to becoming lifelong artists.  Visit </span><a href="http://www.bridgeinit.com" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.bridgeinit.com</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT THE BERKSHIRE FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WRITERS</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Berkshire Festival of Women Writers  inspires, nourishes and strengthens women’s creative voices by offering stimulating workshops and events year-round designed to encourage women and girls to engage with one another and their communities, and develop as creative leaders. For the past six years, hundreds of women writers of all ages, from teens to seniors, have participated in the annual Berkshire Festival of Women Writers, held in March, Women’s History Month, featuring workshops, readings, performances and screenings at venues throughout Berkshire County MA and the adjacent Berkshire region. Visit </span><a href="http://www.berkshirewomenwriters.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.berkshirewomenwriters.org</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;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:12pt;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 Massac</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">husetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities; and by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural. Our 2017 sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Custom Business Solutions, The Dylandale Foundation, The Feigenbaum Foundation, Futures Education, the Garden Gables Inn, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, In Touch Printing, International Schools Theatre Association, Interprint, Dr. Jay Wise, DDS & Dr. Casey Jones, DMD,  Lee Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, MAXYMILLIAN Technologies, Methuselah Bar and Lounge, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, RB Design Co.,, The Rookwood Inn, Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, The </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">T Square Design Studio, and a. von schlegell & co</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;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 Alford-Egremont Cultural Council, Dalton Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, New Marlborough Cultural Council, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern Berkshires , Otis Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council, Sandisfield Cultural Council, Stockbridge Cultural Council, and West Stockbridge Cultural Council – local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ABOUT WAM THEATRE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Inspired by the book </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> 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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Since 2010, WAM Theatre has donated more than $30,000 to eleven nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 200 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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><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:12pt;font-family:cambria;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"># # #</span></p><br></span><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">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><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><i style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:normal">Our <span>8th</span> <span>Season</span>:</i></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">2017 <span>Season</span> announcement coming </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span><span>February 28th</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">!</span></p><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></div></div>
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