Interview with Tammy Valicenti, WAM Board President

Tammy Valicenti Our new WAM Board President Tammy Valicenti, LICSW, is a mother who lives in West Stockbridge with her husband & two daughters. She is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Lenox, MA specializing in trauma and addictions recovery. She was Coordinator of a rape trauma program at The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence providing therapy, ER and court advocacy, sensitivity training and education to Special Victims Unit officers and DAs. She has also worked for a domestic violence program specializing in disabilities in NYC, Tempo, Inc., an outpatient recovery and prevention program and in middle schools and elementary schools with children and families.  She enjoys being active and a positive role model of a strong woman for her girls.

WAM Theatre: How did you first learn about WAM?

Tammy Valicenti: Kristen van Ginhoven and I have been friends since before WAM started. I listened to her talk about the vision she and Leigh Strimbeck had for the company, and her energy, her drive, and her vision were all so infectious.  As a Social Worker and a feminist I was really drawn to the concept.

WAM: And when did you join the Board?

Tammy: I joined just a few months after WAM was started. I said yes right away when Kristen asked me. Of course, I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but had I known I still would have said yes.  After Ashley Berridge stepped down as board president in December 2015 (read Ashley’s outgoing blog interview here), fellow board member Bruce Garlow stepped in as acting President. A few months later, due to heart surgery, Bruce stepped down from his responsibilities in the community, including WAM, in order to focus on his healing. We’re all so glad he’s okay and completely understand his decision.  It was just natural that I step up to take the lead on the board, and now that I have greater responsibilities, it’s easy to find more time and energy to devote to it, knowing I’m part of a greater, motivated team striving to grow. It is a lot of work, we’re a very active board, but the WAM Team and other board members, our WAMily makes it fun. Knowing that we’re doing work that is making change here and around the world is so motivating.

WAM: Have you been in the Berkshires long?

Tammy: I’ve been in the Berkshire for 14 years. I came here from New York City, but I was born and raised in the Boston area. I moved here specifically because I wanted to live in a rural area where there was also a strong cultural community. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice, but my primary job is as a mom to my two school-age daughters.

WAM: What was your favorite WAM show?

Tammy: My favorite was Emilie…, hands down. I was truly blown away with what Kristen was able to do with a script! I haven’t seen more powerful theatre anywhere. You know when all of the elements come together perfectly, set, actors, script & direction? This play Emilie, was that. My second favorite was our inaugural production of Melancholy Play.

You know, what’s interesting is that I wasn’t even a theatre person before I got involved with WAM – didn’t know much about it, didn’t go, didn’t care for it. WAM changed all that – I was just blown away by all the emotions live theatre evoked in me. It’s so exciting and moving! If I laugh and cry, I know it’s good. It’s an unparalleled experience that can’t be elicited in quite the same way anywhere else. Also, I didn’t understand the work that goes into a production, or that women are underrepresented as playwrights and actors, that of course, they are paid less than their male counterparts.  I understood that in other realms but didn’t know the specifics of the theatre industry. WAM, just through doing what we do, great professional theatre with an emphasis on women and girls, has made me see the importance of theatre in our small community and beyond and how we can make a difference in shifting the inequity not only in the theatre world but in the world at large.

WAM: Over the years, what changes at WAM have excited you the most?

Tammy:  It’s been a thrill assembling the WAM Team one by one over the past two years and getting Kristen the support she needs. Each and every Team member is organized, bright, and creative. We have to be “All Hands on Deck” now, we’ve grown too big for it to be just Kristen anymore. And that’s fun, it’s work but when it’s fun, it doesn’t feel like work.

I am also thrilled to see our Education Program grow – seeing what Barby has done with the Girls Ensemble is really exciting to me. I just loved seeing Miss Labeled at the Spectrum Playhouse, the culmination of their hard work and what changes it engenders in the young women who participate. It’s the grass-roots, making a difference one girl at a time thing that I really love.

I am proud that our budget is always balanced. And I’m proud that we always pay our artists. Those are important accomplishments and central to achieving our long-term goals as a thriving company.

WAM: So what do you see as our next step? What are you looking forward to?

Tammy: Our next steps are clear and it’s great that we are all on the same page with that vision: Continue to produce high-quality theatre for everyone that benefits women and girls both locally and globally. I look forward to our continued work, with smart, energetic and motivated people, energizing a community and getting to the place where we have expanded to a full season that includes two major productions, plus special events – community collaborations, the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series, and our education program. I look forward to being recognized as one of the major theatre companies in the area along with the older, larger theatre groups in the region. We are there, we are almost there! We are a legitimate player and we reach a wide age range with our energy, our programming and our innovation. WAM is young, mighty and energetic and I’m proud to be along for the wild and productive ride!