Contemporary American Theater Festival Hosting Educational Program
Humanities Grant helps launch Act I Young Playwrighting Workshop


[April, 2008] Shepherdstown, West Virginia– The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) has been awarded a grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council to host Act I, the Young Playwrighting Workshop. Through this program, 10 students ages 16 to 21 will study with theater professionals from the CATF staff. “We have wanted to provide an educational experience for younger students ever since CATF began,” stated Ed Herendeen, CATF Founder and Producing Director. “With our 2008 season expanding to five plays, this is the perfect year to introduce the Young Playwrights experience and expose younger audiences to the beauty of creative writing for the theater.”

Act I will be held July 16 to July 30 at Shepherd University, in tandem with the CATF 2008 season. The workshop will be held daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with laptops and lunch provided to the students. The Director of Act I will be Theresa M. Davis, Associate Professor in the Department of Drama at the University of Virginia. She most recently directed The African Company Presents Richard III and worked closely with playwright Carlyle Brown to develop the production. Master Teacher for the workshop will be David Andrew Snyder, producing artistic director and CEO of The Young Playwrights Theatre in Washington, D.C. He has been an actor, director, educator, producer and administrator for over 15 years. Shepherd University instructors Dr. Sylvia Shurbutt and Dr. Betty Ellzey will be guest instructors, and CATF favorite, playwright Richard Dresser will participate in the workshop. Dresser’s play, A View of the Harbor, will complete his happiness trilogy, with all three plays premiering at CATF.

“The goal of Act I is to help students become better listeners and communicators, to improve their writing skills, and to gain an appreciation for the arts,” stated Peggy McKowen, Associate Producing Director of CATF. At the conclusion of the program, three public readings of their work will be held at the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg, the Ice House in Berkeley Springs, and the Old Opera House in Charles Town. The cost to participate is $200, with scholarships available to two students, based on financial need. Contact Peggy McKowen at pmckowen@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5151 for more information about the Act I program.

The 2008 CATF season runs from July 9 through August 3 with five adventurous plays in rotating repertory: The Overwhelming by JT Rogers, Pig Farm by Tony Award-winner Greg Kotis, Stick-Fly by Lydia Diamond, A View of the Harbor, a world premiere by Richard Dresser, and Wrecks by Neil LaBute. The Contemporary American Theater Festival prides itself on producing and developing new American theater. Since 1991, CATF has produced 63 new plays, including 23 world premieres. This year, “thinktheater” and “thinkfive” with the Contemporary American Theater Festival … five plays, five playwrights, five unique theatrical experiences. For more information, please visit www.catf.org or call 304-876-3473 or 800-999-CATF (2283).

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Media Contact:
Sandy Sponaugle, Publicist
O: (304) 876-8321
C: (304) 702-0350


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