When asked why he chose to submit his (now award winning and professionally produced) play When Things Are Lost to the Essential Theatre Playwriting Competition, 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner Derek Dixon replied,

When I read the statement about what The Essential Theatre was looking for, I felt that I had a chance. I am an unknown writer, and a competition like this gives unknowns like me something that is hard to get, a chance. A lot of theatres require an agent submission and a lot of middle-manning to get through, but The Essential Theatre just said,

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Shared by Breaking Character Magazine, a Samuel French publication, a great interview with beloved Essential and Atlanta playwright Topher Payne:

writers-room-with-topher-payne-breaking-character

Here at Samuel French, we strive to find exciting voices in the playwright community, and bring them to a wider audience. This year, one of the new writers we welcomed to our catalog is the remarkable Topher Payne. For those of you unfamiliar with Topher’s plays, get ready…read more

Only two days left: 

become a part of the Essential tradition –

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From long-time Essential playwright Karla Jennings,

Essential Theatre is the major force behind producing Georgia playwrights. Their productions are tremendous encouragement and has launched a number of playwrights who’ve gone national.

Become a part of the Essential tradition – support our power2give campaign today!

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Something short and sweet for your Monday morning, from repeat Essential playwright, Karen Wurl:

I try to submit a play to the Essential every year. I’m a huge fan of the Essential Theatre…The Essential Festival is a boon to playwrights and audiences alike.

Become a part of the Essential tradition – support our power2give campaign today!

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Valetta Anderson won the 2006 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award for her play, Leaving Limbo. After that show’s premiere in the 2006 Play Festival she had this to say about her experience:

The Essential Theatre was the essential ingredient in furthering my career as a playwright and expanding my voice into film by providing the one thing that is missing from most new play’s development process, namely a full production. Without that essential production, “Leaving Limbo” would be as unrealized as a pre-digital era photograph languishing on a developed but not printed roll of film.

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Todays daily dose of Essential inspiration comes from two regulars on the Essential stage: Bob Smith and Ashleigh Hoppe.

Bob: I think it speaks for itself that the Essential Theatre has long had a reputation for someplace that is a very good place to get involved, that it draws the kind of quality that you want to be around.

Ashleigh: Second. Absolutely. It draws the same people back. It’s such a good core central group of really awesome people

[Another thing about] Essential Theatre is that…it gives unknown playwrights a huge shot to be seen,

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In the last week you’ve heard from Essential playwrights, Atlanta press and local theatre community leaders.

Today’s message is from a wonderful woman who primarily relates to Essential as an audience member but who is a formidable theatre artist in her own right.

From Carolyn Cook, a message that is short and sweet:

Thank you, Essential, for producing work by Georgia writers and putting terrific local actors on stage. Kudos to all!

Become a part of the Essential tradition – support our power2give campaign today!

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The Essential Theatre produced the first play that Lauren Gunderson ever wrote, while she was still a student at Emory University.

Here is what she had to say about that experience, 15 years ago:

The entire process – from winning the Essential Theater’s Playwriting Award to the wonderful production my play received – was a complete thrill. As a writer it is so important to find theatre artists that want to see the best of your work and your work be its best. The professionalism with which the Essential Theatre handled my work and delivered a beautiful performance allowed me entrance into the world of playwriting.

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In a festival preview article for Edge Media Network a couple of years back, journalist T. K. Hadman made the statement:

The Essential Theatre Play Festival produces theatre unlike anywhere else in Atlanta. Almost 30 years running, it creates a vital opportunity for us to experience stories that demand to be heard.

Become a part of the Essential tradition – support our power2give campaign today!

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Joshua Mikel is a prolific writer, actor, musician and visual artist. Essential produced his play, Lillian Likes It, in 2015 after it won that year’s Essential Theatre Playwriting Award.

When asked what led him to submit Lillian Likes It to our playwriting competition, he had this to say:

Getting a piece through Essential has become sort of a rite of passage for the GA playwright I think. It’s an amazing and necessary thing to have a company that pulls from the local talent here, and I’m so stoked to be a part of it.

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