Vermont Magazine Fall 2019 | Page 70

“I have aided in all manner of emerging theatre: full musicals, one-man shows, deconstruction of classics, brand-spanking new plays, a new piece about Emmett Till by Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, and a crossover from prose to playwriting by Pulitzer Prize Winner William Kenne- dy. Most recently I have hosted 3 three-week residences of the breakout theatre collective, BEDLAM. During those extended visits, we helped to develop Sense & Sensibility, The Seagull, Pygmailion, Saint Joan, and New York Stories (a play by the librettist, Stephen Sater). Other works were for THE BARROW GROUP and one-man shows by the great Marty Moran.” - Bruce Bouchard, Paramount Theatre “From internationally-recognized professionals embarking on new projects to local youth productions, the Highland Center provides a state-of- the-art production stage and maker-space for creativity to grow and thrive. In addition to our 250-seat theater, we have a 100-seat performance and cinema space, art gallery, cafe, a terrace and inviting outdoor spaces. This summer’s production of Miranda (a sequel to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, written by Bernard Pomerance)...premiered at the Highland Center for the Arts prior to its New York City debut.” - Vicky Tebbets, Highland Center for The Arts in Greensboro “One of the most important elements when developing new work is the audience; they complete the process by reflecting back to the writer, helping a playwright or composer to hear what they have written. We have a wonderful community of theatergoers here in Vermont. They are curious about new stories and interested in engaging with new plays and musicals. That is a boon for our authors, who come away from their workshop time in Vermont with valuable information about how a new project effects the audience and what they might want to work on next. And, of course, there is the unbelievable retreat-like quality of Vermont, where artists can escape the pressures of their everyday lives and recharge their creative processes without the usual interruptions.” 72 magazine 68 VERMONT VERMONT Magazine FALL 2019 - Susanna Gellert, Executive Artistic Director Weston Playhouse Theatre Company