The 2011 Essential Theatre Play Festival has one more week!

The 2011 Essential Theatre Play Festival has one more week!  We close July 31.  Visit www.EssentialTheatre.com for tickets.
 
“I wish everyone in the Atlanta theatre scene would come out and see Essential's fine work."
Yolanda Asher (Founding Member of the Suzi Awards)

“I am so impressed with the amazing season you have put together.”
Paul Holly (Founding Member of the Suzi Awards)

“Congratulations on assembling another three diverse, thought-provoking and entertaining plays, wonderfully directed and acted by some of Atlanta's best talent.”
Bill Murphey (Suzi Award-Winning Actor)

Monday, July 25 - A SLEEPING COUNTRY (Industry Night) 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 26 – “My Brother’s Knife” Play Reading, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 27 – “The Spins” Play Reading, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 28 - GREAT FALLS 8 p.m.
Friday, July 29 - A THOUSAND CIRCLETS, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 30 - A SLEEPING COUNTRY, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 31 -- GREAT FALLS, 2 p.m.

GREAT FALLS - An Atlanta Theater Fans Critique

"Confessions are good for the soul – so they say. For many people, and families, bringing a secret into the light of day is a healing process. Like any family, the one in Essential Theatre’s Great Falls, holds its share of baggage and secrets."

 

"The play takes the audience on a parallel emotional journey to the characters’ own trip through the scenic west. A play this emotional requires a talented cast and well-crafted dialogue. If a play is poorly written, great acting can save it and vice-versa. Audiences seeing Great Falls don’t have any worry; it excels in both."

"Both Emmett Furrow and Ashleigh Hoppe bring emotional depth and a genuine sense of humanity to each of their characters to win the audience over. Great Falls takes us on a journey to discover ourselves and confront our own hurts and fears as we watch two characters fall apart and heal onstage. If nothing else, the acting alone makes this play worth seeing." Kenny Norton

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Why haven't you seend "A Thousand Circlets" yet?

There are a limited number of performances remainging to see Essential Theatre's world premiere production of Theroun Patterson's prize winning play, "A Thousand Circlets". You don't want to miss this one. 

"Essential Theatre's production of Theroun Patterson's A THOUSAND CIRCLETS is wonderful. Theroun Patterson's writing is smart, funny, tender, painful, and absolutely real."

Jo Howarth Noonan

“A Thousand Circlets is powerful and well played. The complex family dynamic reminds me of Long Days Journey into Night."

Rebecca B. Rogers

“Theroun Patterson’s A Thousand Circlets is another artistic coup for the Essential Theatre’s Play Festival. Theroun’s writing is both poetic and pure.  It evokes both tears and joy, sometimes simultaneously. The cast of strong actors is made even stronger by Betty Hart’s direction. I am going back. You should come too. “
Sarah Emma Hall

"A Thousand Circlets was stellar in writing and production. Thank you all!"

Valetta Anderson

“Saw The Essential Theatre production of Theroun Patterson's A Thousand Circlets. Enjoyed it. Two more plays to see. This festival is a great event for Atlanta."

James Beck

"Exceptional work -- all around. We saw A Thousand Circlets and Great Falls this past weekend. Dynamic, thought-provoking stagecraft."

Ralph Caldwell

“Saw a really great play yesterday evening, A Thousand Circlets by Theroun Patterson at Actors Express...wonderfully written, staged and performed!!”

Sherry Lee

Audience Speaks Out About Essential's GREAT FALLS

"So enjoyed Great Falls last night. Ellen McQueen's superb direction led two very talented, "new on the Atlanta scene" actors down the road to discovery. Thanks for the trip! Great work!" Paul Holly


"People! Go see GREAT FALLS and all the wonderful plays at Essential Theatre! GREAT FALLS is amazing! Ashleigh Hoppe rocked it!" Bree Dawn Shannon

"Saw Great Falls tonight. Not to be missed. Great story great characters wonderful performances and as usual inspired directing. See it. " Jayson Smith

"Congrats on the Great Falls emotional roller coaster, it's an intense ride, the actors did a wonderful job and the directing and scene design really capture the glorious melancholy of vast spaces and journeys into the past." Karla Jennings 

"Another incredibly strong performance of the Essential Theatre Festival.  Great Falls is a lovely play that is directed and performed beautifully. Kudos to Mr. Hardy and the entire production team and cast. The Essential Theatre Festival has become one of my favorite events of the summer. I can't wait to see the rest of the plays!" Amanda Cucher
 

"A Thousand Circlets" Audience Comments

"Essential Theatre's production of Theroun Patterson's A THOUSAND CIRCLETS is wonderful. Theroun Patterson's writing is smart, funny, tender, painful, and absolutely real. The performances are honest. Betty Hart's direction is spot on. It's hard for me to watch anything about Alzheimer's as it always hits a little too close to home. This production was no exception but the relationship between husband and wife was one of the more honest depictions I ever seen of the pain, anger, and confusion that rains down in the early days of diagnosis. I will be seeing it again...as soon as I see the other two shows in the festival -- A SLEEPING COUNTRY & GREAT FALLS." Jo Howarth Noonan

Essential Theatre Pajama Party

A good time was had by all at Essential Theatre's "A Sleeping Country" Pajama Party.
Thanks to Nancy Johnson for the great photos! 

GREAT FALLS Audience Speaks Out

Bitch & MonkeyMan @ Great Falls

"So enjoyed Great Falls last night. Ellen McQueen's superb direction led two very talented, "new on the Atlanta scene" actors down the road to discovery. Thanks for the trip! Great work!"
Paul Holly 

"People! Go see GREAT FALLS and all the wonderful plays at Essential Theatre! GREAT FALLS is amazing! Ashleigh Hoppe rocked it!"
Bree Dawn Shannon

"Saw Great Falls tonight. Not to be missed. Great story great characters wonderful performances and as usual inspired directing. See it. "
Jayson Smith

"Congrats on the Great Falls emotional roller coaster, it's an intense ride, the actors did a wonderful job and the directing and scene design really capture the glorious melancholy of vast spaces and journeys into the past."
Karla Jennings

"Another incredibly strong performance of the Essential Theatre Festival.  Great Falls is a lovely play that is directed and performed beautifully. Kudos to Mr. Hardy and the entire production team and cast. The Essential Theatre Festival has become one of my favorite events of the summer. I can't wait to see the rest of the plays!"
Amanda Cucher

July 9 "A Sleeping Country" PJ Party Prize

Attend the Saturday July 9^th performance of Essential Theatre’s “A Sleeping Country” in your pajamas and you'll receive a free ticket plus cookies and milk. After the performance, Dr. Midge and the audience will help choosing a deserving insomniac to award a door prize. Wear your PJs and bring your friends for a fun-filled, laugh a minute theatre and you may win a 'naughty' gift from www.SlumberPartiesbySheilah.com.  

A Thousand Circlets by Theroun D'Arcy Patterson

Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards Recognizes Essential's Excellence

Last year's Essential Theatre Play Festival has received nine nominations from the 2011 Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards.  Over the previous three seasons, the Essential Theatre has received twenty-six nominations and won eleven awards.

Gabriel Jason Dean's QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT was nominated for Best Original Work. 

Rita Dove's THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH received nominations for Best Ensemble, Best Direction (Betty Hart), Best Sound Design (Jon Summers), Best Lighting Design (Trish Harris), Best Costume Design (Jane Kroessig), Best Major Supporting Actress (A. Sabreena Farmer), Best Minor Supporting Actor (John Doyle) and Best Minor Supporting Actress (Deborah Harris).

The MAT Awards will be presented in a ceremony on September 25.

People are Talking About "A Sleeping Country"

“A charming evening, a damned funny show. Fans of neurotic Woody Allen comedies will feel at home with this story of Julia and her insomnia. Like that second shot of limoncello, you know you really shouldn’t, but it’s so light, sweet and refreshing … and heck, it’s summer.” Andrew Alexander, www.ArtsCriticATL.com
“Hey people, you should all get over to The Essential Theatre and check out Megan Hayes, Matthew Myers, Holly Stevenson and Kelly Criss in A Sleeping Country, superbly directed by Peter Hardy. It's smart and funny.” Larry Davis

“Go see it! Great show last night!” Kathleen McManus

“Hope everyone in metro-Atlanta goes to see The Essential Theatre's A Sleeping Country this month. Don't miss the fine direction of Peter Hardy and his dream cast of Kelly Criss Felten, Megan Hayes, Matthew Myers and Holly Stevenson. ♥ Well done, y'all!” Yolanda Asher

"I had a great time! Awesome show!" Kylie Brown

“I think it should be a big hit.” Bill Murphey
“I saw A Sleeping Country this week at Essential Theatre. What a funny and heart warming script. A delightful cast, this one is not to be missed.” Dewayne Morgan

“A great fun show.” Michael Strauss

“Enjoyed seeing friends Matthew Myers and Megan Hayes flex their chops in the funny new Melanie Marnich comedy, A Sleeping Country. Congrats Peter Hardy, Mark Perloe and all involved.” Clifton Guterman

“As an insomniac, I heartily endorse this performance. Really nice work.” Bart Hansard
“We enjoyed A Sleeping Country at Essential Theatre and are looking forward to the next two shows in the festival this year.” Betty Mitchell