WAM Theatre Claims Its Place At the Mahaiwe

Sarah Todd reports from Great Barrington.For women, navigating the professional challenges of the entertainment business can be a lot like walking on hot coals: unequal pay, ingrained sexism, a dearth of meaty parts, and a movie industry that's all too eager to shunt women over 40 off-screen. Luckily, the celebrity guests at Claiming Her Place, a benefit for arts nonprofit WAM Theatre, are expert firewalkers. Actors Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Tony nominee Jayne Atkinson, Debra Jo Rupp (That 70's Show), Michel Gill (House of Cards), Tony nominee Marin Mazzie, and Law and Order's Linus Roache gathered for a lively conversation about how they've forged their passions into thriving careers, and the obstacles they've met along the way. WAM's artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven (left, with Ananda Health's Dr. Nina Molin) moderated the panel with charm and intuition straight out of the Terry Gross handbook. Other highlights of the evening included a crowd-pleasing rap by Tony award-winning actress Atkinson and a sneak preview of WAM's fall production, Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight. Although the goal of the benefit was to raise money for WAM, the generous-hearted nonprofit made sure to spread the love. Van Ginhoven announced that the mentoring program Rite of Passage would receive 25 percent of profits from WAM's fall play, and on their way out, guests took their pick of party favors donated by event sponsors jane iredale Mineral Makeup, Blue Q, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and BOLA granola.

WAM board president Ashley Berridge with board member Tammy Valicenti and WAM co-founder Leigh Strimbeck; Rite of Passage founder Shirley Edgerton and Marla Robertson of Lift Ev’ry Voice.

Bra & Girl’s April Burch with Laura and Jeff Roudabush of Barrington Stage; Shakespeare and Company’s Joan Coombs, Stephanie Hedges, and Ariel Bock.

WAM's celebrity panel included Lauren Ambrose, Jayne Atkinson, Debra Jo Rupp, Kristen van Ginhoven, Michel Gill, Marin Mazzie, and Linus Roache. (Photo by Enrico Spada.)

Producer Susan Rose, Samantha Lafer of Jon Stewart's Busby Productions, and producer Abby Schroeder; WAM’s Kelly Galvin and screenwriter Marc Maurino.

Health counselor and chef Katherine Miller, Ros Bennett, WAM secretary Nick Webb, philanthropist Abbie von Schlegell, and Pattie Hallberg, CEO of Girls Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts; John Kammerman, Mahaiwe executive director Beryl Jolly, and Lesley Kammerman.