[Capdist-auditions] PRESS RELEASE: WAM THEATRE ANNOUNCES GIRLS ENSEMBLE 2018

Tue May 22 08:56:02 EDT 2018

*May 22, 2018Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity
Associatewww.wamtheatre.com
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/#_blank>pr at wamtheatre.com <pr at wamtheatre.com>;
518.274.8122Press Photos can be found
at:https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157680383426575/with/32881947866/
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157680383426575/with/32881947866/>https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157662351798771/with/23719244761/
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/albums/72157662351798771/with/23719244761/>WAM
THEATRE ANNOUNCES GIRLS ENSEMBLE 2018 - PAID PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 13-18“Girls Ensemble gives girls a way to be confident in
their skin… by learning about other people and how they feel and what they
think about themselves.” – Debora, Girls Ensemble, 2017LENOX, MA (May 22,
2018) - WAM Theatre is proud and excited to announce openings in their
summer 2018 Girls Ensemble devised theatre program. Now in its third year,
the program is open to young people ages 13-18 from throughout the
Berkshire region. In keeping with WAM’s mission to support local artists
and through the generosity of WAM’s education program sponsors, Girls
Ensemble participants will be paid a stipend for their artistic work. WAM
is seeking 12 committed young people who are interested in all aspects of
theatre-making to be part of the ensemble. The criteria for participation
is enthusiasm and the creative impulse to voice ideas and feelings using
multiple forms of artistic expression.  Under the leadership of
accomplished teaching artist Amy Brentano and WAM’s Associate Artistic
Director Talya Kingston, the Ensemble will create an original theatre piece
based on the theme of justice using a process called devised theatre.
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 show will have strong production values, and
share the perspectives and stories of the participants. The 2018 Girls
Ensemble will perform at WAM Theatre’s Summer Gala on Wednesday, July 25th,
at the Berkshire Equestrian Center in Richmond.“I am so looking forward to
the opportunity to devise another original piece with young talent around
relevant themes,” said Girls Ensemble Teaching Artist Amy Brentano.
“Theatre is a powerful vehicle and WAM embraces and provides a platform for
the unique and courageous voices that emerge out of Girls Ensemble. It is
thrilling to be witness to such empowerment."Participants chosen for the
Ensemble must commit be being present for ALL rehearsals July 9-24 in
downtown Lenox. More information about past Girls Ensembles (including
video footage and testimonials) can be found on our website:
www.wamtheatre.com/wam-education/
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/wam-education/>Places in this program are going
fast.  Any young person interested in participating should contact WAM
Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director Talya Kingston at 413.274.2024 or
talya at wamtheatre.com <talya at wamtheatre.com>ABOUT OUR TEACHING ARTISTSTALYA
KINGSTON (Associate Artistic Director and Teaching Artist) WAM Theatre:
Administrator of the Girls Ensemble program and Curator for the 2018 Fresh
Takes Play Reading Series.  Elsewhere:  Guest Artist at Mount Holyoke
College, Visiting Professor of Theatre at Hampshire College, Co-Teacher
UMass Study Abroad Program at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, Education
Director at Hartford Stage, Visiting Professor at Capital Community
College, Educational Program Coordinator at the New Conservatory Theatre
Center in San Francisco.  Dramaturgy: Hartford Stage (Necessary Targets,
Write On! Teen Playwrights Series, My Hartford Teen Performance Ensemble
Oral History Project), New York Fringe Festival (Helmet), Ko Festival
(Seriously..  What Did You Call Me? Written and performed by Onawumi Jean
Moss), UMass, Amherst (Gum, Christmas Carol, Bovver Boys, The Last Five
Years, Life is a Dream, Late Style).  Publications: Theater Journal, The
Moving Voice, European Stages, Howlround and The Valley Advocate. Training:
MFA University of Massachusetts, Directing Fellow at Julliard.AMY BRENTANO
(Teaching Artist) WAM Theatre: Teaching Artist for WAM’s Girls Ensemble in
Fall 2015 and for the 2016 Spring Tour. Elsewhere: She 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.LIA RUSSELL-SELF (Stage Manager/Teaching Artist) WAM
Theatre: Teaching Artist Assistant for WAM’s Girls Ensemble Spring 2017 and
Teaching Artist for Girls Inc. Spring 2017. Elsewhere: After graduating
with a BA in Theatre and Creative Writing from Bard College at Simon’s
Rock, Lia has explored theatre and film throughout New England with
companies such as Riverwolf Productions (Amherst, MA), The Berkshire Fringe
(Pittsfield, MA), and Plays in Progress (Hudson, NY), most recently
appearing as Tituba and Danforth in Hubbard Hall’s rendition of The
Crucible in Cambridge, NY. A trained physical actor and avid writer, Lia is
also a co-founder of 84 Productions, an all-arts company dedicated to
intersectionality.FUNDING FOR GIRLS ENSEMBLEFunding for the Girls Ensemble
program has been provided by grants from the Brabson Library and
Educational Fund, the Charles H. Hall Foundation, Dr. Robert C. and Tina
Sohn Foundation, the Dylandale Foundation, the Feigenbaum Foundation,
Greylock Federal Credit Union, the International Schools Theatre
Association, various corporate supporters and local cultural
councils.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
<http://www.ista.co.uk/>OUR SEASON SPONSORSOur 2018 sponsors include Adams
Community Bank, Annie Selke, Baystate Financial, Berkshire Bank Foundation,
Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Brabson
Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, The Charles H. Hall
Foundation, CWM Retirement Plan Services LLC, Custom Business Solutions,
Dr. Jay Wise, DDS and Dr. Casey Jones, DMD, The Dylandale Foundation, The
Feigenbaum Foundation, Frankie's Ristorante Italiano, the Garden Gables
Inn, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace,
International Schools Theatre Association, Interprint, Lee Bank, Maggie
Barry, Massachusetts Cultural Council, J.H. Maxymillian, Inc., Methuselah
Bar and Lounge, Natracare, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, Onyx Specialty
Papers, RB Design Co., The Rogovoy Report, The Rookwood Inn, The Dr. Robert
C. and Tina Sohn Foundation, Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, Salisbury Bank, T
Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, a. von schlegell & co.WAM Theatre is
also supported in part by grants from the Alford-Egremont Cultural Council,
Lenox Cultural Council, New Marlborough Cultural Council, Pittsfield
Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern Berkshires, Otis Cultural
Council, and Richmond Cultural Council – local agencies that are supported
by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.ABOUT WAM
THEATREBased in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre was co-founded
in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van
Ginhoven to create professional theatrical events for everyone, with a
focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls.WAM
Theatre also has a philanthropic mission, inspired by the book Half the
Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas
Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and donates a portion of the proceeds from its
theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls. Since
2010, WAM Theatre has donated over $41,500 to thirteen beneficiaries from
our mainstage productions 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 <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 9th Season:
Fresh Takes <http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2018/> | Alison Larkin
LIVE! <http://www.wamtheatre.com/alison-larkin-live/> | WAM Gala 2018
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/wam-gala-2018/> | ANN
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/ann/>

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