[Capdist-announce] Release: WAM Theatre/Storefront Artist Project present O Solo Mama Mia Festival-May 12-15

Mon May 9 10:38:08 EDT 2011

Thank you for considering our press release. Hope to see you at the Festival
this Thursday-Sunday in Pittsfield.

Kristen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
upon receipt

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

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

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

PITTSFIELD, MA (05-09-11)-- From May 12-15, 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 take place at the Storefront Artist Project at 31 South
Street in Pittsfield, MA.

Storefront Artist Project presents an accompanying exhibition of works in
all media by eleven artists from the northeast. The works, from paintings
and photography to video and installations, explore themes of motherhood,
identity, history and female empowerment.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Storefront Artist Project and delighted
to share the work of these talented solo women theatre artists from our
region and beyond. Their work covers such a range of topics: from group
therapy, coming out, overcoming bullying and surviving Hurricane Katrina,”
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."

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:
May 12-15, 2011, Storefront Artist Project, 31 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Thurs/Fri/Sat @ 7:30pm and Sat/Sun @ 2pm
Appropriate for 16+
(Art Exhibit runs until May 21)

TICKETS:
$25 adults/$15 students*
*Price is for a double bill, which equals two solo shows
$40 Festival Pass-this is good for all four solo shows
To purchase by phone: 1-800-838-3006
To purchase tickets online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/169090
To purchase a festival pass: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170009

THEATRE FESTIVAL SHOWS AND TIMES:
Thursday, May 12:
7:3pm- My Salvation has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey + How to be a
Lesbian in 10 Days or Less

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

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

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

Sunday, May 15:
2:00pm-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.

How To Be A Lesbian in 10 Days or Less-Regional Premiere

Not a coming out story, but not not a coming out story, ‘How To Be A Lesbian
in 10 Days or Less’ is framed as 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.

Stories from Hell and High Water-Berkshire Premiere

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

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
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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