A NOTE MESSAGE FROM J.T. ROGERS -- MAY 2011.
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Dear fellow friend of CATF,

When I get a fundraising letter like this in the mail I usually start shredding it before I finish the first paragraph. The fact is, the gap between the number of worthy organizations I get appeals from and the funds I can afford to send forces me to set my "giving bar" very high. So I’ve declined many previous requests from different theaters to write a letter like this. But when the Contemporary American Theater Festival asked, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve been fortunate to work as a playwright at the National Theatre in London, Lincoln Center Theater in New York City, and in theaters across the world. Nowhere have I worked with a more dedicated, passionate group than the artists and staff of CATF. I’ve spent two seasons in Shepherdstown, first in 2008 for my play The Overwhelming, then again in 2010 with White People. Both times I left exhilarated.

What thrills me about CATF is that Producing Director Ed Herendeen and his cohorts put the lie to the myth that American theater audiences aren’t interested in being challenged. Look at this summer’s line up: David Mamet’s scabrously funny, taboo-breaking Race; the commissioned world premiere of The Insurgents, a daring political work by my superb colleague Lucy Thurber; and the haunting From Prague, by the young writer Kyle Bradstreet whom—trust me—you’ll hear more about in the years to come. And that’s just half the season. No revival of last year’s hit "family-friendly comedy," no tourist-pandering production of Once Upon a Mattress. Just five new and daring American plays performed in sold-out repertory. In July. I don’t know of another summer theater in America that punches at this weight.

But what’s most extraordinary about CATF is to see how important it is to its audience. In Shepherdstown, everyone goes to the shows. Not to see one specific play, but to the entire festival.To support their theater. Just as moving has been to realize that there are literally thousands of people who travel hours to be a part of CATF. When I’m strolling German Street and am stopped by audience members who’ve just seen one of my plays and want to talk further about it, half the time they’ve driven down from Baltimore or DC. Because they, too, feel that this is their company.

Please join me in supporting this remarkable organization. Every dollar we give will go directly to supporting the work of this season’s five playwrights—bringing their art to life on stage, while strengthening the bond between CATF and its wonderful community.

All best from Brooklyn,
J.T. Rogers