ANN Starring Jayne Atkinson to be Presented in Dallas & Washington, DC

ANN Starring Jayne Atkinson to be Presented in Dallas & Washington, DC

LENOX, MA (March 7, 2019) — After the record breaking success of WAM Theatre’s fall 2018 production of ANN by Holland Taylor, WAM is thrilled to announce that Arena Stage in Washington, DC, and Dallas Theatre Center are presenting a new co-production of ANN in July and October of this year. WAM’s Artistic Director, Kristen van Ginhoven, will again direct the production, and Jayne Atkinson returns to star in the title role.

A one-woman tour-de-force, ANN is a hilarious and spirited portrait of Ann Richards, legendary Governor of Texas, that brings us face to face with Richards’ complex, colorful, and captivating character, with a personality bigger than the state she governed. Ticket sales for WAM’s 2018 co-production of ANN with Dorset Theatre Festival broke all box office records.

“As a new citizen of this country, and as the Artistic Director of WAM, I cannot imagine a better way to contribute to the civic dialogue leading up to the 2020 election,” van Ginhoven said. “All of us at WAM are thrilled that our work at the intersection of arts and activism will have a life outside of the Berkshires where it will reach even larger audiences. And personally, I am delighted to be able to continue work on this play with Jayne at these two acclaimed regional theaters.”

“I am thrilled and proud to be continuing the journey – joining with Kristen to take ANN on the road and share the brilliance and humor of Ann Richards,” Atkinson added.

ANN is a whip-smart play, perfect for the times we’re living in. Governor Ann Richards was so far ahead of her time, she was a rocket!” Molly Smith, Artistic Director of Arena Stage enthused. “We at Arena are excited about this co-production and bringing Jayne Atkinson’s fantastic portrayal of Governor Richards, along with Kristen van Ginhoven’s wonderful direction, to Washington DC.  There really is no better place for a play about a strong woman politician. We’re tossing rocks at that glass ceiling! And reminding our audiences of those who went before.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Kristen van Ginhoven to Dallas to direct ANN,” said Kevin Moriarty, Enloe/Rose Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center. “Under Kristen’s leadership, and with Jayne Atkinson in the title role, audiences will love this inspiring and hilarious play that brings us face to face with the complex, colorful and captivating character of Ann Richards.”

The original design team will also return to design the co-production. WAM Associate Artist Juliana von Haubrich returns as scenic designer, Andi Lyons as lighting designer, M. L. Dogg as sound designer, Jess Goldstein as costume designer and Paul Huntley as wig designer.

The production will run July 11-August 11 at Arena Stage and in Dallas from October 15-November 10. Tickets and information can be found on those companies’ Websites:  arenastage.org and dallastheatercenter.org

Back in the Berkshires, WAM is launching its 10th anniversary season this year.  There will be two Mainstage productions – the world premiere of Lady Randy by Anne Undeland, running April 18-May 5, and Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau, running October 25-November 9, presented in partnership with Multicultural BRIDGE. Two Fresh Takes Play Readings – Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías (May 4) and Paradise by Laura Maria Censabella (November 2) –  will correlate directly to each Mainstage production; and an expanded Education program will include a new Elder Ensemble for women 65 and older, along with the successful, established Teen Ensemble, both of which will debut their original devised theatre pieces at the WAM Gala in July.

For more information about WAM Theatre and the 2019 season, visit: https://www.wamtheatre.com/2019-season/

ABOUT ARENA STAGE

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays and impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement. Now in its seventh decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. Arenastage.org

ABOUT THE DALLAS THEATER CENTER

One of the leading regional theaters in the country, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 90,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, DTC is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the Dallas Arts District. DTC also presents at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. DTC engages, entertains and inspires a diverse community by creating experiences that stimulate new ways of thinking and living by consistently producing plays, educational programs and community initiatives that are of the highest quality and reach the broadest possible constituency. Dallastheatercenter.org

WAM 10th Anniversary Sponsors

Our 2019 sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Annie Selke, Baystate Financial, Berkshire Gas, Berkshire Hand to Shoulder Center, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Blue Spark Financial, Brabson Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Chez Nous, Custom Business Solutions, Dr, Jay Wise, DDS and Dr. Casey Jones, DMD, The Dylandale Foundation, Frankie’s Ristorante Italiano, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Haven Cafe and Bakery, Health Professional Coaching, Heller & Robbins, Interprint, J.H. Maxymillian, Inc., Lee Bank, Maggie Barry, NEPR, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Only in My Dreams Events, Onyx Specialty Papers, OUTPOST, RB Design Co., The Rogovoy Report, The Rookwood Inn, Salisbury Bank, T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, and a. von schlegell & co.

WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Alford-Egremont Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern Berkshires, Hinsdale-Peru Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, New Marlborough Cultural Council, Otis Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council, Sandisfield Cultural Council, Sheffield Cultural Council, West Stockbridge Cultural Council– local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

LADY RANDY is sponsored in part by an anonymous donor and PIPELINE is sponsored in part by Carolyn Butler.

ABOUT WAM THEATRE

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary of being a place Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as philanthropy.

Inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls.

Since 2010, WAM Theatre has provided paid work to more than 200 theatre artists and donated more than $56,500 to fifteen local and global organizations taking action for women and girls in areas such as girls education, teen pregnancy prevention, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training and more. 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