Greetings from NYC

I am in New York City for meetings with playwright Eisa Davis ( THE HISTORY OF LIGHT) and director Liesl Tommy. We are in the pre- production phase. We will discuss casting ideas, set and costume ideas, etc. While I am here I will meet with Sheri Wilner, playwright of the past CATF productions HUNGER and FATHER JOY. Sheri has enjoyed great success and critical acclaim at our Theater Festival. She is one of my favorite writers and we have developed a strong professional relationship. I am interested in hearing about her current projects.

Last week we presented our ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY at a Press Conference in Charleston West Virginia. We partnered with The Gateway New Economy Council and conducted a survey of CATF patrons attending the 2008 Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, WV. We were interested in measuring the magnitude of the Theater Festival’s impact on the local economy. We have long believed that our annual Festival economically benefits the local economy in a substantial way. We presented our findings to our elected officials, business leaders and supporters in order to provide them with credible data that demonstrates the economic benefits of a vibrant and vital nonprofit arts industry. The survey makes clear that an investment in CATF is an investment in our community, state and region. We had a successful news event in Charleston, WV. We were joined by US Senator Jay Rockefeller who made encouraging remarks regarding our art and our business.

—Ed Herendeen