(STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.) – “The Bakelite Masterpiece” by Kate Cayley, a drama based on a real-life story of an art forgery that raises questions about collaboration and the intertwining of art, commerce, and politics, receives its American premiere at the Unicorn Theatre from Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 23, in a co-production by Berkshire Theatre Group and WAM Theatre. WAM artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven directs the play, which stars David Adkins and Corinna May.

It’s the end of World War II, and Holland is in chaos. The artist Van Meegeren is arrested. His crime? Selling a long-lost painting by the Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer to the Nazi leader Hermann Goering. His defense? It was a perfect forgery painted by him. His proof? In front of his prosecutor Geert Piller, art historian and resistance fighter, he must paint another flawless faux Vermeer to save his life. “The Bakelite Masterpiece” is a play that debates beauty, faith, memory and the reconstruction of a country.

“As the daughter of Dutch parents who lived through World War II, I feel compelled to tell this story,” said Kristen van Ginhoven. “The play came to me via a close colleague in Canada who acted in the original production and I immediately envisioned it at the Unicorn Theatre. WAM Theatre is very excited that Berkshire Theatre Group has opened their doors to make this a co-production. This collaboration makes it possible for this story to reach a wider audience.”

In keeping with its double philanthropic mission, WAM Theatre will be donating 25% of the box office proceeds from this production to its ninth beneficiary, the Berkshire Immigrant Center and Suzi Banks Baum.

Tickets to The Bakelite Masterpiece are $50, all preview tickets are $45. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield; by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at Berkshire Theatre Group.

 

The Bakelite Masterpiece

American Premiere

by Kate Cayley

directed by Kristen van Ginhoven

with David Adkins and Corinna May

a co-production with WAM Theatre

 

at The Unicorn Theatre

The Larry Vaber Stage

BTG’s Stockbridge Campus, 6 East Street

 

Previews: Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30

Press Opening/Opening Night: Saturday, October 1 at 7pm

Talkbacks:

Sunday, October 2 after 2pm performance

Thursday, October 6 after 7pm performance

Saturday, October 8 after 2pm performance

Sunday, October 9 after 2pm performance

Friday, October 14 after 7pm performance

Saturday, October 15 after 2pm performance

Sunday, October 16 after 2pm performance

Saturday, October 22 after 2pm performance

Sunday, October 23 after 2pm performance

Closing: Sunday, October 23 at 2pm performance

Tickets: Preview: $45

Tickets: $50

 

 

Performance Dates

 

Thursday, September 29 at 7pm (Preview)

Friday, September 30 at 7pm (Preview)

Saturday, October 1 at 7pm (Press Opening/Opening Night)

Sunday, October 2 at 2pm (Talkback)

Thursday, October 6 at 7pm (Talkback)

Friday, October 7 at 7pm

Saturday, October 8 at 2pm (Talkback) and 7pm

Sunday, October 9 at 2pm (Talkback)

Thursday, October 13 at 7pm

Friday, October 14 at 7pm (Talkback)

Saturday, October 15 at 2pm (Talkback) and 7pm

Sunday, October 16 at 2pm (Talkback)

Thursday, October 20 at 7pm

Friday, October 21 at 7pm

Saturday, October 22 at 2pm (Talkback) and 7pm

Sunday, October 23 at 2pm (Talkback) (Closing)

 

 

The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires.  Having united in November of 2010 under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in live theatre, music, dance and the visual arts in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (314 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (780 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the-art technical systems. The Colonial is available to rent for performance events as well as other events/functions. For more information about renting our facilities, contact Ashlei Perkins at ashlei@berkshiretheatre.org, or (413)448-8084 x18. BTG also performs at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. BTG serves over 100,000 patrons per year and reaches over 13,000 students through its educational and outreach programs. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

 

 

About WAM Theatre

 

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as philanthropy.

 

Inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls.

 

Over the past six years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $21,000 to eight nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 175 theatre artists. In addition to the main stage productions and special events, WAM Theatre’s activities include a comprehensive educational outreach program and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series.