Playwrights Theatre Receives State Arts Award

Playwrights Theatre has been designated a Major Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for demonstrating a solid history of artistic excellence, substantial programming, leadership, and broad public service, receiving superior review through the Council’s peer panel grant review process. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno along with State Arts Council leadership held an awards reception on January 25, 2011 in Trenton to recognize the importance of the work of Playwrights Theatre.

“Major Arts Organization designation from the Arts Council is a very prestigious award,” said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director. “We are very grateful that the panel has recognized Playwrights in this manner, and are proud to be amongst the other New Jersey theatres chosen.”

This award, the State Arts Council’s most prestigious mark of distinction, is designated based on grant application review and conferred upon Playwrights Theatre for the duration of the grant period for which funding is received.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the NJ Department of State. It receives funding in direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 1966, its volunteer members and professional staff have worked to improve the quality of life in New Jersey by helping the arts to flourish. For more information about the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, visit http://www.njartscouncil.org/.

Pictured (left to right): Elizabeth Mattson, Council Member, NJ State Council on the Arts; Sharon Burton Turner, Chair, NJ State Council on the Arts; Rebecca Fields, Board Member, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; John Pietrowski, Artistic Director, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; Kim Guadagno, NJ Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of State; Germaine B. Trabert, Council Member, NJ State Council on the Arts; Steve Runk, Executive Director, NJ State Council on the Arts.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre brings DISTRACTED to Madison

Dreamcatcher presents the New Jersey premiere of Distracted, a smart and serious off-Broadway hit that Time Out New York proclaimed "my favorite comedy of the year!" Due to repairs at the Baird, Distracted will play at Playwrights Theatre.

In Distracted, does nine-year-old Jesse have ADHD or is he just being a kid? Is it even a problem at all? As his parents navigate the complicated world of medical and alternative treatments, they confront the possibility that it's not just Jesse who's distracted--it's our entire culture.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre says, "Distracted is the kind of play we do best: serious intimate drama that's filled with witty funny dialog and emotional issues that touch the heart." Get your tickets now!

All performances are at Playwrights Theatre in Madison, NJ.

Event: DISTRACTED Info

Dates: March 4-20, 2011

Times: Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm

Location: Playwrights Theatre, 33 Green Village Road

Price: $30 adults, $25 seniors & students w/ ID
Save $3 in advance Buy tickets now no fees!

Discounts: Students pay just $15 on Saturday March 5 only
Seniors pay just $15 on Sunday March 6 only

Groups save 10% or more. The bigger your group, the more you save! Group sales

Don't miss the informative Q&A with Distracted artistic director Laura Ekstrand on Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre's website!

2008 Playwright in Residence has World Premiere

Playwrights Theatre 's 2008 playwright-in-residence, Samuel Brett Williams, will have the world premiere of his play "The Woodpecker" at Mutineer Theatre Company in Los Angeles on March 5, 2011. The show will run through April 3, 2011.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 7:00pm. Ticket prices are $20.00 for all performances. Tickets are available online at www.mutineertheatre.com or by calling 1-323-871-5826.

Samuel Brett Williams hails from Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he was raised by strict Southern Baptist parents. His plays use Arkansas as a background to explore issues of global importance-religion, racism, war, and family. Williams received his B.A. in English and Political Science from Ouachita Baptist University and his M.F.A. in Playwriting from Rutgers University, where he studied with Lee Blessing. His plays have been produced at Cherry Lane Theatre, Ars Nova, Project Y Theatre Company, Mile Square Theatre, XIII Pocket, Readers Theatre Repertory, District of Columbia Arts Center, and New Orleans Theatre Experiment. Brett received commissions from the National New Play Network and Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, where he was the resident playwright in 2008, and is a past winner of the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award.

Yasmine Rana's The Fallen Published

Congratulations to Yasmine Rana for having "Anais' Monologe" from THE FALLEN published in BLACKBIRD'S latest issue!

http://www.blackbird.vcu.edu/v9n2/

THE FALLEN was presented as part of the FORUM Reading Series at Playwrights Theatre on December 2, 2010.

Last Chance to Enter

Today at 11:59pm is the last day for all Elementary School and Junior High School entries into the 28th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest.

For complete details and to submit your script, visit the New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest and Festival blog.

Play Continues On

The Fallen by Yasmine Beverly Rana was first presented as a staged reading in the FORUM reading series at Playwrights Theatre on December 2, 2010.

The play continues its journey with a staged reading at Write Act Repertory in Los Angeles on February 25th and 26th with a Q and A on the 25th. Kenneth Cosby of Write Act and USC will be directing.

It was also selected by New Stage Performing Arts Center in Massachusetts for a staged reading and Q and A to coincide with the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers and the International Women's Day Conference at Bard College.

Summer Program for Kids & Teens - BIG DISCOUNTS for Early Enrollment

Playwrights Theatre’s Creative Arts Academy summer camp for kids and summer theatre program for teens will begin on June 20, 2011 and run all summer long in two-week sessions. For more information and to register, visit www.ptnj.org or call 973-514-1787 X21.

The Full-Day Theatre Academy (Monday through Friday, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm) is designed for grades 4-6 and 7-9. Students work with a team of artists and alternate daily through classes in acting, musical performance, playwriting and play production. Students explore each skill and learn how to weave the various elements together into an engaging, original performance piece presented to family and friends. Full-Day sessions are available for Session B (July 5-July 15) and Session C (July 18-July 29). Each session concludes with a presentation for family and friends.

This summer, Playwrights Theatre is offering an Early Enrollment rate plan for the Full Day Camp classes in the Summer Theatre Camp. These special rates can be secured by enrolling students in a Full Day Camp session prior to the dates listed below. No other discounts apply.

Tuition $525 • When Enrolled BEFORE January 31 • With a deposit of $262.50
Tuition $550 • When Enrolled BEFORE February 28 • With a deposit of $275.00
Tuition $575 • When Enrolled BEFORE March 31 • With a deposit of $287.50

After March 31, Full Day Camp registration will return to the regular fee of $595.00 (a deposit of $297.50 is required at the time of enrollment). A deposit in the amount of ½ of the tuition due is required at time of registration. The remaining balance must be paid no later than May 30.

All Full Day Camp enrollments, whether made during the reduced enrollment period, or after, include a $100.00 non-refundable enrollment fee that will not be refunded unless Playwrights Theatre initiates a class cancellation of the session in which the student is enrolled.

To secure this reduced rate, enrollments must be made by phone ONLY. Please contact the Education Office at 973-514-1787, ext. 21.

The Half-Day Summer Camp for kids and the Half-Day Summer Theatre Program for teens is an opportunity for students at all levels of experience to discover new facets of creativity while developing their theatrical skills. Tuition is $275 per two-week session, $250 for returning students with the exception of the Creative Play class, which is $225.

Each session concludes with a presentation for family and friends and is designed to have a slightly different emphasis so students can take the same class several times and still have a high-quality learning experience.

Session A (June 20 - July 1) – Registration deadline June 13
Morning classes from 9:30am-12:30pm include: Playmakers (grades 1-3), Acting Lab (grades 4-6), Acting Workshop (grades 7-9), Musical Performance (grades 4-5/6-8). The Creative Play class (ages 4 & 5) will meet from 9:30-11:30am.

Session B (July 5 - July 15) – Registration deadline June 27
Morning classes from 9:30am-12:30pm include: Playmakers (grades 1-3), Acting Lab (grades 4-6), Musical Performance (grades 4-5/6-8). The Creative Play class (ages 4 & 5) will meet from 9:30-11:30am. Full-Day Theatre Academy (grades 4-6 and 7-9) is from 9:30am-4:30pm.

Session C (July 18 – July 29) – Registration deadline July 11
Morning classes from 9:30am-12:30pm include: Playmakers (grades 1-3), Acting Lab (grades 4-6), Musical Performance (grades 4-5/6-8). The Creative Play class (ages 4 & 5) will meet from 9:30-11:30am. Full-Day Theatre Academy (grades 4-6 and 7-9) is from 9:30am-4:30pm.

Session D (August 1 – August 12) – Registration deadline July 25
Morning classes from 9:30am-12:30pm include: Playmakers (grades 1-3), Acting Lab (grades 4-6), Acting Workshop (grades 7-9), Musical Performance (grades 4-5/6-8). The Creative Play class (ages 4 & 5) will meet from 9:30-11:30am.

Session E (August 15 – August 26) – Registration deadline August 8
Morning classes from 9:30am-12:30pm include: Playmakers (grades 1-3), Acting Lab (grades 4-6), Acting Workshop (grades 7-9), Musical Performance (grades 4-5/6-8). The Creative Play class (ages 4 & 5) will meet from 9:30-11:30am.

SPECIAL SESSION - PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP (grades 6-12)
(June 22 - August 24) • Registration deadline: June 15
Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:30pm • $275

Playwrights Theatre Creative Arts Academy teaches classes year-round for children, teens and adults. The Creative Arts Academy is committed to nurturing independent thinking, artistic and personal development through the literary and performing arts. At the Creative Arts Academy, students are part of a community where self-expression and creativity thrive and every person is a valuable member of the whole. Playwrights Theatre’s Creative Arts Academy strives for artistic excellence while emphasizing the creative process, both of which are vital to the personal, social and academic evolution of students of all ages. Creative Arts Academy instructors are highly experienced professional artists who are perceptive and dynamic in the classroom. Creative Arts Academy teachers are committed to developing their own skills, as well as those of their students, and to refining their artistry through continued practice and education.

For more information including class descriptions and to register, visit www.ptnj.org or call (973) 514-1787.