2012 PULL QUOTES

22ND SEASON: JULY 6 ? 29, 2012 (QUOTES!)

ABOUT CATF

"Traditionally, the summer is considered a time for `light' theater. [CATF] has disproved that theory. Over the past 22 years, it has built an audience that craves serious, cutting-edge drama. This summer's tough, thought-provoking plays satisfy the craving. The Festival is dedicated to fresh, new work. Its hallmark is hard-hitting drama. This summer's strong crop of plays hit the mark." ? J. Wynn Rousuck, Maryland Morning, WYPR

"Satisfying theatrical workout. Smart engrossing repertoire." ? Celia Wren, The Washington Post, July 10, 2012

"The Contemporary American Theater Festival is about pushing the boundaries of theater, experimenting, staging new plays by emerging as well as well-known and respected playwrights But most of all, CATF is about creating dialogue and looking modern issues square in the eyes, rather than producing art that serves as an escape from reality." ? Lauren LaRocca, Frederick News Post, June 29, 2012

"This is not light stuff this 2012 CATF season." ? Frederick News Post

"[CATF] is offering one of its most intellectually challenging seasons ever. All are well-written thoughtful, highly contemporary in both subject matter and approach." ? Terry Ponick, The Washington Times

"Best kept secret." ? Broadway World

"The reason I am devoted to CATF is because of its commitment to the playwright language in the service of courage is rare to find on American stages." ? Grace Cavalieri

"CATF always works with new material, but when it deals with material as fresh as this it is at its best. Thanks, guys." ? Tim Treanor, DC Theatre Scene.

THE PLAYS

"Eloquent studies of people caught between the competing demands of reason, morality and family." ? The Washington Post (on The Exceptionals and Gidion's Knot)

"Harrowing the play ponders high-stakes issues Boldy and skillfully, Adams embeds these and other questions in a narrative that is as elegant as it is chilling. Theatergoers may want to avoid seeing the show right before a meal." ? The Washington Post (on Gidion's Knot)

"Funny-but-serious world premiere." ? The Washington Post (on Barcelona)

"It's a fascinating historical episode, and on (David) Barber's suitably ominous set director Herendeen creates a fabulous cinematic opening." ? The Washington Post (on Captors)

"The production is tightly put together and both actors are impressive" ? Washingtonian (on In A Forest, Dark and Deep)

"Heart-stopping new show Superbly directed by Herendeen, the show has pathos and suspense in bucketloads." ? Washingtonian (on Gidion's Knot)

"Alternately funny and gripping show." ? Washingtonian (on Barcelona)

"[LaBute's] taut play is a fierce sibling drama." ? WYPR

"An entertaining play that uses the issue of genetic engineering to examine parental extremes." ? WYPR (on The Exceptionals)

"Most impressive!" ? WYPR (on Barcelona)

"Gidion's Knot has the power to reduce theater-goers to tears." ? WYPR

"Bess Wohl takes the audience on a 90-minute ride of lust, human discovery, world view hate and the reasons behind it. It is a play loaded with laughter, sadness, realization, and suspense." ? Mike Spain, DC Metro Theater Arts (on Barcelona)

"Director Tracy Brigden draws out the best from this talented cast and allows Bob Clyman's futuristic script to shine." ? DC Metro Theater Arts

"Wiener crafted this script carefully and Ed Herendeen directs it as precisely It is thought-provoking theater, as good theater should be." ? Frederick News Post (on Captors)

"Joey Parsons (and) Robin Walsh thoroughly engage us for 90 gut-wrenching, excruciating minutes. Intense, emotional, slam-you-in-the-mouth minutes, which despite that descriptor, or because of it, is among the best acted/directed/and especially written shows you may ever see." ? Frederick News Post

"Frank tense..moving." ? The Washington Times (on Gidion's Knot)

"Tight, 85-minute play cleverly staged by Herendeen laser sharp concentration of the performers the characters engage in a high stakes duet that resonates long after the school room lights are turned off." ? Broadway World

"The subject matter, sharp dialogue, and subtleties of plot should appeal to other directors, producers looking for thoughtprovoking theater that entertains." ? Broadway World (on The Exceptionals)

"Intelligent writing is never boring." ? Grace Cavalieri (on The Exceptionals)

"This is writing!" ? Grace Cavalieri (on Gidion's Knot)

"Stunning new play is as sad as life itself, and as funny and startling as well." ? DC Theatre Scene (on Gidion's Knot)

"Adams indicts a great many things in this play, but never really indulges in the kind of preachiness that can quickly bring a drama down. The play's intellectual content is high." ? The Washington Times (on Gidion's Knot)

"I suppose all true theater fans live for the dramatic experience that leaves them numb. As do the many critics who dream of writing about one. So, I count myself twice blessed to tell you that Johnna Adams' Gidion's Knot is such a play. Riveting, raw, honest, disturbing, searing and, yes, funny at times words, I think, ultimately fail to get at the true meaning, because (it) has to be understood emotionally Exquisitely paced production For me, the performance is complete. I'm thinking about the play today, and I'll be thinking about it tomorrow and for a long time to come. That's the essence of great live theater and why we keep going." ? John F. Glass, DramaUrge. (on Gidion's Knot--"life transformative")

"Production is first rate, with intelligent, spot-on acting and directing to match Wohl's perceptiveness and wit." ? DC Theatre Scene (on Barcelona)

"Funny, intriguing, thought-provoking little play, superbly acted and directed, with a lot to say about human nature, family, sex, American values, and religion..(Wohl) is a playwright to watch." ? View in the Dark (on Barcelona)

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"Sweet and funny, brilliant and incisive play now getting a wise and committed production under director Tracy Brigden's hand" ? DC Theatre Scene (on The Exceptionals)

"Judging from the audience buzz after the conclusion of the performance we attended, it's absolutely certain that the playwright, the actors, and director Tracy Brigden succeeded in getting people to discuss and argue about The Exceptionals' subject matter long into the night We personally found (it) provocative and interesting." ? The Washington Times.

"Bob Clyman's dystoptic take on fertility clinics of the future gets a bright staging briskly paced and well choreographed production captures the humor, contradiction, and mechanistic ethos of (the) script .Ms. Brigden and her accomplished cast keep the audience attentive and laughing, when they aren't uncomfortably reflecting on the grim turn of events that unfold along the way a nice-looking show, with a provocative script good performances, and a lot of laughs." ? John F. Glass, DramaUrge (on The Exceptionals)

"Dark, compelling Neil LaBute is not interested in cheap pleasure. He's counting on his collaborators to turn risks into assets. And they do." ? Shenandoah Press (on In A Forest, Dark and Deep)

THE PERFORMANCES

"Superbly tense Joey Parsons impressively volcanic Robin Walsh." ? The Washington Post (on Gidion's Knot)

"Jason Manuel Olazabal sounds the right wry and brooding notes." ? The Washington Post (on Barcelona)

"The production has a major asset in (Joey) Collins." ? The Washington Post (on In A Forest, Dark and Deep)

"Deirdre Madigan, radiating sinister poise." ? The Washington Post, (on The Exceptionals)

"The interactions between (Anne Marie Nest) and (Rebecca Harris) can also be very funny." ? The Washington Post, (on The Exceptionals)

"(Anne Marie) Nest performs the metamorphosis fearlessly." ? Washingtonian (on Barcelona)

"Robin Walsh delivers a powerful portrayal." ? WYPR

"The cast was stellar." ? DC Metro Theater Arts (on Barcelona)

"Joey Parsons and Robin Walsh deliver emotional and powerful performances." ? DC Metro Theater Arts

"Corryn is played with strong conviction and emotional clarity by Robin Walsh." ? Broadway World

"Joey Collins--a tour de force." ? Grace Cavalieri (on Captors)

"Gwen (is) convincingly portrayed by Rebecca Harris." ? The Washington Times (on The Exceptionals)

"(Joey) Parsons and (Robin) Walsh are two of the best actors you will ever see on stage together, regardless of the quality of the play to see them in this wonderful play is like having caviar on top of your lobster Toward the end there is a moment of sadness so explosively comic as to realign the play's universe; this is catharsis, in its truest and rawest form. Lesser actors could not pull it off; it takes great talent to give this scene the punch that Adams' writing deserves. Director Ed Herendeen deserves our applause, and thanks, for getting these two great actors and leading them to these superb performances." ? DC Theatre Scene (on Gidion's Knot)

"Both Joey Parsons and Robin Walsh are superb." ? The Washington Times (on Gidion's Knot)

"(Jason Manuel) Olazabal in particular is a revelation. (Anne Marie Nest) is decibel- and pitch-perfect" ? DC Theatre Scene

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"The excellent cast wrings every bit of insight and wisdom out of this terrific script. (Deirdre) Madigan carries the narrative weight of the play She comes through beautifully Harris and Nest are similarly fabulous. We know Gwen's emotional state through (Harris's) breath, and not merely through her dialogue (Nest) gives us a subtle, multi-faceted, layered Allie I found (Joseph Tisa) believable and sympathetic--we see a man in love not only with his family but with his life as well. May it happen to all of us." ? DC Theatre Scene (on The Exceptionals)

"Repertory theater reuses its actors as well as its spaces knowing that actor Joey Collins, who just got done convincing me he was the Israeli Nazi hunter (and now becomes) Bobby, whose frenetic energy pushes Forest relentlessly forward inspires nothing short of awe." ? Shenandoah Press

"Incredibly versatile Anne Marie Nest" ? The Washington Times

"Leading the charge is Ms. Madigan her performance alone is worth the price of admission." ? DramaUrge (on The Exceptionals)

THE PRODUCTION DESIGNS

"Luciana Stecconi designed the aptly antiseptic chrome-and-white fabric set." ? The Washington Post (on The Exceptionals)

"Suitably ominous" ? The Washington Post (on David M. Barber's set design for Captors)

"A fifth-grade classroom faithfully reproduced by set designer Margaret McKowen, from the miniature chairs the audience members sit in to the posters of presidents past and present on the walls. It's so real you can practically smell the dry-erase markers." ? Washingtonian (on Gidion's Knot)

"Set Designer Luciana Stecconi did a tremendous job." ? DC Metro Theatre Arts (on Barcelona)

"(Jamie) Whoolery finds the right balance in his aural punctuation to draw our attention in and then startle it." ? DramaUrge (on Gidion's Knot)

"The set is a gleaming but sterile environment that ironically contrasts with the messy lives depicted in the play." ? Shenandoah Press (on Luciana Stecconi's design for The Exceptionals)

"Luciana Stecconi's elegant and tight split set is in harmony with the flow of the play. The bonsai touch works marvelously Lighting designer John Ambrosone amps the performance contrasts while costumer Trevor Bowen is faithful to the characters' unique psychology, down to the accessories." ? Drama Urge (on The Exceptionals)

"Margaret McKowen is responsible for this fantastic attention to detail." ? DC Theatre Scene (on Gidion's Knot)

"David M. Barber did a brilliant job" ? DC Metro Theatre Arts (on the In A Forest, Dark and Deep set design)

"Stage lighting, by D.M. Wood, was symbolic throughout the play, as it flickered off and on reflecting moments of truth, as well as times when the characters are in the dark, so to speak The space, by set designer David M. Barber, evokes a warm, cozy feeling, but turns ugly and cold as the play moves forward." ? Frederick News Post (on In A Forest, Dark and Deep)

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TESTIMONIALS

"The experience of being at the Contemporary American Theater Festival is utterly invaluable. Ed Herendeen's willingness to take leaps of faith on new work is so brave and so rare in the American theater today." ? Barcelona playwright Bess Wohl, as interviewed by Marie Gilbert, Hagerstown Herald-Mail, June 30, 2012

"It's exciting, it's fun, it's interesting" ? Barbara Kirkpatrick (Washington, DC patron), Martinsburg Journal, July 8, 2012

"I love the charm of the town and the surroundings, but really the (plays') quality." ? Carole Calhoun (Washington, DC patron), Martinsburg Journal

"This is wonderful. We really have never been to anything like this before and we've just enjoyed it." ? Linda Mondell (Baltimore, MD first-time patron), Martinsburg Journal, July 8, 2012

"Hefty new plays with brilliant writing about important subjects. And you can see all this amidst the beauty of Shepherdstown and get a great meal in one of its many fine restaurants to boot I think the audiences must get as good a challenge and have as much, if not more, fun as the artists. And rightly so." ? Actor Philip Goodwin, Theatre Washington (online), July 13, 2012.

"Really high quality, amazing performances, creative, original, you know, not cookie-cutter stuff It's fresh and original." ? Kathy McAdams (Silver Spring, MD patron), Martinsburg Journal, July 30, 2012

"I thought it was high quality as usual. We always enjoy it. Some of the plays are a little dark, but we enjoy that, too." ? Bruce Goldstein (Silver Spring, MD patron), Martinsburg Journal

"Amazing. The quality of the writing, the acting, everything has been really exciting. We are going to come back next year for sure." ? Steve Lann (Kensington, MD first-time patron), Martinsburg Journal

"The theater is new, it's fresh and it's always well done." ? Jeuli Bartenstein (Arlington, VA patron), Martinsburg Journal

"It's a fun place to drive out to on the weekend in the summer time, get with friends and see some good theater." ? Mike Carleton (Arlington, VA patron), Martinsburg Journal

"CATF is really good for our business." ? Michael Raubertas (owner, Four Seasons Books), Shepherdstown Chronicle

From Facebook

"Barcelona ~ WOW!"

"Best season ever. Joel and Al."

"Gidion's Knot is one of the most powerfully written and acted works I have ever seen. Last night's standing ovation was for the actors, and for the writer as well. My husband and I were both moved to tears. We recommend it highly."

"CATF rocks. We are here now--16th year at the festival"

"My wife, friends, and I saw CAPTORS Saturday. It was a wonderful performance."

"I loved all five plays this year. Wow intense and hard-hitting is an understatement. As usual CATF is on the cutting edge."

"We two former teachers were blown away by Gidion's Knot. Brilliant, brave and brutal material, direction and acting."

"Saw `Gidion's Knot' and `In A Forest ' on Sunday. Both were such engaging, powerful and thought provoking plays! Thank you for bringing such wonderful creativity to American audiences."

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