[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Makes Record Donation

[Gail Burns]

October 25, 2016

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/
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157648698789976/>

WAM Theatre Makes Record Donation

$9,000 Split Between Berkshire Immigrant Center & Suzi Banks Baum

LEE, MA [October 25, 2016] — Every year WAM Theatre donates a portion of
the box office proceeds from their fall Main Stage production to agencies
that benefit women and girls locally, nationally, or internationally. The
success of their co-production with the Berkshire Theatre Group of The
Bakelite Masterpiece by Kate Cayley enabled the company to present their
largest donation yet to their 2016 beneficiaries - the Berkshire Immigrant
Center (BIC) and Suzi Banks Baum’s New Illuminations Project.

Since its founding in 2010, WAM Theatre has now donated more than $30,000
to twelve nonprofit organizations. This year’s total of  $9,000 total was
divided with $5,500 going to BIC and $3,500 going to Suzi Banks Baum's
initiative in Gyumri, Armenia. In keeping with WAM Theatre’s double
philanthropic mission, a gift presentation was made following the closing
performance on October 23.

“October 23 was an incredible day!” enthused Kristen van Ginhoven, Artistic
Director of WAM Theatre and the director of the Bakelite Masterpiece, “Thanks
to a wonderfully successful co-production with the Berkshire Theatre Group
- which sold out multiple performances and had over 2,000 people attend -
we were able to make this record $9,000 donation. Both beneficiaries were
thrilled and delighted by the gift - which was much larger than
anticipated.  The successful combination of jobs created, stories told,
donations made and opportunities created for women and girls on this
co-production reinforces that WAM’s vision of using art as philanthropy is
having an amazing impact.”

Banks Baum will use her donation to pay women artists in Armenia a stipend
for their work as visual artists. The arts are not an accepted field of
work for women in Armenia, where they are culturally limited in how they
can support themselves and their families.

The Berkshire Immigrant Center will use their funds to help women from
abused households navigate a path to citizenship in the United States.

These are WAM’s eleventh and twelfth beneficiaries. Past recipients
include: Hands in Outreach, Sisters for Peace, Mother of Peace Orphanage in
Illovo, South Africa, the Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program for
Girls (ROPE), Shout Out Loud Productions, Berkshire United Way’s Teen
Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, Edna’s Hospital in Somaliland, The Women’s
Fund of Western Massachusetts, and Women for Women International. This is
in addition to providing paid contract work to over 175 theatre
professionals.

The Bakelite Masterpiece opened on October 1 to critical accolade and
enthusiastic audience response, both at the performances and on social
media. Audience members said: powerful play with fine actors!, very
interesting - well done,  and Congratulations on a wise and evocative
production!

Jeffrey Borak of the Berkshire Eagle called the production: Superbly
crafted, emotionally and intellectually rich.

J. Peter Bergman of the Berkshire Edge noted: Together the two actors on
stage created a major world.

In the Albany-Times Union, Steve Barnes wrote: Superbly acted
co-production…under the sensitive, nuanced direction of Kristen van
Ginhoven...

Mark G. Auerbach, The Westfield News raved: The Bakelite Masterpiece is one
of the best plays and productions that I’ve seen this season.

With support from Mass Humanities, the show was complemented by program
notes and a lobby display on Truth and Reconciliation created by Brenda
Oppermann, a senior advisor for military and civilian organizations working
primarily on issues concerning international peace and conflict, and by a
robust series of post-show conversations, hosted by van Ginhoven and WAM’s
Education Coordinator Alicia Maher, with Oppermann, playwright Kate Cayley,
actors David Adkins and Corinna May, the design team, author Adriana
Millenaar Brown, Julia Courtney, Curator of Art at the Springfield Museums,
and representatives from the Berkshire Commission on the Status of Women.



The American premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece, written by Kate Cayley
and directed by Kristen van Ginhoven, ran from September 29 through October
23, 2016, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge,
MA.

OUR SEASON SPONSORS

WAM Theatre is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support
from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National
Endowment for the Humanities; and by the Massachusetts Cultural Council
Cultural. Our 2016 sponsors include the Adams Community Bank, Berkshire
Bank, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Brabson
Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Custom Business Solution,
Dylandale Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Garden Gables, Greylock
Federal Credit Union, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, International Schools
Theatre Association, Interprint, Dr. Jay Wise, DDS & Dr. Casey Jones, DMD,
 Jon Gotterer DMD, Keator Group, LLC, Lee Bank, Lenox Education Enrichment
Fund, Massachusetts Cultural Council, MAXYMILLIAN Technologies, Michele’s
Salon + Day Spa, Nina Molin MD, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, Petricca
Industries, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, RB Design Co., The Rookwood Inn,
Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, Toole Insurance, A. von Schlegell & Co., The
Sherman Investment Group-RBC Wealth Management, and Zabian's Fine Jewelers.

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.

Since 2010 years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $30,000 to twelve
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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