The Contemporary American Theater Festival was founded in 1991 by Ed Herendeen in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Beginning as a humble endeavor with a budget of just $80,000, the Festival has grown to include a full-time staff of seven and an annual operating cash budget of over $1.2 million. Hosted on the campus of Shepherd University, a public liberal arts institution founded in 1871, the Festival’s mission is to produce and develop new American theater.
Each July, CATF presents six new plays...
The Contemporary American Theater Festival was founded in 1991 by Ed Herendeen in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Beginning as a humble endeavor with a budget of just $80,000, the Festival has grown to include a full-time staff of seven and an annual operating cash budget of over $1.2 million. Hosted on the campus of Shepherd University, a public liberal arts institution founded in 1871, the Festival’s mission is to produce and develop new American theater.
Each July, CATF presents six new plays produced in rotating repertory to include over 100 performances in three venues. Each four-week season also includes talktheater events: free lectures, classes, workshops, post-show discussions, stage readings, and late-night conversations. Additional immersion activities are offered through educational programs for high school and college students through Hostel YOUTH! and CATF/U initiatives.