tagged: Melancholy Play, NEW STAGE, Pittsfield, Sarah Ruhl, WAM Theatre, women's fund of western massachusetts

WAM Theatre announces donation of $1500 to Women’s Fund of Western MA

Posted by Kaitlyn in Arts & Culture, Theater

Photos & Poster by Kaitlyn Squires

WAM Theatre is thrilled to announce a $1500 donation to the Women’s Fund of Western MA, raised from their recent production of ‘Melancholy Play’.  Sarah Ruhl’s ‘Melancholy Play’ was WAM Theatre’s first full-length production and played to critical acclaim for two weekends in November at the NEW STAGE Performing Arts Center in Pittsfield, MA.

“WAM Theatre is grateful to all the donors, supporters and audience members who made it possible to exceed our fundraising and ticket sale goals,” remarked Kristen van Ginhoven, co-Artistic Director of WAM Theatre. “Exceeding these goals enabled us to employ nine professional theatre artists as well as make this donation to the Women’s Fund.”

Marjorie Hutter, Director of Philanthropy at the Women’s Fund made this statement, “The Women’s Fund board and staff are deeply grateful for WAM Theatre’s generous donation of $1,500.  It’s a true reflection of WAM’s influence within the arts community of the Berkshires and of the broader community’s embrace of WAM’s philanthropic mission.  To all those who had the pleasure of attending Melancholy Play earlier this month, please know that your collective support will be put to good work right here in Western Mass – improving communities by investing in the lives and talents of women and girls.”

Van Ginhoven continued, “WAM Theatre is ecstatic about the success of our inaugural season.  Our philanthropic mission became a reality by producing two theatrical events, ‘A WAM Welcome’ in April (beneficiary: Women for Women International) and ‘Melancholy Play’ in November, and donating a total of $2500 to organizations that create opportunity for women and girls. We look forward to our first event of 2011, the ‘Oh Solo Mama Mia’ Festival of solo women’s works in the spring, which will benefit the training of at least one community midwife at Edna’s Hospital in Somaliland.”

For more information about WAM Theatre’s 2011 season, please go to www.wamtheatre.com

Lorenzo: Per Janson, Frank: Todd Quick, Julian: Erika Helen Smith, Frances: Karen Lee, Joan: Leigh Strimbeck - Photo By: Kaitlyn Squires

I could not be more proud to be part of such an amazing organization and to have gotten the chance to work with everyone involved in the production! As a young woman I feel very fortunate to have been given the chance to do something so important for our community and women everywhere. Congratulations to WAM Theatre on a very successful first year and I can’t wait to see what can happen next!

Kaitlyn