[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Announces Casting for Fall Main Stage Show "Holy Laughter"

[Gail Burns]

June 29, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com/#_blank>

pr at wamtheatre.com; 518.243.9627

Press Photos can be found at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157649914703614/

 WAM Theatre Announces Casting for Fall Mainstage Production

Holy Laughter by Catherine Trieschmann

Sneak peak will be seen at July 15 benefit



LENOX, MA (June 29, 2015) – WAM Theatre is excited to announce the casting
for their fall production of Holy Laughter by Catherine Trieschmann. The
production will be directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian and opens on November
1, on the St. Germain Stage at Barrington Stage Company’s Sydelle and Lee
Blatt Performing Arts Center in Pittsfield.

In Holy Laughter, an Episcopal priest finds that the reality of leading a
church is radically and hilariously different than what she learned in
seminary. As she wrestles with church finances, eccentric parishioners,
changing sexual mores and her own doubting human heart, Abigail struggles
to make peace with the realities of contemporary church life. Hymns,
liturgical dance and a wicked tongue lift Trieschmann's antic portrait of a
small, struggling congregation to comic heights.

Amie Lyttle (Around the World in 80 Days, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Wellfleet
Harbor Actors Theater) is making her WAM debut in the leading role of
Abigail. Amie has ties to the NY Capital District and earned her BA in
Theater from Muhlenberg College and her MFA in Acting from The Actors’
Studio, as well as training at Shakespeare & Company and the London Academy
of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Surrounding Abigail are the members of her congregation and community,
played by a team of talented actors in double roles. Berkshire favorite
Dana Harrison (Shakespeare & Company’s Private Lives) plays the roles of
Esther, a dutiful parishioner ready for new ideas, and Myra, a
hairdresser.  Ron Komora (The Poet in An Iliad at Capital Rep), a mainstay
of Capital District theatre for many years, will play the roles of Lloyd, a
hide-bound and traditional Vestry member, and Victor, Abigail’s Diocesan
Bishop. Also making their WAM Theatre debuts, Kimberlee Monroe (Maid’s Door
at the Billy Holiday Theatre, NYC) will play Martine, a Haitian
parishioner, and Vivienne,  the rival pastor at a thriving evangelical
church; and Benjamin Zoëy, a Canadian who recently graduated from the MFA
in Musical Theatre at The Boston Conservatory, will play Noah, a
20-something parishioner with a passion for liturgical dance, and Sam, a
gentleman who creates a big change in Abigail’s life.

“We did a reading of Catherine’s play How the World Began as part of our
2014 Fresh Takes series, and it was very well received,” WAM Theatre
Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven explained. “Then, earlier this year
I attended the New Play Summit at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
(DCPA). There I saw the first staged reading of her new play, Holy Laughter,
which the DCPA had commissioned.  I knew the heartfelt story, witty humor
and zany characters would be a terrific follow-up to last year's gripping
hit of In Darfur. I am thrilled that Catherine has granted us the rights to
do the first developmental workshop production this fall.”

The company is also pleased to collaborate again with Megan
Sandberg-Zakian. “Megan directed our sold out Fresh Takes reading of Seven
Homeless Mammoths Wander New England last year and is a busy director
working all over the States, often on new work,” van Ginhoven explained.
“Her imaginative aesthetic and dedication to social justice are a perfect
fit for WAM. We are delighted she will be joining us in the Berkshires this
fall to direct this production.”

"I'm thrilled to be working with WAM again,” Sandberg-Zakian enthused.
“I've admired the company ever since I met Kristen. And what could be
better than working on a new play by a terrific woman playwright! This play
is so funny and moving, I can't wait to dig into it with our stellar, and
hilarious, cast. It has a particularly warm place in my heart because it
shows us a woman at the head of an organization, grappling with questions
of leadership and authority."

In keeping with WAM Theatre’s double philanthropic mission, the beneficiary
of this production will receive 25% of the box office proceeds. This year’s
beneficiary, WAM’s eighth in total, will be announced at WAM’s July 15
benefit event, Stars in the Orchard, taking place at Hilltop Orchards in
Richmond, MA.

Also at the July 15 benefit, the cast of Holy Laughter will mingle with
guests and give a sneak peek at the play. This gala evening will also
include local luminaries delightfully “miscast” in monologues or
songs, including
Berkshire favorite Ryan Winkles (currently playing the title role in
Shakespeare & Company’s Henry V). Plus there will be bluegrass music by
master guitarist Don McGrory and the jazz stylings of the Rich Vinette
Quintet, a campfire under the stars, sunset hayrides, fresh apple cider
donuts and hearty hors d’oeuvres catered by Hilltop Orchards and wine made
on-site at Furnace Winery.

The July 15 benefit evening will culminate with a live auction benefiting Holy
Laughter and WAM’s Education programs.  Guests can bid to win lunch with
husband and wife, Michael Gill and Jayne Atkinson (both of House of Cards)
or to have a voicemail greeting recording by Chris Noth (The Good Wife) or
Nicholas Kristof, the Pulitzer-prize winning The New York Times columnist,
who served as the inspiration for WAM Theatre.  Group tickets are sold out;
a limited number of General Access tickets and Premiere tickets are still
available and can be purchased at: www.wamtheatre.com.

WAM Theatre’s production of Holy Laughter is scheduled for October
29-November 22, on the St. Germain Stage at Barrington Stage Company’s
Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield,
MA.  The opening performance will be Sunday, November 1 at 2pm. Tickets are
$15-$40 and will go on sale in July. See www.WAMTheatre.com
<http://www.wamtheatre.com> for more information.

Sponsors for this production include: Greylock Federal Credit Union
(Producer Sponsor); Garden Gables Inn; Berkshire Magazine (Partner
Sponsors); Custom Business Solutions, Interprint (Leader Sponsors); Adams
Community Bank; Rogovoy Report (Patron Sponsor); RB Designs; Nina Molin MD;
 Jon Gotterer DMD (Supporter Sponsors).

Additional WAM 2015 Sponsors include: Brabson Library & Educational
Foundation, Dylandale Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, International
Schools Theatre Association, Massachusetts Cultural Council and Petricca
Industries (Education Programming). WAM Theatre is also supported in part
by grants from the Lee, Lenox, Hinsdale-Peru, Monterey, Northern Berkshire,
Richmond, Washington, Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies that are
supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Quick Facts

Cast

Dana Harrison as Esther and Myra

Ron Komora as Lloyd and Victor

Amie Lyttle as Abigail

Kimberlee Monroe as Martine and Vivienne

Benjamin Zoëy as Noah and Sam

Creative Team

Director: Megan Sandberg-Zakian

Set Design: Juliana Von Haubrich

Costume Design: Lauren Gaston

Lighting Design: David Roy

Sound Design: Brad Berridge

Stage Manager: Hope Rose Kelly

About the Playwright: Catherine Trieschmann

WAM Theatre: Debut. Plays: crooked, How the World Began, Hot Georgia Sunday,
The Most Deserving, OZ 2.5. Film:Angel's Crest, Magnolia Pictures. Other:
Her work has been produced Off-Broadway at the Women’s Project, the Bush
Theatre (London), Out of Joint at the Arcola Theatre (London), South Coast
Repertory, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Theatre Company,
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Theater Company, Florida Stage,
Actors Theater of Louisville, the New Theater (Sydney) and the Edinburgh
Fringe Festival, among others. She has received commissions from South
Coast Repertory, Manhattan Theatre Club, and the DCPA Theatre Company.
Awards: L. Arnold Weissberger Award, Edgerton New Play Award, Otis Guernsey
New Voices Award from the William Inge Theater Festival. Online: Columnist
on parenting and playwriting at
http://howlround.com/authors/catherine-trieschmann.

About the Director: Megan Sandberg-Zakian

WAM Theatre: Fresh Takes reading series 2014. Elsewhere: Megan
Sandberg-Zakian is a theater-maker based in Somerville, MA. Favorite recent
projects include: Measure for Measure (Actors Shakespeare Project), a
site-specific staged reading of Our Town at Cambridge’s Mt. Auburn Cemetery
(Underground Railway Theater), the Boston premiere of Tarell McCraney's The
Brother Sister Plays at Company One (IRNE Award: Best Production; IRNE
nominee: Best Director; Elliot Norton Nominee: Outstanding Production), and
the Northeast premiere of Lydia Diamond’s Harriet Jacobs at Underground
Railway Theater (Elliot Norton Nominee: Best New Play; IRNE Nominee: Best
Ensemble, Best Actress). Megan has previously served as the Associate
Artistic Director of Underground Railway Theater (Cambridge, MA), the
Providence Black Repertory Company (RI), and The 52nd Street Project (NYC).
Upcoming: It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Merrimack Repertory
Theatre, Dec 2015), The Convert (Underground Railway Theater, Feb
2015). Training
and Awards: Megan is a recipient of the TCG Future Leaders grant, a member
of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary
Arts from Goddard College. Online: www.megansz.com

About the Cast

DANA HARRISON (Esther/Myra) WAM Theatre: Fresh Takes reading: Measure for
Measure, Change Makers Gala reading: In Darfur,  24hr Theatre Projects
Elsewhere: Shakespeare & Company: Private Lives, The Liar, Les Faux Pas,
The Learned Ladies, As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale, The Real Inspector
Hound, War of the Worlds, White People, Othello, Scapin, The Canterville
Ghost, Island of Slaves, Old Times.  Mixed Company: Table Manners, Taking
Steps.  Boston, London and The Edinburg Fringe: Macbeth, The Tempest, King
Lear, Sin, Lolita, Agamemnon, The Dining Room, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Training:
Emerson College (MA, Theatre Education). Kenyon College (BA, Drama).
Shakespeare & Co. (month-long, text, clown, fight).  Sfumato Theatre Lab of
Bulgaria (Chekov intensive).  Awards: Three-time Berkshire Eagle Noteworthy
Performance; Joanne Woodward Acting Trophy, Kenyon College.

RON KOMORA (Lloyd/Victor) WAM Theatre: 24 hour Berkshire/Capital Region
Theatre Projects Previous credits: The Poet in An Iliad (Capital Rep),
Mayor Meekly in Unnecessary Farce (Chenango River Theatre), fifteen seasons
with New York State Theatre Institute in roles ranging from Dickinson in
1776 to Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Film: Sheriff Andy Godbout in Deep in
the Darkness for the Chiller Network, Charlie in Tom’s Dilemma for
Gluckstern Films, and Harold Gilman in The Thing on the Doorstep for
Hansome Spyder Productions. Online: Visit his page on the International
Movie Database (IMDB). Awards: 2004 Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook
Narration.

AMIE LYTLE (Abigail) WAM Theatre: Debut Elsewhere: Around the World in 80
Days, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Daisy Crockett (W.H.A.T.), The Voices of We (333
Productions), Uncle Vanya, CHURCH (Harbor Stage Company), Not Jenny (Bridge
Rep of Boston), Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare
Now!), Much Ado About Nothing (Boston Theater Company), In the Wake of the
Graybow Riots (Sleeping Weazel), Brilliant Traces (Dance New Amsterdam), Free
Will and Wanton Lust-workshop (Atlantic Theater Company). Training: MFA
Acting-The Actors Studio, BA Theater-Muhlenberg College, Shakespeare &
Company, LAMDA. Online: www.amielytle.com

KIMBERLEE MONROE (Martine/Vivienne) WAM Theatre: Debut. Elsewhere: Billy
Holiday Theatre, NY: Maid’s Door (Dr.Patel/Orderly). The Actors Temple/ A
Layon Gray (Off-Broadway), NY: Girls of Summer (Coach). Classical Theatre
of Harlem (Off-Broadway), NY: Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death
(Scavenger Lady). H.A.D.L.E.Y Players, NY: Ayre (Sohna/Leonora/Annie), Nobody
Knew Where They Was (Black Ruth). Maison des Arts de Creteil; Paris,
France: Melvin Van Peebles: Sweetback the Opera (Madam/Foster Woman). Training:
American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Acting Coach Ward Nixon. Awards: Audelco
Award: Best Ensemble Nomination, Audelco Award: Best Actress, Audelco
Award: Best Solo Performance, Planet Connection Festival: Supporting
Actress Nomination.

BENJAMIN ZOËY (Noah/Sam) WAM Theatre: Debut. Elsewhere: Romeo & Juliet (Arts
After Hours). Training: MFA in Musical Theatre at The Boston Conservatory,
BA at McGill University. Online: Pictorial musings on Instagram @ben.zoey

About WAM Theatre

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre was co-founded in
2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van
Ginhoven to create professional theatrical events for everyone, with a
focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls.

WAM Theatre also has a philanthropic mission, inspired by the book Half the
Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas
Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and donates a portion of the proceeds from its
theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls.

Over the past five years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $15,000 to
seven nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 100
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 www.WAMTheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com/>

###

-- 
Gail M. Burns

*Marketing + Publicity Associate*
www.WAMTheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com/>
413-458-4246

Our 6th Season:
Emilie <http://www.wamtheatre.com/emilie-staged-reading-special-event/> | Fresh
Takes Reading Series
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-play-reading-series-2015/> |  Stars
in the Orchard Benefit <http://www.wamtheatre.com/stars-in-the-orchard/> | Holy
Laughter <http://www.wamtheatre.com/holy-laughter/>

Make a donation now
<https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/WAMTheatreInc/donate.html> to WAM
Theatre!

*Thank you for your support!*
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