[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: Tickets on Sale for WAM Production of "The Last Wife"

[Gail Burns]

September 7. 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com

pr at wamtheatre.com; 518.243.9627


Tickets Now On Sale for WAM Theatre Production of The Last Wife

LENOX, MA (September 7, 2017) – Tickets are now on sale for WAM Theatre’s
fall Mainstage production of The Last Wife by Kate Hennig, directed by
Kelly Galvin. The play premiered at the Stratford Festival in 2015 and
enjoyed a completely sold-out and extended run. Performances of this
Northeast Regional Premiere production are scheduled for October
13-November 5, 2017, at Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein
Theatre, 70 Kemble St, Lenox, MA.

A contemporary reimagining of the compelling relationship between Katherine
Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, and the King, The Last Wife is a
funny, powerful examination of patriarchy, sexual politics, and women’s
rights. The Last Wife stars Berkshire favorites Nehassaiu deGannes, John
Hadden, and David Joseph, along with talented WAM newcomers Lily Linke,
Alicia Piemme Nelson, and Raoul Silver.

“WAM Theatre opened our 2016 Fresh Takes Play Reading Series with The Last
Wife to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd. Presenting this play is exciting
for many reasons - one of which is that this is the first Fresh Takes play
to be chosen as a WAM Mainstage Production,” said Kristen van Ginhoven, WAM
Artistic Director. “This ensemble of six, led by Nehassaiu and John, is the
perfect cast to bring this story to life. And we couldn’t be more excited
to have Kelly Galvin, WAM’s first Fresh Takes Curator, at the helm
directing The Last Wife. This is sure to be an invigorating evening of
theatre that all will want to see.”

Performances of The Last Wife are Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30pm
and Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2pm. (Please note: no 2pm matinee on
Saturday October 14 and no performances on Sunday, October 29). Regularly
priced tickets are $27-$40. New for The Last Wife: Low-Priced Preview
performances October 13 and 14 are $20-$28. Groups of 10+ save 20% on
full-priced tickets. The Press Opening is Sunday, October 15 at 2pm. All
tickets are available through the Shakespeare & Company box office at
413-637-3353 or online at tickets.shakespeare.org. The box office, located
at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox, is open from 11am-3pm Wednesday-Sunday
(closed Monday/Tuesday), and 90 minutes prior to all performances.



For more information on WAM Theatre and The Last Wife, visit:
www.wamtheatre.com/the-last-wife.

In keeping with their double philanthropic mission, WAM Theatre will be
donating 25% of the box office proceeds from The Last Wife to their 13th
beneficiary, The Soldier On Women’s Program.

Since 2005, Soldier On has been providing services to women veterans and
currently offers a transitional housing program for up to sixteen homeless
female veterans in a trauma informed care setting. WAM's donation will
support care during the transition to independent or family life for the
residents of the Soldier On Women’s Program.

“The Soldier On Women’s Program is thrilled to be WAM’s 2017 beneficiary
and honored to work with a program that is so passionate about improving
the lives of females,” Soldier On’s Executive Director Sara Scoco said.
“Their generous donation will allow Soldier On to continue to provide
services and support to homeless female veterans, including groups within
the program and follow up case management services after women have
successfully transitioned into the community. Soldier On Women’s Program
simply would not exist without benevolent donors such as WAM, and we are
absolutely delighted to be a part of this experience.”

Quick Facts

The Last Wife

by Kate Hennig

Northeast Regional Premiere

October 13-November 5, 2017

at Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

70 Kemble St, Lenox, MA

Tickets $20-$40

Cast

Nehassaiu deGannes as Kate

John Hadden as Henry

Lily Linke as Mary

Alicia Piemme Nelson as Bess

David Joseph as Thom

Raoul Silver as Eddie

Creative Team

Director: Kelly Galvin

Assistant Director: Lia Russell-Self

Set Design: Juliana von Haubrich

Costume Design: Stella Schwartz

Lighting Design: Aja Jackson

Sound Design: Alex Sovronsky

Stage Manager: Hope Rose Kelly

Assistant Stage Manager: Shannon McManus

About the Playwright: Kate Hennig

WAM Theatre: 2016 Fresh Takes Reading Series. Writing: Her writing includes
poetry, stories, articles for industry publications, a dissertation, two
blogs, and a research paper. As a playwright Kate has been a member of the
Groundswell Playwrights’ Unit 2003 (More), Tarragon Playwrights’ Unit 2004 (
More), and the Banff Playwrights’ Colony 2007 (More) and 2008 (Waterworks).
Her play, The Eleventh David, was produced in August 2006 as part of the
SummerWorks Festival, to great critical and audience acclaim. Kate has
written a monologue for movement and voice called The Penelope Principle.
She has written two highly subscribed blogs documenting her acting
experiences with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and with Billy Elliot: The
Musical on Broadway. Her play Waterworks was given a reading at the
Stratford Festival in 2012. Venues: The Banff Centre, Nightwood Theatre,
Tarragon Theatre, Blyth Festival, Grand Theatre, Shaw Festival, Stratford
Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Passe Muraille, and Volcano.
Et Cetera: Kate’s writing has been funded by the Toronto Arts Council, and
by the Ontario Arts Council through the Creators’ Reserve.

About the Director: Kelly Galvin

WAM Theatre: Emilie remount (Associate Director), Artistic Associate
(2012-2014), Fresh Takes Inaugural Playreading Series (Curator and
Producer), Blue Stockings reading (Director), Emilie (Producer).
Elsewhere: Directing:
Southwest Shakespeare Company (Photograph 51), Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (
Memorial), Shakespeare & Company (The Clean House reading, Fall Festival of
Shakespeare 2008-2013, Bankside Preludes), Boston University School of
Theatre (The Cherry Orchard, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Dancing at
Lughnasa, The Duchess of Malfi, The Tall Girls, Changes of Heart).
Assistant Directing: Bedlam NYC, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Boston Center
for American Performance, Shakespeare & Company. 2016 Directing
Observership, Huntington Theatre Company. 2017 Artistic Development &
Directing Internship, Arena Stage. Training: MFA Directing and Certificate
in Arts Administration, Boston University. Wellesley College (BA, Political
Theory and Theatre Studies).

ABOUT THE CAST

Nehassaiu deGannes (Kate)

WAM Theatre: Debut. Elsewhere: Intimate Apparel, Door of No Return, Or,
(Shakespeare & Co), The Convert (Underground Railway Theatre), King Lear
(Chicago Shakes), Marisol, Tallest Building In The World (Luna Stage), Doubt,
A Song For My Father, (Oldcastle), Door of No Return, EQUUS with Alec
Baldwin (John Drew Theatre, Guild Hall), Brave New World (Litmus/ Theatre
Passe Muraille), Hamlet (Driftwood), Romeo and Juliet, Three Musketeers
(Stratford Festival of Canada); and in NYC: T.B. Sheets (Buran
Theater), Gertrude
Stein Lab (director) & Three Gifts for Lenny Bruce, Celia (Target Margin),
readings & new play development with Ensemble Studio Theatre, Red Bull, The
Lark, New Dramatists, New Georges, Columbia U. Training: Trinity Rep
Conservatory, Brown University MFA. Awards: Berkshire Theater Award
Outstanding Supporting Actor for Or; Center For Book Arts National Poetry
Award. Etcetera: Part-Time Lecturer, Theater Program, Princeton University.
Thank you Kristen, Kelly, Kate Hennig & WAM! Thank you Princeton & Jane Cox
too! Online: nehassaiu.com @NehassaiuActor

John Hadden (Henry)

WAM Theatre: Debut Elsewhere: John is a founding member of Shakespeare & Co
(2016 “Berkie” award-winner), co-founder/artistic director of Counterpoint
Theater (Boston), was artistic director at Hubbard Hall (Cambridge, NY),
and associate artist with We Players (San Francisco). He has acted in and
directed about 100 plays here and abroad, and his own plays, including stray
dogs, Hard Rain, King Fool, and Women at War, have been seen at LaMaMa ETC,
PS 122, EST, the National Arts Club, Arsenal Center for the Arts, The
Colonial, Mixed Company, the Wharton Salon, and The Good Ear Review. A solo
show, based on his book Conversations with a Masked Man: My Father, the
CIA, and Me (Arcade 2016), is currently on tour. Online: johnlhadden.com.

David Joseph (Thom)

WAM Theatre: Debut Elsewhere: David has been at Shakespeare & Company for 12
seasons. Past roles include: The Wharton Comedies, George Bailey in It’s a
Wonderful Life, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Elyot in Private
Lives, Dorante in The Liar, Sebastian in The Tempest, Clown 2 (12
Characters) in 39 Steps. Other recent roles include Michael in Can You Hear
Me Baby (NYC & The Goodwill Theatre), George in WORD PLAY  at Playwrights
Horizons (NYC), Johnny in Hotel California (NYC), Coleman in I Married The
Icepick Killer at Stella Adler Theatre (NYC). David is in post-production
for the feature film he produced and starred in, Penny Land. Damsel by
Douglas Burgdorf, another feature film, premiered at the Spain
International Film Festival. Other film credits: Romeo in Romeo & Juliet for
The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, Glowing
Screens, Magdalena's
Brain. Et Cetera: David recently earned a Berkshire Theater Award Best
Actor nomination for playing Charlie Chaplin in The Consul, The Tramp and
America’s Sweetheart at Oldcastle Theatre. In 2008 and 2010, David sang the
National Anthem at Fenway Park.

Lily Linke (Mary)

WAM Theatre: Debut Elsewhere: Recent credits include Good (New Repertory
Theatre), Julius Caesar, 1984, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Classic Repertory
Company), and The Wastelands Project (Children of the Wild). Training: She
received her BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University. Et Cetera: Lily is
primarily a teacher and actor/educator and has worked in schools, theaters,
and after-school and summer programs on both coasts. She currently manages
New Repertory Theatre's Education department and resides in Somerville, MA.

Alicia Piemme Nelson (Bess)

WAM Theatre: Debut Elsewhere: Buck Hill Productions (As You Like It, Much
Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, The Taming of the Shrew), Bay Area
Children's Theatre (The Rainbow Fish Musical, Five Little Monkeys), Boston
University (Don Juan Comes Back from the War, The Cherry Orchard, Mad
Forest, The Duchess of Malfi, The Tall Girls), One Year Lease -
Apprenticeship (Σε Τουτο το βουνο), Tabard Theatre (You're a Good Man
Charlie Brown). Training: BFA Acting - Boston University, Physical
Theatre/Clowning - Accademia dell'Arte Awards: KCACTF Region VII Finalist
Online: ampnelson.com

Raoul Silver (Eddie)

WAM Theatre: Debut Film/TV: A Bread Factory Training: HB Studios, School of
Rock, Brooklyn Music Factory Et cetera: Raoul is 11 years old and lives in
Columbia County, NY. Upcoming: New York: Once Upon The Bronx (Theater for
the New City Dream Up Festival 2017) Online: www.youtube.com/raoulsilver

About Soldier On

Soldier On has a single purpose mission of providing a continuum of
programs to ensure that homeless veterans and their families have access to
immediate and long-term housing with an array of supportive services
delivered to them where they live. Soldier On’s goal is to help veterans
become fully franchised and contributing members of their community by
helping them to regain physical, mental, economic and housing stability
within an environment of integrity, dignity and hope.

Since 2005 Soldier On has been providing services to women veterans and
currently offers a transitional housing program for up to sixteen homeless
female veterans in a trauma informed care setting. Soldier On provides a
safe, comfortable, structured environment that promotes healing and healthy
life choice, helping veterans realize their full potential by providing
them with activities and opportunities that embrace mind, body, and spirit.

Soldier On Women's Program website:
http://www.wesoldieron.org/womens-program/

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 $32,500 to twelve nonprofit
organizations and provided paid work to more than 200 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!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://capdisttheater.org/pipermail/capdist-announce/attachments/20170907/bc1e503a/attachment.html>