Plays by women from the Contemporary American Theater Festival : Gidion's knot ; The niceties ; Memoirs of a forgotten man ; Dead and breathing ; 20th century blues

Based at Shepherd University, in West Virginia, the Contemporary American Theater Festival is nationally and internationally recognized as a home for playwrights and the development and production of new plays. The Festival makes it a priority to celebrate and produce playwrights with strong, distinct voices, with a core value to tell diverse stories. This anthology of work provides plays that speak to one of the most compelling virtues of artists everywhere – freedom of speech. A necessary volume of women playwrights' work, ranging from a two-time Obie Award-winning author to emerging writers just beginning their careers, it represents a group of women who vary in age, race and sexual orientation and offers an invitation to artistic leaders, scholars and students to embrace gritty, thought-provoking new dramatic work. Edited by The Festival's Producing Directors Peggy McKowen and Ed Herendeen, this anthology features an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. Each of the five powerful plays is followed by an informative and discursive playwright interview conducted by Sharon J. Anderson that contextualizes and develops the works within the wider context of the annual festival. The plays include: Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess Memoirs of a Forgotten Man by D.W Gregory Dead and Breathing by Chisa Hutchinson 20th Century Blues by Susan Miller This Anthology Represents The Voices Of Women Who Range From Two-time Obie Award-winning Authors To Emerging Writers Just Beginning Their Careers. It's A Group Of Women Who Vary In Age, Race And Sexual Orientation, Representing A Selection Of Society That Is Inclusive. One Of The Festival's Core Values Is To Tell Diverse Stories. This Play Anthology Represents The Success Of That Value By Identifying Some Of The Most Current Work In The Theater Today - All Of Which Have Had Subsequent Productions Since Their Premiere At The Contemporary American Theater Festival. The Contemporary American Theater Festival, Based At Shepard University, West Virginia, Is Nationally And Internationally Recognized As A Home For Playwrights And The Development And Production Of New Plays. The Festival Makes It A Priority To Celebrate And Produce Playwrights With Diverse Backgrounds And Strong, Distinct Voices, Including Women. Since 1991 The Festival Has Produced Over 121 Plays; 50% Have Been Written By Women Across A Canon Of Work That Includes 47 World Premieres And 10 Commissions Representing 85 Playwrights. The Anthology Provides Plays That Speak To One Of The Most Compelling Virtues Of Artists Everywhere - Freedom Of Speech. By Gathering These Works Together It Becomes A Necessary Volume Of Women Playwright's Work And An Invitation To Artistic Leaders, Scholars And Students To Embrace Gritty, Thought-provoking New Dramatic Work. Along With Five Powerful Plays This Anthology Features An Introduction To The Works In Conversation By Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. Each Play Is Prefaced By An Artists Statement From The Author And Followed By An Informative And Discursive Author Interview Conducted By Sharon J. Anderson That Contextualizes And Develops The Plays Themselves. The Plays Include: Gidion's Knot By Johnna Adams The Niceties By Eleanor Burgess Dead And Breathing By Chisa Hutchinson 20th Century Blues By Susan Miller Memoirs Of A Forgotten Man By D.w Gregory "This anthology represents the voices of women who range from two-time Obie Award-winning authors to emerging writers just beginning their careers. It's a group of women who vary in age, race and sexual orientation, representing a selection of society that is inclusive. One of the Festival's core values is "to tell diverse stories". This play anthology represents the success of that value by identifying some of the most current work in the theater today - all of which have had subsequent productions since their premiere at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. The plays include: Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess Memoirs of a Forgotten Man by D.W Gregory Dead and Breathing by Chisa Hutchinson 20th Century Blues by Susan Miller"-- Provided by publisher Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Production History Gidion’s Knot Johnna Adams Grief Encounter: An Interview with Johnna Adams1 The Niceties Eleanor Burgess Interview with Playwright Eleanor Burgess Memoirs of a Forgotten Man D.W. Gregory Interview with Playwright D.W. Gregory Dead and Breathing Chisa Hutchinson Interview with Playwright Chisa Hutchinson 20th Century Blues Susan Miller Interview with Playwright Susan Miller