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2017 General Auditions

The Essential Theatre will be holding General Auditions for its 2017 season from 1-5 p.m. on March 25.
Auditions will be held in Room 210 of the Rich Building on the Emory University campus, at 1602 Fishburne Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322. This is at the corner of Fishburne Drive and Fishburne Lane, across the street from the Fishburne Parking Deck.
Please bring headshot/resumes and two contrasting monologues of not more than 4 minutes total length.

To make an appointment, contact [email protected], or call 404-212-0815.
All roles will be stipend-paid.

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Closing this weekend!

Georgia Ensemble Theatre in Roswell has been a tremendous supporter of Topher Payne in recent years, commissioning and producing multiple new works of his. Closing this weekend is his latest mainstage commission, “Greetings Friend, Your Kind Assistance Is Required,” featuring a phenomenal cast of local greats including past Essential collaborator Brenda Porter as the main character, Rhonda.

Don’t miss your chance to see this delightfully escapist-feeling romp with moments of heartfelt insight – get your tickets today!

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Next Bare Essentials Feb 13: Pants on Fire! by Jacobi Howard

Pants on Fire! 
by Jacobi Howard
FEBRUARY 13, 2017
7:30PM
WEST END PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
945 RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY BLVD, ATLANTA, GA
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL HARRISON

Deep in the woods of the south, Gordon raises his two teenage children alone. When his estranged brother Lucius arrives unexpectedly, seeking reconciliation, he brings with him dark memories of the past. But what does Lucius actually have planned for this family in this electrifying Southern Gothic tale.

Featuring: Daviorr Snipes as Gordon, Kerwin Thompson as Uncle Lucky,  Cameron Geer as Elppa, James G. Smith as Emmanuel ‘Man Man,’ and Jacobi Howard as The Storyteller.

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Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who supported our fall power2give campaign! 
Juana Mendenhall, Cathy Jamison, Paul Donnelly, Betty & Ed Mitchell, Hank & Barbara Kimmel, Johnny Thigpen, Marilyn Baron, Vynnie Meli, Get Scene Studios, Carol Ponder, Jill Jackson, Doug Kaye, Sherry Shaw, Yolanda Asher, Kathleen Magbee, Aaron Gotlieb, Chris Carlsten, Thom, Lori and Sydney Stanley, Sarah Cave, Amber Bradshaw, Kathy Manning, Anna Richardson, Nancy Powell, Alex Van, Jennifer Kimball, Libby Mickle, Mark Perloe, Holly Stevenson, Brent Darnell, Gerry Bartholomai, Joanna Daniel and Pamela Rooks

Together we raised $6,500 to support Essential’s ongoing work to provide development and professional production opportunities to Georgia’s playwrights.

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Thursday, December 22, 2016 – Derek Dixon

When asked why he chose to submit his (now award winning and professionally produced) play When Things Are Lost to the Essential Theatre Playwriting Competition, 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner Derek Dixon replied,

When I read the statement about what The Essential Theatre was looking for, I felt that I had a chance. I am an unknown writer, and a competition like this gives unknowns like me something that is hard to get, a chance. A lot of theatres require an agent submission and a lot of middle-manning to get through, but The Essential Theatre just said,

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016 – Topher Payne and Samuel French

Shared by Breaking Character Magazine, a Samuel French publication, a great interview with beloved Essential and Atlanta playwright Topher Payne:

writers-room-with-topher-payne-breaking-character

Here at Samuel French, we strive to find exciting voices in the playwright community, and bring them to a wider audience. This year, one of the new writers we welcomed to our catalog is the remarkable Topher Payne. For those of you unfamiliar with Topher’s plays, get ready…read more

Only two days left: 

become a part of the Essential tradition –

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