BACK IN SHEPHERDSTOWN

I had a very productive trip to Philadelphia and New York. On Saturday I met our CATF architects Malcolm Holzman, Doug Moss and Debbi Waters at the Walnut Street Theatre. We saw my production of THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY. Afterwards we had a delicious dinner at The Oyster House in Philadelphia. I enjoyed seeing how the production has grown since Opening night. After dinner we took the train to New York.

Lucy Thurber and I met on Sunday morning for a breakfast meeting near Bryant Park. We discussed her ideas for her play inspired by John Brown. We have commissioned Lucy to write a new play for our 2011 Festival. THE JOHN BROWN PROJECT will examine the following questions: What is terrorism? What is fanaticism? What is revolution? Lucy is interested in the difference between terrorism, fanaticism and revolution…”America was or was not built on the back of terrorism/revolution.” Lucy’s plays SCARCITY and KILLERS AND OTHER FAMILY both deal with Race and Class in America. Her critically acclaimed plays provoke a conversation that many of us are too terrified to have RE: Race and Class. THE JOHN BROWN PROJECT will explore her interest in the culture of poverty in America. Lucy proposes that poor rural Whites and African Americans actually have more in common, in terms of pressure, options and self esteem than people of any color in this country that are raised with privilege. In our meeting Lucy said “America is built on dreams, equality, hope, faith, slavery, oppression and genocide. As a country we refuse to acknowledge all the building blocks. I want to acknowledge and discuss them all.”

 We had a great conversation and I am looking forward to introducing you to Lucy Thurber this summer when she will be in residence at the Theater Festival doing research for this provocative new work. Her plays SCARCITY and KILLERS AND OTHER FAMILY have been published and are available. I recommend both plays. Lucy is truly an original playwright with a fresh ideas and a powerful voice.

While I was in New York I had the pleasure to meet with CATF 2010 playwright, Michele Lowe. We discussed our upcoming production of INANA. It was a terrific meeting. I learned so much about INANAafter meeting with Michele. INANA is both a mystery/story and a love story. “Save the world through love.”...she says. “I am a student of history.” Michele helped me to understand the the main ideas in INANA.This is what I love about CATF…I get to talk with the living playwright in person. I enjoy this one on one collaboration withthe writer. Michele gave me very specific ideas RE: the world of her play and set design opportunities. I will share these ideas with Bob Klingelhoefer our set designer and Peg McKowen our costume designer. I left our breakfast meeting very jazzed about directing INANA.

On Tuesday I met with our New York Casting Director, Pat McCorkle and her staff to discuss and plan our upcoming Auditions for the 2010 Repertory Acting Company. We are preparing the casting breakdowns and audition sides to send to the New York talent agents. Pat will select the actors for me to audition in April. Our New York casting call begins April 6th through April 9th.

I am back in Shepherdstown preparing the 2010 Repertory. Our Festival Guide is at the printers…look for it in the mail. Please let me know your thoughts RE: our 2010 Repertory.

Ed Herendeen