2018 Season Of The Contemporary American Theater Festival Offers New Plays to "Feed Your Head"

Dedicated to producing and developing new, American theater, the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University proudly announces its 2018 Season: The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter and world premieres of: Berta, Berta by Angelica Chéri; Memoirs of a Forgotten Man by D. W. Gregory; Thirst by C. A. Johnson; A Late Morning (in America) with Ronald Reagan by Michael Weller; and The House on the Hill by Amy E. Witting.

CATF continues its reputation for producing thought-provoking plays with its 2018 Season, running July 6-29, with performances Tuesday through Sunday. In addition to over 100 performances, CATF will also host more than 30 talktheater events throughout the month of July, offering patrons the opportunity to explore and discuss issues raised in the season's plays.

Founder and Producing Director, Ed Herendeen read over 120 scripts before selecting the six-play season. "This year, our passion for provocative and inspiring theater continues. We are inviting our audiences to feed their head with these intriguing and dynamic plays."

Of the six playwrights, Michael Weller is the only one who has previously had his work produced at the Festival. Weller is still in the process of writing his play, A Late Morning (in America) with Ronald Reagan, which is being created in conjunction with actor Tim Matheson (West Wing, Jumanji, Animal House) and director Sam Weisman.

"The subject of Ronald Reagan seems a natural so near the city where he played his greatest starring role," Weller shares. Tim Matheson, [who will be playing Ronald Reagan in CATF's one man show,] and I are both fascinated by the charming, articulate, focused communicator, and inspiring leader. We hope to create an original and unexpected portrait that shows us a man in many ways like our next door neighbor, and in many other ways a complete paradox."

Weller continues to describe his previous experience at the Festival. "CATF's audience is that rarest of rare things, a genuine cross section of theatre-goers from around the country. I've become so spoiled by the idea that such a theater festival happens every summer: a festival with brave, innovative work. I can expect to return to New York, with its high-pressure theater scene, feeling rejuvenated and happy to have chosen a career in writing plays."

Packages for the Contemporary American Theater Festival will be available March 26th; single tickets will be available April 16th. For tickets, please call the box office at 800-999-CATF (2283) or 304-876-347. Box office hours are currently Monday through Thursday, from 12 to 5pm.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University was founded in 1991 by Ed Herendeen. In the past twenty seven-years, the Festival has produced 121 new plays including 47 world premieres and 10 commissions. The 2018 Festival will take place July 6-29. The Contemporary American Theater Festival is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, West Virginia Humanities Council, and West Virginia Division of Culture & Tourism. For more information, visit CATF online at catf.org or email info@catf.org.

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