[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: Previews Begin for WAM Theatre's "Holy Laughter"

[Gail Burns]

October 26, 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/

Watch the trailer for the production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdUZOdZCXDE


WAM Theatre’s fall production of Holy Laughter opens this week

LENOX, MA (October 26, 2015) –  Previews for WAM Theatre’s mainstage
production of Holy Laughter by Catherine Trieshmann start on Thursday,
October 29 and run through Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 pm at the Sydelle
and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center at 36 Linden Street in Pittsfield.
Tickets for preview performances are just $18. This developmental workshop
production officially opens at the 2 pm performance on Sunday, November 1,
and continues performances Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 & 7:30 pm,
and Sundays at 2 pm through November 22. The production is recommended for
ages 13 and up.

“This is always the most exciting time of year for WAM Theatre, “ says
Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven, “All our efforts to use theatre to
benefit women and girls come to fruition through producing our mainstage
production. We can’t wait to share this touching new comedy with our
audiences and, at the same time, use this production as our philanthropy by
helping keep five girls in school in 2016 plus helping 125 families rebuild
following the catastrophic earthquake earlier this year in Nepal. WAM’s
double philanthropic model means that by attending this show, our audiences
are supporting both the arts and women and girls, a double WAMmy!”

Holy Laughter 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.

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 and
Sisters for Peace girls education project in Nepal. There will be a lobby
display featuring the collaborative work of these two organizations and a
talkback with them on the closing performance on November 22 at 2pm. Visit
the links below to read the WAM interview with both organizations, who
shared in detail the impact of their work:

http://www.wamtheatre.com/interview-with-sisters-for-peace/

http://www.wamtheatre.com/interview-with-hands-in-outreach/

Four post-show talkback sessions are being offered. Each will feature a
discussion about the creative process as well as a question and answer
session. Playwright Catherine Trieschmann leads off the series following
the Saturday, October 31 7:30 pm preview performance. 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 are $18-$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, $18–$40

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

Recommended for ages 13+

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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