Some advanced notice of a cool event coming up in September. There’s a conference/symposium called PRELUDE ’05: At the Forefront of Contemporary NYC Theatre from Wednesday, September 28 –Saturday October 1, 2005.

PRELUDE ’05 is a mini-festival and symposium celebrating and discussing the very best of new and unconventional theatre being created by NYC- based theatre artists and companies. The weekend will feature 19 short performances, and readings—with a focus on works in progress for the upcoming 2005–06 season and beyond. PRELUDE ’05 gives audiences the rare chance to see the work of NYC’s most exciting theatre in one place and to experience the developmental process of New York’s best contemporary theatre artists. Curated by Sarah Benson and Frank Hentschker.

All events: Martin E. Segal Theatre and Baisley Powell Elebash Recital Hall, The Graduate Center, CUNY 365 Fifth Avenue (at 34th Street), NYC FREE. First come, first served. $20 guarantees one seat per person seats for 4 performances plus PRELUDE ’05 Saturday Night Club Concert.

More info below and to come.

OPENING PANEL DISCUSSION, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Panel discussion: NYC Theatre Within a Global Context, leading artistic directors, companies, and members of the theatre community pose and discuss questions of how contemporary American work is perceived outside the U.S., and what gets produced.

PRELUDE ’05 Participating Artists/Companies (in alphabetical order)

JOANNA P. ADLER
BIG ART GROUP
BIG DANCE THEATER
THE BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
SHEILA CALLAGHAN
AYODELE CASEL
ERIN COURTNEY
LISA D’AMOUR
DIVISION 13 PRODUCTIONS
ELEVATOR REPAIR SERVICE
JOHN JESURUN
TASJA KEETMAN
MADELYN KENT
YOUNG JEAN LEE
PAVOL LISKA
RICHARD MAXWELL / NYC PLAYERS
NTUSA
PS122
RADIOHOLE
JAY SCHEIB
ANNE WASHBURN
MAC WELLMAN