20/20 Vision

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The Contemporary American Theater Festival celebrates her 20th Anniversary Season in 2010. This is a miraculous story about passion, perseverance and vision.

When you are in your 20’s, you don’t imagine anything lasting 20 years. In 1991 the stars aligned perfectly over the historic village of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Those of us in the theater know…the stars almost never align, let alone perfectly. There is always something that’s off; something you wish you’d done better, something that went wildly off track. But in 1991, everything shifted into place and the Contemporary American Theater Festival produced her first season. That first season was only 20 years ago.

This momentous milestone concedes that good fortune and good timing certainly played roles in establishing our annual new play festival, but, luck is too simplistic an answer for how the Theater Festival found success. Our history, in fact, is one of calculated risks, strong work ethics, and artistic vision. Our success derives not from luck but from a passionate commitment to making contemporary theater with an extraordinary Board of Trustees in partnership with Shepherd University. The relationship between the Festival Board and Shepherd created the conditions for financial stability, quality productions, access to the best playwrights and theater artists. This symbiotic relationship has established a theater festival dedicated to producing and developing new American theater that not only reflects national trends (as a means of maintaining relevance) but serves as a haven for contemporary playwrights.

Twenty years ago my theater friends were in disbelief when I announced that I was going to West Virginia to start a professional theater dedicated to new work. “Shepherdstown?”…they said…”Seriously?”

Some people possess the commonly held perception that Broadway is the center of American theater. Yet, every summer playwrights and theater artists from around America converge on Shepherdstown to nurture, develop and produce five new American plays in rotating repertory. Shepherdstown virtually becomes the summer home for the contemporary American stage.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Theater Festival is our location. Since 1991 Shepherdstown has been an incubator for new plays. This ambitious repertory thrives in conditions where few would have expected any arts festival to prosper. Yet our reputation as a “playwrights theater” provides Shepherdstown and Shepherd University with a national reputation for supporting established playwrights, discovering new voices and producing some of America’s best new plays.

We had 20/20 vision 20 years ago. 20/20 vision is perfect vision.

Ed Herendeen

RE: 2009 FESTIVAL

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As I reflect on the 2009 Contemporary American Theater Festival I recall this cool quote from Red Skelton:

“When I get through with any show, last thing I do, I take a look at that bare stage when I’m leaving the theater. I don’t hear any applause. I don’t hear any laughter. And I say to myself, ‘Tomorrow, I must start again. One hour ago I was a big man. I was important out there. Now it’s empty. It’s all gone.’ Young people don’t realize that each time they walk out on the stage, they’re new. For those who do realize it, the act never gets old.”

The theater is an art form that is not permanent. It must be reinvented with each production…or with each season. So I find it difficult to look back after a season has closed. The stage is empty…awaiting to be reinvented…Hindsight in the theater is rare. We are already focusing more clearly on the present to help secure our place in the future. My eyes are focused on the 2010 Theater Festival…our 20th Anniversary Season!

The 2009 Festival is now history. Shepherdstown WV was transformed by the wonderful artists who created the 2009 Repertory. Art was in the air throughout the historic village of Shepherstown. Our patrons experienced Five new American plays in rotating repertory. They met the playwrights, discussed the work at early morning breakfasts,  post show talk-backs and late night conversations in a Shepherdstown pub. Our town was the perfect place to abandon responsibility and awaken creativity. It was an artistic celebration of ideas and contemporary storytelling. The 2009 Repertory tackled real ideas with a verve and style that I have not encountered anywhere else.

I love my work. I take so much joy in it, and I try not to look back on what I haven’t done, but instead on what I will do next season. I give you my word that the 2010 Repertory will be full of philosophy, spirituality, psychology, politics, drama and comedy. I am looking for new works that are engaged with life…work that is an intrinsic part of human existence.

Last summer we presented a first draft of the future of the American theater…thank you for helping us write it…we are partners in creativity.

Ed Herendeen

MORE LATER

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The 2009 Theater Festival is history. The work speaks for itself. I will write some of my reflections and thoughts on the 2009 Season when I return from a few days of R&R…more later…

Ed Herendeen

WEEK FOUR

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STAGE READING: Last night we did a public reading of Michael Weller’s new play SIDE EFFECTS. Anderson Matthews read Hugh and Lee Roy Rogers read Lindy. Michael Weller continues his exploration of marriage and relationships. This is a fast paced script full of humor, pain and conflict. It was a successful reading. Anderson and Lee Roy gave excellent readings. Weller’s script is tight, dramatic and funny. The audience was engaged throughout the entire evening.

Week Four at the Festival has begun and we continue the final week of Repertory performances of five new American plays. On Monday the CATF Company enjoyed a company day off at the WOODS RESORT. Andy Michael treated our company to a day of golf, hiking, swimming, relaxing spa treatments and a fabulous poolside barbecue. Last Monday the CATF Company went on a four hour white-water-raft trip down the Shenandoah River. Our artists are enjoying the magic of “wild wonderful West Virginia.” Today we go back to a full rotating repertory schedule.

The “creative buzz” continues throughout the community. This is the final week of performances…AND…this is your last chance to invite your friends to experience the power of new American theater. We are having a strong season. Our attendance is growing…but we still have plenty of good seats available… So spread the word! Tell your friends to visit Shepherdstown and participate in the future of American theater…the future spends the summer in Shepherdstown.

Ed Herendeen