New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest Sandra Nordgren (917) 363-2369
Merit Theater and Film Group, Inc. (MTF) is a Theater and Film organization that helps theatrical and film artists develop their craft and present their work through developmental activities, readings, and/or full productions. Since 2003, we have been providing workshops, readings, productions, internships, and script evaluations to theatre artists in all areas of theatre. MTF is in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status. We foster and cultivate personal growth for script writers and other theatre and film artists, which we believe is essential for writing and producing complex, knowledgeable scripts. Such works benefit the local and global community by enhancing self-realization, supporting peace and social justice, and building respect for cultural expression and identity. Bios of Final Judges & List of Script Evalutors are Below Please join our Group on Facebook: New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest |
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * SANDRA NORDGREN Biography (Final Judge) Sandra Nordgren is the Founder and Artistic Director of Merit Theater and Film Group (MTF). New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest is a MTF project. Since January 2002, Sandra has been responsible for the offering of over 150 readings, 35 productions, 16 develop-ment workshops, and two theatre playwriting residencies, all in New York City and all at no cost to the playwright. This is the third playwriting contest developed and maintained by her. Sandra studied creative writing at the New School-NYC, New York University and at The Writer's Voice. She has written several screenplays and is currently writing a non-fiction screen-play dealing with spirituality and the holocaust. Sandra co-wrote a full-length play in quadrameter, entitled Old Witch Blinda on Smeltzburg Hill, which is in workshop development. Her adaptation of A Christmas Carol has had ten NYC productions and numerous productions around the U.S., Puerto Rico, France, Belgium and Switzerland. The play is published in the U.S. by Brooklyn Publishers in Odessa TX, and has been translated into French by French playwright Christian Palustran and into German by German playwright Christian Michalak. The French/English volume, Un Conte de Noel, has been published in France and may be purchased through Amazon.fr. Review from NYTheatre.com: “There are only two versions of A Christmas Carol that are a must-see: the production at Madison Square Garden and Sandra Nordgren’s adaptation!” Sandra was involved in film production from 1980 – 1996 as Corporate Comptroller for major film editing and production companies and Production Auditor for CBS-TV's Pee-wee's Playhouse as well as TV specials and pilots shown on CBS-TV, ABC-TV, NBC-TV, HBO, and Showtime. Sandra was involved in theatre production part-time from 1980-1984; she has been involved in theatre production full-time from 1996 through the present and is Producing Artistic Director and Literary Manager of 13th Street Repertory Company, NYC. In 1981, she co-founded the Classical Theatre Ensemble which produced classical theatre at NYC landmarks. Most notable: the 500-year-old medieval morality play Everyman produced in the knave of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Since 1996, as Executive Producer, she has produced over 70 off-off Broadway plays and nine development workshops. Sandra is a member of the Dramatist Guild, the New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media and the League of Professional Theatre Women. |
* * * * * * * * * * * * * JUNE RACHELSON-OSPA Biogrpahy (Final Judge) June Rachelson-Ospa is a producer for theater, a lyricist and a scriptwriter. Welcome To Tourettaville, a musical written by June and her son Jonny, won the Kennedy Center’s Playwright Discovery Award in 2000 and was performed for Congress. It was also performed in the Neurofest at the Producer’s Club, and at Bryant Park in a Kindness Concert produced with June's business partner, Daniel Neiden. Her son Jacob is animating Tourettaville with legendary animator Don Duga. The soundtrack will be a song from the show called One of a Kind You. Grammy winner Dr. John is the vocal talent along with Saturday Night Live band members and Bob Dylan's bass player. Tourettaville is an ongoing project to educate families about Tourette syndrome. June produced Oh Rats, which won 2 Globe Awards in Texas, June 2003. Cairo..a musical Whodunit 2006, Meester Amerika..2007. She's been involved with the musical plays Orphan Train at York Theater 2003, Oh Rats by Doug Katsaros, in Oregon and at Vexler Theater in Texas, 2003, Valadon, Daniel Marshall Award Winner 2002, Tru Musical Reading Series, and Guardian Angel by Mark Bramble and Doug Katsaros, at the Cap 21 Theater 2000 and LaMama 2003. June wrote lyrics for Gone to Texas, the Texas Globe winner 2002, book and lyrics for Triangle, Rapunzarella White ...a Dysfunctional Fairy tale, lyrics for musical version of cult movie, Bollywood and Vine, book and lyrics for Some Things Get Better with Age with Kezia Hirsey (music) which had a four-week Equity Showcase Workshop Production in NYC, April 2009.
June wrote lyrics for Stellaluna, an animated film released by Scholastic Entertainment. The 2008 Midtown Children’s Theater Festival consisted of June’s musicals: award-winning SWAK., Rapunzarella White, and Tourettaville. June is Academy Director of AMAS Musical Theatre Youth Academy. She is a member of ASCAP, the Dramatist Guild, New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media and the League of Professional Theatre Women. June is also on the Board of Directors of TRU (Theater Resources Unlimited.) |
* * * * * * * * * * * * STEPHANIE NATHAN Biography (Final Judge) Stephanie Nathan studied Theater at Sarah Lawrence under Tony-Award-Winning Director, Wilford Leach (Edwin Drood, The Pirates of Penzance), Shakespearean acting with Barry Boys from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, and Classical French Theater at the Theatre du Vieux Colombier in Paris. She taught Improvisational Theater at the Aegean School of Fine Arts in Paros, Greece. A Copy Editor and Language Teacher, Stephanie studied writing at NYU and is currently working on various writing projects. Stephanie is a member of AFTRA and manages the AFTRA/Heller Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund in honor of its founder George Heller. The Fund awards academic and performing arts scholarships. As a Final Judge, she brings to the contest her knowledge and insatiable passion for history, the fine arts, and politics, having grown up in and around those circles. LIST OF CONTEST EVALUATORS 2009 Contest Evaluators: Allison Frederich, Amanda Goodwin, Bettina Warshaw, Daniella Benavides, Elizabeth Fuhr, Jaime Lubin, Michael Grant, Nina Concepcion, Sabrina Lloyd, Shayna Schmidt, Stephen Brown, Steven Laing, Trey Tatum 2009 Final Judges: June Rachelson-Ospa, Sandra Nordgren, Stephanie Nathan 2008 Contest Evaluators: Ana Julia Altaffer, Camille Goldin, Cohen Ambrose, Hannah Smith, Jerry Lieblich, Jessica Aloe, Juliana Thorstenn, Kathryn Willingham, Kim Davies, Laura Schuman, Leya Adler, Malika Moro-Cohen, Michael Flanagan, Stefanie Horowitz, Tiffany Hogan 2007 Contest Evaluators: Alicia Steinmetz, Ashley Kelly-Tata, Becky Sweren, Courtney Anatoli, Erica Stratton, Jerry Mond, Jessica Thanki, Joanna Zelman, John Hudson, Laura Jarrett, Matthew Keuter, Melanie Beck, Michael Flanagan, Monica Bauer, Philip Radameyer, Sarah Hankins, Ursula Fe 2006 Contest Evaluators: Allison Ferrier, Amanda Shank, Amy Grossman, Anna Chazelle, Ashley Birt, Candace Lunn, Fulya Peker, Hansel Tan, Helena Gleissner, Keren Toledano, Malka Wallick,Michael Boles, Sable Yong, Sean Kenealy, Stacy Horowitz, Victoria Moy 2005 Contest Evaluators: Anna Kepe, Candace Lunn, Casey Cipriani, Cristina Alicea, Dana Nardi, Ellie Foumbi, Emily Curan, Hilary Lechter, Indira Totaram, Jason Podplesky, Jeffrey Belanger, Jeff Speetjens, Kate Murphy, Lauren Smith, Lee Alexander, Lisa Maley, Lucius Robinson, Marguerite Spellman, Phil Anderson, Robert Jeske, Tanya Meronk 2004 Contest Evaluators: Andrea Mayer, Andrew Rothschild, Angela Vasco, Dale Ratner, Dylan Mulick, Eli Pompili, Erica Ramos, Gillette Hughes, John Hong, Joy Shatz, Karen Raphaeli, Larissa Archer, Leslie Strongwater, Lindsey Smith, Marla Dumont, Melissa Ray, Phil Keeling, Ronee Penoi, Rory Jobst, Saral Sigal, Serena Alterman, Sunie Pope 2003 Contest Evaluators: Abigail Ramsey, Aurin Squire, Deanna Neil, Dylan Mulick, Emily Intravia, Erich Eilenberger, Helen Drysdale, Jason Tyne, Julie Canik, Julie Foh, Katherine Vecchio, Katie Langrock, Matthew Kriener, Sarah DeGiorgis, Stephanie Eberhard |
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