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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.
2008 Power Plays 10th Anniversay Festival Casts
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
Performance Dates & Ticket Info
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,
Essential Theatre Advisory Board
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,
Artistic Director Peter Hardy wins recognition
Congratulations to Artistic Director Peter Hardy. His play FLOOR PILLOWS was recently performed in the Nantucket Short Play Festival. Both that play and Hardy’s MOON ACTION were finalists in that Festival’s Short Play Competition.
Before one heads West of Eden, there is Eden.
Before one heads West of Eden, there is Eden.
Johanna Linden: In Memorium
The Essential Theatre — and many, many other people — have lost a friend and colleague. Johanna Lindemann (whose stage name was Johanna Linden) passed away at her family’s home in Virginia, after a two-year battle with cancer.
Johanna was a fine, intelligent, skillful actress who was also a lovely person and a dream to work with. Atlanta audiences saw her perform with the Academy Theatre, Seven Stages, Theatre Gael, Actor’s Express, Soulstice Repertory and other companies, and we were privileged to have her work with us in MISS MACBETH and, just last summer, playing the title role in MRS.
