Rachel Louchen reports from Richmond. Despite a stormy sky, WAM Theatre’s benefit cocktail party, Stars In The Orchard, was a successful (and sold out) event that not only served as a major fundraiser for the organization but provided a sneak peek of WAM's upcoming fall production. Held again at Hilltop Orchards on Wednesday, July 12, the event featured wine made on-site by Furnace Brook Winery, live music, and silent and paddle auctions to help fund WAM events and education, especially Girls Ensemble, who performed an excerpt from their original piece, What's That Sound? Since its inception, WAM Theatre has donated more than $30,000 to 11 nonprofit organizations. This year's beneficiary, the Solider On Women's Program, which provides services to female veterans, will receive 25 percent of the box office proceeds from The Last Wife, premiering this October at Shakespeare & Company. [Above, WAM executive director Kristen van Ginhoven, Wendy Healey, senior vice president at Lee Bank, and Kelly Galvin, director of The Last Wife.]
Rick Bowers, Kim Stauffer, who starred in WAM's production of Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight this past spring, and Lia Russell-Self, associate producer.
Mary Jo Carpenter, Adriana Brown and Martin and Truus van Ginhoven, parents of Kristen; Volunteer coordinator Dawn Martin and Linda Gillespie.
Maggie Mitts, an intern at Chesterwood and Marybeth Mitts of Williams College; Sarah McNair and Randal Fippinger, producing director at '62 Center for Theatre & Dance.
Philanthropy and outreach coordinator Gwendolyn Tunnicliffe,Arwen Lowbridge, and Dorothy Mack.
Event coordinator Oskar Hallig and Meghan McGrath; Arthur and Millicent Blum.
Board member Victoria May and Nick Webb, founding board president; Tina Bartini of Lee Bank and Cathy Terwedow.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
