REFLECTIONS

On Sunday evening we had a kick-ass Benefit at the Clarion Hotel in Shepherdstown. Lee Sellars hosted an entertaining evening of stories, memories and personal tributes to twenty years of making theater. He was joined by playwright Richard Dresser and others who shared their personal Festival experiences. I was so happy to see Anne Marie Nest and Andrea Cirie, and David Toney three CATF actors who came down from New York and Washington DC to share their Festival stories with our patrons. Ed McKeaney, General Manager of the Wooster Group Theater in New York and a former CATF intern/Shepherd Alum also joined us. Tad Janes, the Artistic Director of the Maryland Ensemble Theater and a former CATF actor from 1991 told stories from our first season. Kirsten Trump, a CATF Board member performed a comedy sketch and CATF Board member Katha Kissman entertained us with a song. We even had a performance by Suzanne Shipley the Shepherd University President. Letters and tributes were read  from several CATF playwrights, artists, Board members and patrons. It was a jammed packed event. I was deeply touched by the entire evening. Peggy McKowen, CATF Associate Producing Director produced this amazing event.

The ROAST, TOAST & BOAST was a celebration of collaboration and partnership and the power of live contemporary theater. It was a tribute to the American playwright. We all realized that what we have created in Shepherdstown is very special. The Contemporary American Theater Festival is a very special place. In 1991 we were determined to create an artistic haven for American playwrights and contemporary theater artists to produce and develop new American theater. Today…twenty years later…playwrights and theater artists call Shepherdstown their artistic home. 

Ed Herendeen