The 2008 Metropolitan Atlanta Theater Awards is proud to nominate the following people/theaters:

Leading Actor, Play:
Spencer G. Stephens – “Man” – Fix Me So I Can Stand – The Essential Theatre

Leading Actress, Play:
Johanna Linden – “Mrs. Bob Cratchit” – Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge – The Essential Theatre

Major Supporting Actor, Play:
Bobby Labartino – “Fezziwig, etc” – Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge – The Essential Theatre

Major Supporting Actress, Play:
Sarah Falkenburg – “Little Nell, etc” – Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge –

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One of the most enjoyable, thought provoking plays I’ve seen in a long time. Times past and present merge so artfully that every time I thought I knew where this play was going it moved in an unexpected direction, as life, past and present, does. The acting, staging, direction of “Valhalla” have put this script on my “must read” list. Congratulations, Peter, for a grand kickoff for Essential Theatre’s 2008 Festival!
Valetta Anderson

I’ve just come home from opening night of “Valhalla,” the first play in the Essential Theatre Power Plays Festival. Script, direction, cast and crew —

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Check out the 2008 Festival Videos to learn more about our productions.

Before After Ashley

Valhalla Behind the Scenes

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The support, encouragement and development of new plays by Georgia writers have always been an important part of the Essential Theatre’s mission. Ten years ago we committed to producing an annual festival that would always present at least one World Premiere by a resident Georgia playwright – after a couple of years, the selection process evolved into an actual contest, the Essential Theatre Playwriting Award competition. The first winner of the award was 18-year-old Lauren Gunderson of Decatur, whose play PARTS THEY CALL DEEP went on to win national prizes and was produced Off-Broadway.

In the past ten years we’ve also produced new plays by Georgia writers such as Karen Wurl,

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“West of Eden” has been a long time in the making. Indeed, I began, finished, and had produced another full-length play and several shorter ones between the beginning of “Eden” and now.

After raising four children, I took up writing as a career, freelancing for magazines, and then writing nonfiction books with experts. In 2000, the Village Writers Group had a rather new ten-minute play contest, and they were encouraging people to enter. I’d never done a play. However, I had loved plays since childhood. I thought maybe I could do this. My little comedy about Adam,

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West of Eden by Letitia Sweitzer

Valhalla by Paul Rudnick

After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo

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A few years ago, I directed the Essential Theatre’s production of Paul Rudnick’s THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD, which took a look at stories and themes from the Bible, seen through a gay perspective (starting in the Garden of Eden, with Adam and Steve). It’s still one of my favorites shows that we’ve ever done, and not just because it was funny as hell (line for line, I think Rudnick may be the funniest playwright working today). What I found most captivating about the script was the scope of its theatrical imagination and the depth and breadth of its exploration of spiritual issues.

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VALHALLA by Paul Rudnick
Directed by Peter Hardy
Topher Payne
Matt Felten
Kate Graham
Greg Morris
Sunny Williams
Alejandro Gutierrez

AFTER ASHLEY by Gina Gionfriddo
Directed by Ellen McQueen
Brent Rose
Tim Batten
Dina Shadwell
Allen Hagler
Dowd Keith
Rob Glidden

WEST OF EDEN by Letitia Sweitzer
Directed by Tristan Ludden
Paul Boehlert
Helen Ingebritsen
Blake Covington
Dewayne Morgan
Aaron Gotlieb

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Performance Dates & Times

WEST OF EDEN

Tuesday, July 8, 8:00pm PWYC

Wednesday, July 9, 8:00pm

Saturday, July 12, 8:00pm

Sunday, July 13, 7:00pm talkback

Tuesday, July 15, 8:00pm PWYC

Thursday, July 17, 8:00pm

Saturday, July 19, 8:00pm

Sunday, July 20, 2:00pm sold out

Wednesday, July 23, 8:00pm

Thursday, July 24, 8:00pm

Saturday, July 26, 2:00pm sold out

Sunday, July 27, 7:00pm

VALHALLA

Friday,

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The Essential Theatre has formed an advisory panel to insure we have access to a variety of artistic voices. Advisory board members are asked to suggest new works, assist reading new plays, suggest talented actors for our productions and to inform their friends and acquaintances of our activities. An advisory panel reception is planned as part of the 2008 Power Plays Festival.

• Rosemary Newcott (Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth at the Alliance Theatre, Actress).
• Phillip DePoy (Playwright, Novelist, Musician, Actor, Director, Head of Drama Department at Clayton State College).
• Valetta Anderson (Resident Teaching Artist with the Alliance Theatre Institute for Educators and Teaching Artists,

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