Dorset Theatre Festival

DTF'S MISSION IS TO CREATE BOLD, INNOVATIVE, AND AUTHENTIC THEATRE THAT ENGAGES A DIVERSE, MULTI-GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE REGION: ENLIGHTENING, ENTERTAINING, AND INSPIRING OUR AUDIENCE THROUGH THE CELEBRATION OF GREAT PLAYS.

IN NON-PANDEMIC TIMES, FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER, THE FESTIVAL MOUNTS FOUR MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS DRAWING FROM SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST TALENTED PLAYWRIGHTS, ACTORS AND DIRECTORS. *** UNDER THE RECENT LEADERSHIP OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DINA JANIS, THE FESTIVAL IS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF REGIONAL THEATRE. BOLD AND INNOVATIVE, DORSET THEATRE FESTIVAL IS GARNERING ACCOLADES FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT AND IS PROUD TO ENCOURAGE A NEW GENERATION OF PLAYWRIGHTS TO TEST THEIR VOICES HERE. WE DISCOVER NEW TALENT. WE LAUNCH PLAYS THAT GO ON TO NATIONAL ACCLAIM AND THE LIGHTS OF BROADWAY. WE MOUNT REGIONAL PREMIERS OF TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAYS TO BRING THE BEST OF OFF-BROADWAY TO VERMONT. *** SINCE 2010, OUR GIVING BACK PARTNERS HAVE HELPED EXPAND THE REACH OF OUR PRODUCTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES BY PROVIDING REDUCED-COST TICKETS TO SELECT GROUPS. THESE EFFORTS REACH A NEW GENERATION OF THEATRE AUDIENCES BY GIVING ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THE CHANCE TO SEE WORLD-CLASS THEATRE. OUR GIVING BACK PROGRAM PROVIDES PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE TICKETS TO THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EACH DAY (AND THEIR FAMILIES!), INCLUDING EMS WORKERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY, FARMERS, SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENT GRADUATES OF THE REFUSE TO USE PROGRAM, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS AND LIVING PROOF MENTORS AND MENTEES. *** DORSET THEATRE FESTIVAL'S NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WORKS WITH PLAYWRIGHTS FROM CONCEPTION TO PRODUCTION, PROVIDING AN INCUBATOR TO HELP NURTURE NEW VOICES TO SPEAK FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE, ENGAGING IDEAS THAT COME FROM AND RETURN TO OUR COMMUNITY. *** THE PIPELINE SERIES FEATURES NEW WORKS AND PROJECTS IN PROCESS THROUGH FOUR ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PRESENTATIONS EACH YEAR. TODAY'S TOP THEATRICAL TALENTS TRAVEL TO DORSET TO WORK ON BRAND NEW PLAYS OR TO TRY OUT BRAND NEW COLLABORATIONS. THE PIPELINE SERIES IS WHERE TODAY'S NEW WORKS BECOME TOMORROW'S CLASSICS; MANY OF THE PLAYS IN THE SERIES WILL BE FEATURED IN FUTURE DORSET THEATRE MAIN STAGE SEASONS. CONNECTING ARTISTS TO THE FESTIVAL THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY MEANS OUR AUDIENCE CAN SAY THEY WERE HERE WHEN HITS WERE BORN. *** THE WOMEN ARTISTS WRITING GROUP IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF MID-CAREER FEMALE ACTRESSES AND THEATRE ARTISTS WHO ARE EXPANDING THEIR ARTISTRY THROUGH WRITING. THE GROUP'S PURPOSE IS TO MEET THE WHOLE FEMALE THEATRE ARTISTS WHERE SHE IS AT AS A WRITER, PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AS SHE WORKS TO EITHER DISCOVER HER OWN VOICE OR WORKS TOWARDS COMPLETING A WRITING PROJECT. WRITING GIVES AGENCY TO FEMALE THEATRE ARTISTS, WHO ATTEST TO THE POWERFUL LIBERATING EFFECT ON ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTIC SELVES. *** THROUGH THE FESTIVAL'S YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM & COMPETITION, WE NURTURE THE YOUNGEST OF ASPIRING REGIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS WITH A SERIES OF PLAYWRITING WORKSHOPS IN REGIONAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE LED BY SOME OF THE TOP PLAYWRIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY AND CULMINATE IN A PERFORMANCE EACH FALL OF ALL THE WINNING PLAYS, WHICH ARE DEVELOPED BY STUDENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MENTORSHIP FROM BENNINGTON COLLEGE ADVANCED PLAYWRITING STUDENTS, THROUGH OUR JEAN E. MILLER YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS COMPETITION. *** THE SUMMER 2021 SEASON, ABBREVIATED DUE TO THE CONTINUING EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INCLUDED TWO "MAIN STAGE" PRODUCTIONS AND ONE "PIPELINE SERIES" PRODUCTION ON AN OUTDOOR STAGE IN MANCHESTER, VERMONT. THE THEATRE ALSO DEVELOPED TWO "STAGE FREE AUDIO DRAMAS" TO PROVIDE A NEW AVENUE FOR ITS CREATIVE EFFORTS. ***