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Thursday, December 8, 2016 – Lauren Gunderson

Here’s the first of our daily inspirations, from the very first Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner, and the most-produced living playwright in America in 2016: Lauren Gunderson.

So proud to be an alumna of Essential Theatre, run by the inestimable Peter Hardy. They produced my first plays and basically started my professional career. Support them if you value new plays, Georgia artists, and intimate/vibrant theatre!

Become a part of the Essential tradition – support our power2give campaign today!

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Essential power2give FINAL TWO weeks!

-contributed by Jennifer Kimball
Managing Director (2012-present)

Ordinarily, we at Essential spend a lot of time this time of year celebrating the accomplishments of playwrights whose work we’ve premiered over the years. This tradition began as a means of building excitement around the crowdfunding campaign we’re usually also running this time of year, but it’s also something I’ve come to really enjoy curating as part of my job with Essential.

We hope you enjoy this year’s series! And of course, we sincerely hope you’re moved to support our power2give campaign,

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Family dysfunction makes a great stocking stuffer. Just sayin.

We enjoyed reading this post from 2010 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner Gabriel Jason Dean today and thought you might too:

 

It’s finally here! QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT published by Dramatic Publishing.

Family dysfunction makes a great stocking stuffer. Just sayin.

This play is intensely personal and took a long time to write (they all do). The script grew through production. In 2010, Instead of developing the play through a reading, Peter Hardy and the Essential Theatre took my first draft and showed me the play I had written (warts and all).

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Thankful for: Fulton County Arts Council

In 2005, Essential Theatre was awarded our first-ever grant – by the Fulton County Arts Council.

Since that time, Fulton County has been a steadfast supporter of Essential’s work – and 2016 was the third summer in a row that we partnered with a Fulton County Performing Arts Center to produce the festival, in addition to receiving a grant from the FCAC.

Fulton County has been a vital part of the fabric of our support network over the past 10+ years, helping us to grow and remain true to our commitment to bring Atlanta what’s new and give Georgia playwrights a voice.  

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“Shakespeare’s Words and Works” TOMORROW at Emory University

Tomorrow afternoon at 4:00, Emory University hosts their next Creativity Conversation, entitled “Shakespeare’s Words and Works.” Essential alumna Lauren Gunderson will be among the guest speakers at this conversation. Her latest play, “The Book of Will,” focuses on the survival of Shakespeare’s words via the printing of the First Folio.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the Rose Library within the Woodruff Library as part of a year-long celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death coordinated by the Center for Creativity & Arts and Emory University.

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Henry VI in rep, with some familiar Essential faces, starts Nov 12

Experience The Henry the Sixth performances in chronological order!

The Shakespeare Tavern will be presenting the Henry VI performances in rep November 12-27, and Essential’s founder Peter Hardy is in parts 1 and 2 of 3!

Here’s the schedule:

PART 1 on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
PART 2 on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
PART 3 on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
PART 1 on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
PART 2 on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
PART 3 on Sunday, Nov.

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