The WILLIAMS COLLEGE SUMMER THEATRE LAB is an eight-week program that brings current Williams students together with professional artists from the worlds of theatre, film, and television to collaborate on innovative projects and original work. Many visiting artists are alumni of the Williams theatre department who have gone on to successful careers in the performing arts, and who return to the '62 Center to experiment with new dramatic material, and with new ways of working. Projects include master classes, one and two week workshops of new and established theatrical projects, and both alumni and student initiated work. The Lab makes its home in the CenterStage theatre and utilizes the adaptability and creative potential of that space to enhance the experimental nature of the workshop projects. In the summer of 2007 the Lab and the Williamstown Theatre Festival established a collaborative association to enhance both organizations. Members of the Lab worked with actors, designers and other company members of the WTF in a production of Friedrich Durrenmatt?s THE PHYSICISTS, starring Roger Rees and directed by Lab Artistic Director Kevin O?Rourke (Williams class of 1978). This collaboration was a great opportunity for the undergraduate students and gave them first hand experience within a professional production. The critical as well as pedagogical success of the Lab/WTF production of The Physicists has opened up new possibilities and opportunities for Williams undergraduates and the Williams Theatre Department.

For more information, please call (413) 597-4839

The WILLIAMS COLLEGE SUMMER THEATRE LAB will again be in residence in the 62 Center's CenterStage theatre for its fifth season of workshops, readings, and student/alumni presentations. The 2009 projects include a festival of student and alumni One Act plays, visiting alumni presentations of projects in development, the Lab Music Project, Lab produced video projects, and our annual OPEN LAB WEEKEND--a festival of the summer's work presented in repertory August 7-9. Please join us and help us create great theatre.Watch this site for more information and schedule updates.

The 2009 SUMMER THEATRE LAB student company: George Carstocea '10, Thomas Casserly '12, Vashti Emigh '12, Eva Flamm '10, Elizabeth Fox '12, Zoe Jenkin '12, Mario Mastromarino '12, Lauren Miller '12, David D. Phillips '12, Michelle Rodriguez '12. Artistic Director Kevin O'Rourke '78, Program Manager Mary Pfister.

Eric Kang '09 and Sarah Harris '10 in the 2008 Lab's production of SUICIDE IN B FLAT.

An informal reading of works in progress from the '09 Playwriting Workshop.

Michael Winther '85 teams up with the dynamic, acclaimed, jazz pianist, Dan Tepfer (2006 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition Winner and American Pianist’s Association 2007-2009 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz) for a unique, romantic evening of well-known standards, as well as contemporary classic popular songs that explores the intersection between jazz improvisation, musical theatre and popular music.

“Mr. Winther stakes out the most fertile artistic territory in American music: the high ground where show tunes, art songs and the singer-songwriter tradition merge. Mr. Winther has both the voice and the intelligence for the job.” (Stephen Holden, The New York Times)

PLEASE NOTE, THIS EVENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

An evening of One Acts performed, written and directed by student and alumni/professional members of the '09 Lab company. Contributing guest artists include Jurian Hughes '86, Martha Williamson '77 and Williams Professor Jean-Bernard Bucky.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2009 OPEN LAB WEEKEND:

• THIS VERSE BUSINESS by A.M. Dolan. A one man show based on the work of Robert Frost and the mysterious happy-sad business of poetry and art--what it's for and how it happens. With Gordon Clapp '71 as Frost. Friday August 7 at 8PM, Saturday August 8 at 2 PM..

• STUDENT ALUMNI ONE ACTS Selected productions from the Lab's Project #1. August 8, 7PM.

• THEATRE AFTER WILLIAMS A panel discussion with Williams alumni from the worlds of Theatre Film and Television. Featuring Gordon Clapp '71, Jurian Hughes '86, Michael Izquierdo '00 as well as members of THE SATORI GROUP ( Andrew Lazarow '08 and Lab alumna Caitlin Sullivan '08). August 8 at 4PM.

• THE MARKET PROJECT developed and created by David Evans Morris '96. Date and time TBA

• THE LAB VIDEO PROJECT Screenings from short videos created and workshopped by the Lab. Date TBA

• Other selected work from the '09 Lab

Please note that ALL events and projects are subject to change and artist availability.