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. For more information on the Essential Theatre, visit www.EssentialTheatre.com.