Ed, Peggy & James TALK THEATER.

The following marks the first installment of a discussion between CATF Producing Director and Founder Ed Herendeen, Associate Producing Director Peggy McKowen, and Managing Director James McNeel. Join the CATF staff throughout the year as they discuss theater, festival machinations, the 2012 plays and artists, and much more. James Okay. Here we are, 2011 coming to a [...]

Taking Time to Dream

As Associate Producer for CATF I spend 10 months working with Ed Herendeen to plan, organize and facilitate “the art” and programming. I spend 10 months, organizing calendars and schedules; hiring artists and staff; streamlining production and department budgets and plotting for 80 + people to join us in June.

Most importantly I work with our artists to ensure that they have the best collaboratively artistic experience possible. And occasionally, I assume the role of artist. This year I’m designing the scenery for From Prague by Kyle Bradstreet and the costumes for our 2011 Commission, The Insurgents by Lucy Thurber.

Yep, I wear those artistic hats while I’m game-planning for the Festival-at-large. On the one hand I’m telling the designer in me to CREATE while on the other hand the festival producer in me is thinking this is only one set design in the context of a five show repertory. Ironically as an administrator I’m telling other artists to DREAM first and then later resolve with the Festival team and collaborative process “the fit” of a show into the “whole” of the repertory. I feel a bit like Mrs. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde.