Inside Camp WTF

Dear Sorely-Missed Theater Enthusiast Bestie,

It has been said that Williamstown Theatre Festival is a bit like camp. This place is Minnehaha with more arts, just as many crafts, and a boatload of talented individuals doing some great work. I'm writing to you today so you can get the scoop on what's happening here.

Bright and early this morning, Amy Herzog was pranayama-breathing her way through leading a yoga class for company members. Amy, you may remember, presented her play After the Revolution on the Nikos last season. She just found out her new play 4000 Miles (playing at Lincoln Center's LCT3 through July 9) will transfer to the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in the spring of 2012. Exciting news to stretch to.

In somewhat related/mostly unrelated news, I'm happy to report that the spirit of Tennessee Williams is alive and well. Jessica Hecht, who is playing Blanche in David Cromer's acclaimed and gorgeous production of A Streetcar Named Desire on the Nikos, is teaching a workshop. She's having the Apprentices read Streetcar and do some in-depth text analysis.

You would be so excited about some of the awesome new work happening here. The Fellowship Musical is in development right now. Nick Blaemire, an actor who was here last year in The Last Goodbye, is work-shopping After Robert Hutchens, his new piece commissioned by Broadway Across America, with the Non-Equity Company of early-career actors. These 10 young stars are running around town right now, filming segments that will eventually be part of the show.

Meanwhile, the Literary Department (I know you're obsessed with my every move, so I'm including some of my own exhilarating activities) is hurriedly getting ready for Fridays@3. It's a set of readings we do every Friday, with fantastic new plays from some of today's hottest emerging writers. The series kicks off next week on July 8 with a reading of House on Stilts by Sarah Hammond. You'll love it. It's a new work with an old soul from a writer I can't wait to see more of. Try to come out. It's only a $5 suggested donation. I know how you love intellectually stimulating (and affordable!) thrills.

Three Hotels just opened on the main stage! It's beautiful. Last night was the opening night gala, and in true fabulous/casual Williamstown style, there were celebs, champagne, and an ice cream truck. Today, I saw the playwright, Jon Robin Baitz, walking his dog through the quad while some of the Non-Equity actors were playing Frisbee. Where else does this happen? Nowhere! And last night, I spied Lewis Black at the Purple Pub for $5 burger night. It's so amazing to see company members all over this town.

Late night activities are abundant here at the Festival. This morning (by that I mean 12:30 AM), I saw the first of three evenings of 10-minute plays directed by the phenomenal Directing Interns. This round featured gems from some of my favorite new playwrights, like Two Hundred Feet and Counting by Marco Ramirez and Leviticus by Bekah Brunstetter. Last year, Bekah was the writer of the Fellowship Play and developed House of Home, a piece she calls "Our Town meets Krispy Kreme meets my brain." She's neat. Read some of her stuff.

This place seriously never sleeps. Apprentices are rehearsing at midnight. There's lawn games and light calls at 8 AM. It's 24/7 to keep all the projects in the air, and it's so worth it. This is a place where creation is on the daily agenda for everyone. Come visit! Or just keep reading our blog posts to stay up to date on all the inside info.

Love,

Anne

Literary Intern