WHAT to Dedicate 30th Anniversary Season to Julie Harris

In celebration of their friend, colleague and Honorary Board Chair, WHAT will dedicate its 30th season to Julie Harris, the company confirmed today.

In support of the theater, Julie once wrote:

"I have long admired WHAT's spirit of adventure. As a member of the audinence, I have been transported intellectually and passionately. As an actor on its stage, I have been challenged to respect the amazing audiences this theater draws. These are the things we - as audiences and as actors - ask of a theater, and WHAT delivers, year after year.

Theater is a way of expressing our humanity. It brings us together and shows us what it means to be alive.... Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater has done just that - making us feel joyous and sorrowful, compelling us to see things in one way and then another, firing our imaginations with what is possible... and empathy, always with empathy."

The 30th anniversary honors the traditions that Julie valued, while paying homage to the artistic contributions she made in the theater world. To accomplish this, WHAT embraces its mission, endeavoring to find interesting and provocative works of high quality and to recruit artists with the skill, imagination, and vision to realize those works in production; to provide an alternative theater experience not found elsewhere in the region; and to advance and preserve the art of the theater for the education and appreciation of the public.

The season will incorporate:

• A four-play summer season

• The 14th year of WHAT for Kids

• A Summer Gala Celebration honoring Julie

• The return of our new, six-concert music festival

• A Sunday afternoon free, family-friendly concert

• Continued collaborations with Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, SPAT, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Cape Cod Institute and others

• Continued year-round programming, including live streaming of the Metropolitan Opera

From WHAT's Executive Director, Jeffry George:
"We were saddened by Dan Lombardo's recent decision to move on, but honor and support his wish to be close to his family after so many years of commuting from Western Massachusetts. The organization must take time and great care in searching for the right replacement to lead WHAT into Act II, where the artistic goals, sustainability and economic and cultural development of the Outer Cape are held to the highest standards. In addition to his many contributions to WHAT over the years, Dan was integral in the decision to honor Julie during the 30th anniversary season and provided initial guidance on how to do so. Dan's spirit and passion will be with us as the organization, collectively, makes the artistic decisions while searching for a new Artistic Director over the next 12 months."

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater is the award-winning theater company that inspired "a new vigor for theater on the Cape" (New York Times). Now moving into its 30th year, WHAT continues to be a sounding board for new and bold ideas, presenting "continually adventurous theater" (Boston Globe), and year-round programming. The state-of-the-art Julie Harris Stage is a tribute to the six-time Tony award-winning actress and WHAT's Honorary Chair.

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