[Capdist-announce] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tickets Now on Sale for WAM Theatre's KAMLOOPA

[Gail Burns]

September 15, 2021



Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

wamtheatre.com
pr at wamtheatre.com
413.274-8122

Click here for photos
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157718262350481>



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR WAM THEATRE’S KAMLOOPA

Presented live in the Berkshires October 7-24, 2021
Streaming digitally November 1-7, 2021

 LENOX, MA (September 15, 2021) — WAM Theatre is excited to present the US
premiere of KAMLOOPA: AN INDIGENOUS MATRIARCH STORY by Kim Senklip Harvey,
winner of Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Award for English
Language Drama, directed by Estefanía Fadul (WAM’s Native Gardens, The
Oregon Trail).  COVID safe live performances of this new comedy,  will be
presented at Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre in Lenox,
MA, from October 7-24. A digital streaming version of the production will
also be available in the United States only from November 1-7. Tickets are
on sale now.

“When I read KAMLOOPA, I got goosebumps and knew immediately that it was a
play our WAMily would love,” exclaimed WAM Producing Artistic Director
Kristen van Ginhoven. ”With its magical realism, its heart, its activism
and its ceremony, KAMLOOPA is the perfect play to close out our 2021
season.”

Come along for the ride to KAMLOOPA, the largest powwow on the West Coast.
This high energy comedy follows two urban Indigenous sisters and their
encounter with a lawless trickster, as they explore what it means to honor
who they are and where they come from. Follow their journey in this
captivating, contemporary new play, as the courageous sisters turn to the
ancestors for help to reclaim their power.

 The play opens on Indigenous People’s Weekend, and  in line with WAM’s
philanthropic mission and accountability work, a portion of proceeds from
KAMLOOPA will be donated to women and girls initiatives of the Cultural
Affairs office of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Tribe, upon
whose lands WAM lives and works.


Harvey is Syilx and Tsilhqot'in with Ancestral ties to the Dakelh,
Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa communities. In May 2021, she became the first
Indigenous playwright to win Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Award
for English Language Drama. The judges said: “The brilliance, the
irreverence, the fire of KAMLOOPA sweeps us into the world of three
Indigenous women on a mind-bending quest. The audience is seduced by the
love, humour and depth of these matriarchs as they embrace and celebrate
who they are in the world and with each other.”

Playwright Kim Senklip Harvey explains: “I created KAMLOOPA to ignite the
power that lives within Indigenous femmes and peoples. This transformation
story is an offer for all of us to be bold and passionate about having the
courage to fully become ourselves.”

Director Estefanía Fadul agrees, stating that: “WAM’s mission of combining
arts and activism and creating theatre that centers women could not align
more with my own work. I am grateful to call WAM one of my artistic homes
and am excited to return to direct Kim’s beautifully visceral play. From
the moment I read it, the journey of the three women at the heart of the
story, as they struggle to define their identities within a diaspora,
resonated deeply with me. It's a story of sisters, of coming into one's own
power, and finding one's place within a larger community. It is told with
so much joy, heart, and imagination, and I cannot wait to share it with
audiences.”

Three Indigenous actors are making their WAM Theatre debuts in KAMLOOPA. Sarah
B. Dennison (Soledad at the American Indian Community House in partnership
with Carnegie Hall; The Assasination of J Kaaisar at Theatre for the New
City), a New York-based actor, writer, and director, originally from the
Spokane Reservation, will be playing the role of Kilawna. Jasmine Rochelle
Godspeed  (Leonora’s World and the touring production of Leonora and
Aljehandro in collaboration with Double Edge Theatre) a Massachusetts based
Native American actor and playwright from the Nipmuc Nation will be playing
Indian Friend #1 (Edith), and Ria Nez (Mother Courage and Her Children and The
Last Days Of Judas Iscariot both at the Frederick Loewe Theater), an
Indigenous (Nahautl) actress, director and artist based in New York, will
play Mikaya.

Returning artists include company dramaturg Tatiana Godfrey; Stage Manager
Amanda Nita Luke, who served in the same capacity this season for WAM’s
online reading of The Light; and costume designer Calypso Michelet, who was
the Assistant Costume Designer for WAM’s 2020 streaming production of ROE.
Making their WAM debuts on this production are lighting designer Emma
Deane, sound designer Caroline Eng, and costume designer Lux Haac, whose
work was last seen in the Berkshires in Barrington Stage Company’s 2018
production of Well Intentioned White People.

For tickets to the live performance or digital stream of KAMLOOPA please
call (413) 637-3353 or visit WAM online here
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa/.>. For more
information about the 2021 Season and WAM Theatre’s programs, events, and
artists, please visit www.WAMTheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com>.

At-a-Glance

KAMLOOPA: AN INDIGENOUS MATRIARCH STORY

US Premiere

by Kim Senklip Harvey

Directed by Estefanía Fadul



Featuring

Sarah B. Dennison as Kilawna

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed as Indian Friend #1 (Edith)

Ria Nez as Mikaya



Emma Deane, Lighting Design

Caroline Eng, Sound Design

Tatiana Godfrey, Dramaturg

Lux Haac, Costume Design

Amanda Nita Luke, Stage Manager

Calypso Michelet, Scenic Design



Presented live at Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre in
Lenox, MA

October 7-24, 2021

Tickets on sale now!
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa/>$25-$100

Available for digital streaming (US only) November 1-7, 2021

Tickets $15-$75



For tickets call (413) 637-3353 or visit WAM online at
https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa/.

Performance Schedule

Thurs. Oct 7- 7pm (preview)

Fri. Oct 8 - 7pm (preview)

Sat. Oct 9 - 3pm (preview)

Sat. Oct 9 - 7pm (OPENING)

Thurs, Oct 14 - 10am

Fri, Oct 15 - 3pm

Sat, Oct 16 - 7pm

Sun, Oct 17 - 3pm

Thurs, Oct 21 - 7pm

Fri, Oct 22 - 7pm

Sat, Oct 23 - 7pm

Sun, Oct 24 3pm (CLOSING)

In line with WAM’s philanthropic mission and accountability work, a portion
of proceeds from KAMLOOPA will be donated to women and girls initiatives of
the Cultural Affairs office of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican
Tribe, upon whose lands WAM lives and works.

The performance runs 90-minutes.

AUDIENCE ADVISORY: KAMLOOPA explores themes of Native erasure, Indigenous
stereotypes, and intergenerational trauma through hilarious and
contemporary dialogue. Due to the use of profanity, drinking, and thematic
elements listed above, WAM recommends this play for audiences high school
aged and older.



For more information about KAMLOOPA and the artists, please visit
https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa/

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Kim Senklip Harvey (she/her) is Syilx, and Tsilhqot'in with Ancestral ties
to the Dakelh, Secwepemc and Ktunaxa communities.  She is a Indigenous
Theorist, Cultural Evolutionist and storyteller whose work focuses on the
ignition of Indigenous power and innovating methodological processes with
artistic sovereignty to create joy centered narratives that nourish the
spirits of peoples oppressed by the imperial state. Kim creates artistic
ceremonies to protect and evolve Indigenous cultures and believes that
stories are the most powerful tool we have to provide every organism the
opportunity to live peacefully. Kim is currently working on a tv adaptation
of Kamloopa, 2021 winner of Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Award
for Drama. She is completing her first book entitled Interiors: Love
Stories from a Salish Plateau Dirtbag and is in the creation of her next
artistic ceremony Break Horizons: A Rocking Indigenous Justice Ceremony.
She is in her final year of her Masters in Creative Writing at the
University of Victoria and all of her work is with respect to her Ancestors
and for the future generations, whom we owe so much. Connect:
www.kimsenklipharvey.com

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Estefanía Fadul (she/her) is a Colombian-born, New Hampshire-raised,
NYC-based theatre director primarily of new work. WAM Theatre: director of
Kamloopa, previously directed Fresh Takes readings of Native Gardens and
The Oregon Trail Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Azul (Southern Rep),
Scissoring (INTAR), The Same Day (Sfumato Theatre, Bulgaria), Pranayama
(Juilliard), Agent 355 (Chautauqua) Selected Assistant Directing credits:
ToasT (Public Theater), The Clean House (Williamstown), Iphigenia in Aulis
(Classic Stage Company) Selected developmental work: Maybe You Should Just
(Public Theater), Let Night Fall on the Côte d’Azur (Long Wharf), Derecho
(Latinx Playwrights Circle), Lyons Pride (Playwrights Realm). Film/TV: shadow
to the director on CBS’ Doubt Membership/Affiliations: Center for
Performance and Civic Practice, Society of Stage Directors and
Choreographers, Drama League Directors Council, New Georges Jam, Lincoln
Center Theater Directors Lab. Alumna of: Drama League Directors Project
Fall and TV Fellowships, O’Neill National Directors Fellowship, Clubbed
Thumb Directing Fellowship, Foeller Fellowship at Williamstown Theatre
Festival, Van Lier Fellowship at Repertorio Español, Civilians’ R&D Group,
NALAC Leadership Institute. Training: Vassar College (BA) Awards/proudest
achievements: Awards: New York Stage and Film Pfaelzer Award. One of my
proudest achievements is creating Carla’s Quince, an immersive virtual
theatre experience to mobilize the Latinx vote in the last election.
Connect: www.estefaniafadul.com

ABOUT THE CAST

Sarah B. Denison (she/her) is a NYC based actor, writer, and director,
originally from the Spokane Reservation. Current role with WAM: Kilawna in
Kamloopa.  WAM Theatre: Debut. Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Dora in
Soledad (American Indian Community House in partnership with Carnagie Hall,
NYC); Octavia in The Assasination of J Kaaisar (Theatre for the New City,
NYC) Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream (LoveCreek Productions, NYC); Annie
Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, directed by Patty Duke (InterPlayers
Theatre, WA; for which she earned a critics choice award “Best Actress”) Film
& TV Credits: Natalie in the feature Snowflake (Necessary Outlet
Productions, NYC); Becky in Grave Mysteries (Discovery ID); Other Credits &
Training: Sarah received her BA in Theatre from Eastern Washington
University. She is the Co-Founder of From the Couch Theatre (NYC) (
fromthecouchtheatre.com); she has studied Linklater for voice with the NYC
Linklater Center; performed and directed with the New Short Play Festival
(NSPF); performed sketch at The Producers Club NYC; performed and directed
with LoveCreek Productions NYC; done readings with Amerinda Theatre (NYC)
and Safe Harbor Indigenous Collective (in partnership LaMama Theatre, NYC);
studied sketch writing with UCB (NYC); studied Uta Hagen at HB Studios
(NYC); and is trained in Shakespeare and Chekhov. In addition to theatre,
she's a 200hr certified yoga instructor and a founding member of the Bread
and Yoga Cooperative (NYC). She is a fierce animals rights advocate (Go
Vegan!) and really, really, really loves goats and dogs and pigs. Connect:
Instagram @sarahbdenison.actor; YouTube Channel(s): Silly Me, I'm Sarah B.
and SarahBDenison; sarahbdenison.com

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed (she/they) is a Massachusetts based Native
American actor and playwright from the Nipmuc Nation. Having produced and
written a musical titled 1675 about the Tragedy of King Philip’s War and
Deer Island at Umass Amherst, Jasmine aspires to create theatre that
uplifts Native stories. Her passion lies in classical and musical
theatre. Current
Role with WAM: Edith/IFN1 in Kamloopa WAM Theatre: debut. Theatre Credits
Elsewhere: Jasmine was a featured artist as both an actor and director in
the 2020 NYC Safe Harbors Native Directors showcase, as well as projects
with the group throughout the pandemic. Pre-Pandemic, Jasmine was in
collaboration with Double Edge Theatre for both Leonora’s World (2019) and
the touring production of Leonora and Aljehandro (2020).  Some past roles
also include: Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress, Louisa in The Fantastiks,
and Eliza in My Fair Lady. Selected training: University of Massachusetts,
Amherst (BA in Theatre, & English), Five College Certificate in Native
American Studies. Training at AMDA NYC.

Ria Nez (she/her) is an Indigenous (Nahautl) actress, director and artist
based in New York City.  Current role with WAM: Mikaya in Kamloopa  WAM
Theatre: Debut  Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Mother Courage and Her
Children (Frederick Loewe Theater), The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot
(Frederick Loewe Theater), Sea Level Rise (Broadway Bound Festival, Theatre
Row), Buenas Noches Mama (Tacoma Little Theatre), Mind The Gap (New York
Theatre Workshop) Additional artistic credits: Directing: Proof (Goldberg
Studio), Traveling Through Trauma (Goldberg Studio), Film Directing: Night
Night (The Sequestered Short Film Festival)  Creative inspiration:  Art,
films and the people in my life help shape how I see the world and inspire
me to create a more welcoming one. Community Engagement/Activist work: Through
social media I try to spread awareness of the injustices that happen
throughout the entire world. Selected training: Hunter College (BA in
Theater), Peter Brook/NY Workshop Awards/proudest achievements: The Robert
LoBianco Undergraduate Theatre Scholarship and The Patty and Jay Baker
Acting Award  Final word: Pialli (Hello) and Tlazocamati (Thank you) for
sharing in our art. Connect: Instagram @Rianezacts



WAM 2021 Sponsors

WAM Theatre is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through
the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional
Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations
and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal
CARES Act for the National Endowment for the Arts.

WAM’s current sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Roots,
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Blue Q, Blue Spark Financial,
Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Chez Nous,
Downright Pro, The Dylandale Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union,
Haven Cafe and Bakery, Health Professional Coaching, Heller & Robbins,
Interprint, Lake House Inn, Lee Bank, Lee Bank Foundation, Only in my
Dreams Events, Onyx Specialty Papers, Outpost Productions, Prix Fixe, RB
Design Co., The Rookwood Inn, T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, and
a. von schlegell & co.

WAM Theatre’s 2021 Season is also supported in part by grants from The
Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, Berkshire Regional Planning
Commission, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, and the
Scarlet Sock Foundation; as well as grants from the Dalton Cultural
Council, Lee Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, Pittsfield Cultural
Council, and the Otis Cultural Council.

ABOUT WAM THEATRE

WAM Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Berkshire County,
MA, that operates at the intersection of arts and activism. WAM creates
theatre for gender equity and has a vision of theatre as philanthropy.

In fulfillment of its philanthropic mission, WAM donates a portion of the
proceeds from their Mainstage productions to carefully selected
beneficiaries. Since WAM’s founding in 2010, they have donated more than
$80,000 to 22 local and global organizations taking action for gender
equity in areas such as girls education, teen pregnancy prevention, sexual
trafficking awareness, midwife training, and more.

In addition to Mainstage productions and special events, WAM’s activities
include innovative community engagement programs and the Fresh Takes Play
Reading Series. To date, WAM has provided paid work to more than 500
theatre artists, the majority of whom are female-identifying.

As a civic organization that embraces intersectional feminism (feminism
that acknowledges how multiple forms of discrimination overlap), WAM
understands that to address one piece of systemic discrimination means we
have to address them all. This is on-going personal and professional work
at WAM for the staff and board, detailed in their recently released
accountability
plan <https://www.wamtheatre.com/wam-accountability-plan/>.

WAM Theatre has been widely recognized for having a positive impact on
cultural and community development in the region. WAM is the recipient of
the Creative Economy Standout Berkshire Trendsetter Award and previously,
was named Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation of the Year by the Western
MA Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Kristen van
Ginhoven, WAM’s Producing Artistic Director, was honored by the Berkshire
Theatre Critics Association (BTCA) with the prestigious Larry Murray Award,
presented at the discretion of the BTCA Board to a person or theatre
project that advances social, political, or community issues in Berkshire
County.



For more information, visit <http://www.wamtheatre.com>www.WAMTheatre.com
<http://www.wamtheatre.com>

###


-- 
Gail M. Burns (She/Her/Hers)

*Marketing + Publicity Associate*
https://www.wamtheatre.com/
413-458-4246 home
413-346-3193 cell

*Our 2021 Season!*
LETTERS TO KAMALA <https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamala/> | THE
LIGHT <https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/light/> | KAMLOOPA
<https://www.wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamloopa/>


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