[Capdist-announce] PR: WAM's final Fresh Takes play reading tackles Madame Tussaud- 'Waxworks' on Sept 21

Mon Sep 8 13:31:24 EDT 2014

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Contact: Molly Clancy

*www.wamtheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com>*

*518 243 9627*

*molly at wamtheatre.com <molly at wamtheatre.com>*

*WAM THEATRE ANNOUNCES CASTING*

*for Trina Davies’ Waxworks, the final Fresh Takes play reading*

PITTSFIELD, MA (09/08/2014)— WAM Theatre is pleased to announce the cast
for a reading of *Waxworks* by *Trina Davies, *the final reading in the*
Fresh Takes Play Reading Series*. An exploration of the tales we are told
and the heroes and villains we create, Waxworks tells the story of Madame
Tussaud, an extraordinary artist who developed the first worldwide
entertainment brand. WAM Theatre will present the reading on Sunday,
September 21 at 3:00 p.m. at *No. Six Depot Roastery and Café*, 6 Depot
Street in West Stockbridge, MA. *Waxworks *is the fifth and final
presentation in the new *Fresh Takes* play reading series, which offers new
and reimagined works that tell women’s stories. The series has proven
popular with audiences, selling out its first four readings.

The cast of *Waxworks *features *Shanae Burch* (Can’t Wait Productions *The
Da Vinci Commission*), *Kathleen M. Carey* (Hubbard Hall’s *A Midsummer
Night’s Dream*), *Zoe Laiz *(Stella Adler Studio’s *Alls’ Well That
Ends *Well),
*Robert Lohbauer* (Shakespeare & Company’s *Heroes*), *Josh McCabe*
(Shakespeare & Company’s *The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
(Abridged)*, *Susannah Melone* (One Year Lease’s *Phedre*), *Amy Prothro*
(Majestic Theatre’s *Proof*) and *Josephine M. Wilson *(PA Centre Stage’s *The
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie*). WAM Theatre’s Artistic Director, *Kristen van
Ginhoven, *will direct the reading.

With France on the verge of revolution, a young Madame Tussaud (Marie
Grosholz) is called from her post at Versailles back to Dr. Curtius’ Wax
Salon in the heart of Paris. There she is introduced to the most
influential people in Paris. But as the revolution descends, Marie is
forced to confront the remains of those she has befriended – whose waxen
images must be set with signs that identify them as ‘patriots’ or
‘enemies’.  An exploration of the tales we are told and the heroes and
villains we create, *Waxworks* tells the story of an extraordinary artist
who developed the first worldwide entertainment brand. This WAM reading
will be one of the first public readings of this not-yet-published play.

“One day I was killing time in a small city and went into a dusty wax
museum on a lark, thinking it would be a funny diversion,” says playwright
Trina Davies. “I found myself staring at a tableau of Madame Tussaud
holding a head and a plaster cast, and a sign that said only this: ‘Madame
Tussaud was forced to cast the guillotined heads of people she had known
from working at the Palace of Versailles.’ That sent me on a multi-year
journey - through rare nineteenth century books, to London England where I
visited a fantastic archivist at Tussauds London, and onto Paris to walk
the streets where Marie (Tussaud) had lived. She was an extraordinary woman
who lived through extraordinary times, who overcame dangerous obstacles and
made the most of her situation. This amazing woman created the first
worldwide entertainment brand in history.”

There are only 25 tickets available for this reading. Tickets are $20 and
can be purchased by calling 1-800-838-3006 or going online to
http://wamfreshtakes.bpt.me. Due to the limited availability, advance
booking is highly recommended. Food and drink will be available for
purchase at the café prior to the reading, which will begin in the gallery
at 3:00 p.m.

The *Fresh Takes *Play Reading series is curated by WAM Theatre’s Artistic
Associate Kelly Galvin and consists of: *Blue Stockings* by Jessica Swale
(April 13, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.), *Measure for Measure* by William Shakespeare
(May 18, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.), *How the World Began* by Catherine Trieschmann
(June 22, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.), *Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England* by
Madeleine George (August 17, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.), and *Waxworks* by Trina
Davies (September 21, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.). Find out more about the series at
http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes/.

*About WAM Theatre*

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM (Women’s Action Movement)
Theatre was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and
producer Kristen van Ginhoven, who was inspired to take action by the
book *Half
the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide* by
Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. WAM Theatre’s philanthropic mission is
two-fold: first, to create theatrical events for everyone, with a focus on
women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls; and second, to
donate a portion of the proceeds from those events to organizations that
benefit women and girls.

Over the past five years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $10,500 to six
nonprofit organizations that help women and girls, and provided paid work
to more than 100 theatre artists. In its fifth year, artistic director van
Ginhoven has expanded WAM Theatre’s activities to include more performances
in various venues, including educational outreach and the new Fresh Takes
Play Reading Series at Six Depot Roastery and Café in West Stockbridge. For
more information, visit www.WAMTheatre.com

###

Kristen van Ginhoven
*Artistic Director*
WAM Theatre
518-243-9627

Celebrating our Fifth Season!

Up Next:
September 21- the final reading of the 2014 Fresh Takes Play reading
series- Waxworks <http://www.wamtheatre.com/waxworks/>
October 30-November 16- *In Darfur <http://www.wamtheatre.com/in-darfur/>*

Click here <http://www.wamtheatre.com/donate/> to make a secure donation to
WAM Theatre

*Thank you for your support!*
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