[Capdist-announce] Release: WAM Theatre/Storefront Artist Project present Festival of Theatre + Art

[Kristen van Ginhoven]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
upon receipt

Contact: Kristen van Ginhoven
www.wamtheatre.com
518.243.9627
kristen at wamtheatre.com


WAM Theatre and Storefront Artist Project Present
The O Solo Mama Mia Festival
A Festival of Theatre and Art

>From May 5-15, 2011, WAM Theatre will present a festival of solo works
written and performed by women to benefit the training of at least one
community midwife at Edna’s Hospital in Somaliland. The Festival will run
from May 5-8 in Troy, NY (James Meader Little Theatre) and May 12-15, 2011
in Pittsfield, MA (Storefront Artist Project’s popup theatre).

>From May 1-28, Storefront Artist Project will present an exhibition of works
in all media by ten artists from the northeast and around the world. The
exhibit will be on view at the Storefront Artist Project’s gallery at 31
South Street, the same location where performances will be held mid-May.
The works, from paintings and photography to video and installations,
explore themes of motherhood, identity, history and female empowerment.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Storefront Artist Project on this
festival of theatre and art,” state Kristen van Ginhoven and Leigh
Strimbeck, co-Artistic Directors of WAM Theatre, “We are proud to be
presenting this festival of theatre in our two regions, the Capital Region
of NY and the Berkshires of MA, and are delighted to share the work of these
talented women theatre artists. Their work covers such a range of topics:
from Paris in the 1890’s, to group therapy, coming out, overcoming bullying
and Hurricane Katrina. And, in keeping with WAM’s double philanthropic
mission, a portion of every single ticket sold will go to train a community
midwife in Somaliland, a country with one of the worst maternal mortality
rates in the world. ”

"We have a dream to train 1,000 community midwives", says Edna Adan Ismail,
founder and director of Edna's Hospital, “Our Community Midwives training
program saves the lives of women in villages. We are grateful that WAM
Theatre has chosen Edna's Hospital and our program as their beneficiary for
the O Solo Mama Mia Festival. Their help will get us one step closer to
achieving our dream."

This festival marks Storefront Artist Project’s first venture as a
performing arts venue for WAM Theatre productions.  “O Solo Mama Mia
celebrates women through all media, and I’m excited that Storefront can be a
home for both visual and performing arts simultaneously,” explains Julia
Dixon, Storefront Artist Project Director.  “This collaboration is a real
joint effort to support women and artists here and around the world.  What
an amazing cause for Storefront and our friends at Emporium to be involved
in.” Emporium, a retail store that shares space at 31 South Street with
Storefront Artist Project, will be offering light refreshments along with
snacks available for purchase during the performances in Pittsfield.

WHERE:
Art Exhibit
May 1-28, 2011, Storefront Artist Project, 31 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
(Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm plus during Pittsfield performance times)

Theatre Festival
May 5-8, 2011, James L. Meader Theatre, Russell Sage Campus, Troy, NY
May 12-15, 2011, Storefront Artist Project, 31 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

TICKETS:
Art Exhibit:
Free

Theatre Festival:
$25 adults/$15 students*
*Price is for a double bill, which equals two solo shows
$40 Festival Pass-this is good for all 5 solo shows, to be seen in either
location at any point throughout the festival.
To purchase by phone for both locations: 1-800-838-3006
To purchase tickets for Troy, NY:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/168086
To purchase tickets for Pittsfield, MA:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/169090
To purchase a festival pass: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170009

THEATRE FESTIVAL SHOWS AND TIMES:
TROY, NY
Thursday, May 5:
7:30-My Salvation has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey + Performing
Therapy

Friday, May 6:
7:30-My Salvation has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey + How to be a
Lesbian in 10 Days or Less

Saturday, May 7:
2:00-Paris 1890-Unlaced! + How to be a Lesbian in 10 Days or Less

Saturday, May 7:
7:30-Performing Therapy + Paris 1890-Unlaced!

Sunday, May 8:
2:00-Performing Therapy + Paris 1890-Unlaced!

PITTSFIELD, MA
Thursday, May 12:
7:30- My Salvation has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey + How to be a
Lesbian in 10 Days or Less

Friday, May 13:
7:30-Performing Therapy + Stories of Hell and High Water

Saturday, May 14:
2:00-How to be a Lesbian in 10 Days or Less + Performing Therapy

Saturday, May 14:
7:30-Stories of Hell and High Water + My Salvation has a First Name: A
Wienermobile Journey

Sunday, May 15:
2:00-My Salvation has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey + Performing
Therapy

Featured in The O Solo Mama Mia Festival are the following theatre pieces:

My Salvation has A First Name: A Wienermobile Journey

Based on the true story of an insecure goody-goody who overcomes years of
bullying and finds redemption and her true voice behind the windshield of
the Wienermobile. Using music, video and photo footage from her life on the
hot dog highway, comedian Robin Gelfenbien tells the story of her
transformation from underdog to “one of the most notorious Wienermobile
drivers of all time.” (Time Out New York). “4 stars” (Time Out New York)
“The highlight of next month’s Fringe Festival” (New York Magazine) Written
and performed by Robin Gelfenbien. (An excerpt from this show was part of
WAM Theatre’s inaugural April 2010 event, ‘A WAM Welcome’)

How To Be A Lesbian in 10 Days or Less

Not a coming out story, but not not a coming out story, ‘How To Be A Lesbian
in 10 Days or Less’ is a dynamic workshop led by teacher and motivational
speaker Butchy McDyke that will help you become the “best lesbian you can
be!” Writer and performer Leigh Hendrix links unique characters, personal
story, and a Reba McEntire song in a mostly funny and sometimes earnest
exploration of how you can learn to confidently shout, “I’m a big ʻol dyke!”

Performing Therapy

This one-woman, group-therapy comedy about depression is a sideways safari
through loss, displacement, dementia, depression and the surprise healing
nature of upstate New York.  A ‘depressively experienced’ actress turned
therapist leads group therapy in an attempt to provide helpful advice and
therapeutic modalities to other ‘stressfully afflicted’. Art Therapy with
Balloon Animals, Affirmations on Post-it notes and Primal Humming are some
of the hopeful remedies. Written by Camilla Schade and Kira Lallas, and
performed by Camilla Schade.

FROM May 5-8 IN TROY, NY ONLY:

Paris 1890-Unlaced!

Join actress Anne Undeland on a quick and saucy romp through Paris in the
Belle Epoque — a glittering world of infamous courtesans, imperious grandes
dames, and clueless but ambitious cancan dancers.  Costume, accent and
character changes keep the pace lively as Paris 1890 – Unlaced! delivers
laughs, heart and, of course, a little risqué business. Paris 1890 –
Unlaced! was originally commissioned and produced by Ventfort Hall Mansion
and Gilded Age Museum, Lenox Massachusetts, in collaboration with
Shakespeare and Company. Written by Juliane Hiam, directed by Sarah Taylor,
performed by Anne Undeland.

FROM May 12-15 IN PITTSFIELD, MA ONLY:

Stories from Hell and High Water

Hell and High Water or When the Sky Falls is a fantasia on the theme of
security in America.  It is a sharply satiric account of playwright Jamuna
Yvette Sirker’s experience surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The play follows Teacher Alice, a Latina school teacher’s struggles through
the abyss of an American apocalypse.  Stories from Hell and High Water is a
one-woman, solo version of Ms. Sirker’s full-length play.  In it, actor
Richarda Abrams embodies Teacher Alice along with six residents from her
flooded New Orleans neighborhood:  a nurse, a jazz singer, a photographer,
an out of work actor and the spirit of a bag lady.   This quirky and
surprisingly funny work holds resonance for anyone who knows loss, tragedy,
or the illusive nature of “security”.

For more information please go to www.WAMTheatre.com


About WAM Theatre:
WAM Theatre is a theatre company 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 WuDdunn, WAM Theatre was founded in 2009 by professional
theatre artists Kristen van Ginhoven and Leigh Strimbeck. WAM’s
philanthropic mission is two-fold; first, producing theatrical events for
everyone, with a focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and
girls; second, to donate a portion of the proceeds from those events to
organizations that benefit women and girls.www.wamtheatre.com 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.www.wamtheatre.com

About Storefront Artist Project:
The Storefront Artist Project is a non-profit arts organization active since
2002.  Operating in a gallery/office space in the heart of Pittsfield, it
brings art to diverse members of the community by presenting innovative art
exhibitions and installations, providing non-traditional, visually
accessible studio space to artists and connecting artists with the public
through education, opportunities and exposure.  Its programs include
storefront artist residencies, the Mentor and Intern Programs, monthly
exhibitions, artist salons, and Open Studios.  Visit
http://storefrontartist.org for more information.

About Emporium:
Emporium is a unique gift store with an ever growing range of locally
designed and produced clothing, accessories, books, cards, toys and home
wares. Their products are quirky, well designed, and well made. They strive
to source products that can not be found just anywhere. In January of 2011,
Emporium moved their gift shop to Park Square at 31 South Street. The
current space is shared with Storefront Artist Project, allowing for
creative collaboration in the heart of downtown Pittsfield. Formerly known
as The Lenox Old Country Store, Emporium initially relocated from Lenox to
North Street in Pittsfield in 2009.


Photographs (Art and Theatre) available upon request to
kristen at wamtheatre.com
Theatre photos also at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157625802118568


###


Kristen van Ginhoven
co-Artistic Director, WAM Theatre
www.wamtheatre.com
http://www.facebook.com/WAMTheatre
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