A Quarterly Publication of the New England Theater NETCNews Conference, Inc. volume 15 number 3 summer 2006 The Future is Now! NETC Gassner Competition inside Schwartz and Gleason Among 2006 a Global Event this issue New Haven Convention Highlights April 15th wasn’t just income tax day—it was also the by Tim Fitzgerald, deadline for mailing submissions for NETC’s John 2006 Convention Advisor/ Awards Chairperson Gassner Memorial Playwrighting Award. The award Area News was established in 1967 in memory of John Gassner, page 2 Mark your calendars now for the 2006 New England critic, editor and teacher. More than 300 scripts were Theatre Conference annual convention. The dates are submitted—about a five-fold increase from previous November 16–19, and the place is Omni New Haven years—following an extensive promotional campaign. Opportunities Hotel in the heart of one of the nation’s most exciting page 5 theatre cities—and just an hour from the Big Apple itself! This promises to be a true extravanganza, with We read tragedies, melodramas, verse Ovations workshops and inteviews by some of the leading per- dramas, biographies, farces—everything. sonalities of current American theatre, working today Some have that particular sort of detail that page 6 to create the theatre of tomorrow. The Future is Now! shows that they’re autobiographical, and Upcoming Events Our Major Award recipient this others are utterly fantastic. year will be none other than page 8 the Wicked man himself, Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz is “This year’s submissions really show that the Gassner an award winning composer Award has become one of the major playwrighting and lyricist, known for his work awards,” said the Gassner Committee Chairman, on Broadway in Wicked, Pippin, Steve Capra. “It isn’t a regional contest—more than The Magic Show, The Baker’s 80% of the scripts came from outside New England. Wife and Godspell, as well as his And we received scripts from seven foreign countries.” collaboration with composer Alan Menken on the The Gassner committee considers full-length non- scores for the Disney animated features The Hunchback musical plays. Unlike most awards in its class, it puts Of Notre Dam and Pocahontas, (winning two Academy no other restraints on either the playwright or on the Awards and a Grammy for the latter). He also provid- script—other than that the script must not have been ed songs for DreamWorks’ first animated feature, The produced or published. The competition is open to all Prince Of Egypt, featuring the Academy Award winning playwrights everywhere, and to plays on any subject or song “When You Believe.” In addition to attending the theme, in any form. awards banquet on Saturday evening, Schwartz will be taking part in an interview session Saturday afternoon “That’s what makes it so exciting to read these scripts,” conducted by BroadwayWorld.com’s TJ Fitzgerald, after said Mr. Capra. “We read tragedies, melodramas, verse which the floor will be open up to questions from the dramas, biographies, farces—everything. Some have audience. that particular sort of detail that shows that they’re autobiographical, and others are utterly fantastic. Joining Schwartz are some Some of my favorites have been ghost stories.” amazing Special Award recipi- ents. Tony Award-winning Past winners of the award have gone on to be pub- actress Joanna Gleason. lished—and to be produced across the country and Gleason also won the Drama internationally. Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for her The latest winner, from 2004, was The Dogs of Pripyat, portrayal of the Baker’s Wife by Leah Napolin. The play is a fable about the effects of continues on page 3 continues on page 14 2 NETC News MatchBook.org to Ignite New England Arts Scene Area Free,Ground-Breaking Performing Arts Marketplace Goes Live New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) and the retrieved using the site’s search functionality. News Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) announce the Additionally, a suite of tools enables artists to post and launch of MatchBook.org, a comprehensive online cul- maintain online portfolios featuring video and audio tural marketplace designed to bring together New streaming technology, which is typically cost-prohibi- England’s performing artists and the people and organ- tive for self-employed artists. izations wishing to present them. This free website uses some of today’s most innovative technology to stimu- Presenters, who can be defined as any person or venue late New England’s burgeoning arts economy by serv- that hires an artist, include an enormous range of pos- ing the region’s performing artists and the people and sibilities from a 2,000-seat theater to a Parent-Teacher places that hire them. Organization. For this group, the site acts as a manage- ment resource for discovering appropriate artists, view- ing work samples, scheduling acts, tracking bookings This is a truly revolutionary tool that demon- and creating and negotiating contracts. strates both the tremendous wealth of performing arts in New England, and the role For both performers and presenters, MatchBook.org offers the latest news on grants and professional develop- that technology can play in helping these artists ment opportunities, including workshops, conferences connect with audiences and enrich our lives. and artist showcases happening throughout New England. Facility managers can also use the site to mar- ket their venues for rental for private events or other uses. Historically, NEFA and the state arts agencies in New England have helped broker opportunities between Initiated and administered by the New England artists and presenting organizations by using traditional Foundation for the Arts and the Massachusetts communication methods such as conferences and pub- Cultural Council, in partnership with the state arts lished artist rosters. With the launch of MatchBook.org, agencies of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, technology promises to revolutionize these methods by Rhode Island and Vermont, construction on the site breaking geographic and communication barriers, ideal- began in the summer of 2004. At launch, ly leading to increased visibility for artists and more effi- MatchBook.org features profiles on over 800 artists from cient business transactions within the arts community. NEFA’s New England States Touring roster, as well as a growing volume of performance spaces. The site is open MatchBook.org functions as a comprehensive, user- to any New England-based performing artist or presen- friendly directory of New England’s performance ter, all of whom are encouraged to register at no cost spaces, artists and organizations, containing tools and and create their online profile in order to expand the resources that help match artists with the theatres, online marketplace throughout the region. To register event planners, community centers, libraries, schools, and create a free profile, artists and presenters should galleries, clubs and coffeehouses that hire or book them visit www.matchbook.org. to perform. New England Foundation for the Arts creatively sup- “We are thrilled to officially introduce MatchBook.org ports the movement of people, ideas and resources in to New England’s performing arts community,” the arts within New England and beyond, makes vital remarked Rebecca Blunk, Executive Director of NEFA. connections between artists and audiences, and builds “This is a truly revolutionary tool that demonstrates the strength, knowledge and leadership of the region’s both the tremendous wealth of performing arts in New creative sector. NEFA is a 501c3 that operates with England, and the role that technology can play in help- funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, ing these artists connect with audiences and enrich our the New England state arts agencies, and from corpora- lives. Over time, MatchBook.org will expand opportu- tions, foundations and individuals. nities for countless communities.” The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excel- For performing artists, whose broad category includes lence, access, education and diversity in the arts, music, dance, theater and the spoken word, the site humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to offers free access to high-quality online marketing. improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts resi- Artists can create a profile, including background infor- dents and contribute to the economic vitality of our mation, photos, fees and references that can be communities. volume 15, number 3 3 The Future is Now! continued from page 1 McKay’s documentary, Fay Wray: A Life is due out in late 2006. In a special seminar session, McKay will be talking in the original production of Into The Woods. She also about his Broadway: The Golden Age film, as well giving Cover Story received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle sneak clips of the upcoming sequel, Broadway: The Next Award nominations for her role as Muriel in the Generation. Broadway musical hit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Her other Broadway credits include I Love My Wife (for Massachusetts native Jamie McGonnigal will receive a which she received the Theatre World Award), The Regional Award. McGonnigal, is best known for his Real Thing, Joe Egg (Tony nomination), Social Security work as a producer and director with his World AIDS (Drama Desk Award), The Normal Heart, It’s Only A Day Concert productions of Pippin (starring Rosie Play (Drama Desk Award); Eleemosynary and A Hell Of O’Donnell and Ben Vereen), Children of Eden and The A Town. She met her husband, actor Chris Sarandon, Secret Garden (Named in Top Ten Theatre Events of while appearing in Nick and Nora. 2005 by Playbill.com and TheaterMania.com). He has also produced and/or directed benefit concerts for We also are very excited to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (Standing have Broadway actor Gregory Ovations I, II & III), The Matthew Shepard Jbara, who originated the role Foundation (Embrace! 2004, 2005, 2006), God’s Love of Andre in the current We Deliver (Miracle Concerts), the Joey DiPaolo Broadway musical hit, Dirty AIDS Foundation (FLOPZ, FLOPZ 2, CUTZ), Rotten Scoundrels, alongside fel- Parkinsons Resource Organization (Broadway PROs) low honoree Joanna Gleason.