Ed Herendeen, Producing Director of the Contemporary American Theater Festival, announced via email yesterday that this year’s event has been canceled:
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On behalf of our staff: Peggy, Trent, Gaby, Nicole, Vicki, and Ebonee – I send my very best wishes to you all, and hope that you and those closest to you are safe and healthy. I want to personally share with you my decision to reschedule our 2020 Festival. We are living in uncertain times. I am so very worried about the health and safety of my own family, children, and grandchildren during this horrific pandemic. I am worried about the health of our staff, our board, our six amazing playwrights, and all of our theater makers. I am worried for the safety of my beloved Shepherdstown community as we confront this health crisis together. And I am deeply concerned about each of you: our loyal, dedicated friends, and supporters of the Contemporary American Theater Festival. In order to provide a safe and healthy environment for our Festival community I have decided to reschedule the 2020 Theater Festival and our 30th Anniversary. We will produce this entire repertory of six new American plays and our talktheater events in July of 2021. I have personally guaranteed our playwrights: Terence Anthony, Kevin Artigue, Chisa Hutchinson, Jacqueline Goldfinger, Victor Lesniewski, and Caridad Svich that we will honor our commitment and produce their plays in 2021. I also want you to know that we are honoring our contracts with our full time staff. I am proud to continue to work with such a caring and dedicated group of creatives during this difficult time. And I assure all of you that we are committed to introducing you to a stunning 30th Anniversary Festival in 2021. Now more than ever we must continue to support all the artists and arts organization that consistently fill our lives with truth and beauty, wonder and joy. We need to embrace and nurture our artists. We need them to help us make sense of our turbulent world. We need our artists and they need us. Thank you for believing in the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Stay in touch. And be safe! Sincerely, |
