Last year’s Essential Theatre Play Festival has received nine nominations from the 2011 Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards.  Over the previous three seasons, the Essential Theatre has received twenty-six nominations and won eleven awards.

Gabriel Jason Dean’s QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT was nominated for Best Original Work. 

Rita Dove’s THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH received nominations for Best Ensemble, Best Direction (Betty Hart), Best Sound Design (Jon Summers), Best Lighting Design (Trish Harris), Best Costume Design (Jane Kroessig), Best Major Supporting Actress (A. Sabreena Farmer), Best Minor Supporting Actor (John Doyle) and Best Minor Supporting Actress (Deborah Harris).

The MAT Awards will be presented in a ceremony on September 25.