WAM Theatre to Bring EMILIE to Local Theatres

This February, WAM Theatre has been invited to present an enhanced staged reading of their critically acclaimed 2013 production of Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight by Lauren Gunderson at three different locations in Berkshire County, MA and the Capital Region, NY.

Directed by WAM Theatre Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven, much of the acclaimed original cast returns. Kim Stauffer reprises the title role as Emilie and is joined by returning cast members Suzanne Ankrum, Brendan Cataldo and Joan Coombs as Soubrette, Gentleman and Madam, respectively, along with new cast member Timothy Carter (National Tour of The Lion King, Adirondack Theatre Festival's The Whale) as Voltaire.

This enhanced staged reading will feature some audio and visual elements from the original production, of which Berkshire On Stage and Screen said, "WAM's brilliantly staged production of Emilie... is totally entertaining." The Berkshire Eagle deemed the 2013 production "...highly imaginative...highly theatrical..." and Berkshire Fine Arts stated it was "an absorbing evening of theatre for a sold out audience."

Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight had its world premiere in 2009 at South Coast Repertory Theatre. The play has been described as 'fiercely inquisitive and joyfully sexy' (The San Francisco Chronicle), 'An evening of humor and heartbreak' (BroadwayWorld) and as an 'ambitious, highly theatrical romp that literally crackles with electricity' (LA/OC Examiner).

Today she is best known for her fifteen-year liaison with Voltaire, but Emilie Du Chatelet (1706-1749) was more than a great man's mistress. She was one of the leading interpreters of modern physics in Europe, as well as a master of mathematics and linguistics, during the Age of Enlightenment. After marrying a marquis at the age of eighteen, she proceeded to fulfill the prescribed-and delightfully frivolous-role of a French noblewoman of her time. But she also challenged it, conducting a highly visible affair with a commoner, writing philosophical works, and translating Newton's "Principia" while pregnant by a younger lover. In this play Emilie must defend her life by tallying her achievements in Love and Philosophy-and searching for a formula that will convince the world of her worth.

Book tickets now for the reading closest to you!

1. At Williams College on Tuesday, February 10, at 7:30 pm in the Adams Memorial Theatre in the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance (1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267) as part of the Off-Center Series. Post-performance discussion led by Professor of Computer Science. Andrea Danyluk. Admission is free. This performance is made possible by the Gaudino Fund "At What Cost?" Initiative. http://62center.williams.edu/

2. At UAlbany on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm in the Performing Arts Center (1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222) as part of the Prime Performance Series. Post-performance discussion led by director Kristen van Ginhoven and the cast. Advance tickets $10 for the general public, $5 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Day of the show tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Box Office (518) 442-3997 or visit the Performing Arts Center website at http://www.albany.edu/pac

3. At the Berkshire Museum (39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201) on Friday, February 13 at 7:30 pm, in the Museum's theatre as part of the Pittsfield 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival. Admission $10. Call the Museum at 413-443-7171 x 10. http://www.discoverpittsfield.com/10X10