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“West of Eden by Letitia Sweitzer World Premiere July 8, 2008
Essential Theatre

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Essential Theatre garners 15 MAT Award nominations

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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Valhalla: your comments

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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Essential Videos

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

Before After Ashley

Valhalla Behind the Scenes

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Essential Theatre Playwriting Workshops

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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How Come “West of Eden”? Part One

“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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Online Tickets Now Available

West of Eden by Letitia Sweitzer

Valhalla by Paul Rudnick

After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo

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Peter’s Update: Valhalla by Paul Rudnick

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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