Weekly Preview | August 3-9

THE TORCH-BEARERS has opened on the Main Stage!

The Torch-Bearers by George Kelly, adapted and directed by WTF favorite Dylan Baker, opened on Thursday on the Main Stage. The Torch-Bearers, a 1920’s theatrical farce, stars Becky Ann Baker, Yusef Bulos, John Doherty, Katie Finneran, Philip Goodwin, Jessica Hecht, Edward Herrmann, Andrea Martin, Lizbeth Mackay, Katherine McGrath, John Rubinstein and James Waterston.

J. Peter Bergmann of The Advocate Weekly and BerkshireBrightFocus.com writes: "This is a fascinating play peopled with fascinating actors playing fascinating people acting."

Don’t miss your chance to see all of your WTF favorites back together in this hilarious comedy. The Torch-Bearers runs through August 9th only; buy your tickets today!


CAROLINE IN JERSEY up next on the Nikos Stage!

Our last Nikos Stage show of the 2009 season, Caroline in Jersey, by Melinda Lopez, begins performances this Wednesday, August 5th. Directed by Festival Artistic Associate Amanda Charlton, Caroline in Jersey stars Will LeBow, Matt McGrath, Lea Thompson and Brenda Wehle.

Caroline is down and out in New Jersey. She’s having a nervous breakdown, her career as an actress is tragically dwindling, and a peculiar stranger has made his presence known in her new apartment. Can she find a way to conquer it all? This funny and touching new play follows one woman’s whole-hearted attempt to accept the past and take hold of the future, despite the many surprises that might pop up along the way.

Performances run through August 16 only. Don’t miss our last world-premiere of the season!


Fridays @ 3 this week is a screenplay!

Potomac Fever by Steve Lawson
Directed by Steve Lawson in association with the Williamstown Film Festival
August 7 in the Peresky Center

Congresswoman Kendall Chase fights for her bill on child nutrition but she soon learns she’ll have to play the game in order to get it passed, and as a woman on Capitol Hill, she has more than her personal image to protect. Whiles she maneuvers through the political world of men, Kendall must decide what she can sacrifice and what she cannot.


Workshop Shows

August 4th—Bully to You by Erica Lipez, directed by Mike Donahue
with Rightor Doyle, Rich Dreher, Heather Lind, Stephen O'Relly, and Andrea Syglowsi 9pm and 11pm in Directing Studio.

August 7th—Consequences by Kyle Jarrow and Nathan Leigh, directed by Kate Pines with Lucas Kavner, Gayle Rankin, and Dominic Spillane.
9pm and 11pm in the Directing Studio.

[ ... ]

THE TORCH-BEARERS Opening Night!

Thanks to the Williams Inn for another great party!

[photos] Sam Hough for WTF ’09 [pictured] (1) Edward Herrmann, Jessica Hecht; (2) John Rubinstein, Becky Ann Baker, Andrea Martin; (3) Katherine McGrath, Edward Herrmann; (4) Andrea Martin, Justin Waldman; (5) Jane Mayer, Justin Waldman, Becky Ann Baker; (6) David Korins, Kerry Gibbons, Phil Soltanoff; (7) Marian Seldes, Edward Herrmann; (8) Irene Sofia Lucio, Kate Pines, Matthew Strother; (9) Ashton Heyl, Mike Donahue, Kate Pines; (10) Jake DeGroot, Joel M. Krause, Justin Waldman, Jane Mayer, M. Spencer Henderson; (11) Sarah Slight, Mat Smart; (12) David A. Sexton, Isabella F. Byrd, Mark Parenti; (13) Molly Kerns, Andrea Martin; (14) Christopher Metzger, Sarah Gosnell; (15) Julia Borowski, Bethany Weingarten, Joel M. Krause, Hillary A. Sexton

[ ... ]

WOMEN AND THE LITTLE THEATER MOVEMENT

In THE TORCH-BEARERS, George Kelly uses satire to critique the Little Theatre movement. Here are some related facts regarding the role women played during this time:

▪ Women received little training or education in the arts in the antebellum period.

▪ “It is likely that the arts seemed so compatible with notions of proper activities for ladies because of society’s assumption that both women and the arts were ruled by feeling rather than rationality.” (The Torchbearers: Women & Their Amateur Arts Associations in America, 1890-1930)

▪ The Little Theater movement followed the great melodramas of the late 1800s. This new theatre was more intimate and psychological.

▪ This movement was thought to revitalize American theatre, and brought names like Ibsen, Shaw, and O’Neill into the spotlight.

▪ Some women believed that their participation in theatre would help build America’s democracy and strength. Theatre was thought to teach social principals and ethics that would lead to a more progressive society.

▪ Before the Little Theater movement, the pageant was enormously popular.

▪ The pageant was made up of amateur performers and included acting, singing, orchestral accompaniment, dancing, costumes and props. A pageant usually consisted of 6 twenty-minute episodes designed to touch on a theme such as the history of a town.

▪ Pageants were championed by progressive reformers with goals of bringing wholesome and uplifting entertainment to a community.

▪ Pageants required enormous effort and mass organizing, and so the Little Theater emerged as a more manageable and refined alternative.

▪ Little Theater groups or clubs tended to use the same performers and support staff on each production and so failed to reach out to the number of community members that pageants had involved.

▪ Clubs could become exclusive and minority members of the community were usually only invited in to play stereotypical roles.

▪ While men were present in this community theatre, women were the mainstays and ran clubs along with playhouses across the country.

▪ In the 1920s, 1,000 little theaters were in existence, providing 32,500 productions a year and using 335,000 amateur actors for their 12.5 million audience members annually.

▪ “Mary Russell spoke for many women of her era when she argued that a healthy public theater in America not only built democracy but reflected its strength…She spoke of drama as ‘an effective means of teaching the social principles and ethical truths necessary for harmony and progress in society.’” (p. 146, The Torchbearers: Women and Their Amateur Arts Associations in America, 1890-1930)

▪ Little Theater clubwomen considered themselves “torchbearers” who could lead others to embrace values and ideals through theatre.

▪ Women’s clubs combated “vulgar” culture and made a space for themselves in the public sphere by promoting the arts.

▪ Involvement in the movement was broad, and included young working people, immigrants in settlement houses, workers in labor colleges, and students in thespian clubs.

▪ One quarter of all little theater plays were written by amateurs, and mostly women.

▪ The Drama League of America formed as an outgrowth of a women’s club. It was largely a women’s group, and became one of the most influential theatre organizations of the early twentieth century. The league was interested in creating uplifting theater to provoke social change. By 1915, its membership peaked at 100,000.

▪ By 1926, however, the board of directors consisted of seventeen men and five women.

▪ The men in the league were largely figureheads, using their reputations to gain publicity. Women lost much of the control and visibility their volunteerism had earned.

▪ The Drama League initially concentrated its efforts around members’ dissatisfaction with commercial theatrical offerings.

▪ The league started to brag that its endorsement of a show guaranteed financial success. Some theatres agreed, and some regarded the league’s approval as a marking of a tedious and pretentious play.

▪ Until 1930, the league served as a catalyst in the nation’s sudden interest in amateur theatre and sponsored galas and conventions prompting social networking and the spread of theatrical knowledge.

▪ As churchgoers came to accept the use of drama for religious education, the league attached itself to religious institutions.

▪ In 1930, the league merged with the Religious Drama Association for a time.

By Amy Lipman, Dramaturg for THE TORCH BEARERS

[photo] © Sam Hough for WTF ’09

[pictured] Katherine McGrath in THE TORCH BEARERS, Dir. Dylan Baker

© [scenic design | David Korins; costume design | Ilona Somogyi; lighting design | Rui Rita] 2009

[ ... ]

INTERVIEW | Sarah Gosnell, Asst. Costume Designer

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Gosnell, assistant costume designer on The Torch-Bearers.

[Dramaturg] Amy Lipman: How does a costume designer usually begin their process?

Sarah Gosnell: The very first thing people get around to is discussing with the director and other designers the look, feel, and period that they’re going for in the production. The next step is to solidify with everyone how you’ll begin to research that period or time. Or, if it’s coming from something that’s not historical, inventing that period or time or place if it’s in some kind of fantasy situation, or other world. After research comes the beginning of sketching. It’s really nice if you know or recognize the actors. It makes everyone appreciate the sketches more and when an actor walks in and sees themselves, it really makes everyone comfortable and excited about the clothes they’re wearing.

AL: What was the research like for TB?

SG: Ilona [Somogyi, Costume Designer] did the research, and for this show, we were doing 1922 outside of Philly. We were establishing that most of the women were pretty well off, and with the men, some were and some weren’t. It was an interesting dynamic with these women who had lots of spare time to become involved in theatre, and the men may have been retired or had jobs that allowed them to participate in social activities outside of work. That’s a really nice contrast because the men in the theatrical troupe are of that sort and Mr. Ritter…the whole time we’ve been looking for his navy suit? We’ve been looking for a businessman’s suit. So it’s really nice that those can juxtapose against each other, and also to have him be so astonished with all these people in his home, doing this show.

AL: What’s been your role as an assistant designer?

SG: It’s a pretty unique role here. Williamstown hires me to assist designers that come in from New York. So, Ilona spends some time in New York fabric shopping, doing other errands, and I’ve spent time with her there pulling costumes from rental houses, or going shopping. I’m kind of like the liaison up here to represent Ilona and her design and to be someone in the shop that people can ask questions to about what they’re building, and I coordinate a lot of the fittings, rentals and purchases.

AL: Are you assisting more than one designer this summer?

SG: Not this summer. Torch-Bearers is our big period piece, and it also has the largest cast, so while other assistants can work on a Nikos and a Main Stage, this summer I’m just assisting on one. Earlier this summer, I designed Free Theatre so I got to put on my designer hat and work on a production on the same stage with a very different feel.

AL: Is this your first summer at Williamstown?

SG: This is my second season here. Last summer I was the first hand in the costume shop.

AL: What challenges have come from working with the size of the cast and the historical period of The Torch-Bearers?

SG: The big challenge is that the 1920s is one of those periods where if we have the actual piece from 1920, it’s almost one hundred years old. So our rentals have taken us internationally, and that’s been interesting. We’re building all of the dresses. It’s a really fun period to build and most of the dresses from 1922 have a really loose shape, it’s before traditional flapper style and it still has some Edwardian and even Victorian elements to it. So it’s fun for the shop to build that kind of loose and kind of androgynous style. There are also some pieces in the second act of Torch-Bearers that will have bustles and corsets, so it’s been nice doing a little bit of everything. This period is an incredible challenge to work on. And it’s been great.

[photo] Sam Hough for © WTF ’09.

© [Costume Design | Ilona Somogyi] 2009

[ ... ]

Weekly Preview | July 27-August 2

WTF Expands Rush Ticket Policy!
The Williamstown Theatre Festival has expanded its rush ticket policy for its Main and Nikos Stage shows. Beginning on Friday, July 24, rush tickets will be sold to all same-day evening performances from 4pm until curtain (subject to availability). Tickets are $15 and are available by phone at 413.597.3400 or in person at 1000 Main Street in Williamstown.*

*Rush ticket discount cannot be applied to previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer. Tickets are subject to availability and are only valid for same day performances. Limit 2 per person.


WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER? opens on the Nikos Stage!
The world-premiere of Noah Haidle’s, What is the Cause of Thunder? opened on the Nikos Stage Thursday night to a sold-out house! Directed by Festival Artistic Associate Justin Waldman and starring Betty Gilpin and Wendie Malick, What is the Cause of Thunder? tells the story of an aging soap-star, who, after 27 years on the same television show, has begun to confuse her life with her art.

The cast, audience and creative teams celebrated with another wonderful event at Mezze. Thunder? runs through August 2nd. The critics have many praises for Gilpin and Malick:

“Bravo to Gilpin and Malick who interact superbly… these [are] two brilliant actresses…” – BerkshireFineArts.com

“…Excellent work by two dynamic actresses… Betty Gilpin is very talented… [Wendie] Malick succeeds on every level…” – Advocate.com

Theatermania says: " Noah Haidle has spun comic gold...Everything about this production is a class act."


Richard Thomas Returns to WTF in BLANCHE AND BEYOND
Emmy-winning actor Richard Thomas returns to WTF on Sunday, August 2nd in a one-night only special event—Blanche and Beyond, adapted by Steve Lawson from the 1945-1957 letters of Tennessee Williams. The one-man show will mark anniversaries for both alumni: 25 years since Thomas first performed at Williamstown, and 40 years since Lawson's first summer at the Festival.

Blanche—the sequel to A Distant Country Called Youth, presented at WTF in 2002—covers the peak years of Williams' career...From the Broadway triumphs of The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, The Rose Tattoo, Summer and Smoke and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In letters by turns hilarious, raunchy, and poignant--written to the likes of Elia Kazan, Jessica Tandy, Gore Vidal as well as critics, lovers, and family--Blanche explores a brilliant playwright facing the seismic shock of international fame.

The single performance of Blanche and Beyond will take place on Sunday, August 2nd at 7:00pm on the Main Stage. A Q-&-A with Thomas and Lawson will follow the show. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling (413) 597-3400, in person at the WTF box office, or online at wtfestival.org


Two for $55 to THE TORCH-BEARERS - up next on the Main Stage!
Our 2 tix for $55 offer is back by popular demand! Now through July 30 ONLY, you can buy two tickets to our Main Stage production of The Torch-Bearers for $55 in celebration of our 55th Anniversary Season!

The Torch-Bearers , written by George Kelly and adapted and directed by WTF favorite Dylan Baker, stars Becky Ann Baker, Yusef Bulos, John Doherty, Katie Finneran, Philip Goodwin, Jessica Hecht, Edward Herrmann, Andrea Martin, Lizbeth Mackay, Katherine McGrath, John Rubinstein and James Waterston. This side-splitting 1920s farce follows a troupe of amateur actors as they rehearse and perform a show-stopping new play—or try to with all their might. Their stage is riddled with comedic drama, suspense, and good old-fashioned witty mayhem. The Torch-Bearers runs through August 9th only!


Greylock Theatre Project Performs Tonight
Catch the Greylock Theatre Project One on Ones at 5:00 or 8:00pm in Goodrich Hall
An equity actor and a member of the non-equity company perform a ten-minute play with one of the kids!


Fridays @ 3 this week is Samuel J. and K. by Mat Smart
directed by Justin Waldman
July 31 @ 3pm in the Peresky Center

Samuel J. surprises his adopted brother, Samuel K., with a trip back to his birth country of Cameroon for college graduation—but Samuel K. has no desire to face a place and a past that abandoned him. Samuel J. and K. challenges the traditional definitions of family and asks if a place we’ve only imagined can become home overnight.


Cabaret 2 performs this weekend
July 31st, August 1st and 2nd @ 11pm in Goodrich Hall


Directing Assistant, Adam Knight Presents Chopin’s Preludes by Mat Smart
August 1st @ 11pm in the Directing Studio
With Lauren Blumenfeld, Francesca Choy-Kee, and Adam Lerman

[ ... ]

WAMC Radio Interview

Last Friday (July 17), Joe Donahue, Alan Chartock, and Sarah LaDuke from WAMC Northeast Public Radio did a live, three-hour radio interview with WTF directors, playwrights, and actors.

Follow the links below to listen to the interviews online!

Interview with Nicholas Martin, Artistic Director

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER? Interview : Playwright Noah Haidle, Director Justin Waldman, Betty Gilpin & Wendie Malick

CAROLINE IN JERSEY Interview : Playwright Melinda Lopez & Lea Thompson

TRUE WEST Interview : Director Daniel Goldstein, Nate Corddry & Paul Sparks

THE TORCH-BEARERS Interivew : Andrea Martin, John Rubinstein, and Edward Herrmann

Interview with Dylan Baker, Adapter & Director for THE TORCH-BEARERS

[photos] SAM HOUGH for WTF ’09

[pictured] (1) Lea Thompson; (2) Edward Herrmann, Andrea Martin; (3) Nicholas Martin; (4) Betty Gilpin; (5) Justin Waldman; (6) Noah Haidle, Wendie Malick; (7) Lea Thompson, Melinda Lopez; (8) Joe Donahue, Sarah LaDuke, Nate Corddry, Paul Sparks, Daniel Golstein; (9) Nate Corddry, Paul Sparks; (10) Daniel Goldstein; (11) Dylan Baker

Taken on the Nikos Stage. © 09 [scenic design] Alexander Dodge - KNICKERBOCKER

[ ... ]

THE TORCH-BEARERS Production Info

THE TORCH-BEARERS

Main Stage | July 29 – August 9

By George Kelly

Adapted and Directed by Dylan Baker

[with]

Becky Ann Baker (All My Sons, Assassins)

Yusef Bulos (Fiddler on the Roof)

John Doherty (Yale MFA)

Katie Finneran (Tony Award – Noises Off, Mauritius, WTF's Children)

Phillip Goodwin (Tartuffe, The Pink Panther)

Jessica Hecht (Julius Caesar, After the Fall)

Edward Herrmann (Emmy Award—"The Practice", —"Gilmore Girls")

Lizbeth Mackay (All My Sons, Crimes of the Heart)

Andrea Martin (Tony Awards—Oklahoma!, Candide, My Favorite Year)

Katherine McGrath (A Tale of Two Cities, The Music Man)

John Rubinstein (Tony Award—Children of a Lesser God, Ragtime, Love Letters, M. Butterfly)

James Waterston (Buffalo Gal, As You Like It, WTF's Children)

Tony-nominated stage and screen actor Dylan Baker directs this side-splitting 1920s farce in which a troupe of amateur actors rehearse and perform a show-stopping new play—or try to with all their might. Their stage is riddled with comedic drama, suspense, and good old-fashioned witty mayhem, similar to both Noises Off and Boeing Boeing.

Scenic Design | David Korins

Costume Design | Ilona Somogyi

Lighting Design | Rui Rita

Sound | Alex Neumann

Original Music | Mike Garin

Dialect Coach | Stephen Gabis

Stage Manager | Gregory T. Livoti

Buy Tickets: wtfestival.org or 413.597.3400

© [graphic design] Art Direction and design by Iris A. Brown Design, IABDNY.com. Illustration by Kristin R. Spix Design. For WTF 2009

[ ... ]