2010 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner

The Essential Theatre is proud to announce that the winner of the 2010 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award competition is Gabriel Dean’s Qualities of Starlight, a modern southern family comedy. Gabriel Dean has been working for some years on the Atlanta scene as an actor and playwright, and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in the Playwriting Program at the University of Texas in Austin. His play Buy My House – Please! recently ran at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Mr. Dean will receive a cash prize of $600.00 and Qualities of Starlight will be produced as part of the 2010 Essential Theatre Play Festival,

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Win an Essential Theatre STAYCATION Package
including one night stay for two at Marietta’s
Whitlock Inn as well as two tickets to a
performance at Theatre-In-The-Square.

Just fill in this brief survey and you will be entered to win. Make a Donation and you double your chances.

Whitlock Inn
Come rock on the porch while you soak up some Southern charm. This cherished Victorian bed & breakfast is in a National Register Historic District, one block from the Marietta Square and 20 miles from Atlanta.

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JIM CROW AND THE RHYTHM DARLINGS by Vynnie Meli, directed by Betty Hart

RETURNING TO THE STAGE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

DECEMBER 16th 7pm, Admission is FREE

New Mercies Christian Church, 4000 Five Forks Trickum Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047
World Premiere
Actors: Rachel Bodenstein, Enisha Brewster, Daniel Burnley, DeAndrea Crawford, Nadir Mateen, Delesa Sims
It’s World War Two, and with so many men going off to serve, the previously all-male world of jazz is opening up to women for the first time. The International Rhythm Darlings are an all-female African-American band touring the Deep South,

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Invest in Our Success

Over the past twelve years, the Essential Theatre has become a leading voice in the support and development of new plays by Georgia writers.

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The Essential Theatre is proud to announce that the winner of the 2010 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award competition is Gabriel Dean’s Qualities of Starlight, a modern southern family comedy. Gabriel Dean has been working for some years on the Atlanta scene as an actor and playwright, and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in the Playwriting Program at the University of Texas in Austin. His play Buy My House – Please! Is currently running at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Mr. Dean will receive a cash prize of $600.00 and Qualities of Starlight will be produced as part of the 2010 Essential Theatre Play Festival,

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Bring a can or unopened bag of dog or cat food to Essential Theatre’s production’s of ICE GLEN, FOOD FOR FISH or JIM CROW & THE RHYTHM DARLINGS this weekend and save $5 off the adult ticket price. Collections will be distributed to the Atlanta Humane Society and Pet Rescue.

The 11th Annual Essential Theatre Festival closes this weekend, so don’t miss out. And, please no FISH FOOD, we’ve got that covered already.

Want to know which show performs when? Click here.

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Click on the photo to view the entire album.

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ICE GLEN by Joan Ackermann
Beautifully written, masterfully delicate direction by Ellen McQueen, precise, delightful and surprising performances all round. Go see it.” Joanna Daniel

“ICE GLEN is both one of the best scripts and best overall productions I’ve seen in the nine years I’ve been in Atlanta, and Ellen’s direction is flawlessly nuanced. A true “must-see.”” Evan Guilford-Blake

“It’s one of the best shows in Atlanta this year!” Leonard Pallats

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WMLB Voice of the Arts’ Larry Larson interviews playwright Vynnie Meli & director Betty Hart

And, In Print

“Directed by Betty Hart, Jim Crow & The Rhythm Darlings truly captures the love of jazz … the dialogue is quick paced and smart, the issues are diverse, and the acting is powerful. Not every day do you come across an intelligent play that explores gender roles, racism, and religion. Jim Crow & The Rhythm Darlings is a harmonious blend of talent, music, and discussion. Definitely a must see.” Kelechi Ubozoh,

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“Following its tradition of introducing Atlanta to some of the edgier plays around, Essential Theatre opened its annual summer festival with FOOD FOR FISH, a lively take on Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS by rising playwright Adam Szymkowicz … One smart play …dark, droll dialogue … it’s a wild, strange trip, full of black humor, and something to really challenge the mind.” read the entire review James Paulk, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“This play by the brilliant young playwright, Adam Szymkowicz, is one strange work of art … it is compelling, humorous, and I would give it a 9 on the proverbial scale.” Robert Heller,

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