ESSENTIAL THEATRE: GIVING GEORGIA PLAYWRIGHTS A VOICE ON GEORGIA’S STAGE
Essential Theatre’s mission is to nurture and produce new works by Georgia playwrights and to enrich our audience’s experience by actively engaging them in the process. Since the first Essential Play Festival in 1999, we've premiered 34 new works by 29 different Georgia playwrights, with readings of almost 40 more. The Essential Theatre Playwriting Award began in 2001, and since its inception it has been awarded for 21 plays penned by a total of 19 different Georgia playwrights. Each of these plays has premiered as part of an Essential Theatre Play Festival, and many have gone on to publication and/or future productions around the country. Our vision is a thriving, dynamic American theatre community in which Georgia playwrights are a recognized and celebrated part.