WAM Theatre to Offer Workshops on Black Theatre Aesthetic

LENOX, Mass. — WAM Theatre is offering a workshop on the Black Theatre Aesthetic in connection with our production of Cadillac Crew.

The two 90-minute online sessions happening on Oct, 9 and Oct. 30 and will be led by Tatiana Godfrey, Co-Artistic Director of Impro Theater Company in Los Angeles and Literary Manager at the Cincinnati Playhouse. Community members are invited to join Tatiana to deepen their understanding of the Black theatre aesthetic and the importance of its representation.

"Both seeing Cadillac Crew and taking this workshop is doing work to highlight and uplift Black voices," said Teaching Artist Tatianna Godfrey (former WAM Theatre Dramaturg).  "For me, it also goes a long way towards helping theatre-goers build a more diverse canon of plays that they love and support."

Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks famously asked, "What is a Black play?" This two-session workshop will explore excerpts of texts by Contemporary American Black writers, ask critical questions of them, and then use our in-class analyses to frame the cultural heritage of Cadillac Crew.

Students will take away a greater knowledge of Black playwrights, will be able to identify themes and motifs that recur in the Black aesthetic, and will be able to articulate the importance of representing this aesthetic. Participants are expected to purchase a ticket to Cadillac Crew and attend both the pre- and post-show workshops.

These special 90-minute workshops can be taken over Zoom from the comfort of participants’ homesand are open to all, regardless of experience level. The workshops are expected to sell out, and registration is now open.

The workshops are provided on a Pay-What-You-Can basis, but participants are also expected to purchase a ticket to Cadillac Crew (live or streamed) as part of the workshop experience.

Visit www.wamtheatre.com/workshops/ to reserve your spot or to learn more.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.