David Adkins and Corinna May to Lead American Premiere of THE BAKELITE MASTERPIECE at Berkshire Theatre Group

Berkshire Theatre Group and WAM Theatre present the American Premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece, by Kate Cayley and directed by Kristen van Ginhoven, featuring David Adkins and Corinna May. The Bakelite Masterpiece runs at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, September 29 through October 23.

Tickets to The Bakelite Masterpiece are $50, all preview tickets are $45. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield; by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

After a critically acclaimed World Premiere at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, Canada, Berkshire Theatre Group and WAM Theatre are joining forces to present the American Premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece. This stirring production is directed by Co-Founder and Artistic Director of WAM Theatre, Kristen van Ginhoven, and features BTG Alums David Adkins (Thoreau or, Return to Walden; Poe; Same Time, Next Year) and Corinna May (Same Time, Next Year; Homestead Crossing; Two-Headed).

It's the end of World War II, and Holland is in chaos. The artist Van Meegeren is arrested. His crime? Selling a long-lost painting by the Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer to the Nazi Leader, Hermann Goering. His defense? It was a perfect forgery painted by him. His proof? In front of his prosecutor Geert Piller, art historian and resistance fighter, he must paint another flawless Vermeer to save his life. The Bakelite Masterpiece is a play that debates beauty, faith, memory and the reconstruction of a country.

"As the daughter of Dutch parents who lived through WWII, I feel compelled to tell this story," said Kristen van Ginhoven. "The play came to me via a close colleague in Canada who acted in the original production and I immediately envisioned it at The Unicorn Theatre. WAM Theatre is very excited that Berkshire Theatre Group has opened their doors to make this a co-production. This collaboration makes it possible for this story to reach a wider audience."

In keeping with their double philanthropic mission, WAM Theatre will be donating 25% of the box office proceeds from this production to their ninth beneficiary, the Berkshire Immigrant Center and Suzi Banks Baum.

IF YOU GO:

The Bakelite Masterpiece
American Premiere
by Kate Cayley
directed by Kristen van Ginhoven
with David Adkins and Corinna May
a co-production with WAM Theatre

at The Unicorn Theatre
The Larry Vaber Stage
BTG's Stockbridge Campus, 6 East Street

Previews: Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30
Press Opening/Opening Night: Saturday, October 1 at 7pm

Talkbacks:
Sunday, October 2 after 2pm performance
Thursday, October 6 after 7pm performance
Saturday, October 8 after 2pm performance
Sunday, October 9 after 2pm performance
Friday, October 14 after 7pm performance
Saturday, October 15 after 2pm performance
Sunday, October 16 after 2pm performance
Saturday, October 22 after 2pm performance
Sunday, October 23 after 2pm performance
Closing: Sunday, October 23 at 2pm performance

Tickets: Preview: $45; Regular: $50

The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Having united in November of 2010 under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in Live Theatre, music, dance and the visual arts in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (314 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (780 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the-art technical systems. The Colonial is available to rent for performance events as well as other events/functions. For more information about renting our facilities, contact Ashlei Perkins at ashlei@berkshiretheatre.org, or (413)448-8084 x18. BTG also performs at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. BTG serves over 100,000 patrons per year and reaches over 13,000 students through its educational and outreach programs. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian 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.

Over the past six years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $21,000 to eight nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 175 theatre artists. 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.