LENOX, MA (May 16, 2024) – WAM Theatre is thrilled to announce the upcoming performance of WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T: Spilling the Tea on Life, Portals, and Possibilities. Presented over Memorial Day weekend in Lenox’s historic Church on the Hill Cemetery, it consists of a series of short performances created by WAM’s acclaimed Teen Ensemble.
“The piece offers a glimpse into the brilliant, fantastical, and curious minds of six young artists as they take stock of this unique moment in their lives and the world, and ponder what comes next,” explains Maizy Broderick Scarpa, WAM’s Director of Community Engagement who co-facilitates Teen Ensemble. The poetry and movement infused performance uses the ritual of making tea, and the deep thoughts that often arise while drinking it, as a focal point through which to explore existential questions.
“This year’s Ensemble is a philosophical bunch, so the topics are deep,” Scarpa observes. “These artists are brimming with insight, compassion, and a desire for authentic connection. Their performance reflects that. It’s also whimsical and outrageous and fun.”
Teaching Artist Malia’Kekia Nicolini, the program’s co-facilitator, agrees. “I have been so inspired by the sweet thoughtfulness of this year’s Ensemble. They have shown each other such generosity and care in a way that you will be able to feel in their performance.”
WAM Theatre has been working with ensembles of teenagers to devise original performances on activist themes since 2014. Devised theatre uses a collaborative process where an ensemble uses a variety of techniques—writing, improvisation, games, movement, brainstorming, and more––to create original performance material. The young artists of the Ensemble double as performers and creators of the original piece that they will share with the public. According to Nicolini, that public is in for a treat. “I continue to be humbled by the wisdom they have to share within their perspective of how they view the world.”
Over spring break, the young artists trained in devised theatre techniques at WAM’s Creative Hub and Offices in Lenox. During this time, the ensemble created the beginnings of an original performance. On Memorial Day Weekend, the Teen Ensemble will reconvene to continue the development process. The show will be performed for the community on May 26th at 1pm as part of Berkshire Arts Week. The Ensemble features Aiko Hosmer, Mickeayla Rosa Peitri, Fernando Antonio Perdomo, Cypress Smith, Ella Smith, and Sukai Touray.
The performance’s location in The Church on the Hill Cemetery is a scenic memento mori which allows for a unique, site-specific immersive experience for performers and audience alike. Scarpa hopes to introduce the historic site to those who otherwise would miss this “hidden gem.” The Church on the Hill is a hilly, grassy location with paved pathways. Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available in the church.
TICKETS
The performance will run about 30 minutes and is free to attend.
RSVPs are appreciated. For questions or accessibility requests, please call or text 413-300-1413 or email maizy@wamtheatre.com.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T
Spilling the Tea on Life, Portals, and Possibilities
created and performed by Teen Ensemble
facilitated by Maizy Broderick Scarpa and Malia’Kekia Nicolini
May 26th at 1pm
Outdoors at Church on the Hill Cemetery
169 Main Street, Lenox MA
Tickets are free. RSVPs encouraged.
In case of rain: check your email (if you RSVPed) and WAM’s Theatre’s Instagram. More info: www.wamtheatre.com/teen-ensemble/
ABOUT WAM’S TEACHING ARTISTS
Malia’Kekia Nicolini (‘O ia/She/They) is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) teaching artist, choreographer, artistic director and gratitude enthusiast based in the Berkshires. Current Role at WAM: ‘O ia is delighted to be a Teaching Artist for the Teen Ensemble at WAM! Selected Theater and Teaching Credits Elsewhere: Malia’Kekia is the Co-Founder of B4 The Other Creations which travels throughout the US/internationally offering professional development and educational residencies. B4’s intimate work is led through movement, not lecture, and grounded in a Pedagogy of Play. Most recently, Malia’Kekia co-facilitated the Black and Indigenous Futures Convening with Howlround Theater Commons and ArtsEmerson. As an interdisciplinary artist, ‘o ia weaves all their experience together to empower students with radical joy. Training: BFA (Music Theater), MBA (Mindfulness in Business Practices), BIPOC Leadership (ArtEquity), Arts and Cultural Organizational Management (American Repertory Theater at Harvard). Connect: www.b4theother.com
Maizy Broderick Scarpa (she/they/any pronouns) is an educator, writer, and theatre artist who is dedicated to building a more just & healthy world by fostering equity in the arts, and nurturing mutually supportive communities. Current Role at WAM: Director of Community Engagement. Previous WAM Credits: Teaching Artist (Teen Ensemble 2023); Actor in Fresh Takes Play Readings (Port of Entry, Grand Concourse, The Droll, The Tall Girls, Campus Unrest); 24 Hour Theatre Project 2016 (Playwright); workshop co-facilitator “Writing & Gender” Selected Teaching Credits Elsewhere: Theatre: Barrington Stage Co, Shakespeare & Company, Hampton Shakespeare Festival, Dorset Theatre Festival, The Buxton School, Taconic High School, Le Chapeau Rouge, StateraConIV. English as a Foreign Language: Lycée Alphonse Daudet; Collège Rene Cassin; The Kurdish Regional Government. Training: NYU/Tisch (Adler & ETW).Connect: maizyscarpa.com / bloomcreativity.com
ABOUT WAM THEATRE
WAM Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Berkshire County, MA, that operates at the intersection of arts and activism. WAM creates theatre for gender equity and has a vision of theatre as philanthropy.
In fulfillment of its philanthropic mission, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from their Mainstage productions to carefully selected beneficiaries. Since WAM’s founding in 2010, they have donated more than $85,000 to 25 local and global organizations taking action for gender equity in areas such as girls education, teen pregnancy prevention, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training, and more.
In addition to Mainstage productions and special events, WAM’s activities include innovative community engagement programs and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. To date, WAM has provided paid work to more than 500 theatre artists, the majority of whom are female-identifying.
As a civic organization that embraces intersectional feminism (feminism that acknowledges how multiple forms of discrimination overlap), WAM understands that to address one piece of systemic discrimination means we have to address them all. This is on-going personal and professional work at WAM for the staff and board, detailed in their recently released accountability plan.
WAM Theatre has been widely recognized for having a positive impact on cultural and community development in the region. WAM is the recipient of the Creative Economy Standout Berkshire Trendsetter Award and previously, was named Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation of the Year by the Western MA Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Kristen van Ginhoven, WAM’s Producing Artistic Director, was honored by the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association (BTCA) with the prestigious Larry Murray Award, presented at the discretion of the BTCA Board to a person or theatre project that advances social, political, or community issues in Berkshire County. For more information, visit www.wamtheatre.com
WAM SUPPORT
WAM Theatres 2024 Teen Ensemble is made possible by the support of the Scarlet Sock Foundation. WAM Theatre’s 15th Anniversary Season is supported by many individuals and foundations including: Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Brabson Family Foundation, The Feigenbaum Foundation, GKV Foundation, Lee Bank Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), and WomenArts. WAM’s season sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Blue Q., Berkshire Roots, Blue Spark Financial, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Garden Gables Inn, Guidos Fresh Marketplace, Handful Photography, Mill Town Foundation, Inc., Health Professional Coaching, Heller & Robbins Attorneys at Law, Interprint, Onyx Specialty Papers, Outpost Productions, RB Design Co., T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, a. von schlegell & co, and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. With additional support from Local Cultural Council Grants from the Dalton Cultural Council, Lee Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Northern Berkshire Cultural Council, Otis Cultural Council, Sandisfield Cultural Council, and Washington Cultural Council. WAM was also the recipient of recent support from the New England Foundation for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, and U.S. Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.