The Williamstown Theatre Festival provides some of the best opportunities for theatre artists, technicians and administrators available in American theatre today.

By providing a vital and supportive atmosphere in which to experience the many challenges of working in the professional theatre industry, WTF offers students educational and career advancement opportunities seldom available elsewhere. WTF offers programs for young actors and directors, as well as opportunities for designers, technicians and administrators.

Training programs for young theatre professionals are a vital a part of WTF’s mission. Many alumni maintain close relationships with WTF, and the Festival frequently offers them the chance to return and further hone their skills throughout their careers.

The WTF Fellowship Program is an innovative program which challenges young theatre artists to develop original theatrical material under the aegis of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. The Boris Sagal and Bill Foeller Directing Fellows each create a play or a musical theatre piece over the course of the summer with a playwright or young musical theatre team of their choosing. Collaborating with actors from WTF’s Non-Equity Company, these practitioners walk into a room with just an idea for their project at the beginning of the summer. They then have ten days to workshop and develop their material with their cast which leads to a three-week, off-site incubation period where the creative team prepares a script with which to go into rehearsal. Once they return to WTF, the whole production has three weeks of rehearsal which culminates in four public performances. We truly believe, and have proof positive, that a new young theatre voice can be fostered in this structure; both plays and musicals created in this supportive environment have gone on to be produced at other theatres.

The Fellowship Projects are made possible through the generous support of the Bill Foeller and Boris SagalScholarships.

a new play by AMYHERZOG
directed by Bill Foeller Fellow TAMARA E. FISCH

scenic design DAVID ARSENAULT
costume design JEANETTE LEE PORTER
lighting design WILBURN BONNELL
sound design LEO A. MARTIN, IV
production stage manager MICHAEL BLOCK
production manager CONNOR “MAC ” SMITH

with LAUREN BLUMENFELD, RICH DREHER, DANIEL HARTLEY, ASHTON HEYL, LUCAS KAVNER, IRENE SOFIA LUCIO, JOEL PEREZ, GAYLE RANKIN, DOMINIC SPILLANE

[August 12–13 ’09] GOLDEN GATE

book & lyrics by CHRISTOPHER DIMOND

music by MICHAEL KOOMAN

music directed by CHRISTOPHER D. LITTLEFIELD

directed by boris sagal fellow DAN RIGAZZI

Scenic Design SARAH MUXLOW

Costume Design PAMELA WILCOX

Lighting Design ISABELLA F. BYRD

Sound Design SAMANTHA WELLER

Production Stage Manager FRANCES INES RODRIGUEZ

Production Manager CONNOR “MAC” SMITH

with LAUREN BLUMENFELD, FRANCESCA CHOY-KEE, RICH DREHER, DANIEL HARTLEY, ASHTON HEYL, LUCAS KAVNER, IRENE SOFIA LUCIO, JOEL PEREZ, GAYLE RANKIN, DOMINIC SPILLANE

[all photos] © SAM HOUGH for WTF ’09

The Williamstown Theatre Festival Workshop, under the direction of Artistic Associate Amanda Charlton, is a training ground for up-and-coming directors, actors, and playwrights. With well over 100 members, the Workshop is a huge force at the Festival and its late night, one night only offerings are among the most adventurous and exciting productions of the summer.

[July 4 ’09] DI TEN MINUTES, No. 1

Lighting Design | Ben Paciorkowski

Sound Design | Chet Miller

FILM NOIR by Adam Szymkowicz, directed by Krista D’Agostino

with Claire Seibers, Robert Keller

90 DAYS by Elizabeth Meriwether, directed by Matthew Strother

with James Graham [pictured], Eloïse Eonnet

ROUGH FOR THEATRE ONE by Samuel Beckett, directed by Tracy Cameron Francis

with Micah Stock [pictured], Tommy Crawford

508 by Amy Herzog, directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman

with Jake Loewenthal, Angela Doran Fletcher

ACT WITHOUT WORDS 2 by Samuel Beckett, directed by Gabriel Marantz

with Sam Craw, Matt Helm, Brenann Stacker [pictured]

ARMAGEDDON by Mark Ravenhill, directed by Adam Stone

with Alison Yates [pictured], Ed Porter

[July 25 ’09] DI TEN MINUTES, No. 2

Lighting Design | Michael Megliola

Sound Design | Collin Barnum

TASTE by Roald Dahl, adapted and directed by Matthew Strother

with Michael Randazzo [pictured], Matt Helm, Alison Yates, Amanda Rodhe, Lily Spottiswoode, Michael Jennings, Rob Rodems, Micah Stock

A SERMON by David Mamet, directed by Gabriel Marantz

with Jonathan Hooks, Brenann Stacker, Kristina Mueller, Matthew Bovee,

Noah Parks [pictured], Madeline Wise [pictured]

SIDEWALK ART by Erica Lipez, directed by Krista D’Agostino

with James Cusati-Moyer [pictured], Ed Porter, Claire Seibers [pictured]

DEATH COMES FOR A WEDDING by Joe Tracz, directed by Tracey Cameron Francis

with LaToya Lewis [pictured], Becca Ballanger [pictured], Tommy Crawford, Bethy Atkins, Ashley Avera, Jamie Bock, Alexis Carpinello, Jean Marie Hufford, Stephanie LaVardera, Emily Martin, Melissa Mickens, Abigail Ouellet, Christina Quintana,Gail Rachel Grillo Shalan, Catherine Weingarten

TWO PIGEONS TALK POLITICS by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman

with Jacob Elitzer, Ariana Seigel

THE FINAL KISS by Maurice Level, directed by Adam Stone

with James Graham [pictured], Brett Bolton, Georgia X. Lifsher, Devin Kelley [pictured]

[August 15 ’09] DI TEN MINUTES, No. 3

Lighting Design | Austin R. Smith

Sound Design | Chet Miller

THE ADMIRAL AND DIANE

By CRYSTAL GOMES, Directed by KRISTA D’AGOSTINO

with KYLE J. SMITH, KRISTINA MUELLER

WHEN ALL THE TREES ARE GONE, WHERE WILL WE HANG OURSELVES?

By MARISA WEGRZYN

Directed by TRACY CAMERON FRANCIS

with BRETT BOLTON, DEVIN KELLEY

EUKIAH

By LANFORD WILSON

Directed by MATTHEW STROTHER

with MICAH STOCK [pictured], JONATHAN GORDON

CRACKING

By JONATHAN MARC SHERMAN

Directed by KIMBERLY FAITH HICKMAN

with ED PORTER, ELOÏSE EONNET

WELCOME TO THE MOON

By JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY

Directed by GABRIEL MARANTZ

with TOMMY CRAWFORD, MICHAEL RANDAZZO, MATTHEW BOVEE [pictured], CLAIRE SIEBERS, NOAH PARKS

ALICE IN WONDERLESS LAND

By FRANCA RAME and DARIO FO

Directed by ADAM STONE

with JAMES GRAHAM [pictured], MICHAEL HAMMOND, MATT HELM, JONATHAN HOOKS, GEORGIA X. LIFSHER, JAMES MOROSINI, AMANDA RODHE, LILY SPOTTISWOODE, ALISON YATES

All photos © SAM HOUGH for WTF ’09

NAME: Emily Corinne Althaus.

DEPARTMENT: Workshop.

POSITION: Acting Apprentice.

YEARS WITH FESTIVAL: This is my first year with WTF.

HOMETOWN: Louisville, KY.

JOB OUTSIDE WTF: ahh yes, this is normally the section where I would proudly write “student,” but a few weeks ago my institution let me graduate, and since “graduate” isn’t really a job…. I suppose that leaves me with the illustrious title of “Barista” (that’s a fancy way of saying I work for Starbucks.)

SCHOOL/TRAINING: I have a BFA (with an emphasis in Acting) from Western Kentucky University (I minored in American Sign Language for a bit…)

FAVORTIE PLAYWRIGHTS: I’ve always loved Marsha Norman’s work, Neil LaBute always makes me laugh, and as far as new playwrights are concerned I’m really in to Sean Taylor.

FAVORITE PLAYS: Proof. VIOLET. As Bees In Honey Drown.

FAVORITE NON-THEATRE ACTIVITIES:

1.Doodling. If I have a pen in my hand watch out, cause stuffs getting marked up J

2. I LOVE music: Listening, making, trading…if music is involved I am all about being a part of it.

3. Traveling is something else I really enjoy and would like to do more of.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT WTF?

Western has a pretty solid history of students coming through Williamstown. My freshman year in college I met Becky Ann Baker (a Western Alumn) at a Theatre and Dance reunion. She spoke so highly of the impact of Williamstown on her life that I had to check it out.

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST OR FAVORITE MEMORY OF WTF?

It’s hard for me to pin point just one. The friendships I’ve made here will by far be the best thing I leave with. I suppose some of those initial meetings have been pretty hilarious, memories I’ll probably never forget.

WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES THIS SUMMER?

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing what all of the various crews do here for the festival (a really beautiful part of being an apprentice). Daily I’m shuffled between shops and taught new skills, and I must say my table saw skills are coming along quite well.

I was recently cast in Torch Bearers, directed by Dylan Baker. I have an ensemble role in this HILLARIOUS play, but my absolute favorite part of this process is my role before the show opens.

WHAT ARE YOU MORE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

The rehearsal process. It’s such an amazing opportunity to watch people, who have been in the business professionally for some time now, work. I still can’t believe I’m aloud in the room some times. I can honestly say that I’m learning via observation every day.

TO WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE?

I have a one-way ticket to the festival. My plan is to move to NY at the seasons end and find an apartment. So begins a life of auditioning I suppose…

I aspire to perform.

Edward Albee truly believes that theatre is a mirror of society and that it has the power to change people. He’s said of his plays before, “If you come to the theatre and don’t like what you see, then change.” I want to be a part of the ting that makes people really examine life, and their part in the grand scheme of things. I aspire to make a difference. (Insert corny music)

Many thanks to the Williams Inn for hosting our last opening night party of the 2009 Season!

by Clare Drobot, Dramaturg.

Doing research for the program biography of Simon Gray I began to read more of his plays and novels. At the start of this production, I’m embarrassed to say, I had only a glancing familiarity with Mr. Gray’s works. In the course of compiling and writing I began to read several of his plays and memoirs. His writing made me laugh, cry, do double takes, and kept me thoroughly captivated. Below is an unofficial chronological list of his plays with a few interesting facts, I dug up in the research process.

Wise Child (1967)
The show starred Alec Guinness and was originally written as a teleplay. When it was deemed too controversial for the small screen, Gray adapted it for the stage.

Dutch Uncle (1969)
Partially based on serial killer John Christie.
The Idiot (adapted from Dostoyevsky in 1970)

Spoiled (1970)

Butley (1971)
The Last Simon Gray play that appeared on Broadway. The revival in 2006, directed by WTF Artistic Director Nicholas Martin, starred Nathan Lane in the title role. The original production starred long time friend Alan Bates and was directed by Harold Pinter.

Otherwise Engaged (1975)

Dog Days (1976)

Molly (1977)
An Adaptation of “Death of a Teddy Bear” a Teleplay that first aired in 1967.

The Rear Column (1978)
A historical play based on the rear column left behind in Yambuya during Henry Morgan Stanley’s 1886 expedition into Equatoria.

Close of Play (1979)

Stage Struck (1979)
A Hit Comic Thriller that also starred Alan Bates.

Quartermaine’s Terms (1981)

The Common Pursuit (1984)
The play follows a group of Cambridge Classmates who begin a literary magazine during their undergraduate careers and investigates their artistic dreams and the evolutions of their lives over the ensuing years. Simon Gray wrote How’s That for Telling ‘em Fat Lady about the US production of the play.

Melon (later revised as The Holy Terror) 1987
Simon wrote about the US production of The Holy Terror in his Introduction to Four Plays (http://www.faber.co.uk/work/simon-gray-four-plays/9780571219889/)

Hidden Laughter (1990)

Cell Mates (1995)
The initial production was beleaguered by the departure of star Stephen Fry and resulted in another collection of Gray’s diaries, Fat Chance.

Life Support (1997)

Simply Disconnected (1996)
A sort of sequel to Otherwise Engaged

The Late Middle Classes (1999)
The play’s evolution (and subsequent troubles landing a London production) became the subject of a third set of diaries Enter a Fox, which is also subtitled “Further Adventures of a Paranoid.”

Japes (2000)
The show chronicles two brothers and their 30 plus years of sibling rivalry.

The Old Masters (2004)

Little Nell (2006)
The show focuses on the affair between Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan.

Gray also wrote teleplays, novels and a series of diaries. I highly recommend reading any of the three volumes of The Smoking Diaries. For more information on Simon Gray please visit his official website at: http://www.simongray.org.uk/

[photo] courtesy of Victoria Gray. [pictured] Simon Gray