[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Announces 2016 Fresh Takes Reading Series

[Gail Burns]

March 1, 2016

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAM Theatre Announces Third Series of Fresh Takes Play Readings

Call for Actor Submissions Now Open

Lenox, MA [March 1, 2016] - WAM Theatre is excited to announce the line-up
for its third season of their popular Fresh Takes Play Readings on select
Sunday afternoons at No. Six Depot Roastery and Café in West Stockbridge.
Each reading is followed by a talkback with the actors and director, and
this year WAM is teaming with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
at Berkshire Community College to offer companion classes with WAM Artistic
Director Kristen van Ginhoven on the Monday following each reading.

Curated once again by WAM Theatre’s Artistic Associate Molly Clancy, Fresh
Takes introduces Berkshire audiences to ground-breaking works by
established women playwrights who are contributing to the international
conversation throughout the English-speaking theatre.

Fresh Takes also takes pride in featuring local actors, artists audiences
have grown to love on area stages over the years.  Actors interested in
being considered for the series should read on for information on the
submission process.

This is Clancy’s second season curating the series. “Over recent months I
have had the pleasure of reading tons and tons of play scripts from amazing
female playwrights from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom,
looking for unique and different voices that tell the stories of women and
girls in really fresh and exciting ways,” Clancy explained. “In keeping
with WAM’s mission, I seek out relevant, provocative, uplifting works that
encourage dialogue and deal with current and controversial issues in artful
ways.”

The season kicks off on April 17 with a reading of The Last Wife, by Kate
Hennig, directed by Molly Clancy; followed by Photograph 51 by Anna Ziegler,
directed by Kelly Galvin on May 15; The Oregon Trail by Bekah Brunstetter,
directed by Estefanía Fadul on June 19; Samsara by Lauren Yee,
directed by Megan
Sandberg-Zakian on August 21; and Grand Concourse by Heidi Shreck, directed
by Sheila Siragusa on September 11. The 2016 Fresh Takes season is
sponsored by No. Six Depot and Kristin and James Hatt.

This year, in response to our audiences request for deeper discussion
around the women’s issues raised in each play, WAM Theatre is partnering
with OLLI to co-present a companion class called ‘Fresh Takes/Your Take’.
Starting on the Monday following the May reading of Photograph 51, WAM
Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven will share the underpinning of the
piece and its author, setting the scene for discussion of audience
questions, reactions, and experiences evoked by the Sunday reading.

Open Call for Actor Submissions

WAM is also putting out a call for actor submissions for the Fresh Takes
series. Interested theatre artists are invited to submit a resume and
headshot to Hope Rose Kelly, General Manager, at hope at wamtheatre.com by
March 21 with ‘Submission: Fresh Takes’ in the subject line. Please include
the readings for which you are available in the body of your e-mail.

Participation in the reading series is voluntary, and actors must have
experience with and be comfortable at cold readings. Equity actors are
invited to perform via Equity waiver. Each reading will rehearse on the
Saturday prior to the performance. Actors must be available for both the
rehearsal and reading date.

For casting breakdown and more information visit:

http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-casting-breakdown-2016/

AT A GLANCE

Fresh Takes Play Reading Series

Curated by WAM Theatre’s Artistic Associate Molly Clancy and hosted by No.
Six Depot Roastery and Café on 6 Depot Street in West Stockbridge, MA, on
select Sundays at 3 pm.

The 2016 Fresh Takes series is sponsored by No. Six Depot Roastery and Café
and Kristin and James Hatt.

There are only 30 tickets available per reading. Tickets are $20, which
includes a post-show conversation and the opportunity to meet the cast and
director. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Café. For
tickets and more information visit:

http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/

The companion classes are offered at OLLI’s Pittsfield campus at Berkshire
Community College on Monday May 16, June 20, August 22, and September 12
from 7-8:30 pm. $20 for reading only; $40 for one reading/companion class;
$139 for all four readings/companion classes. For registration and
information visit:
http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takesyour-take-olli-classes/

April 17, 2016

The Last Wife

by Kate Hennig

directed by Molly Clancy

Kate is smart, poised, and passionate, a rising star in a world of intense
competition, but her obligatory marriage to Henry is rife with the threat
of violence and deceit, her devotion to the education of his daughters is
putting strain on her marriage. A contemporary retelling of the compelling
relationship between Katherine Parr and Henry VIII; WAM Theatre invites
audiences to a powerful examination of patriarchy, sexual politics and
women’s rights. The play had its world premiere in 2015, with a sold out
extended run at the Stratford Festival in Canada.

May 15, 2016

Photograph 51

by Anna Ziegler

directed by Kelly Galvin

An intriguing portrait of British scientist Rosalind Franklin and her—often
overlooked—role in the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. This
complex tale explores how Rosalind, an intelligent, stubborn and courageous
woman, navigated a world dominated by men. This critically acclaimed play
ran on London’s West End in 2015, featuring Nicole Kidman. A balance of the
historical, romantic, and scientific, Photograph 51 is a touching play that
dramatizes the fight for education, equality and access for women.

June 19, 2016

The Oregon Trail

by Bekah Brunstetter

directed by Estefanía Fadul

A tale of two young women, both named Jane. One is an awkward middle
schooler with body odor and epic skills for The Oregon Trail computer game.
The other Jane is the woman in the game, living through the hardships of
trail life with her family. Looking at the impact of memory and the legacy
of sadness across generations, the play weaves parallel stories of
survival, and asks the age-old question – do you want to ford the river?
WAM is proud to present Brunstetter’s funny, imaginative and poignant play,
which had it’s world premiere at the 2015 Women’s Voices Theatre Festival
in Washington D.C.

August 21, 2016

Samsara

by Lauren Yee

directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian

Katie and Craig are having a baby, with a surrogate who lives in India. A
month before the baby’s due date, Craig travels to the subcontinent, where
he meets Suraiya, their young, less-than-thrilled surrogate. As all three
“parents” anxiously wait for the baby to be born, flights of fancy attack
them from all sides, in the form of an unctuous Frenchman and a
smart-mouthed fetus. WAM Theatre is proud to share this vibrant and
whimsical take on modern day colonialism.

September 11, 2016

Grand Concourse

by Heidi Shreck

directed by Sheila Siragusa

Called to a life of service, Shelley is the devoted manager of a Bronx soup
kitchen, but lately her heart’s not in it. Enter Emma: an idealistic but
confused young volunteer, whose recklessness pushes Shelley to the breaking
point. With keen humor and startling compassion, Schreck’s play navigates
the mystery of faith, the limits of forgiveness, and the pursuit of
happiness. WAM Theatre is pleased to share a play which was a nominee for
the 2015 Lucille Lortel Award and a finalist for the 2015 Susan Smith
Blackburn Prize.

OUR SEASON SPONSORS

Our 2016 sponsors include the  Brabson Library & Educational Foundation,
Dylandale Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union,
International Schools Theatre Association, Jon Gotterer DMD, Massachusetts
Cultural Council, Nina Molin MD, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, RBC
Wealth Management, Petricca Industries, and Regina Burgio.

WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Lenox,
Alford-Egremont, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern
Berkshires , Washington Cultural Council, Monterey Cultural Council,
Stockbridge Cultural Council, West Stockbridge Cultural Council, Richmond
Cultural Council – local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts
Cultural Council, a state agency.

ABOUT WAM THEATRE

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and
Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director,
actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to
create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as
philanthropy.

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

Over the past six years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $21,000 to eight
nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 175 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

# # #



-- 
Gail M. Burns

*Marketing + Publicity Associate*
www.WAMTheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com/>
413-274-8122

*Our 7th Season:*Special  <http://www.wamtheatre.com/special/>| 24hr Project
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/2016-24-hour-theatre-project/> | Fresh Takes
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/> | Stars in the Orchard
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/stars-in-the-orchard-2016/> | Bakelite
Masterpiece <http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-bakelite-masterpiece/>

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