"A Thousand Circlets" by Theroun D'Arcy Patterson
directed by Betty Hart
The towering achievement of an African-American family is about to be shaken to its very foundation.
Opens: July 15, 2011
July 17: TALKBACK with Alzheimer Assn., GA Chapter, Suzette Binford click for more information
Theroun D'arcy Patterson
2011 Playwriting Award Winner
We're proud to announce that Atlanta playwright Theroun D'arcy Patterson has been named as the winner of the 2011 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award for his script
A THOUSAND CIRCLETS.
This powerful and emotional work falls into the classic tradition of the American family drama, telling the tale of an
African-American clan trying to heal old wounds as they face new challenges – and just as they are poised to reach the pinnacle of their professional success, the father’s illness threatens to bring it all crashing down. The Essential Theatre Playwriting Award is the only competition of its kind, exclusively dedicated to the work of Georgia writers, and this will be the tenth year that it has been given out. As winner, Mr. Patterson will receive a cash prize of $600, and his play will be given a full production as part of the 2011 Essential Theatre Play Festival, performing next summer in the Actor's Express space. part of the Essential Theatre Play Festival.
Interview with playwright, Theroun D'Arcy Patterson.
Theroun is an Atlanta based Playwright and Actor. He has performed in over 30 professional productions including Flaming Guns of The Purple Sage – Horizon Theatre, Trouble in Mind, Bel Canto, Burn This, The Last Sunday in June – Actor’s Express, Language of Angels, Voices Underwater, The Long Christmas Ride Home, 1:23 – Synchronicity Theatre, Day of Kings – Alliance Theatre, Six Degrees of Separation – Highland Repertory, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth – Georgia Shakespeare, among others. He also was seen as Dr.Berry on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.
As a Playwright, Theroun has written seven plays, of which, A Thousand Circlets was selected the 2011 Essential Theatre Playwriting Competition winner and will be produced in summer 2011. It was also developed through Working Title Playwrights and received a staged reading at the Academy Theatre. His play American Dismantle was selected the 2010 Ethel Woolson Lab recipient. His plays Semblences and Cradle received developmental readings through Working Title Playwrights. Other plays include Delicate, Love Stories for Insomniacs, and Best Days.
If it's theatre that matters, it's Essential! June 29 ~ July 31, 2011
A Thousand Circlets by Theroun D'arcy Patterson, directed by Betty Hart A classic new American drama, which tells the story of a prominent African-American family that has reached the pinnacle of their professional success, poised to achieve their greatest triumph – only to face the threat of having it all torn down by the illness of the father and the passions of the past. Winner of the 2011 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award, the only prize exclusively dedicated to the work of Georgia writers. Betty Hart's Directors Note Video
"I just finished reading your play "A Thousand Circlets" and wanted you to know how much I enjoyed it. you have a real gift for dialogue -- my favorite weapon in the playwright's arsenal! I will look forward to seeing the production this summer."--Pearl Cleage, Atlanta Playwright & Best-Selling Author
Dramaturg Notes by Michael Evenden The human relationship to nature—that great American theme—is frequently reimagined on our national stage as a struggle of self-determination: a humbling, soul-opening battle of the aspiring, ambitious, autonomous individual against the irresistible claims of forces beyond his or her control--imperfect families, the unalterable past, the unbidden progress of illness, aging, and affliction that undermine the will and mark both body and mind. Yet these are the battles that, by humbling the will, can open the way to revelation. This year’s Essential Theatre Festival’s plays return, comically, absurdly, compassionately, restlessly, to these essential themes. If there were an American Job, his journey to a divine vision (through the loss of control over his life) would bear a resemblance to these plays and their unexpected, imperfect epiphanies.
Atlanta playwright Theroun D’Arcy Patterson’s A Thousand Circlets, winner of the 2011 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award, tells the story of an American family rising to the edge of mastery, power, and legacy (Patterson’s dialogue never refers to the fact that they are African-American, but this very fact gives their rise an especially epic sweep). But it is at the verge of coming fully into their own that the inexorable thievery of time and physical decay and youthful error and unbidden desire infect this family’s heroic achievement, demanding new levels of compassion, of renunciation, and improvising in the face of the unstoppable—changing what heroism really looks like.
To contemplate the special lessons of disappointment, of the failure of grand narratives, of the reassertion of nature against all our best-laid plans--and to find in their wake new, unanticipated truths and tougher, imperfect joys--may be particularly apt for our chastened nation in 2011. The Essential Theatre invites you to listen and feel with these American characters as they abandon their original plans and go exploring.
Save Now With a FlexPass Early Discount Your early purchases of a FlexPass helps fund the Essential Theatre Festival and offers greater savings. The sooner your purchase the greater your savings as these packages will cost more as the festival approaches.
When you purchase a three, six or ten ticket FlexPass you can to use those tickets however you wish. You may choose one or more tickets to any three performances for any of the three shows. There are no blackout dates or restrictions. The earlier you purchase, the greater your savings, and you can wait until a few hours before a performance to get yours tickets online. For example, if you buy a ten seat FlexPass, you can see one performance, and select to use your remaining tickets whenever you want for whichever show you want. Simply sign in atOvationTix to redeem your FlexPass. Visit our Storefront now for the greatest savings.
 of atlanta-festivals-bullet.gif){kind=small}
 of atlanta-festivals-bullet.gif){kind=small}
 of atlanta-festivals-bullet.gif){kind=small}
 of atlanta-festivals-bullet.gif){kind=small}
As a Playwright, Theroun has written seven plays, of which, A Thousand Circlets was selected the 2011 Essential Theatre Playwriting Competition winner and will be produced in summer 2011. It was also developed through Working Title Playwrights and received a staged reading at the Academy Theatre. His play American Dismantle was selected the 2010 Ethel Woolson Lab recipient. His plays Semblences and Cradle received developmental readings through Working Title Playwrights. Other plays include Delicate, Love Stories for Insomniacs, and Best Days. 
![[Logo for the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts]](http://www.essentialtheatre.com/ACPAlogo_C.jpg)
