33rd Humana Festival of New American Plays

From Actors Theatre of Louisville:

33rd HUMANA FESTIVAL OF NEW AMERICAN PLAYS
Announcing World Premieres for 2009 Festival

LOUISVILLE, KY — The 33rd annual Humana Festival of New American Plays presented by Actors Theatre of Louisville will feature a diverse array of work from 18 playwrights. "The Humana Festival is a celebration of the diversity and strength of new American theatre," Marc Masterson, the company's Artistic Director, announced today. "The artists in this year’s festival represent a cross-section of our culture and include new voices as well as some of the most established and respected writers and directors working in the theatre today."

The Festival, slated for March 1-April 11, 2009, is acclaimed worldwide as America's preeminent showcase of professional stage premieres. "Over the past 33 years, the Humana Festival of New American Plays has introduced more than 350 plays into the world," adds Jennifer Bielstein, the theatre's Managing Director. "In this time of economic challenges, the arts provide a vital way for us to examine our changing world. The Humana Festival continues to be a place for us to unite in our support of the American theatre. We look forward to hosting our colleagues and theatre lovers in Louisville in 2009."

This year’s festival — comprised of six full-length plays, a comic anthology showcasing the Actors Theatre Acting Apprentice Company, and three ten-minute plays to be announced — marks three decades of continuous support from its underwriter, The Humana Foundation. The philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., The Humana Foundation supports and nurtures charitable activities that promote healthy lives and healthy communities.

Full-length plays are Wild Blessings: A Celebration of Wendell Berry adapted for the stage by Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel from the writing of Wendell Berry (Port Royal, Kentucky), Absalom by Zoe Kazan (New York City), Under Construction by Charles L. Mee (New York City), Slasher by Allison Moore (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Ameriville by UNIVERSES (Gamal Abdel Chasten, Mildred Ruiz, William Ruiz aka Ninja and Steven Sapp from New York City), and The Hard Weather Boating Party by Naomi Wallace (native of Prospect, Kentucky, now residing in Skipton, North Yorkshire, U.K.).

The comic anthology, titled BRINK!, is written by Lydia Diamond (Cambridge, Massachusetts), Kristoffer Diaz (New York City), Greg Kotis (New York City), Deborah Zoe Laufer (Mt. Kisco, New York), Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (San Francisco, California) and Deborah Stein (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Descriptions of the Festival’s world premiere lineup, along with playwright biographies, are as follows:

FULL-LENGTH PLAYS
Wild Blessings: A Celebration of Wendell Berry
adapted for the stage by Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel from the writing of Wendell Berry
directed by Marc Masterson
part of the Brown-Forman Mainstage Series

An exploration of the earth, its citizens and the impact of each on the other. This world premiere brings the work of nationally acclaimed poet, novelist and ecological visionary Wendell Berry to the stage in a celebration of words, music and a life well lived.

Wendell Berry was born in Henry County, Kentucky. He has taught at Georgetown College, Stanford University, New York University and University of Kentucky, his alma mater. The author of over forty books of poetry, essays and fiction, Mr. Berry has received numerous fellowships and awards. He lives and works with his wife, Tanya Berry, on their farm in Port Royal, Kentucky.

***

Absalom
by Zoe Kazan
directed by Giovanna Sardelli

At a Berkshires country house, the children of an aging literary giant gather for a party celebrating the release of their patriarch’s tell-all autobiography. When an unexpected guest appears, this family—writers or editors all—must reckon with their stories and who owns them, and with the secrets, betrayals and deep bonds that define what they’ll do for love.

Zoe Kazan is an actor/writer currently residing in Brooklyn. As an actor, she has worked in film and both on and off-Broadway. This play, her first, was workshopped at Lincoln Center Theater LAB and had readings at The Vineyard Playhouse, The Ensemble Studio Theatre and Yale University.

***

Under Construction
by Charles L. Mee
directed by Anne Bogart
created and performed by SITI Company

A collage of America today, inspired by Norman Rockwell and contemporary installation artist Jason Rhoades, Mee’s play juxtaposes the fifties and the present, red states and blue, where we grew up and where we live now—a piece that is, like America, permanently under construction.

Charles L. Mee has written Big Love, True Love, First Love, bobrauschenbergamerica, Summertime and Wintertime, among other plays. All of his works are available online and are made possible by the support of Richard B. Fisher and Jeanne Donovan Fisher.

***

Slasher
by Allison Moore
directed by Josh Hecht

When she’s cast as the “last girl” in a low-budget slasher flick, Sheena thinks it’s the big break she’s been waiting for. But news of the movie unleashes her malingering mother’s thwarted feminist rage, and Mom is prepared to do anything to stop filming…even if it kills her.

Allison Moore is a displaced Texan living in Minneapolis, where she is a 2007-2009 Bush Artists Fellow and a 2008-2009 McKnight Fellow. Her plays include End Times (Kitchen Dog Theater), American Klepto (Illusion Theater), Hazard County (2005 Humana Festival), Urgent Fury (2003 Cherry Lane Mentor Project) and Eighteen (2001 O’Neill Playwrights’ Conference).

***

Ameriville
by UNIVERSES (Gamal Abdel Chasten, Mildred Ruiz, William Ruiz aka Ninja and Steven Sapp)
directed by Chay Yew

UNIVERSES puts the state of the Union under a microscope—race, poverty, politics, history and government—examining our country through the lens of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Ameriville combines an innovative mix of poetry, music, movement and drama to get to the heart of this American tragedy.

Gamal Abdel Chasten, a founding member of UNIVERSES, is a songwriter/poet/screenwriter. His work has toured more than 25 U.S. cities and five countries. Writing credits include The Last Word, God Took Away His Poem and the UNIVERSES shows The Ride and Slanguage. Directing credits include The Last Word, Full Circle’s Innerviews and Articulation. Mr. Chasten is working on the screen projects Red Moon, Joe Bloe and North Borough.

Mildred Ruiz, a founding member of UNIVERSES, is a playwright/actor/vocalist. Acting credits include The Denver Project (Curious Theatre), One Shot in Lotus Position (The War Anthology, Curious Theatre), Blue Suite, Rhythmicity (2003 Humana Festival), Slanguage (New York Theatre Workshop), The Ride and Alfred Jarry's UBU:Enchained (Teatre Polski in Poland).

William Ruiz (aka Ninja), a founding member of UNIVERSES, has been seen in Slanguage, Ti Jean Blues, Tree Tails, Salome, Latin Howel and Run Baby Run (Houston Astrodome, Texas). He was playwright/director of Waiting for Gordo (an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s play) and Ambassador of Music for the 2008 Jazz at Lincoln Center: Rhythm Road.

Steven Sapp is a founding member of UNIVERSES. Credits include The Denver Project (Curious Theatre), One Shot in Lotus Position (The War Anthology, Curious Theatre), Blue Suite, and the UNIVERSES shows Rhythmicity (2003 Humana Festival) and Slanguage (New York Theatre Workshop). As a director he has staged The Ride (playwright/actor/director), The Architecture of Loss (assistant director to Chay Yew), Will Powers’ The Seven (University of Iowa) and Alfred Jarry's UBU:Enchained (Teatre Polski in Poland).

***

The Hard Weather Boating Party
by Naomi Wallace
directed by Jo Bonney
commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville

Three men, almost strangers, meet in a hotel room to plan an ugly crime against a powerful adversary. Inspired by research on Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood, Wallace’s play explores the struggle between industrial greed and growth, and the health of the community.

Naomi Wallace's work has been produced in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. She received the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Kesselring Prize, Fellowship of Southern Writers Drama Award and an Obie Award. Ms. Wallace was also a recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Program Award.

***

COMIC ANTHOLOGY
BRINK!
by Lydia Diamond, Kristoffer Diaz, Greg Kotis, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb and Deborah Stein
directed by Sean Daniels
performed by the 2008-2009 Actors Theatre Acting Apprentice Company
commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville

From first date to marriage, birth to death, and hiring to firing, six fabulous and funny playwrights join forces with our twenty-two Acting Apprentices to explore rites of passage.

Lydia Diamond's plays include Stick Fly, Voyeurs de Venus, The Bluest Eye, The Gift Horse and Harriet Jacobs. Producing theatres include The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, McCarter Theatre Center, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Congo Square, MPAACT, True Colors Theatre Company and Company One. Ms. Diamond is on the faculty at Boston University and is a 2006-2007 Huntington Playwriting Fellow.

Kristoffer Diaz lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y. His plays include Welcome to Arroyo’s, Guernica, The Trophy Thieves: A High School Love Story and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (which just won the National Latino Playwriting Award). Other awards include a Van Lier Fellowship (New Dramatists) and Donmar Warehouse Playwright Residency.

Greg Kotis wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics for Urinetown (the Musical). New projects include The Truth About Santa (an apocalyptic Christmas tale), opening this December in New York, and the rock musical Yeast Nation: The Triumph of Life opening this coming spring at American Theater Company in Chicago.

Deborah Zoe Laufer's plays End Days, The Last Schwartz and The Gulf of Westchester premiered at Florida Stage and have received numerous productions around the country. Out of Sterno is currently receiving its world premiere at Portland Stage in Maine. Other plays include Fortune, Random Acts and Miniatures. Ms. Laufer is a Juilliard graduate.

Peter Sinn Nachtrieb is a San Francisco-based playwright whose works include boom, Hunter Gatherers and Colorado. Hunter Gatherers received both the ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award and the Will Glickman Prize (2007). In 2008, boom was produced at Ars Nova, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Seattle Repertory Theatre. His newest play, T.I.C., premieres with Encore Theatre Company in 2009.

Deborah Stein's work has been seen in New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Edinburgh. She was twice nominated for the Barrymore Award for her collaborations with Pig Iron Theatre Company, is a two-time Jerome Fellow at The Playwrights’ Center, and is a member of New Dramatists. Ms. Stein holds an M.F.A. from Brown University and her upcoming works include Wallflower (Stages Repertory Theatre) and God Save Gertrude (The Theatre @ Boston Court).

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
Programming for the 2009 Humana Festival has been expanded to include more social and enrichment opportunities for patrons, industry professionals and Louisville at large in celebration of American theatre and the community. Below is a listing of all Humana Festival events. Events are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Reservations or tickets may be required, contact the Actors Theatre box office in January 2009 for more details.

Parties and Events
# March 5 at 7:30 p.m. — 33rd Humana Festival of New American Plays Opening Party and Kick-off Celebration
# March 5 — Playwrights and Actors at Louisville area Restaurant
# March 12 — Playwrights and Actors at Louisville area Restaurant
# March 12 after 7:30 p.m. performance — Korbel Champagne Toast after Absalom performance
# March 14 — Community Arts Town Hall
# March 14 at 10:30 p.m. — The Late Seating at Actors: Louisville's Humana Festival Party
# March 19 — Playwrights and Actors at Louisville area Restaurant
# March 20 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. — College Days Welcome Reception and Meet the Creative Team
(with College Days tickets)
# March 20 from 9:45 to 10:30 p.m. — College Days Mixer Party (with College Days tickets)
# March 26 — Playwrights and Actors at Louisville area Restaurant
# March 26 after 7:30 p.m. performance — Korbel Champagne Toast after Wild Blessings performance
# March 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.— New Play Getaway Welcome Reception (with New Play Getaway tickets)
# March 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.— New Play Getaway Welcome Reception (with New Play Getaway tickets)
# March 28 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m —Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) reception
# March 28 from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. — Theatre Professionals Weekend Welcome Reception
(with Theatre Professionals tickets)
# April 2 from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. — Special Visitors Weekend Cocktail Parties around Louisville
(with Special Visitors tickets)
# April 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — New Play Getaway Welcome Reception (with New Play Getaway tickets)
# April 4 from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. — Harold and Mimi Steinberg American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) New Play Award
# April 4 from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. — 33rd Humana Festival of New American Plays Gala

Panels and Discussions
# March 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. — "Auditioning for a Living" with Associate Director Zan Sawyer-Dailey
(with College Days tickets)
# March 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m — "Journey to the Center of Theatre Management"
with Marketing, Development and General Management staff (with College Days tickets)
# March 21 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m — "Discovering the Ten-Minute Play Within" with the Literary staff
(with College Days tickets)
# March 21 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. —"Acting Up in the Classroom" with the Education staff (with College Days tickets)
# March 21 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. — "Meet the Creative Team " panel (with College Days tickets)
# March 21 from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. — "Now You See it, Now You Don't" set changeover/panel discussion with Production staff (with College Days tickets)
# March 22 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. - "Next Steps: Where do I go from Undergrad?" panel with recently graduated staff
(with College Days tickets)
# March 22 from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. — "The Secret Lives of Dramaturgs" panel with Literary staff (with College Days tickets)
# March 22 from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. — "Designers Take the Stage" with Design staff (with College Days tickets)
# March 22 from 11:30 to 12: 30 p.m.— "The Art of Collaboration"
with Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein
# March 28 from 2:30 to 4 p.m — Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) meeting (not public)
# March 29 at 12:00 p.m — Theatre Professionals Panel Discussion
# April 3 — Actors Theatre Acting Apprentice Casting Workshop (not public)
# April 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. — Special Visitors Weekend Panel Discussion (with Special Visitors tickets)
# April 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Actors Theatre Acting Apprentice Casting Workshop II (not public)

Tours
# March 21 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. — Production Studio tours
# March 21 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. — Costume Shop tours

TICKETS
The festival plays will be presented in rotating repertory in Actors Theatre’s 637-seat Pamela Brown Auditorium, 318-seat Bingham Theatre and 159-seat Victor Jory Theatre.

Two weekends featuring festival plays are offered for industry professionals. Theatre Professionals Weekend (March 27–29) is for artistic directors, literary managers and playwrights. Special Visitors Weekend (April 3-5) is for press, producers, directors, and casting agents from stage, film and television. Guests receive a full package of plays, hotel discounts, a festival gift and guide, airport transportation and complimentary shuttle and festival concierge service. Special panel discussions will be held both weekends (see listings above under "Festival Activities"). For Theatre Professionals and Special Visitors Weekend package information, call Festival Coordinator Katherine Bilby at (502) 584-1265 ext. 3003 or kbilby@ActorsTheatre.org.

New Play Getaway ticket packages (available for weekends in March and April) are offered for theatre lovers and include discounts to multiple plays with guaranteed seating, hotel discounts and a festival guide. The College Days Package (March 20-22) is an educational and professional development experience that includes a package of plays, seminars, post-show discussions and an insider's look behind the scenes. For New Play Getaway or College Days package information, call Group Sales Manager Sarah Peters at (502) 585-1210 or GroupSales@ActorsTheatre.org.

Humana Festival single ticket prices range from $24 to $55 and will be available November 25. For information or reservations call (502) 584-1205 or 1-800-4-ATL-TIX, or visit Actors Theatre's website at www.ActorsTheatre.org.