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

[ ... ]

THUNDER Opening Night Party!

Thanks to Mezze Bistro + Bar for a terrific opening night party following the World Premiere performance of WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER?

[photos] © Sam Hough for WTF ’09

[pictured] (1) Betty Gilpin, Wendie Malick; (2) Betty Gilpin, Annie Parisse; (3) Noah Haidle, Jessica Collins; (4) James Waterston, Justin Waldman; (5) Matthew Strother, Wendie Malick; (6) Ben Walker, Mamie Gummer, Steve Lawson; (7) Leonard Waldman, Wendie Malick, Justin Waldman; (8) Eric Kerns, Kevin O'Rourke, Brian Stevens; (9) James Waterston, Wendie Malick, Kris Kukul; (10) Irene Sofia Lucio, Amanda Charlton, Christopher Diamond; (11) Steve Lawson, James Waterston, Margaret McComish, Magnus Bernhardsson, Tracy Finnegan; (12) Paul Sparks, Annie Parisse, Paul J. Smith; (13) Eric Kerns, Molly Kerns. (14) Wendie Malick, Frances Ines Rodriguez; (15) Tara Traeder, Justin Waldman; (16) Becca Euliss, Reed Wilkerson; (17) Kevin Sullivan, Joe Finnegan, Steve Lawson; (18) Kris Kukul, Daniel Hartley, Gayle Rankin; (19) John Doherty, Dominic Spillane, Ashton Heyl; (20) Stephen Kunken, Paul J. Smith; (21) Kizzie Autumn Martin, Leo A. Martin, IV, Jeannette Lee Porter; (22) Justin Waldman, Deborah Waldman, Leonard Waldman, Tara Traeder; (23) Sarah Slight, Matthew Meier

[ ... ]

Page to Stage | How a world premiere production, like WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER?, is born

by Dramaturg Clare Drobot.



As Noah Haidle’s play What is the Cause of Thunder has its world premiere on the Williamstown Nikos Stage tonight, you might find yourself asking, how do new plays make it from page to stage?

The process varies from show to show, but in general, if a show is not commissioned by the theatre, its journey begins when someone on staff reads the script. Scripts are received in many ways, through agent submissions, recommendations from industry professionals, or from writers with a prior connection to the theatre. In this case, playwright, Noah Haidle, had met Artistic Associate and director, Justin Waldman, on a previous show. “Justin was the assistant on a play I did at the Huntington called Persephone and then he was the assistant on Saturn Returns at Lincoln Center [Both directed by WTF Artistic Director, Nicky Martin]. So Justin and I have been fast friends for years. And we made the decision [to work together] in the lobby of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. We were at intermission for South Pacific, and we were just enchanted, as you are. And I said, ‘Do you want to direct my play?’ He said ‘Yeah’ And that was that.” –(From my interview with Noah Haidle included in the Thunder program.)

After a theatre company expresses interest in a script, they often organize an informal reading of the play with staff members. Informal reads allow the theatre to hear a play out loud and get a better feeling for the text. Here at WTF, Thunder was part of the festival’s Fridays @ 3 reading series which offers a first public glimpse at new works. Shows are given a short rehearsal period and then read for a small audience. These readings help a writer to explore the text and see how an audience responds. Readings can be invaluable in the development process as texts often mutate when read out loud. Sometimes a scene will work on paper, but aloud will feel too short, too long, or certain jokes won’t land. In the case of Thunder, an additional scene was added post reading. This summer’s production of Knickerbocker by Jonathan Mark Sherman was also part of the Fridays @ 3 series.

Once a theatre company commits to producing a play they hire designers and actors. The play continues to evolve throughout the process, before and during rehearsals and into the run of the show. So there you have it, an insider look at the process of developing new work.

[photo] Sam Hough for © WTF ’09. Pictured: Betty Gilpin and Wendie Malick in WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER?, Dir. Justin Waldman

© [Scenic Design | Alexander Dodge, Costume Design | Nicole V. Moody, Lighting Design | Jeff Croiter] 2009

[ ... ]

"I'm much better with amnesia, or with comas." | Soap Operas & THUNDER

By Clare Drobot, Dramaturg for What is the Cause of Thunder?

What is the Cause of Thunder?, aside from being a quote from King Lear and the title of Noah Haidle’s new play, is also the name of the Soap Opera that one of the show’s characters, Ada, has been on for 27 years. Soap operas are know for their operatic plot lines (hence the name) and their seemingly impossible twists and turns. The plot of Thunder encompasses a host of comas, evil twins, and near misses with death. But then again, as Ada says “It is difficult to write the same story for twenty-seven years.” Below is a collection of actual plot lines from soap operas including some of our favorite deaths, resurrections, and bizarre plot twists that are just too good to be true.

“They’re killing me off the show.”
(Actual deaths on soap operas)

Maureen Bauer was the loving wife of Doctor Ed Bauer on Guiding Light and, in some ways, the heart of the show. Maureen died tragically when she drove off into a storm in the back woods after a heated argument with her husband. Ed had an affair with Maureen’s best friend, Lillian, while treating her for breast cancer. After discovering this information Maureen stormed out of the cabin and died in the ensuing car crash, bringing massive upheaval to the town of Springfield.

The troubled Alan Quartermaine (General Hospital) died due to complications from a major heart attack he had while being held hostage at the Metro Court. Of course, Alan has come back as a ghost, haunting his sister Tracy for altering his will.

Megan Gordon Harrison (One Life to Live) died of Lupus after ignoring doctors’ warnings and partying too hard in order to forget her heartbreak over her husband Jake’s disappearance while working as a PI in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Jaba.

Darla Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful) died when she was run over while changing her tire on a foggy night. She was killed by an inebriated Taylor Hayes, who was frantically trying to rescue her daughter whom she believed to have been kidnapped. Ironically, Darla was only on the road because she was trying to aide Taylor in the search.

In a revolutionary plot line for Soaps, Stone Cates (General Hospital) died due to complications from AIDS. Before he died, he infected his then girlfriend, GH darling Robin, who is still on the show and living with the disease.

“Nobody ever dies on that show.”
(You would think that would have killed them)

Days of our Lives shocked loyal viewers when it killed off several major characters during the Salem Serial Killer plot line. At first, the deaths were pinned on the loveable Doctor Marlena, but in a surprise plot twist, it was revealed that the real “killer” was actually holding the still-living victims captive on an island that he made to look like a fake version of Salem.

Stephano DiMira, a long-time recurring villainous character on Days of Our Lives has been reported dead 11 times over the course of his run on the show. Favorite seeming deaths include: falling off a cliff (he returned after recuperating on his yacht) and surviving inoperable brain cancer with the use of advanced laser crystals.

Another character with nine lives is The Bold and the Beautiful’s Taylor Hayes. Her most memorable resurrection occurred after a plane crash followed by an open casket funeral. But surprise! The body was actually a dummy, and the real Taylor, who was suffering from amnesia, was being held captive by in Morocco by her stalker Prince.

In a Romeo and Juliet-esq twist on Days of Our Lives, Carly Manning, was buried alive (in a lighted coffin with a small air supply) by her arch-nemesis Vivian. Vivian had spiked Carly’s hospital IV with herbs to make her appear dead. Carly was saved in the nick of time when Vivian felt remorse and informed her husband Lawrence of Carly’s predicament.

On Guiding Light, Reva Shanye, who was in a coma, began to appear in family members dreams. Viewers assumed that this was a sign of Reva’s imminent demise, but, in actuality, the trapped Reva was astral projecting her image to loved ones in order to communicate with them.

“Not to speak of the plot. The plot! Don’t get me started.”
(Strange, but true soap opera plot lines)

All My Children’s Erica Kane is perhaps soap opera’s leading lady. In one plot line , Erica has the sinking suspicion that she recognizes her fertility doctor. She eventually discovers that the doctor performed an abortion on her years ago, became obsessed with her, and rather than carry out the procedure transplanted Erica’s embryo into his own wife.

Days of Our Lives’ Marlena was possessed by Satan after being offered up as a sacrifice by the evil Stefano. While under the devil’s influence, she vandalized churches and nearly killed a few characters before John and Father Francis managed to save her.

NBC’s supernatural soap, Passions, ran from 1999-2008 and was filled with strange plot lines. Choosing from many, perhaps the best Passions gem was the story of the evil Vincent. Vincent, upon discovering that he is pregnant, is revealed to be a hermaphrodite. The father of his child? His actual father, Julian Crane.

[photo] Sam Hough for WTF ’09, Pictured: Wendie Malick and Betty Gilpin in WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER?, Dir. Justin Waldman

© [Scenic Design | Alexander Dodge, Costume Design | Nicole V. Moody, Lighting Design | Jeff Croiter] 2009

[ ... ]

Interview | Nicole V. Moody, THUNDER Costume Designer

Production Dramaturg Clare Drobot had the chance to sit down with Costume Designer Nicole V. Moody and talk through her work on the world premiere of What is the Cause of Thunder? by Noah Haidle, directed by Justin Waldman.

Clare Drobot: What was your path into becoming a designer, and how did you end up involved with Williamstown?

Nicole Moody: I decided in undergrad [on being a designer], which was when I was doing costume design and then continued on through grad school. My Williamstown path: I was in grad school and I initially came up as an intern and got bumped to staff, like within a week. So then I was a design assistant that summer. The next summer I came back, and I was the assistant shop manager and crafts lead. And then I was freelancing in Boston and what not. And then this year Justin [Waldman, the director and WTF Artistic Associate] asked me up to design.

CD: I would love it if you could take me through your process for designing a show.

NM: Well first I usually start off reading the script, of course. And then I’ll usually re-read it. The first time I read it for enjoyment. The second time I’ll read it and start making notations in it, ideas that have come up. And then I usually get in contact with the director and the other designers and just start throwing ideas around, seeing where it develops and what the director wants to do with it. I usually take that back, process it, come up with some ideas, and do some research for it. Then I usually show the research to the director and other designers and what not. Get feedback, we chat about it some more. Then I’ll do my rough sketches. Then I’ll show those, again, discuss it, and then do the finals. And that’s up until we actually get into rehearsal.

After that, I’m a big believer in actor feedback and really playing with it. The renderings that I do, they’re purely just tools. So even though we sketch something, we might see during the rehearsal process or in the fitting that it’s going to evolve. The actor might have feedback like: what’s really working for the character or what they found out about it. So it’s a very hands on, playful, sort of process.

CD: How did you create a color palate for the show? I know you initially had Ada in purples in the initial sketches.

NM: Justin had sent me the pictures of what the set looked like. A lot of time the set colors get decided first, then costumes. So taking a look at that and just kind of feeling what might be right for the character. The jewel tones were a more sophisticated look, which is what her character is. And then the difficulty with this show, or any modern dress, is really seeing what’s out there and what colors are available or what can you dye to get those colors that you need. So we just did a bunch of shopping and played and talked with Wendy [Malick, playing Ada] in the fitting. You know, there are certain colors that just look better on her than other ones. So it shifted a bit, but it’s still in the general palate.

CD: Very cool. Thank kind of leads into another question. You’ve worked on such a wide range of shows. Do you gravitate toward new plays or do you prefer period pieces?

NM: I think they’re both great in separate ways. Period stuff is always fun, just to play with time and play the period. Modern shows are great, because sometimes it gives you—some of the newer plays are a little more experimental and playful, so you can kind of twist them a bit more. And then there’s the in betweens where it’s period, but you can start doing a modern twist to it. That’s one of the great things about classic pieces (and depending on who your director is and the team and the concept for the show) is where you can take it to. Why is it period? Is period important to the piece? So I don’t have a preference. They’re all kind of great. Opera is fantastic because it uses such a wide range. There are no set rules. It’s a free for all, you know? Which is always fun.

CD: One of the things with this play is that you have all these quick changes, especially for Ophelia. How did you begin to troubleshoot that and what challenges did that present to you?

NM: Well, there’s a lot of challenges. First, what you have to do is not think about the technical aspect of it. You have to design the show, what fits the script. From there I start thinking about “Okay, how do we quick rig this? What do we do?” What pieces can play on two characters played by the same person. Like the boots for Bathsheba are also the ones for Ophelia. One of the ideas Justin and I talked about, with Ada getting these worlds confused, was to have bits and pieces of the [wardrobe of both] worlds go back and forth.

And I’ve run wardrobe tons of times. I’m great with quick changes. So yes, I knew they were coming up, then I also know how to problem solve it and I know that people up here will also know how to problem solve it.

It’s one of those shows where you have to actually know the times, so you know what a quick change is. Because for us, a minute thirty is not a quick change. Like the stage manager said, “This change is a minute, thirty” and we were like “Oh. My god. We can change her twice and put her back on.”

CD: Yeah, that’s still fast to me. Ok, last fun question. Do you have any costuming pet peeves, things that drive you nuts?

NM: What’s most annoying, is just…Costumes shouldn’t be thought of as costumes. They should be thought of as clothes. They should be lived in and worn, and so there’s always an attachment certain people have. The people making--you know, they’re so proud of this garment, and you’re like “Great! Now let’s totally eff it up. You did this fantastic job, now let’s trash it.”

CD: Right, get it on stage and get it worn.

NM: It’s always hard getting over that hump. Having people be ok with it. They kind of look at you like you’re crazy. Like “Oh my god. You spent all this money on fabric and time and effort!”

CD: It has to be your baby, a little bit, right?

NM: Yeah, and that’s the other thing. It’s very hard to give over control of certain things. Dying things or painting. But once you do it, it’s done. And I’d rather have me do it, because at least if it’s me, I can blame myself. I don’t have to yell at someone. I’m sure there’s tons of others, but on the spot.

CD: No, no, it’s perfect. Words of wisdom. Thanks you so much!

[ ... ]

Weekly Preview | July 20-26

TRUE WEST has opened on the Main Stage!
Our second Main Stage show of the 2009 season opened Thursday night to a FULL HOUSE and was followed by an opening night gala at the Williams Inn. True West runs July 15 – July 26 and stars Nate Corrdry, Stephen Kunken, Debra Jo Rupp, and Paul Sparks.

Written by American screen and stage legend Sam Shepard and directed by former WTF Boris Sagal Directing Fellow Daniel Goldstein, this modern classic is an explosive exploration of family rivalry as two very different brothers attempt to sell Hollywood their version of the great American dream.

“…an enjoyable rendition of an American classic.” – Albany Times Union

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THUNDER? Opens on the Nikos Stage
The world premiere of Noah Haidle’s new play, What is the Cause of Thunder? OPENS THIS THURSDAY on the Nikos Stage. Directed by WTF Artistic Associate Justin Waldman, What is the Cause of Thunder? stars Betty Gilpin and Wendie Malick in the story of Ada, who, after 27 years on the same soap opera, has begun to confuse her art and her life.
Haidle’s poignant comedy brings us the hilarity of daytime drama alongside the harsher, but often equally fun realities of life. Thunder runs through August 2, buy your tickets today!

Fridays @ 3 this week is Sense of an Ending by Ken Urban
2008 Weissberger Award Winner, Sense of an Ending by Ken Urban, directed by Sam Gold will be read at the Paresky Center on the Williams College Campus on July 24th.
Charles, an African-American journalist, gets assigned to write a piece on the genocide in Rwanda through the story of two nuns being tried for crimes against humanity. These nuns are accused of knowing about the mass murder that happened within their church walls and doing nothing about it. Through his guide and another local man he meets, Charles struggles to understand the many crimes against humanity happening in Rwanda and ultimately must decide how to tell the story.


Workshop Shows in the Directing Studio in the ’62 Center
Wednesday, July 22 - Nico by Mira Gibson, Directed by Kate Pines, 11pm
with John Doherty, Heather Lind and Andrea Syglowski

Saturday, July 25- 10 Minute Plays presented by the Directing Interns, 11pm
Sidewalk Art by Erica Lipez, directed by Krista D’Agastino
with James Cusati-Moyer, Ed Porter and Claire Seibers

Death Comes for a Wedding by Joe Tracz, directed by Tracey Cameron Francis
with Becca Ballanger, Tommy Crawford, and LaToya Lewis

The Final Kiss by Maurice Level, directed by Adam Stone
with Brett Bolton, James Graham, Devin Kelley, and Georgia Lifsher

Two Pigeons Talk Politics by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman
with Jake Elitzer and Ariana Seigel

Taste by Roald Dahl, adapted and directed by Matthew Strother
with Matt Helm, Michael Randazzo, Amanda Rodhe, Lily Spottiswoode, and Alison Yates

A Sermon by David Mamet, directed by Gabe Marantz
with Matt Bovee, Johnathan Hooks, Kristina Mueller, Noah Parks, Brenann Stacker, and Madeline Wise

For workshop shows, admission is free but reservations are a must - space is limited! Call the workshop office at 413.597.3386 to reserve a ticket!

[photo] T. Charles Erickson 2009. Pictured: Paul Sparks and Nate Corddry in TRUE WEST, Dir. Daniel Goldstein

© [Scenic Design | Neil Patel, Costume Design | Linda Cho, Lighting Design | Ben Stanton] 2009

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

[ ... ]