[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Announces Audience Enrichment Events for "Holy Laughter"

[Gail Burns]

October 19, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com

pr at wamtheatre.com; 518.243.9627

Press Photos can be found at:

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

WAM Theatre Announces Audience Enrichment Events for Holy Laughter

LENOX, MA (October 19, 2015) –  As usual, WAM Theatre is offering a variety
of audience enrichment events in conjunction with their fall MainStage
production.  This year’s events include a lobby display featuring this
year’s beneficiaries, talkbacks with the cast and design team and a writing
workshop on comedy with the playwright.

Holy Laughter by Catherine Trieschmann is a poignant comedy that follows
Abigail, an Episcopal priest who finds that the reality of leading a church
is radically and hilariously different than what she learned in
seminary.  Hymns,
liturgical dance and a wicked tongue lift this antic portrait of a small,
struggling congregation to comic heights.  All events and performances will
be held at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center at 36 Linden
Street in Pittsfield.

Lobby Display

This year’s lobby display will showcase the work of Hands in Outreach and
Sisters for Peace, the two organizations who are this year's WAM
beneficiaries and will receive, in keeping with WAM’s double philanthropic
mission, 25% of the box office proceeds from the production. Before seeing
the show, audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy the display and
learn more about how these two groups have teamed up to help educate girls
in Nepal and support their families. They will see how their ticket
purchase is aiding in providing a direct deposit to 125 Hands in Outreach
families of at least $20, which can feed a family of four for a month and
also help them rebuild following the catastrophic earthquake earlier this
year. Audiences will also learn about the five Sisters for Peace girls who
will be attending school in 2016 in Nepal for the entire year thanks to
WAM's donation from Holy Laughter. The lobby display will include images of
these families and girls and information about their lives in Nepal.

Writing Workshop

A workshop, Make ‘em Laugh: Writing Comedy for the Stage with playwright
Catherine Trieschmann, will be held from 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, October
31. The cost is $35 for just the workshop, or $50 for the workshop and a
ticket to the 7:30 pm preview performance that same day (dinner is not
included.) Join Trieschmann and explore the comic form. Participants will
read and analyze comic scenes from different plays, as well as engage in
writing exercises designed to release the inner clown. Enrollment is
limited to ten people, so register early.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2406055

Catherine Trieschmann's 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 include the L. Arnold Weissberger Award, Edgerton New Play
Award, Otis Guernsey New Voices Award from the William Inge Theater
Festival.

Talkbacks

Trieschmann will also lead off the post-show talkback series following the
Saturday, October 31 7:30 pm preview performance. Each talkback will
feature a discussion about the creative process as well as a question and
answer session. A talkback with the cast will take place after the 2 pm
matinee on Saturday, November 7, and with the design team following the
matinee on Saturday, November 14. On Sunday, November 22 after the 2pm
matinee, there will be a post-show discussion with this year’s
beneficiaries, Hands in Outreach and Sisters For Peace, about their work
and the impact of WAM's donation, followed by the check presentation.

Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets for Holy Laughter are now on sale. Previews are at 7:30 pm October
29-31 and tickets are only $18. The opening performance will be Sunday,
November 1 at 2pm.  Additional performances are scheduled on Fridays
November 6, 13 & 20 at 7:30 pm, Saturdays November 7, 14 & 21 at 2 and 7:30
pm, and Sundays November 8, 15 & 22 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15-$40. See
www.wamtheatre.com/holy-laughter/ for more information.

Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, who directed the 2014 Fresh Takes
Reading of Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England by Madeleine George,
the cast features Dana Harrison (Shakespeare & Company’s Private Lives),
Ron Komora (The Poet in An Iliad at Capital Rep), Amie Lytle (Around the
World in 80 Days, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Wellfleet Harbor Actors
Theater), Kimberlee Monroe (Maid’s Door at the Billy Holiday Theatre, NYC),
and Benjamin Zoëy.

In keeping with WAM’s double philanthropic mission 25% of the box office
proceeds from Holy Laughter will be donated to the Hands in Outreach
http://www.handsinoutreach.org/ and Sisters for Peace
http://www.sistersforpeace.org/ girls education project in Nepal. See
www.wamtheatre.com/holy-laughter/ for more information.

Tickets are $15-$40 and are being sold through the Barrington Stage Company
(BSC) box office. They can be purchased in three easy ways: by calling the
BSC box office at 413-236-8888, going in person during box office hours to
30 Union Street in Pittsfield, or buying online through the BSC ticketing
page. https://tickets.barringtonstageco.org/

Sponsors for this production include: Greylock Federal Credit Union; Garden
Gables Inn (Producer Sponsors); Berkshire Magazine, RookWood Inn, RBC
Wealth Management (Partner Sponsors); Custom Business Solutions, Interprint
(Leader Sponsors); Adams Community Bank, Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook,
Rogovoy Report, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank(Patron Sponsors); RB Designs;
Nina Molin MD;  Jon Gotterer DMD, Dr Jay Wise (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

Holy Laughter

by Catherine Trieschmann

First Developmental Workshop Production

October 29–November 22, $15–$40

Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center - St. Germain Stage, 36 Linden
Street, Pittsfield, MA

Ticket info: www.WAMTheatre.com

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

Talkbacks

   -

   Saturday, October 31st after the 7:30pm performance, with the playwright
   Catherine Trieschmann
   -

   Saturday, November 7th after the 2pm matinee, with the cast
   -

   Saturday, November 14th after the 2pm matinee, with members of the
   design team
   -

   Sunday, November 22nd, after the 2pm matinee, a post-show discussion
   with this year’s beneficiaries, Hands in Outreach and Sisters For Peace
   about their work and the impact of WAM's donation, followed by the check
   presentation.


Make ‘em Laugh: Writing Comedy for the Stage

Workshop with Playwright Catherine Trieschmann

Saturday, October 31 3:30-5:30 pm - Limited to 10 people.

Two ticket options:

   1.

   $35 for the two hour workshop
   2.

   $50 includes the workshop and the preview of "Holy Laughter" following
   the workshop at 7:30pm. (Dinner is not included)

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2406055

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 our 2015 Beneficiaries

Hands In Outreach (HIO), run by Ricky Bernstein of the Berkshires, is a
small educational sponsorship program for poor, inner-city girls in Nepal.
With a family oriented approach, HIO guides and empowers their girls to be
strong, self-reliant adults. By actively partnering with children, families
and schools, HIO encourages girls to remain in school, avoiding early
marriage and a life of low-wage menial jobs. They carefully monitor the
long-term wellbeing of our HIO families, promoting education as a means
toward empowerment, gender equality and ultimately, an end to a family's
cycle of profound poverty. As part of HIO's work after the devastating
earthquake that hit Nepal earlier this year, they provided a direct check
to the 125 families they support for $50, which provided food for around
three months and helped families rebuild. WAM Theatre's donation to HIO
will allow them to make another direct deposit to the 125 families of at
least $20. During the fall production, there will be a lobby display will
show the impact those funds will have on the families.
http://www.handsinoutreach.org/

Sisters for Peace (SFP), founded by Berkshire resident Caroline Wheeler, is
a grassroots, non-profit organization empowering women and girls, locally
and around the world who are living in impoverished conditions. SFP is
entirely a volunteer-run organization. SFP currently sponsors four HIO
girls to attend school and through WAM's donation, in 2016, will be able to
sponsor five girls to stay in school for the entire year. The Holy Laughter
lobby display will feature these young women, with photographs, essays,
poetry and other works that personalize them and their lives for the
audience. http://www.sistersforpeace.org/

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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