WALNUT STREET THEATRE

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I am directing a Reading of THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY a new play by Eric Conger at THE WALNUT STREET THEATRE in Philadelphia. We have rehearsal today at 1PM and a public Reading at 7Pm.

This chilling new drama by Eric Conger depicts life in a 1960’s fraternity house as a group of young men struggle to balance tradition with the ever-straining currents of change. The audience is thrown into the testosterone-fueled world of these “brothers” as their house is slowly torn apart by the initiation of an African-American scholarship student. With their country and their lives teetering at the precipice of change, this eclectic group of young men must find a way to overcome their differences before 125 years of tradition comes crashing down around them.

THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY concerns the events surrounding a hazing incident at an Eastern school in the fall of 1963. An elite fraternity is fractured when an inner-city black is brought into the house. Traditional values collide with race, and gender issues, as the new world prepares to unfold.

Eric Conger and I have been developing his new play with THE WALNUT STREET THEATRE. This is our second workshop Reading. I will direct the World Premiere of THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY in January 2010 in Philadelphia.

Ed Herendeen

D.C. BUZZ

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Our “FRIEND RAISING” EVENT at the Mandarin was very successful. We accomplished our objective: Create buzz with our Washington D.C. patron base. We met new friends and introduced them to the CATF experience. It was a wonderful evening: great atmosphere, delicious food and drink and a great guest list…over 100 guests attended our BUZZ PARTY.

I am happy that Beau Willimon made the trip down from New York to meet our guests. His career is on fire and I am so proud that we are collaborating with him on his new play FARRAGUT NORTH.

Our message last night was simple: Escape the city…Escape the summer heat…Experience the future of the American Theater! Take time for your brain and soul to reflect, enjoy thinking, enjoy listening and seeing. Enjoy the power of a good story. Immerse yourself in a weekend of contemporary storytelling.

We have momentum…we have passion…we have an exciting new Repertory . Please help me “infect” future CATF patrons with our passion for new American Theater.

Ed Herendeen

FRIEND RAISING

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I am looking forward to our FRIEND RAISING EVENT tonight at The MANDARIN ORIENTAL in Washington D.C. at 6:30pm. This extraordinary party is a “friend raiser” for The Contemporary American Theater Festival. The event is hosted by CATF Board of Trustees: Erich Hosbach, Noah Mehrkam, Dr. Stanley Marinoff, Ann Harkins, and Catherine Irwin.

Our goal is to create awareness and “BUZZ” about the 2009 Repertory in Washington D.C. We have invited the playwright Beau Willimon to join us. He is the author of FARRAGUT NORTH.  Beau has recently been nominated for two OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS: Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play and the John Gassner Award.

I am looking forward to introducing Beau Willimon to our Washington D.C. guests this evening. I will also give an exclusive Preview of our 2009 Festival.

So tonight we are recruiting “evangelists” for CATF. We are recruiting patrons who believe in the CATF mission: “dedicated to producing and developing new American theater.” We want to turn our dedicated patrons into “evangelists” who will spread the word about the CATF experience. I believe that “word of mouth marketing” is the most effective way to build our audience base. We are building a culture and community who have an adventurous appetite for new American plays. We are developing social relationships that value and appreciate new play development. We believe that writing plays matters. We believe that nurturing and producing new work matters. We believe in the power of story. We believe that the four of most powerful words in English are “Tell me a story.” We believe that we are helping to create the future of the American Theater.

Please let me know if you are interested in “friend raising” for CATF. If you appreciate and enjoy our work…tell your friends. Invite your friends to join you in Shepherdstown WV for the 2009 Theater Festival. I am looking forward to seeing you and meeting your friends.

Ed Herendeen

Random Thoughts

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For those of you who attended THE OVERWHELMING BY J.T. Rogers: CATF 2008… I recommend: The May 4th issue of THE NEW YORKER .There is an important story on Rwanda. THE LIFE AFTER: Fifteen years after the Genocide in Rwanda, the reconciliation defies expectations. By Philip Gourevitch.

          “When I began visiting Rwanda, in 1995, a year after the genocide, the country was still pretty well annihilated… On the fifteenth anniversary of the genocide, Rwanda is one of the safest and most orderly countries in Africa.” 

I recommend Gourevitch’s article. It is a story about reconciliation and forgiveness. 

THE OVERWHELMING took place on the eve of the Rwandan genocide. J.T. Rogers haunting play ends as the genocide begins. I read the Gourevitch article last night. 

          “…and for the first time in fifteen years there is near-universal agreement that there is a possibility of peace.”

I am very proud of our production of THE OVERWHELMING. It was and is an important play. Please read the NEW YORKER story and send me your comments and thoughts.

ANGELA’S MIXTAPE:

While I was in New York casting the 2009 Repertory, I had the opportunity to see ANGELA’S MIXTAPE by Eisa Davis.  This is an autobiograghical story about growing up in the shadow of political activists.  It is a play about finding one’s identity and voice. Eisa grew up in the shadows of very powerful and intelligent women. Her aunt is the political icon Angela Y. Davis. Yes…that Angela Davis, the scholar and activist jailed for more than a year before being acquitted of involvment in a violent attempt to free a prisoner. But this is really a story about Eisa…her coming of age story…”How do I live up to my name?” is the pointed question that Eisa asks at the top of the production.

This production really informs and sheds light on our upcoming World Premiere: THE HISTORY OF LIGHT. Liesl Tommy directed ANGELA’S MIXTAPE and is directing our production of THE HISTORY OF LIGHT this summer.