KCACTF Hosts 4th MFA Playwrights' Workshop 7/25-8/2, 8 Playwrights Invited

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), in association with the National New Play Network and the National Center for New Plays at Stanford University, will host the fourth annual MFA Playwrights' Workshop, July 25 to August 2, 2009. Eight playwrights have been invited, selected from 57 Master of Fine Art graduate students nominated by the heads of playwriting programs across the nation.

The eight playwrights will be in residence at the Kennedy Center to develop their work in collaboration with a director and dramaturg from key American theaters, and actors from Washington, D.C. In addition to providing resources to the playwrights to allow them to develop their plays, a key goal of the workshop is to introduce and welcome the playwrights to the community of national theaters dedicated to new voices. The MFA Playwrights' Workshop provides a rich networking opportunity as established and emerging artists live and work together, enhancing the transition from graduate training to the field.

The Invited Playwrights and Plays are:

Jennifer Barclay, University of California-San Diego with Red Helen.

Frances Cowhig, University of Texas at Austin with Lidless.

Erica Lipez, New York University with Bottled Up.

Marco Ramirez, The Juilliard School with Broadsword.

Riti Sachdeva, University of New Mexico with Parts of Parts and Stitches.

Susan Stanton, Yale School of Drama with The Underneath.

Amy Tofte, California Institute of the Arts with White Devil Loving Mother.

Martin Zimmerman, University of Texas at Austin with White Tie Ball.

The Directors are:

Freddie Ashley, Artistic Director, Actor's Express, Atlanta

Sean Daniels, Associate Artistic Director, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky

Bryan Fonseca, Artistic Director, Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis

Aimee Hayes, Artistic Director, Southern Rep, New Orleans

Cynthia Levin, Artistic Director, Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City

Ricky J. Martinez, Artistic Director, New Theatre, Miami

John Pietrowski, Artistic Director, Playwrights' Theatre of New Jersey

Lou Tyrell, Artistic Director, Florida Stage

The Dramaturgs are:

John Baker, Literary Manager, Naked Angels Theatre Company, New York

Aaron Carter, Literary Manager, Victory Gardens Theatre Company, Chicago

Margot Melcon, Literary Manager, Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley, California

Madeleine Oldham, Literary Manager/Dramaturg, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California

Toni Press-Coffman, Literary Manager, Borderlands Theatre Company, Tucson, Arizona

Amy Wegener, Literary Manager, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky

Miriam Weisfeld, Dramaturg, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

Gavin Witt, Dramaturg, Centerstage, Baltimore, Maryland

Three program advisors also attend the week of workshops, providing additional assistance and support. They are David Goldman, National Center for New Plays at Stanford University, Jason Loewith, Executive Director of The National New Play Network, and KCACTF Artistic Director Gregg Henry

The NNPN is an alliance of leading nonprofit theaters that champion the development, production and continued life of new plays. Since its founding in 1998, NNPN has commissioned over a dozen playwrights, provided seven MFA graduates with paid residencies, and supported nearly 50 productions nationwide through its Continued Life of New Plays Fund, which creates "rolling world premieres" of new plays.

For over 40 years, the KCACTF has been dedicated to encouraging, recognizing and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced in college and university theater programs. In addition to the MFA Playwrights' Workshop, programs are run for student theater practitioners across all disciplines. Eight regional festivals are held in January and February at colleges and universities across the country followed by a National Festival at the Kennedy Center in April. Here students are considered for scholarships and awards and participate in master classes with some of the best artists in their field. Since its establishment in 1969, by Kennedy Center Founding Chairman Roger L. Stevens, the KCACTF has reached more than 17.5 million theatergoers, students and teachers nationwide.

For over 35 years, the Kennedy Center Education Department has provided quality arts experiences through performances, residencies, workshops, conferences, career development programs, symposia, and on-line and print resources. In the past year, the Center's education programs have directly impacted more than 11 million people across the nation. The mission of the Education Department is to foster understanding of and participation in the performing arts through exemplary programs and performances for diverse populations of all ages that represent the unique cultural life and heritage of the United States. For more information, visit the Center's web site at kennedy-center.org/education.

Theater at the Kennedy Center is presented with the generous support of Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is sponsored by The U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Kennedy Center Corporate Fund; and The National Committee for the Performing Arts.
For more information about KCACTF, please visit kcactf.org