Continuing our look back at the past 19 years of Essential Theatre festivals, today we take a look back at the eleventh Essential Theatre Festival, in 2009.

Continuing our celebration of 20 years of the Essential Festival — 2009! This was the year we moved from 7 Stages to Actor’s Express, and suddenly we could have sets!
Our prize-winning World Premiere, that year, Vynnie Meli’s JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS, was described by one of our patrons as “the most powerful play I’ve ever seen.”

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Continuing our look back at the past 19 years of Essential Theatre festivals, today we take a look back at the tenth Essential Theatre Festival, in 2008.

2008 was the last of the four Festivals we presented in the back space at 7 Stages. Along with Letitia Sweitzer’s WEST OF EDEN, our Essential Theatre Playwriting Award winner, we produced Paul Rudnick’s beautiful epic comedy VALHALLA and Gina Gionfriddo’s searing drama AFTER ASHLEY.

(VALHALLA remains one of Artistic Director Peter Hardy’s favorite shows he has ever directed.)

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THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR 2018 ESSENTIAL THEATRE PLAY FESTIVAL THIS FALL THROUGH

Mark Perloe and Mary Perloe in honor of Chris Mann’s Dec 21 performance at the Strand in Marietta; Doug Shipman; Ellen McQueen; Sherry Shaw; Pamela Rooks; Nina Jones; Johnny Thigpen; Sarah Wallace; Erin Lavallee; Barbara O’Haley; Chris Carlsten; Adena Brumer; Thom, Lori, and Sydney Stanley; Alex Van; Brittany Harper; Hank and Barbara Kimmel; Cathy Jamison; Pamela Turner; Daniel Guyton; G Morgan Timmis; Alissa Scherb; John and Amy Babcock; Leonard Pallats; Melissa Hardy-Trevenna in honor of Martha Nell Hardy; Lee Raines; Josh Mikel; Natalie Karp; 

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Last weekend, Hallmark rolled out its latest holiday movie, A Gift to Remember by none other than our beloved Topher Payne. Check here (top right corner of the page) for repeat showtimes throughout the holiday season!

Topher’s thoughts on seeing his words on the small screen again this holiday season?

Four million people watched A Gift to Remember on Sunday. We were second only to The Walking Dead.
My playwright brain still can’t fathom a story reaching that many people at once.
TV is so neat.

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Opening at the end of this month at Onion Man in Chamblee and also directed by Julie Skrzypek is the world premiere production of A LITTLE ROOM AT THE INN by Atlanta playwright and long-time Essential supporter and friend, Hank Kimmel. Billed as “a lighthearted Christmas play for adults,” this play tells the story of Bill Greenwalt, a successful CEO who’s nearing retirement, his protege Julie Schaffer, and a host of colorful characters who are all caught in an inn during a snowstorm.

Kimmel offers the following observation about his latest play:
“On the surface,

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This December 8-31, catch long-time Essential company member Alex Van as the Grandfather in Synchronicity Theatre’s production of Heidi The Musical,directed by another frequent Essential collaborator,  Julie Skrzypek!

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So many of the people (including critics) who came to see Essential’s East Coast Premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s ADA AND THE MEMORY ENGINE this past summer,came out into the lobby afterwards wanting to know “Who is this Ashley Anderson????”  Well, she’s continuing to light up the Atlanta theater scene, opening this week In CARDBOARD PIANO at Actor’s Express, while during the day she’s been performing at middle schools with the Alliance Theatre’s Young Audiences project ALICE BETWEEN.

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November 9-18, check out 7 Stages’ revamping of their Home Brew series, the first Home Brew Festival.

The festival runs for two weeks and is comprised of new play readings and guest artist workshops. Featured playwrights include Essential vets Theroun Patterson, Topher Payne, Pam Joyce and Daryl Fazio.

All events in the Home Brew Festival are free of charge, so you have no excuse – see you there!

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Continuing our look back at the past 19 years of Essential Theatre festivals, today we take a look back at the ninth Essential Theatre Festival, in 2007.

In 2007, we moved to a summer production schedule, and celebrated it in style with Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge by Christopher Durang. This rolicking comedy performed alongside Fix Me So I Can Stand, the Playwriting Award Winner by Jean Sterrett, and an ensemble-developed piece, Night Travels, both created by local theatre artists.

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Continuing our look back at the past 19 years of Essential Theatre festivals, today we take a look back at the eighth Essential Theatre Festival, in 2006.

“thanks to Book of Liz, I’m back in love with theatre again.”

I have to be honest, I have no idea who said this, but it was in my show report from opening night, and as much as Fuddy Meers was a game changer for me as a person in theater, Book of Liz was a game changer for me with regard to Essential.

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