Organizational Meeting Held

A meeting to formally organize the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. was held on the afternoon of August 15, 2010 at Common Grounds Coffee House in Lexington, KY. At that meeting the KPW adopted Bylaws, a policy manual and the membership elected a Board of Directors and approved dues for 2010 - 2011 of $10. Members who pay their dues on or before September 30, 2010 will be recognized as KPW's "Founding Members."

Individuals elected to the first Board of Directors are: Shan Ayers, Berea (Secretary); James Brown, Lexington (Treasurer) and Bill McCann, Jr., Lexington (President). The Board members will serve until the Annual Meeting of Active Members in September 2011, or until their successors are elected or appointed.

Membership in the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. is open to any Kentuckian interested in the production of new works for the stage.

KPW is organized as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Membership and Board Meetings are open to the general public. Copies of the Bylaws as amended and approved at the Organizational meeting on August 15th are available upon request by sending a request to ky.playwright@yahoo.com

Candidates for the KPW Board of Directors

The following individuals-- listed alphabetically-- are candidates for election to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. at the meeting to be held on Sunday August 15, 2010 at Common Grounds Coffee House, begining at 2:00 pm.

Board members elected at this Sunday's meeting will be responisble for the financial and administrative management of the KPW until thier successors are elected or appointed. Term of office is one year. From among themselves the Board will elect a president, secretary and treasurer to serve until the Annual Meeting 0f Active Members in September 2011.

Candidates for the Board are:

Shan R. Ayers, a Professor of Theatre at Berea College, holds an MFA in Theatre Design. He has been on the faculty at Berea College since 1984. He joined 517Playwrights this past Spring. Shan currently teaches playwriting courses at Berea and has twice taught playwriting while abroad with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies. He has also served as the playwriting judge for the Appalachian Writers Association and as a judge for the Berea Arts Council's Ten Minute Play Festival during their Quilt Extravaganza. He is currently reformatting and editing a collection of short plays written by Kentucky women playwrights. Shan's play, DRAPED IN HONOR, was selected for this year's Kentucky Festival of New Plays.

James Brown joinied KPW in February 2010. He will be producer of this year's festival of new plays. In addition to KPW James is a playwright and actor who is also working on an MFA in creative writing. James' play HIGHER EDUCATION was produced this past winter at the Lexington Public Library Theatre. Most recently, ames was in BCTC's play A FEW GOOD MEN in which he played Major Markinson.

Bill McCann, Jr. is co-founder (with Greta Fields) of 517 Playwrights and a Founding Member of Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. In addition to doing much of the work necessary to beocome an IRS sanctioned non-profit Bill has served as Contest Coordinator for both of the 517 Playwrights 10-minute play contests. This year Bill is also serving as Executive Producer (chief fundraiser) for the Kentucky Festival of New Plays. Beginning on August 16th Bill is going to be starting work on a MA in Theatre at the University of Kentucky. Bill is a playwright and actor. Most recently Bill played Charlie Martin in ON GOLDEN POND with the Little Colonel Playhouse in Pewee Valley, KY. His play, THERE IS NO WRIGLEY FIELD, will be in the Kentucky Festival of New Plays.

Steve Taylor attended the very first meeting of 517 Playwrights in 2008 and has been an active and enthusiastic member since writing the initial draft of the organization's Bylaws and helping KPW become incorporated as a non-profit. For both play contests Steve has been a judge; this year he also submitted two scripts for consideration. In addition to his work with KPW Steve is a playwright, a lawyer and, with a partner, an owner of a small press that specializes in publishing poetry.

Additional nominees will be accepted from the floor the day of the election.

Festival Producer to be James Brown

The Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. 2010 Kentucky Festival of New Plays to be held November 18- 21st at The Bards Town Theatre, 1801 Bardstown Road, in Louisville, KY, will be produced by James Brown. Mr. Brown is a playwright and actor who lives in Lexington. As this year's festival producer Mr. Brown will be responsible for finding directors and actors for the plays that will be featured in the festival. Additionally, Mr. Brown will coordinate what will truly be a "state-wide" festival of plays, playwrights and theatrical efforts to make certain that the event can move plays that are performance-ready to go when they reach The Bards Town Theatre's stage.

James Brown will be seeking directors and actors in both Lexington and Louisville-- and elsewhere in Kentucky as well-- to help make this event happen. Directors are responsible for bringing the plays to Louisville ready to go; directors are to hold auditions, block and rehearse the play, find appropriate costumes, props and set pieces, and do any lighting and sound design required. Mr. Brown, his directors and actors have a huge task in front of them; but he and they are up to it.

As an actor James Brown most recently has appeared in Bluegrass Community and Technical College's (BCTC) A FEW GOOD MEN as Major Markinson; James is also in an upcoming play being directed by another KPW member Kathi E. B. Ellis. More about this production will appear on the blog when the details are available. As a playwright James had a performance of his play HIGHER EDUCATION at the downtown branch of the Lexington Public Library in February of 2010. Mr. Brown is a member of the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc.

The plays for this year's Festival have not yet been selected however it is never too soon for directors, actors and technicians to say they are interested in helping. If you would like to participate in this year's Festival-- whether as an actor, director or back stage please contact James Brown at ky.playwright@yahoo.com

A Better Picture

Another picture from the June 13th meeting of
517 Playwrights. Left to Right are: James Brown,
Bill McCann, Jr., Steve Taylor, and Kathi E. B.
Ellis. Bill Forsyth was the photographer. (An un-
known coffee drinker/blogger is in the background.) Please come join us for our next meeting on July 11th, 2:00 pm at Common
Grounds Coffee House.

Picture Us: 517 Playwrights

Members of 517 Playwrights gathered at Common Grounds Coffee House on Sunday June 13th included: (l to r) Bill McCann, Jr, Steve Taylor, Kathi E. B. Ellis, and James Brown. The photo was taken by yet another member, Bill Forsyth. Missing are Shan and Trish Ayres and Jim Betts. New members are always welcome. The next meeting will be Sunday July 11th at Common Grounds at 2:00 pm. Anyone who has an interest in encouraging the development of new works for the stage is welcome to join us.

A Few Good Men Stars a Playwright!

KPW's very own James Brown is featured as Major Markinson in Bluegrass Community and Technical College's production of A FEW GOOD MEN June 24-26th at 7:30 and June 27th at 2:00 pm. All perfomances are at the Downtown Arts Center in Lexington.

Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN is the story of military lawyers at a court-martial who uncover a high-level conspiracy in the course of defending their clients, United States Marines accused of murder. The play is co-directed by Tim X. Davis and Jared K. Sloan. Tickets are $12.00. All performances will be at the Downtown Arts Center, 141 E. Main Street, Lexington , KY 40507. For reservations call 859 225-0370.