The 2011 Essential Theatre Play Festival has one more week!  We close July 31.  Visit www.EssentialTheatre.com for tickets.
 
“I wish everyone in the Atlanta theatre scene would come out and see Essential’s fine work.”
Yolanda Asher (Founding Member of the Suzi Awards)

“I am so impressed with the amazing season you have put together.”
Paul Holly (Founding Member of the Suzi Awards)

“Congratulations on assembling another three diverse, thought-provoking and entertaining plays, wonderfully directed and acted by some of Atlanta’s best talent.”
Bill Murphey (Suzi Award-Winning Actor)

Monday,

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“Confessions are good for the soul – so they say. For many people, and families, bringing a secret into the light of day is a healing process. Like any family, the one in Essential Theatre’s Great Falls, holds its share of baggage and secrets.”
 
“The play takes the audience on a parallel emotional journey to the characters’ own trip through the scenic west. A play this emotional requires a talented cast and well-crafted dialogue. If a play is poorly written, great acting can save it and vice-versa. Audiences seeing Great Falls don’t have any worry; it excels in both.”

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There are a limited number of performances remainging to see Essential Theatre’s world premiere production of Theroun Patterson’s prize winning play, “A Thousand Circlets”. You don’t want to miss this one. 

“Essential Theatre’s production of Theroun Patterson’s A THOUSAND CIRCLETS is wonderful. Theroun Patterson’s writing is smart, funny, tender, painful, and absolutely real.”
Jo Howarth Noonan

“A Thousand Circlets is powerful and well played. The complex family dynamic reminds me of Long Days Journey into Night.”
Rebecca B. Rogers

“Theroun Patterson’s A Thousand Circlets is another artistic coup for the Essential Theatre’s Play Festival.

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“So enjoyed Great Falls last night. Ellen McQueen’s superb direction led two very talented, “new on the Atlanta scene” actors down the road to discovery. Thanks for the trip! Great work!” Paul Holly


“People! Go see GREAT FALLS and all the wonderful plays at Essential Theatre! GREAT FALLS is amazing! Ashleigh Hoppe rocked it!” Bree Dawn Shannon

“Saw Great Falls tonight. Not to be missed. Great story great characters wonderful performances and as usual inspired directing. See it. ” Jayson Smith

“Congrats on the Great Falls emotional roller coaster,

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“Essential Theatre’s production of Theroun Patterson’s A THOUSAND CIRCLETS is wonderful. Theroun Patterson‘s writing is smart, funny, tender, painful, and absolutely real. The performances are honest. Betty Hart‘s direction is spot on. It’s hard for me to watch anything about Alzheimer’s as it always hits a little too close to home. This production was no exception but the relationship between husband and wife was one of the more honest depictions I ever seen of the pain, anger, and confusion that rains down in the early days of diagnosis.

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A good time was had by all at Essential Theatre’s “A Sleeping Country” Pajama Party.
Thanks to Nancy Johnson for the great photos! 

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Bitch & MonkeyMan @ Great Falls

“So enjoyed Great Falls last night. Ellen McQueen’s superb direction led two very talented, “new on the Atlanta scene” actors down the road to discovery. Thanks for the trip! Great work!”
Paul Holly 

“People! Go see GREAT FALLS and all the wonderful plays at Essential Theatre! GREAT FALLS is amazing! Ashleigh Hoppe rocked it!”
Bree Dawn Shannon

“Saw Great Falls tonight. Not to be missed. Great story great characters wonderful performances and as usual inspired directing.

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Attend the Saturday July 9th performance of Essential Theatre’s “A Sleeping Country” in your pajamas and you’ll receive a free ticket plus cookies and milk. After the performance, Dr. Midge and the audience will help choosing a deserving insomniac to award a door prize. Wear your PJs and bring your friends for a fun-filled, laugh a minute theatre and you may win a ‘naughty’ gift from www.SlumberPartiesbySheilah.com.  

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Last year’s Essential Theatre Play Festival has received nine nominations from the 2011 Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards.  Over the previous three seasons, the Essential Theatre has received twenty-six nominations and won eleven awards.

Gabriel Jason Dean’s QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT was nominated for Best Original Work. 

Rita Dove’s THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH received nominations for Best Ensemble, Best Direction (Betty Hart), Best Sound Design (Jon Summers), Best Lighting Design (Trish Harris), Best Costume Design (Jane Kroessig), Best Major Supporting Actress (A. Sabreena Farmer), Best Minor Supporting Actor (John Doyle) and Best Minor Supporting Actress (Deborah Harris).

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