[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Wins Larry Murray Award

[Gail Burns]

November 16, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com

pr at wamtheatre.com; 518.243.9627

PHOTOS ATTACHED


WAM Theatre Wins Larry Murray Award

LEE, MA [November 16, 2017] — On Monday, November 6, at the 2nd Annual
Berkshire Theatre Awards, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics
Association (BTCA) gave WAM Theatre co-founder and artistic director
Kristen van Ginhoven the prestigious Larry Murray Award, given to a person
or theatre project that advances social, political, or community issues.

The award is named after the late Larry Murray, a life-long leader and
advocate in the arts who founded both the BTCA and the Berkshire Theatre
Awards, aka The Berkies, and is voted on only by BTCA Board members. Van
Ginhoven and WAM were honored for their innovative double philanthropic
mission supporting non-profits that benefit women and girls locally,
nationally, and internationally.

“Larry Murray made a difference in all our lives when he was alive, and,
thanks to the dedication of his friends and colleagues, continues to make a
difference now. I am deeply honored and proud that WAM is the recipient of
this award,” van Ginhoven remarked at the awards ceremony.



Many WAM artists were nominated for “Berkie” Awards, including actors Kim
Stauffer and Oliver Wadsworth, nominated for their leading roles in WAM’s
production of Lauren Gunderson’s Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends
Her Life Tonight. Govane Lohbauer was nominated for her costume design
for Emilie…,
and Alexander Sovronsky was nominated for his original score and sound
design for The Last Wife.



The award came one day after WAM had presented a donation of $9,000 to the
Soldier On Women’s Program after the closing performance of the their 2017
fall MainStage production of The Last Wife by Kate Hennig. That donation
represented 25% of the box office proceeds of the run of the production.
Since its founding in 2010, WAM Theatre has donated more than $41,500 to
thirteen nonprofit organizations.

The Soldier On Women’s Program was WAM’s thirteenth beneficiary. Past
recipients include: the Berkshire Immigrant Center, Suzi Banks Baum's New
Illuminations initiative in Gyumri, Armenia, 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 250 theatre professionals.

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.
Our 2017 sponsors include Adams Community Bank, the Appelbaum-Kahn
Foundation, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q,
Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Custom Business
Solutions, The Dylandale Foundation, The Feigenbaum Foundation, Futures
Education, the Garden Gables Inn, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido’s
Fresh Marketplace, In Touch Printing, International Schools Theatre
Association, Interprint, Dr. Jay Wise, DDS & Dr. Casey Jones, DMD,  Lee
Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, MAXYMILLIAN Technologies, Methuselah
Bar and Lounge, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, RB Design Co., Redfin, The
Rookwood Inn, Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, The Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn
Foundation, T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, a. von schlegell &
co., and Zonta.

WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Alford-Egremont
Cultural Council, Dalton Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, New
Marlborough Cultural Council, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Cultural Council
of Northern Berkshires , Otis Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council,
Sandisfield Cultural Council, Stockbridge Cultural Council, Washington
Cultural Council, and West Stockbridge 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, WAM Theatre has donated more than $41,500 to thirteen nonprofit
organizations and provided paid work to more than 250 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 8th Season:*  <http://www.wamtheatre.com/special/>
Fresh Takes <http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2017/> | Emilie
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/emilie-remount-2017/>| Stars in the Orchard
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/stars-in-the-orchard-2017> | The Last Wife
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-last-wife/> | Leadership Summit
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/berkshire-leadership-summit-2017/>


Make a donation now <https://www.wamtheatre.com/donateonline/> to WAM
Theatre!
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