WAM Theatre to Hold August Theatre Workshop for Girls at IS183

Following the success of their inaugural collaboration during the 2016 April vacation week, WAM Theatre is once again teaming up with IS183 Art School to offer an August Theatre Workshop for girls ages 8-12, August 22-26. The workshop will again be led by WAM Theatre Teaching Artist Barby Cardillo. WAM has modeled this program on the successful theatre arts workshop for girls at Girls Inc., now in its third year.

Over the course of one week, participants will create a short theatre piece to share with friends and family on the last day of camp. Through improvisation, theatre games and writing prompts the girls will explore themes that are important to them as a young women living in the world today and devise a short performance based on those themes. Girls who act, sing, dance, play an instrument, write, draw, or want to explore those skills are encouraged to sign up.

"I love the energy of this age group. The girls are full of creativity and their voices are authentic and open," Cardillo said. In addition to her work for WAM at Girls Inc. and IS183, Cardillo is the co-director of WAM's Girls Ensemble, which just concluded its successful inaugural season with public performances and a local schools tour of their devised theatre piece, Miss Labeled.

"IS183 is thrilled to collaborate with WAM theatre again this summer as they bring their theatre camp back to our homebase in Stockbridge for an end of summer blast. It's going to be fun!" said Hope Sullivan, Executive Director of IS183.

Cardillo will be at the IS183 Citizens Hall Theatre in Stockbridge to lead the WAM Girls Ensemble Jr. Workshop from 9:30 am-3:30 pm on August 22-26. The fee is $250.00, or $235.00 for IS183 Art School members. Before and after care are available for an additional fee. Registration ends Friday August 12. A minimum of six participants are required to run the course. To register for the camp, go to: www.wamtheatre.com/wam-theatre-girls-ensemble-jr-is183-august-theatre-workshop.

In addition, WAM and IS183 are offering a semester-long after-school program led by Cardillo on Tuesdays from 3:30-5 pm from September 27 to December 6 (Nine Meetings, no class October 11 and November 22.) The fee is $215.00, or $190.00 for IS183 Art School members, and the registration deadline is September 23. Partial scholarships available, contact info@wamtheatre.com for more information. To register for the fall after-school program, go to: www.wamtheatre.com/wam-theatre-girls-ensemble-jr-fall-class-is183.

ABOUT BARBY CARDILLO ( Actress, Teaching Artist and Education Coordinator) - Barby Cardillo is a professional performer and teaching artist and also holds a BA in social work from MCLA. She came to WAM in 2011 having been cast in the mainstage production of "The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls" Also for WAM, she has performed in the Fresh Takes Series, The 24 Hour Theatre Project, the Word by Word Festival and the Ten x Ten arts Festival As a teaching artist, Barby has worked for 25 years in the Berkshire county theatre community with WAM, Shakespeare & Company, BTG, Barrington Stage and Community Access to the Arts. You may have seen her onstage at Shakespeare and Co., BTG, Mixed Company, Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park or the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe.

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.