As you may recall from earlier blog posts, The Ethel Woolson Lab brings together the top playwrights, directors, and actors in the Atlanta theatre community for meaningful collaboration in the creation of new, full-length plays for the stage. 

 We are immeasurably grateful to the Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation for this grant, and its recognition of the importance new works bring. This funding will enable WTP to provide arts education through new play and playwright development. The competitively selected playwrights participating in the Lab as well as the public audiences attending these staged readings will benefit.

As Hank Kimmel, our WTP Board President said, “The feedback from our Ethel Woolson Lab has always been resonantly positive, and, thanks to the Plummer Charitable Foundation, we have the chance to do a lot more through the program.”

This fabulous news comes on the heels of an eventful month for WTP, during which we produced a wildly-popular 24-Hr. Plays Festival (where plays were written, directed and produced within 24 hours); hosted a standing-room-only Playwrights Slam at the Decatur Arts Festival; and developed and presented a playwrights’ educational workshop with Celise Kalke of the Alliance Theatre. Whew!

Mark your calendar now, so you can have an opportunity to see how the Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation grant is supporting Working Title Playwrights as well as theatre in Atlanta. Plan to attend the Ethel Woolson Lab public staged readings coming for the remainder of the year:

July 27, 2010 – Topher Nixon Payne’s EVELYN IN PURGATORY
Sept 21, 2010 – Theroun Patterson’s AMERICAN DISMANTLE
Oct 26, 2010 – Glen Slattery’s VON WHO?
Dec 14, 2010 – Patricia Henritze and Shawna Tucker’s ANTONY+CLEOPATRA REDUX

All readings will take place at Academy Theatre—you know the one—at 7:30 p.m. with $10 tickets available at door. 

THANK YOU, Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation. You indeed help us make new plays happen! 

Then, join Working Title Playwrights and the whole Atlanta theater community at a gathering at Manuel’s Tavern to celebrate the life and memory of our dear friend, Allen Hagler. Share memories, tell irreverent stories (you KNOW he’d like that), and hoist a glass in a toast or two. The fun begins at 7:30pm. Spread the word!

Manuel’s Tavern is located at the corner of North and Highland Avenues in Atlanta.

HB1049 gives each county in Georgia the ability to invest a fraction of a penny sales tax to support cultural assets and economic development initiatives in their community, when and if they so choose. Click here for more details on how HB1049 works.

Take action now, and share this message with colleagues and friends who support art & culture. Email/Call members of the RULES Committee asking for SUPPORT of HB 1049 (See members & contact information listed below) The message should be brief. Add a personal note on why this is important to you.

Again, please keep your message brief — example:
Subject: Support HB1049
Message: With strong bi-partisan support, please help us get HB 1049 on an upcoming agenda for the Rules Committee.  Support HB1049 this year because it provides our county with an economic development tool kit that will not only stabilize the cultural industry but will support a range of economic development initiatives so desperately needed in our own community.

Members of the Rules Committee:
Jan Jones (R, Fulton)
Email -jan.jones@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5072

Bill Hembree (R, Douglas County)
Email -bill.hembree@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5141

Jerry Keen (R, Glynn County)
Email -jerry.keen@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5052

Edward Lindsey (R, Fulton)

Email -  edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5024

James Mills (R, Hall County)
Email – james.mills@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5099

Wendell Willard (R, Fulton County)
Email -wendell.willard@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5125

Terry Barnard (R, Evans, Liberty & Tattnaill Counties)
Email -terry.barnard@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5138

Tim Bearden (R, Carroll & Douglas Counties)
Email -tim.bearden@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0287

Tommy Benton (R, Barrow, Hall & Jackson Counties)
Email -tommy.benton@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0177

Mark Burkhalter (R, Fulton County)
Email – mark.burkhalter@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7146

David Casas (R, Gwinnett County)
Email – david.casas@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0254

Jill Chambers (R, DeKalb County)
Email – jill.chambers@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.3949

Mickey Channell (R, Greene, Oglethorpe, Putnam& Wilkes Counties)
Email -mickey.channell@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7856

Mike Coan (R, Gwinnett County – Lawrenceville)
Email -repcoan@charter.net

Phone – 404.656.6801

Jim Cole (R, Jasper, Jones, Lamar and Monroe Counties)
Email – jim@votecole.com

Phone – 404.651.7737

Sharon Cooper (R, Cobb County)
Email – sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5069

Katie Dempsey (R, Floyd)
Email -

katie.dempsey@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0213

Karla Drenner (D, DeKalb)
Email – dren16999@aol.com

Phone – 404.656.0202

Earl Ehrhart (R, Cobb County)
Email -earl@ehrhart.4emm.com

Phone – 404.463.2247

Gerald Greene (D, Calhoun, Clay, Early, Miller, Randolph & Seminole Counties)
Email – gerald.greene@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0314

Bob Hanner (D, Chattahoochee, Lee, Quitman, Stewart, Terrell & Webster Counties)
Email – bob.hanner@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7859

Carolyn Hugley (D, Muscogee County)
Email – carolyn.hugley@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5058

Mike Jacobs (R, DeKalb County)
Email – repjacobs@comcast.net

Phone – 404.656.0152

John Lunsford (R, Butts, Henry & Newton Counties)
Email - john.lunsford@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0213

Judy Manning (R, Cobb County)
Email – judy.manning@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7857

Fran Millar (R, DeKalb County)
Email – fran.millar@wellsfargo.com

Phone – 404.656.5064

Greg Morris (R, Emanuel, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen & Wheeler Counties)
Email – greg.morris@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.657.8441

Howard Mosby (D, DeKalb & Henry Counties)
Email – howard.mosby@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0287

Butch Parrish (R, Bulloch, Candler, Emanuel and Johnson Counties)
Email – larry.parrish@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.463.2247

DuBose Porter (D, Johnson & Laurens Counties)
Email – dubose.porter@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5058

Nikki Randall (D, Bibb County)
Email – nikki.randall@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0109

Tom Rice (R, Fulton & Gwinnett Counties)

Email – tom.rice@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5912

Jay Roberts (R, Ben Hill, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Telfair, Tift & Wheeler Counties)
Email – jay.roberts@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7153

Austin Scott (R, Tift & Turner Counties)
Email – austin.scott@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0188

Jay Shaw (D, Berrien, Clinch, Lanier & Lowndes Counties)
Email – jay.shaw@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7859

Donna Sheldon (R, Gwinnett County)
Email – donna.sheldon@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5025

Bob Smith (R, Clarke, Morgan Oconee & Oglethorpe Counties)
Email – bob.smith@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.0126

Lynn Smith (R, Coweta and Heard Counties)
Email – lynn.smith@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.7149

Calvin Smyre (D, Muscogee County)
Email – calvinsmyre@synovus.com

Phone – 404.656.0116

Ron Stephens (R, Chatham, Liberty  & Bryan Counties)
Email – ron.stephens@house.ga.gov

Phone – 404.656.5099

Len Walker  (R, Gwinnett & Walton Counties)
Email – lwalker107@gmail.com

Phone – 404.656.5146

You support a strong, vibrant arts community in Georgia, don’t you? Well, here’s a great chance to demonstrate this in a tangible and most important way. Thank you in advance!

A service will be held on Tuesday, March 23rd, 11am, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

A celebration of his life is being planned for another date, the details of which will be shared as they emerge.

His family invites all his friends and loved ones to attend the service(s) and asks that in lieu of flowers you send contributions to Hospice of Atlanta, The American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.

Thank you all for the support you demonstrated along Allen’s journey. Fair thee well, Allen.

For those of you who still want to contribute somehow, we ask that you please consider:

1. Sharing your good will with the Atlanta Community Food Bank (or whomever else you might feel inclined to help) with contributions of canned foods or money. As Olivia told me, “God knows that (a) folks have already been UNBELIEVABLY generous with us already and (b) that there are still tons of needy folks out there every day who also need tending to.”

2. Writing to Grady Hospital’s new CEO, Mr. Michael Young, and let him know how you appreciate the quality of care being given to (Patrick) Allen Hagler and encourage him to stay the course on reforming the state’s primary health care system. What you may not know, is that while we have (relatively few) complaints about the quality of care Allen is receiving – genuinely, the staff across the board has been positive, helpful and good at what they do – the fact is the system itself is so flawed that one mistake made by one person will cause a 2-hour appointment to last twelve hours or longer; that nurses are so understaffed some clinics wait for every patient to check in before they start triaging; and that some bathrooms and clinics (particularly in first floor clinics) are so filthy one questions whether a sick person will only get sicker the longer they stay in Grady … and considering how long they have to wait now, it does not seem conducive to healing.

I was told by someone working with Allen’s team of doctors, that Mr. Young is determined to implement positive change by having all Grady employees get their health care through Grady beginning in 2010. This has been met with opposition from many working within the system, but the belief is (I’m told) that once Grady employees start having the same waiting periods, in the same conditions as the public dependent on them, the system will begin functioning more proactively.

Michael Young, CEO
Grady Health System
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30303

One last note from Olivia…

“I am humbled beyond words at the generosity that the theater community continues to shower down upon Allen/us. (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…….) “Thank You” is so inadequate at this point but still, please convey my sincerest gratitude to all of these folks who continue to reach out through you.”

So, THANK YOU!

Allen Hagler and Jo Howarth as G.W. and Latrelle, SORDID LIVES

And it just doesn’t stop! Yes, Sir, we’ll have some more…

Del Shores – internationally known playwright (“Sordid Lives,” “Southern Baptist Sissies”), actor, & director of film & TV – has offered to auction a DVD of “Sordid Lives: The Series” signed by himself and the entire cast (including Leslie “Brother Boy” Jordan) in support of Allen and our efforts to love on him. He’s doing this on his Sordid Lives Facebook site – which has over 15,000 fans!

Please note that Del Lives in LA and has never met Allen. In fact, when he made the offer he didn’t even realize that Allen played “GW” in Process Theatre’s production of “Sordid Lives” last year. He reached out simply because Allen is an actor in need. To quote Topher Payne, “You gotta love sweet Southern boys.”

To get more details and bid, go to the designated Sordid Lives Facebook page now. Thanks, Del!

If you weren’t able to make it, then you missed the opportunity to enjoy a wealth of food, drink and generosity, as friends and family of Allen Hagler gathered together to hear new plays by Curt Shannon and David Fisher in concert readings directed by Betty Hart. In addition, the dynamic duo of Johnny Drago and Emma Crandall wowed the crowd with back-handed compliments that some of us are still wincing from today (but in a happy, codependent way).Food was provided by Feast, Saba, Savage and The James Joyce Pub; Colleen Hilker, Jo Howarth and Perry Patrick.

Hooch was provided by Paris, Decatur and Bob Smith and Daphne Mintz, who swears she is no longer unhappy with her husband (today).

Space was provided by Academy Theatre.

Invaluable volunteer help was provided by Kim Brundidge, George Devours, Connie Melton, Robert Drake, Jim Walsh, Lainey Welsch and Jared Foust.

A cornucopia of donated gedunk made this silent auction and raffle a delightful mix of original art(s) and first edition and autographed copies, hand crafted jewelry, sweaters, knitted caps (Allen will soon be wearing a raspberry cap made by Josie Burgin-Lawson, thanks!), tickets from just about every theater in town, switch plates, thigh masters and more! If you came without a sense of humor, surely you left with one intact.

We haven’t stopped working for Allen’s cost of living. There were a number of items left out of the auction that will become available to purchase/bid on via an online auction. Stay tuned for more details.

We’ll keep collecting contributions via pledgie.com.

If I’ve missed anyone in my acknowledgments, I humbly apologize. Feel free to give yourselves a shout out in response to this missive. I just wanted to get something out to everyone, letting you know I HEART HEART HEART YOU ALL. Your love for Allen and your generous spirits are making his life that much simpler. Overwhelming, maybe, as he had no idea, but simpler.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Starting at—like, right now—6pm tonight at The Academy, you can graze on tasty treats, purchase something to drink and/or a fabulous compliment from playwright Johnny Drago, buy a chance to win a great raffle item, make a bid on a gift for you or someone you love and hear two new short plays from WTP playwrights Curt Shannon and Dave Fisher. Admission is $10 for those who can afford (every cent goes to Allen) or—for those who can’t—two cans for the Atlanta Food Bank.

Here’s a mere glimpse of the array of goods and services you can win in tonight’s silent auction and raffle:

* Gorgeous Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe
* Tickets from over 15 different Atlanta theaters
* Gift cards from: Feast in Decatur, Natural Body, Barnes & Noble, City Dog Market, The Mercantile, and more
* Unique opportunity to sit in on a casting session with Jody Feldman at The Alliance
* Wide array of personal training sessions – physical, yoga, audition and public speaking, freedom from artistic blocks, Photoshop for Dummies, and more
* Delicious weekend bunch prepared at your house
* Yummy Cookies and Pies delivered to your home
* Exotic floral arrangement
* Amazing handmade jewelry
* Gorgeous art and craftwork
AND LOTS, LOTS MORE!

Think of it as holiday shopping! Remember, “Hagler for the Holidays”…

Tickets are a mere $10 at the door, and we’ll have food donated by area restaurants and beer, wine and sodas for a cheap $2 each.

A silent auction will begin at 6pm, and the readings will begin at 7:30 p.m.  ALL proceeds – 100% of the door, bar and silent auction – will go toward helping our dear friend Allen Hagler with his cost of living during this most arduous time in his life.

WHERE:  Academy Theatre, 119 Center St., Avondale Estates, GA

WHEN:  Tuesday, November 17, 2009

DOORS OPEN: 6 p.m. for silent auction. New play readings begin 7:30 p.m. Silent auction will wrap up immediately following the talkback at the end of the second play.

COST:  $10 at the door, but if you don’t have the $10 DON’T LET THAT STOP YOU – PLEASE COME ANYWAY!

And if you’ve been moved by Allen’s story and want to help, you can make a contribution to his care. Click the pledgie.com ‘DONATE’ button below, or at the top right of column of this blog.

In reading Allen’s story, know that he is not alone.  I urge you to make your voice heard in the health care debate.  You can write to your representatives in Congress via congress.org. Simply type in your zip code in the GetInvolved search box provided, click ‘contact’ on your senator or representative and write a short message.  Please do your part to make sure that the stories of the millions of those working as Allen did who don’t have the luxury of employer provided plans, as well as the millions of those who have lost their jobs and can’t afford COBRA, are placed center stage and heard.

The bad news: when we went to Grady Radiation the next day, the oncologists there were really terrific, but refused to begin his treatments when they learned his Grady Card hadn’t yet been renegotiated.  On the one hand, it is benevolent that the physicians tried to help him not go into insurmountable debt.  But I ask how benevolent is the system that requires such a choice of both doctor and patient?

That’s when we filed for unemployment and were thrilled to tears when it came through in time for us to return to Grady that following Monday, October 26^th, and successfully renegotiated his co-pays to that of a truly financially poor person. He will begin chemotherapy/radiation treatments this coming week, and will need all the help we can give him.