About Essential and the Festival:
Essential Theatre has been supporting Georgia playwrights and presenting new plays to Atlanta audiences since 1987. Since 2012, the Essential Theatre Play Festival has presented all world premieres by Georgia playwrights. "Our vision in moving forward," says Founding Artistic Director Peter Hardy, "is to give Georgia playwrights an ever-stronger voice across the country and in the world, and in so doing, to continue to enrich our own community of artists and audience members here at home."
Towards that end, we are proud to present you with the
seventeenth annual Essential Theatre Play Festival. This year's festival will be taking place July 24 through August 23 at the West End Performing Arts Center (945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30310). We're excited to be returning to West End, and we can't wait to share this year's shows with you:
Lillian Likes It by Joshua Mikel, winner of the 2015 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award (July 31-August 23, World Premiere). A young woman thinks she may have found the perfect guy -- unfortunately, he's dead, but does that really matter if she can still chat with him online? (There's an app for that.) A provocative comedy about the search for human connection in a time where we rarely meet face to face.
The Old Ship of Zion by Natalia Naman (July 24-August 21, Professional World Premiere). A warm, touching play about the members of a small African-American church, struggling to keep its doors open and adapt to changing times. Mama Gwen is a beloved elder who feels the burden of others who depend on the strength of her faith, and Quincy is a young man who loves his church but is beginning to realize that he's gay. About people searching for a spiritual life in trying times. With lots of music!
And of course we will be continuing our Bare Essentials play reading series with open readings of three new plays by Georgia writers. All readings are free and open to the public with discussion and feedback after.
The Impact
Essential Theatre is the longest-running theatre dedicated exclusively to supporting the work of Georgia playwrights. We’ve gained a lot of momentum over the past few years. Help us build on our past success and continue our forward momentum with this summer's festival!
Your donations will help cover the cost of production materials, artist fees and promotion for the festival.
What You Get In Return
Besides the satisfaction of seeing Georgia playwrights' work come to life before your eyes, and besides the pride of knowing you are helping to give Georgia playwrights a voice, check out the great perks we've got in store, listed to the right:
*Want to help your donation dollars go farther? Contact us through the link at the top of the page to let us know you'd like to pick up your mailable perks at the box office when you come to see any show in the Festival! We promise to use the money we save on postage wisely and well.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you’re interested in helping the Essential Theatre in other ways, read on to find out more:
- Help us get the word out about our festival and this campaign. Share them with everyone you know! You've heard it in countless curtain speeches, and it's true: your word of mouth is the best tool we have.
- Read about other ways you can get involved here. There are lots of ways that you can pitch in to help give Georgia playwrights a voice!
