[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Announces Beneficiaries for Fall Mainstage Production of PIPELINE at Sold-Out 10th Anniversary Gala

[Gail Burns]

July 30, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com

pr at wamtheatre.com; 413.274.8122

Press Photos can be found at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157709882112807


WAM Theatre Announces Beneficiaries for Fall Mainstage Production of
PIPELINE at Sold-Out 10th Anniversary Gala

New Elder Ensemble Joins Teen Ensemble to Premiere FRACTURED DREAMS at Gala


LENOX, MA (July 30, 2019) – It was a picture perfect Berkshire evening on
Wednesday, July 24, as WAM Theatre supporters packed The Stationery Factory
in Dalton. They celebrated and supported the company’s first decade of
acclaimed theatrical productions and support of organizations that work to
empower women and girls, at WAM’s sold-out 10th Anniversary Gala, hosted by
Berkshire favorite Ty Allan Jackson.

The full house was in a great mood enjoying the tasty hors d’oeuvres
catered by The Marketplace and the delicious apple cider donuts from
Hilltop Orchards in Richmond. Live and silent auctions added to the fun, in
an event coordinated by Only In My Dreams Events.

The event raised funds for WAM’s Education programs and the company’s
upcoming fall production of PIPELINE by Tony Award-nominated and Obie
Award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, and directed by Dawn M.
Simmons.

In this powerful and thought-provoking examination of race, class, and the
American education system Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher
committed to her students, and desperate to give her only son opportunities
they’ll never have, must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent
when a controversial incident at his upstate private school threatens to
get him expelled.

Gala participants were the first to learn the identity of the non-profits
that will benefit from WAM’s fall production of PIPELINE, which is being
presented in partnership with local social justice organization
Multicultural BRIDGE. In keeping with its double philanthropic mission, WAM
Theatre will be donating a portion of the box office proceeds from PIPELINE to
its 18th and 19th beneficiaries: Harmony Homestead & Wellness Center and
the Women of Color Giving Circle.

“It’s a great honor to be a beneficiary of this profound collaboration
between WAM Theatre and BRIDGE,” exclaimed Elizabeth Blackshine, Founder of
Harmony Homestead & Wholeness Center. “Happy Anniversary WAM! Thank you for
playing your part in uplifting women of color and families of color who
deserve all our attention and support, now more than ever.”

“The Women of Color Giving Circle is honored to collaborate with WAM
Theatre and be a part of the WAMily!” said Leah Reed,  a member of the
Circle. “We are a unique organization in that we foster relationships that
create a safe space for people to come to us individually or as a group,
and identify what they need, and we act based on that. As WAM Theatre seeks
to create opportunities for women and girls, we too seek to empower,
uplift, and embolden our youth so that they may thrive in any environment.”

The 2019 beneficiaries were chosen after a thoughtful and rigorous
selection process, including a request for proposals and site visits,
overseen by a committee at WAM consisting of Kristen van Ginhoven (WAM
Producing Artistic Director), Margaret Fluhr (WAM Board of Directors),
Wendy Healey (WAM Board of Directors), and Lia Russell-Self (WAM Artist).
Stephanie Wright of BRIDGE joined the committee this year as part of the
WAM/BRIDGE partnership on PIPELINE.

“WAM’s donation will allow Harmony Homestead & Wholeness Center to create
and provide a horticulture therapy program for people of color. We also
hope to purchase a vehicle to help increase attendance by families of color
at our programs, which include meditation, re-evaluation counseling
classes, cultural food growing, and nature immersion programs” explained
Blackshine.



“This donation from WAM will help the Women of Color Giving Circle upgrade
the educational tools we use our mentoring program for girls and their
families.” Reed said. “It will also help us facilitate and maintain
connections with students from historically black colleges and universities
(HBCU) students as we foster collaborative relationships by bringing them
to the Berkshires to work with our youth.”

“The WAM Beneficiary Committee is delighted that our selection of these two
beneficairies means that we are supporting both the professional and
spiritual development of what we hope are future educators of color in the
Berkshires”, van Ginhoven shared. “That made these two organizations the
perfect beneficiaries for PIPELINE.”

Another highlight of the Gala evening was the premiere of FRACTURED DREAMS,
the new devised theatre piece created by the 2019 WAM Teen Ensemble and the
new WAM Elder Ensemble. The performance is comprised of original writing,
music, and movement on the theme of dreams and barriers to dreams, created
by the Ensemble members during their two-week residence at The Foundry in
West Stockbridge. The Ensembles are directed by WAM’s Teaching Artists: Amy
Brentano, Sara Katzoff, Talya Kingston, and Lia Rusell-Self.

Audience members rose to their feet after the premiere and Elder Ensemble
participant Nancy Tunnicliffe shared, “The thing that makes me happiest
about our collaborative work is that we struck a blow against ageism, which
can exist in both directions, and by doing so, we became individuals to
each other.”

The celebratory Gala comes at the mid-way point in WAM’s 10th Anniversary
Season, with a successful world premiere of LADY RANDY, a Fresh Takes
Reading of NATIVE GARDENS, and now the two Ensemble programs behind them,
the company is looking ahead to the Fresh Takes Reading of PARADISE and its
partnership with BRIDGE and collaboration with The Nora Theatre Company in
Cambridge, MA, on PIPELINE in the fall.

About Harmony Homestead & Wholeness Center

Harmony Homestead & Wholeness Center exists to facilitate social harmony
and reparations to members of the underserved global majority by means of
support groups, reconnecting with nature, sustainably growing and
preserving food, preserving and practicing indigenous wisdom, and fostering
cross-cultural allies.

https://unveilwholeness.com/

About Women of Color Giving Circle

In affiliation with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, the Women of
Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires seeks to inspire young women of color
and instill self-respect and resilience. They work to build community,
encourage youth development and educational success, and promote the arts.
They provide funding and encourage civic action among citizens of Berkshire
County.

https://www.facebook.com/wocgc1/

About WAM’s fall production of PIPELINE

Performances of PIPELINE are scheduled for October 24-November 9, 2019, at
Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, 70 Kemble St, Lenox, MA.
Preview tickets for the performances on October 24 & 25 at 7:30pm are $25 &
$30. Tickets for the rest of the run start at $30.

Student matinees are scheduled at 12:30pm on Friday, October 25; Wednesday,
October 30; and Monday, November 4. A limited number of seats will be made
available to the general public for purchase at each student matinee.



All tickets are available through the Shakespeare & Company box office:
online at shakespeare.org, call 413-637-3353, or visit
http://bit.ly/WAMPipeline. The box office, located at 70 Kemble Street in
Lenox, is open from 11am-3pm, plus 90 minutes prior to any performance.
Closed Mondays.

In celebration of their 10th Anniversary Season, WAM will offer ten $10
tickets at every single Mainstage performance during the 2019 season on a
first-come, first-serve basis.

Mark your calendars because this is a production you will not want to miss! For
more information on WAM Theatre and PIPELINE, visit: wamtheatre.com/pipeline
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/pipeline/>

This production of PIPELINE is sponsored in part by Carolyn Butler.

AT A GLANCE

October 24-November 9, 2019
PIPELINE
by Dominique Morisseau

Directed by Dawn Meredith Simmons
at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre at Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA

www.wamtheatre.com/pipeline

In this powerful and thought-provoking examination of race, class, and the
American education system Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher
committed to her students, and desperate to give her only son opportunities
they’ll never have, must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent
when a controversial incident at his upstate private school threatens to
get him expelled.

Mature language. Recommended for ages 13+.

A portion of box office proceeds will be donated to the Harmony Homestead &
Wholeness Center and the Women of Color Giving Circle.

PERFORMANCES

Thursday, October 24 at 7:30pm (Preview)

Friday, October 25 7:30p (Preview)

Saturday, October 26 at 7:30pm (Opening)

Sunday, October 27 at 2pm

Wednesday, October 30 at 12:30pm (Student Matinee, limited seats available
to the public)

Thursday, October 31 at 7:30pm

Friday, November 1 at 7:30pm

Saturday, November 2 at 7:30pm

Sunday, November 3 at 2pm

Monday, November 4 at 12:30pm (Student Matinee, limited seats available to
the public)

Thursday, November 7 at 7:30pm

Friday, November 8 at 7:30pm

Saturday, November 9 at 2pm

Saturday, November 9 at 7:30pm

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU (playwright) WAM Theatre: Pipeline (2018 Fresh Takes
Play Reading Series) Plays: The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle) which
includes the following plays: Skeleton Crew(Atlantic Theater Company), Paradise
Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67(Public Theater, Classical Theatre
of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Pipeline (Lincoln Center
Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre); Blood at the Root (National
Black Theatre) and Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages). She is also the
book writer on the new musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the
Temptations (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Theatre Commissions: Her work has
been commissioned by Steppenwolf Theater, Women’s Project, South Coast Rep,
People’s Light and Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival/Penumbra
Theatre. Film/TV: She most recently served as Co-Producer on the Showtime
series “Shameless”. Awards: Spirit of Detroit Award, PoNY Fellowship,
Sky-Cooper Prize, TEER Trailblazer Award, Steinberg Playwright Award,
Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy
Prize for Drama, OBIE Award, Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, and
being named one of Variety’s Women of Impact for 2017-18. Et Cetera:
Dominique is an alumna of The Public Theater Emerging Writer’s Group,
Women’s Project Lab, and Lark Playwrights Workshop and has developed work
at Sundance Lab, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Eugene O’Neil
Playwrights Conference.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

DAWN M. SIMMONS (Director)  WAM Theatre: Pipeline (2018 Fresh Takes Play
Reading Series), Elsewhere: Lyric Stage Company of Boston (The Wiz, Warrior
Class, Saturday Night Sunday Morning), Hibernian Hall, (With Glittering Eyes)
Actors Shakespeare Project (Macbeth), Greater Boston Stage Company (The
Three Musketeers, The Irish and How They Got That Way), SpeakEasy Stage
Company (Just Cause (The Boston Project), Men On Boats), Commonwealth
Shakespeare Company (The Tempest), Bad Habit Productions (The Real
Inspector Hound), Boston Public Works (Hard and Fast: A Love Story), New
Exhibition Room (Smile), Fresh Ink Theatre (The Embryos),  Online:
www.frontporcharts.org

WAM 10th Anniversary Sponsors

WAM’s 2019 sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Annie Selke, Baystate
Financial, Berkshire Gas, Berkshire Hand to Shoulder Center, Berkshire
Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Blue Spark Financial,
Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Chez Nous, Custom
Business Solutions, Dr, Jay Wise, DDS and Dr. Casey Jones, DMD, The
Dylandale Foundation, Frankie's Ristorante Italiano, Greylock Federal
Credit Union, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Haven Cafe and Bakery, Health
Professional Coaching, Heller & Robbins, Interprint, J.H. Maxymillian,
Inc., Lee Bank, Maggie Barry, New England Public Radio (NEPR), Massachusetts
Cultural Council, Only in My Dreams Events, Onyx Specialty Papers, OUTPOST,
RB Design Co., The Rogovoy Report, The Rookwood Inn, Salisbury Bank, T
Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, and a. von schlegell & co.

WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Alford-Egremont
Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern Berkshires, Hinsdale-Peru
Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, New Marlborough Cultural Council,
Otis Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council, Sandisfield Cultural
Council, Sheffield Cultural Council, Washington Cultural Council, West
Stockbridge Cultural Council—local agencies that are supported by the
Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

LADY RANDY was sponsored in part by an anonymous donor and PIPELINE is
sponsored in part by Carolyn Butler.

ABOUT WAM THEATRE

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is celebrating its
10th anniversary of being a place 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 provided paid work to more than 200 theatre
artists and donated more than $65,700 to 17 local and global organizations
taking action for women and girls in areas such as girls education, teen
pregnancy prevention, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training and
more. 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/>
413-274-8122

My gender pronouns: She/Her/Hers

*Our 10th Anniversary Season!*
 Lady Randy <https://www.wamtheatre.com/lady-randy/> | Fresh Takes
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2019/> | WAM Gala 2018
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/wam-gala-2019/> | Pipeline
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/pipeline/>


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