LENOX, MA (May 4, 2023) – WAM Theatre is proud to share several audience accessibility initiatives for its upcoming co-production of What the Constitution Means to Me with Berkshire Theatre Group. Forming the core of the audience accessibility initiatives is a sensory-friendly performance, caregiver reimbursements, masked performances options, and sliding scale ticketing initiative.
“WAM is thrilled to be learning about sensory-friendly performances from Berkshire Theatre Group for our first sensory-friendly performance on Thursday, May 31 at 6 pm. We are also excited BTG is working with WAM on our sliding scale ticketing options, removing one of the largest barriers keeping people away from the theatre—cost,” shared Kristen van Ginhoven, WAM’s Producing Artistic Director. “It’s also exciting, after having successfully offered child-care stipends in 2022, to expand that initiative this year to caregiving reimbursements. Any folks out there who are being heroic caregivers can come to the theatre and get the cost of caring for their loved one reimbursed.”
What the Constitution Means to Me is a vibrant and relevant play by Heidi Schreck that will be performed Thursdays-Sundays May 18th-June 3rd at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA. WAM has spent the last three seasons amplifying its accessibility for all audiences (including offering virtual programs and developing its website and print materials to be more readily accessible to all) and is excited to deepen access through these continued innovative and collaborative offerings.
Kaia Jackson, Director of Community Engagement at WAM Theatre, shares: “As WAM Theatre seeks to cultivate a practice of radical hospitality throughout our programming, we are excited to take another step into our capacity to expand opportunities for artistic engagement in Berkshire County and beyond. We are so grateful for the support from individual donors, community partners, and our recent collaboration with Berkshire Theatre Group, which has a longstanding practice of offering sensory-friendly productions in our community.”
Berkshire Theatre Group describes a “sensory-friendly” performance as “a production that is slightly modified to accommodate individuals with sensory-input disorders, such as people on the autism spectrum. At this performance, you will notice relaxed “house rules;” people may need to get up, move around, and leave the theatre during the performance. There is no expectation that the audience will be completely quiet during the performance. Our goal is to create an environment where people with autism or sensory needs, along with their families, can enjoy coming to the theatre together and will feel comfortable, supported, and free to be themselves.”
In order to better facilitate parents and caregivers attending WAM Theatre and BTG’s co- production, WAM is also offering reimbursements of up to $75. These caregiving subsidies, available for any performance of What the Constitution Means to Me, will reimburse up to 15 households to cover their caregiving costs for children, elders, and dependents. Parents/caregivers can apply for this program by filling out a simple form on the WAM Theatre website.
WAM Theatre is grateful to continue our partnership with PAAL (Parent Artist Advocacy League) and to be expanding to offer reimbursements for all caregivers. This initiative will be a step in allowing people struggling with the extra financial burden of caregiving to attend our co-production of What The Constitution Means to Me.
“In line with WAM’s mission, we are thrilled to offer reimbursements for parents and caregivers,” said Managing Director Molly Merrihew. “As a new parent, I know too well the juggling act and expenses associated with making time for ourselves while caring for children and/or dependents. WAM strives to make our performances accessible to all, and support for all caregivers is part of that work.”
WAM Theatre’s caregiving reimbursements for What The Constitution Means to Me are an initiative underwritten by PAAL (Parent Artist Advocacy League) and Jennie & David Jadow, with previous support from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Rapid Response Grant.
In addition to offering caregiving reimbursements, WAM is proud to offer equitable seating for all and encourages patrons to select the ticket price that best fits their needs. Tickets range from $26-$96 for live performances. WAM invites audience members to choose from one of the suggested price levels. WAM also offers discounted tickets for EBT card holders (tickets at $5), and a group ticket rate (for groups of ten or more). More information about these programs and discounts can be found here.
Please note, this performance will not have audio or ASL as we aim to provide these accessibility measures with dignity and preparation. WAM is in the initial phase of making this possible for future shows.
For tickets to the live performance of What the Constitution Means to Me, visit https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/event/what-the-constitution-means-to-me/ or call (413) 997-4444. For more information about the 2023 Season and WAM Theatre’s programs, events, and artists, please visit https://www.wamtheatre.com/.
AT A GLANCE
What the Constitution Means to Me
A Co-Production with WAM Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Group written by Heidi Schreck directed by Kristen van Ginhoven
At Berkshire Theatre Group’s Larry Vaber Stage at The Unicorn Theatre, 6 East Street, Stockbridge, MA.
Performance Schedule
Thursday, May 18 at 7pm (Preview)
Friday, May 19 at 7pm (Preview)
Saturday, May 20 at 7pm (Preview)
Sunday, May 21 at 2pm (Opening/Press Night)
Thursday, May 25 at 7pm
Friday, May 26 at 7pm
Saturday May 27 at 2pm (Mask Required)
Saturday, May 27 at 7pm
Sunday, May 28 at 2pm
Wednesday, May 31 at 6 pm (Sensory Friendly)
Thursday, June 1 at 7pm
Friday, June 2 at 7pm
Saturday, June 3 at 2pm (Mask Required)
Saturday, June 3 at 7pm (Closing)
Tickets: $26 – $96: Friend: $26 Standard: $56 Supporter: $96
Sensory Friendly Tickets: $15
For more information visit wamtheatre.com.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. Addressing themes such as women’s rights, immigration, domestic abuse, and the history of the United States, this timely and galvanizing play became a sensation off-Broadway before transferring to Broadway where it received two Tony Award nominations, was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama among countless other accolades.
ABOUT BERKSHIRE THEATRE GROUP
The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. In 2010, under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, the two organizations merged to form Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). Berkshire Theatre Group’s mission is to support wide ranging artistic exploration and acclaimed performances in theatre, dance, music and entertainment. Every year, BTG produces and presents performances to over 68,000 attendees and, through our Educational Program, serves over 11,000 Berkshire County school children annually. In July 2020, Berkshire Theatre was the first company in the United States to earn approval from Actors’ Equity Association to produce a musical (Godspell) in the wake of the COVID-19
Pandemic.
WAM SUPPORT
WAM’s sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Blue Q., Berkshire Roots, Blue Spark Financial, BRAVA, Downright Pro, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Garden Gables Inn, Guidos Fresh Marketplace, Mill Town Foundation, Inc., MILL TOWN FOUNDATION, INC. Health Professional Coaching, Heller & Robbins Attorneys at Law, Interprint, Onyx Specialty Papers, Outpost Productions, Prix Fixe, RB Design Co., T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, a. von schlegell & co, and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.
WAM Theatre is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). WAM Theatre’s 2022 Season was also supported in part by grants from Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Bradson Education & Library Foundation, The Feigenbaum Foundation, Lee Bank Foundation, Scarlet Sock Foundation, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant; as well as 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.
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.