[Capdist-auditions] PRESS RELEASE: WAM THEATRE ANNOUNCES GIRLS ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS FOR GIRLS AGED 13-18

[Gail Burns]

November 28, 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/>


November 3, 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 ANNOUNCES GIRLS ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS

FOR GIRLS AGED 13-18

“We envision a world where young women aspire to become confident leaders
in their communities.”

LENOX, MA (November 3, 2016)—WAM Theatre is excited to announce auditions
for their Girls Ensemble theatre education program for girls aged 13-18.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, December 10 from 1-4 pm at St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East St., Pittsfield, MA. WAM is seeking
10-12 committed young women who are interested in all aspects of theatre
making to be part of the this second Girls Ensemble cohort. This is a
tuition-based program but financial assistance is available and all
accepted participants will be able to participate.

The first Girls Ensemble cohort gathered in the fall of 2015. Under the
leadership of accomplished teaching artists Barby Cardillo and Amy Brentano
they devised a 30-minute piece made up of scenes, monologues, ensemble
movement, song, and dance titled Miss Labeled - an exploration around the
labels young women deal with in today’s society. Reaction was so positive
that the Ensemble reformed to tour Berkshire County middle and high schools
and do a second public performance in the spring of 2016.

“I decided to audition when I found out it was an opportunity to work with
a group of girls my age to create a show about issues that were common to
all of us,” Claudia Maurino, now a high school sophomore, explained about
her experience with the first Girls Ensemble. “I enjoyed the process -
coming up with ideas about things we all enjoyed and cared about and then
creating different scenes and monologues based off of that.”

“I’d never done devised theatre before,” said inaugural Girls Ensemble
member Iris Courchaine, now a junior. “I had to get used to the fact that
it is constantly changing, that if someone has an idea they can present it
to the group and it can be tried out and maybe included. Because of that, I
expected the final piece to be a little more informal, I didn’t expect it
to end up to be as complete of a show as it ended up being.”

Devised theatre is a collaborative process where the participants use
different theatre techniques, such as improvisation, movement, physical
theatre, theatre games and writing,  to create original material around a
chosen starting point.  The original show, created by the participants,
will have strong production values, be presented in a professional theatre
and share the perspectives and stories of the participants around a theme
of importance in their lives, chosen together during the rehearsal process.

These auditions will gather the second Girls Ensemble cohort who will
create their devised theatre piece in the new year and present their work
for the first time on February 17, 2017 for family, friends, and other
invited guests at Shakespeare and Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre in
Lenox, MA.

For the auditions, girls are asked to prepare an original piece -- a poem,
a song, a dance, a monologue, a painting, or a combination of those that is
between 1-2 minutes in length. They will also participate in the group
audition, which will involve theatre games and ensemble group building
activities. All those auditioning are required to be present for the whole
audition time from 1-4 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2016.

Regular rehearsals will be on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 pm and Saturdays
from 1-4 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Pittsfield, MA. Intensive
tech and dress rehearsals will start on Sunday, February 12 through
Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Shakespeare and Company’s Elayne P.
Bernstein Theatre in Lenox, MA.  Participants chosen for the Ensemble must
commit to being present for ALL rehearsals between January 4 and February
16, 2017. For all the details, visit:
http://www.wamtheatre.com/out-of-school-program-girls-ensemble/

To book an audition or to ask any questions e-mail Alicia Maher, WAM
Education Coordinator, at alicia at wamtheatre.com or call WAM at 413-274-8122.

Additionally, this is an ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association)
endorsed project. Based in the United Kingdom, ISTA brings together young
people, artists and teachers from different countries in different settings
to experience, create and learn about theatre. ISTA produces over 50
international arts events each year. WAM Theatre is one of two projects
ISTA endorses as part of their ISTA Connect program. The other program is
in Kolkata, India.  WAM aims to bring the Girls Ensemble participants to an
ISTA event within five years www.ISTA.co.uk

ABOUT THE TEACHING ARTISTS

Barby Cardillo is an experienced Teaching Artist and trained social worker
who has taught at Community Access to the Arts, Shakespeare & Company,
Berkshire Theatre Group, and Barrington Stage, WAM Education Associate
Barby Cardillo has directed the company’s education program at Girls, Inc.
for several years. She was most recently seen on stage as Juliet’s Nurse in
the Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet. In
addition she has performed with WAM, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire
Theatre Group, Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Mixed Company, New Stage,
Whitney Arts Center, and the Berkshire Fringe Festival. An experienced
improv artist, Cardillo is a founding member of the Royal Berkshire Improv
Troupe (RBIT) and The Majesters Improv Troupe.

Amy Brentano was the film and theatre director at Berkshire Country Day
School for four years, and she teaches and directs theatre at Richmond
Consolidated School. In the past she has worked for Berkshire Theatre
Group, Barrington Stage Playwright Mentoring Project, and the Southern
Berkshire Regional School District. Brentano was the Co-artistic Director
for Red Earth Ensemble and Producing Director for Don Quijote Experimental
Children’s Theatre at Lincoln Square Theatre. She performed under the
direction of Moises Kaufman at Theatre for the New City; and at La MaMa ETC
as an ensemble member of Teatron. Most recently she appeared in an original
piece at Shire City in Pittsfield with Kickwheel Ensemble.

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, the Dr. Robert C. and Tina
Sohn Foundation, 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, WAM Theatre has donated more than $30,000 to eleven 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
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