The New Harmony Project 2010 Final Reading Schedule
Thursday, June 3
8pm - Room A - BRILLIANCE by Anthony McCarten
Friday, June 4
2pm - Room A - COLLAPSE by Allison Moore
8pm - Room A - WOOF by Y York
Saturday, June 5
2pm - Room A - ELISABETH AND THE WATER-TROLL
Book & Lyrics by Walt Wangerin, Jr. and Music by Randy Courts
5:15pm - “A Sample of 2010” - A benefit for The New Harmony Project. If you are
interested in attending please contact the Joan David
The New Harmony Project Announces
Writers for 2010 Conference
The New Harmony Project (NHP) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that four scripts have been selected for full-development at NHP's national conference. The conference will be from May 24 through June 6, 2010, in New Harmony, Indiana.
Of the 220 scripts submitted, four have been selected for full-development; they are Brilliance by Anthony McCarten; Collapse by Allison Moore; Elisabeth an operetta, book and lyrics by founding board member Walt Wangerin, Jr. and music by Randy Courts; and Woof by Y York. Each of these scripts will receive a two-week developmental workshop with professional director, dramaturg, and a company of actors. (A synopsis of the full-development works follows.)
In addition, screenwriters Edward Scharf and Danny Strong will attend the conference as writers-in-residence. NHP's Artistic Director Paul Walsh said, “We are thrilled to have such an exciting line-up of scripts by such a distinguished group of writers. We are particularly pleased to welcome Walt Wangerin back to the conference. As one of our founders, Walt has been a guiding force in everything we do. This promises to be an exciting conference for everyone involved in The Project.”
NHP was founded in 1986 by a group of theater, film, and television professionals in Indianapolis to encourage writers whose work "celebrates hope and the resiliency of the human spirit." Scripts are chosen for development at the conference through an open submissions process that invites writers from across the country to submit projects for consideration that fit the spirit and the mission, scripts that “name, celebrate, honor and praise order in the midst of chaos; life in the midst of death; atonement in the midst of separating hatred; liberty in the midst of oppression; sacrifice in the midst of vanity; and spirit in the midst of corruption.”
This year’s selection panel included theatre professionals Brendon Fox, Adrien-Alice Hansel, Kent Nicholson, Owiso Odera, Carrie Preston, Sarah Slight, and Ken Weitzman.
On the Script Selection Committee were playwright and board members Mat Smart as Chair, actor Karl Kenzler, screenwriter Jim Leonard, screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, novelist Margaret McMullan, screenwriter Mike Rich, composer Matty Selman, founding board members actor Gary Bayer and John David Lutz of the University of Evansville, and The New Harmony Project Artistic Director, Paul Walsh.
NHP is a not-for-profit organization dependent upon gifts and grants from many individuals, foundations, corporations and this year from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indiana Arts Commission—a state agency—and the National Endowment for the Arts—a federal agency. The largest gift from the Evansville region is $10,000 from Old National Bank to underwrite the final evening celebration, held this year on Saturday, June 5. This event includes readings from each of the full-development plays, cocktails, and dinner with the writers, actors, board, staff, and full company. Reservations are required, and there is a charge. For more information contact Joan David at jfdavid@newharmonyproject.org.
The New Harmony Project
Synopsis of 2010 full-development scripts
Brilliance by Anthony McCarten
The story of how two brilliant men joined forces to change the world. But while the banker, J.P. Morgan, left the relationship unscathed, remaining the uncontested “Napoleon of Wall Street” with his vision of a corporate world set in motion, Edison plunged from being the “bringer of light” to “Wall Street's executioner.” From Edison’s breakthrough with the light-bulb to the dark invention of the electric chair, this gripping and shockingly true tale gives us the background for the 21st century.
Collapse by Allison Moore
Hannah desperately tries to hold on to the façade of her perfect life with David—even as they struggle with infertility, David mysteriously calls in sick to work, and Hannah is on the verge of being laid off. When Hannah’s sister, Susan, arrives from the economic front lines in L.A., she brings a renegade attitude and an illicit package that sends David and Hannah on a 12-hour odyssey to the heart of their deepest fears.
Elisabeth, Book by Walt Wangerin Jr., Music by Randy Courts
An ancient path goes north from the village of Dorf. It cuts through the woods and fields, drops down into a valley, and then winds across the valley floor until it ends at a well. In this old, old well, older than memory, there lives a terrible water-troll. He is so terrible that the villagers call the well Despair. Nobody comes to that well—except a small girl, Elisabeth, weeping for the loss of her mother. When the troll, who understands loneliness, decides to rescue Elisabeth from her grief, he sets in motion all the forces of fear, rage, and ignorance waiting to erupt in the village.
Woof by Y York
Last night at the stadium, there was a party to celebrate the start of training camp for the current Super Bowl champions. It was a wild and raucous event. At some point, LJ Freeman, the beloved quarterback, left the party and went to the field where he was caught by the security camera committing an unforgivable crime. The security tapes get to the TV news and internet, and by morning, all of America has seen, and LJ is summarily banned from football. As LJ and his spin doctor plan his return, the ramifications of his act seep deep into the fabric of his family and life plan.
Please click HERE to download a copy of the press release
Productions of Shows workshopped at NHP 2006-2009/10:
Ludmilla Bollow: Choke Cherry Corners (2006)* Staged reading, The Actors Group, Sunset Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, April 2006
David Brandes: The Quarrel (1997)* DR2 Theatre, NYC, September 2008
David Caudle: Likeness (2006)* World Premiere, The New Theatre, Burstein Family Stage, Coral Gables FL, October 2007; NYC Premier, Voices from the Writers’ Forum Manhattan Theatre Source, NYC, January 2009
Russell Davis: Mahida’s Extra Key to Heaven (2005)* Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, April 2006, Epic Theatre Ensemble at Signature Theatre’s Peter Norton Space, NYC September-October 2009
Suzanne Bradbeer: Full Bloom (1999)* World Premiere at Barrington Stage Company, MA, New York Premiere at Vital Theatre Company, NYC March-April 2006
Jim Leonard: Battle Hymn (1993)*, Circle X Theatre, Los Angles, CA, January– March 2009; Anatomy of Gray (2004)* published by Samuel French, multiple productions around the country including University of Evansville Theatre (IN) and Kennedy Center Theatre, Washington D.C., April 2006
Laura Harrington: The Book of Hours (2005)* World Premiere by Wellesley Summer Theatre, (MA), Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Wellesley College, January 2006
Arlene Hutton: See Rock City (2004)* and Gulf View Drive (2006)* The Berkshires, Chester, MA, April-May 2006; New York Premiere at 78th St. Theatre Lab, NYC, April 2007; Theatre Conspiracy, Foulds Theatre, Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers, FL, and Echo Theatre in Dallas, TX produced the entire Nibroc Trilogy in February 2009.
John Pielmeier and Matty Selman: Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup (2004)* Indiana University Bloomington, IN launched a New Musical Development Workshop with a fully staged production of Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup, August 2008. It was also selected for the Next Wave New Musicals Festival in Montreal 2009
Theresa Rebeck: Mauritius (2005)* Broadway debut, Manhattan Theatre Club, Biltmore Theatre NYC, September-November 2007; The Understudy (2007)* World premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival, MA, July 2008 and New York Premiere at Roundabout Theatre Co., NYC, October 2009
Tammy Ryan: Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods (2009)* National Network of New Plays 2009 National Showcase of Plays, Atlanta, GA, December 2009.
Lynn Rosen: Puddy Tat, (2007)* Workshopped, New George Theatre, NYC, February 2009
Mat Smart: The 13th of Paris (2005, 2006)* World premiered at City Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, January-February 2008; Horizon Theatre, Atlanta, GA, February-March 2009, Public Theatre of Maine, March 2009, Warehouse Theatre, Greenville, SC, May 2010 and Seattle Public Theatre, WA, May-June 2010.
James Still The Velvet Rut (2006)* Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY, December 2006; Illusion Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, April 2009; Iron Kisses (2004)* Illusion Theatre, Minneapolis, MN April 2007
Y York …and LA is Burning (2007)* Main Street Theatre, Huston, TX, January 2008; it also won the Smith Prize awarded by the National New Play Network.
*Dates in parentheses indicates year the play was workshopped at The New Harmony Project.
Current Events:
Theresa Rebeck’s The Understudy was developed at The Project in 2007
The New York City premiere of Theresa Rebeck's show business comedy, The Understudy, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Justin Kirk and Tony Award winner Julie White, opens Nov. 5 after previews from Oct. 9 at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre...
Continue the article on Playbill.com
Keith Bunin’s Vera Laughed was developed at The Project in 2009
Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's 25th anniversary season continues July 22 with the first performance of the mainstage production of Keith Bunin's Vera Laughed...
Continue the article on Playbill.com
Russell Davis’ Mahida’s Extra Key to Heaven was developed at The Project in 2005
Epic Theatre Ensemble will present the world premiere of Russell Davis' Mahida's Extra Key to Heaven Sept. 16-Oct. 11 at Signature Theatre's Peter Norton Space...
Continue the article on Playbill.com
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NHP Newsletters:
Articles:
"New Harmony Project Welcomes Audiences"
Evansville Courier & Press, May 2008
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/may/25/new-harmony-project-welcomes-audiences/
"For This Woman of Words, 'Writer' is Among the Most Difficult Ones"
Evansville Courier & Press, March 2008
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/mar/25/strong-storyteller-for-this-woman-of-words-is/
"Playwrights Swap Garret for the Outdoors, Muse in Tow"
The New York Times, July 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/theater/22orel.html?ref=theater
"Writers Play in New Harmony"
Evansville Courier & Press, May 2007
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/31/writers-play-in-new-harmony/
"Utopia: The New Harmony Project strives to serve writers who celebrate the human spirit"
Interviews published in Evansville Living Magazine May/June 2006 with Irene O'Garden, Diane Brewer and Jessica Dickey
