PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS

The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told  
“In the hands of Essential Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hardy, a vibrant, young cast plays the humor to the hilt, never missing a beat." - David Magazine.  
 
The Late Henry Moss
“HENRY builds to a powerful metaphor.  Shepard suggests that a man who turns on his family is little better than a ghost …” - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing.
 
Going to St. Ives
“With her intimidating combination of regal bearing and incisive intellect, May sets off ST. IVES’ intriguing tensions of patient vs. doctor, royalty vs. civilian, black “native” vs. white “colonial”.  Singh turns May into a vivid, original theatrical presence, more proud of her lifetime of suffering than her royal trappings.” - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing
 
Miss Macbeth
“Atlanta writer Karen Wurl delivers a doozy of a backstage farce in MISS MACBETH, in which thespian motives and manners are ridiculed with comic brio … Director David Crowe keeps the 12-member cast suspended in a state of ridiculousness … with its delirious pace, campy shtick and fake blood, MISS MACBETH is a delightful laugh-bath.”  Wendell Brock, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
“The Essential Theatre’s world premiere of Atlantan Karen Wurl’s MISS MACBETH is clever comedy.”  - Dave Hayward, Backstage.

Book of Days
Chosen by Creative Loafing as one of the Top Ten Atlanta Theatre Productions of 2002.

"Wilson superbly uses the smallest of details to create the textures of small-town life ... achingly lyrical moments ... a gripping story, like watching the Moral Majority stage an unfriendly takeover of OUR TOWN." - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing

Images in Smoke
Chosen by Creative Loafing as one of the 20 Best Atlanta Theatre Productions of 2000.

“Many of the roles reveal unexpected shadings, which the young cast explore expertly … [director Peter] Hardy keeps the action moving at a crisp rate … IMAGES IN SMOKE offers a Ginsu-sharp slice of life, capturing the flashes of affection and hostility, intoxication and frustration, that young single people can experience at any given get-together.” - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing

Desdemona

“DESDEMONA: A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF resounds with great insight and imagination about the minds, lives and loves of women … a significant revisioning of Shakespeare’s women … Essential Theatre’s production of the play showcases good performances by all three cast members … for lovers of Shakespeare, Vogel’s DESDEMONA mustn’t be missed.” - Ami Mattison, ETC.

Parts They Call Deep
First winner of the annual Essential Theatre Playwriting Award

“Gunderson’s play definitely deserves the honor … The resulting effect of the three women confronted with their great loves and losses is that of complete emotional catharsis. Masterfully written, and accomplished to near-perfection by director Lee Nowell, these confrontations are the cornerstone of a rock-solid piece of drama. … See the play. See it again. See it one more time …” - David Pollack, Emory Wheel

“Essential Theatre’s festival boasts promising new material from a bright young playwright … it’s Sunny Hall’s Sarah character who becomes the most fascinating – fast-talking, always on the go, running, needing resolution in her life." - Jim Farmer, Southern Voice

“Director Lee Nowell finessed a delightfully sinning premiere, Parts They Call Deep, by 19-year-old Lauren Gunderson, featuring equally talented youth Kylie Brown.” - Dave Hayward, Backstage

Private Eyes

“Commanding acting was also on display in Essential’s toxic triangle of Jeff Feldman, Kathleen, Wattis, and Brian Turner in Steven Dietz’s PRIVATE EYES.” - Dave Hayward, Backstage

“Essential Theatre offers a funny and confident production of Dietz’s play … a play about sex that still manages to be sexy.” - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing

The Water Children

“An intriguing take on what remains one of the most controversial and divisive subjects today … excellent drama and several hilarious comedy bits.” - Steven Grainger, Atlanta Press

Lubricant

“Playwright/director Peter Hardy’s Lubricant showcases Hardy’s flair for witty dialogue, intriguing themes and a feminine POV.” - Shari Garretson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Deliciously satisfying as well as thought provoking … topicality, cleverness and zinging one-liners … as a rumination on the sexes, sensuality and love as mysteries, Hardy’s perspective is unexpectedly feminist, his declarations fodder for debates between men and women, gays and straights.” - Dave Hayward, The Art Papers

“It’s hard to know what to expect with a name like Lubricant, but I was pleasantly surprised with Peter Hardy’s new play.” - ETC.

“Hardy’s play delves into the twisted and co-dependent worlds of the stalker and his victim. He keeps us guessing as to how much of what’s happening is real, and how much is a product of Gwendolyn’s frightened imagination … Lubricant is quite a stunner as a script.” - Michael Kape, WABE Radio

“More successful was Peter Hardy’s film-noir salute, Lubricant … a witches’ brew of shifting sexual identities amidst score settling and corporate hype. The play was intriguing even at its most complicated.” - Dave Hayward, Backstage

Cruel Disclosures

“Most intriguing in the way it fleshes out a now-forgotten historical footnote … hilarious melodrama … the kind of Catholic satire that Christopher Durang specializes in ... an unusual play cut from its own cloth.” - Curt Holman, Creative Loafing

Down the Road

“Similar to The Silence of the Lambs in nightmare material, this excellent production raises disturbing questions about the need to distinguish oneself at any cost … Under Peter Hardy’s unobtrusive direction, the cast turns in a flawless performance.” - Shari Garretson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Blessing’s play is an intense look at these charming, remorseless men who kill for the thrill of it … Robin Bloodworth gives the best performance of the year …”
- Michael Kape, WABE Radio