Thoughts on 2010 FESTIVAL

“The only people for me are the mad ones,the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a common thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…” JACK KEROUAC

This quote by Jack Kerouac really resonates with me because it best describes the kind of people who make theater at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. We are all just a bit mad…mad to live…mad to talk about serious issues…mad for radical innovation…mad for art…And we burn, burn, burn for creating new American theater. We are fearless in our support for the American playwright. We are determined to face the extraordinary financial challenges that are before us. The economic realities are daunting in 2010. And yet, as with every challenge, we will respond proactively and effectively. But we need you help! Our current economic climate is not a setback. It’s a test. It’s rough out there…but I am confident that we will continue to create exciting and daring programming even during these difficult economic times. I hope that I can count on you for your continued support as we launch the next draft of the future of contemporary American theater. Please consider making a personal donation to CATF. Your support is vital to our success.

For me the work never gets old. Every season is a new beginning. The rehearsal halls are empty. The stage is empty. But we have five new scripts to nurture, develop and produce this summer. We have five new plays to cast and prepare all the theatrical elements for production in our 2010 Repertory. This is who we are and what we do. And I love it…Because I love my work. I take so much joy in it, and I try not to focus on what I haven’t done, but instead on what I will do. Being creative is not just a once-in-a-while sort of thing. Being creative is an everyday thing, a job with its own routines. The routine is as much a part of the creative process as the lightning bolt of inspiration…perhaps more.

The thing I care about most in my professional life is new work, particularly new American writing that is socially engaged and represents the diversity of our country…And that is what the Contemporary American Theater Festival stands for. I share with you a profound belief that what we are doing in Shepherdstown, WV is important. We are consumed by new ideas and radical innovation.

Ed Herendeen