[Capdist-announce] RELEASE: WAM Theatre presents O Solo Mama Mia Festival-May 5-8 (Troy, NY)

Mon Apr 25 14:24:55 EDT 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
upon receipt

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

Photographs available upon request to kristen at wamtheatre.com
Or at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157625802118568

WAM Theatre Presents
The O Solo Mama Mia Festival

TROY, NY (04-25-11)-- WAM Theatre presents 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
at the James Meader Little Theatre on the Russell Sage College Campus in
Troy, NY.

“We are delighted to share the work of these talented women theatre artists
from our region and beyond. Their work covers such a range of topics: from
Paris in the 1890’s, to group therapy, coming out, and overcoming bullying,”
state Kristen van Ginhoven and Leigh Strimbeck, co-Artistic Directors of WAM
Theatre. “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."

WHERE:
May 5-8, 2011, James L. Meader Theatre, Russell Sage Campus, Troy, NY
Appropriate for 13+

TICKETS:
$25 adults/$15 students
$40 Festival Pass
To purchase by phone: 1-800-838-3006
To purchase tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/168086
To purchase a festival pass: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170009

THEATRE FESTIVAL SHOWS AND TIMES:
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!

SHOW INFORMATION:

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.

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.

For more information on the Art Exhibit accompanying the festival and for
the May 12-15 Pittsfield, MA dates/times/shows for the O Solo Mama Mia
Festival 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.

Photographs available upon request to kristen at wamtheatre.com
Or 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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