WordTheatre

WordTheatre® gives voice to great writing. Since its creation in 2003 by founder Cedering Fox, WordTheatre has become an internationally known 501(c)(3) whose work celebrates contemporary literature through live performance in Los Angeles, New York and London. The organization's events feature esteemed authors, actors and musicians and perform to diverse audiences, spanning from under-resourced students to cultural enthusiasts. WordTheatre's mission: to inspire empathy, curiosity and conversation.

WordTheatre
IndustryTheatre
Founded2003
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States of America
ProductsProductions
Websitehttps://wordtheatre.com

History

WordTheatre was founded in 2003 by Artistic Director Cedering Fox—director, producer and voiceover artist heard from 2013-2015 as "the voice of the Oscars."[1] Fox has also been the on-air announcer for The People's Choice Awards, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and The Democratic National Convention. She is the daughter of the Swedish-American, award-winning poet, writer and artist Siv Cedering and mathematician and businessman David Fox.

In 1989, Fox was asked to partner with Darrell Larson on "The Great Writers Series: Literary Evenings at The Met" in Los Angeles. The series, which ran for three years and was broadcast weekly on NPR’s KCRW, featured authors such as Sam Shepard, Peter Matthiessen and James Ellroy and actors such as Ed Harris, Holly Hunter and Bill Pullman. Following the series, KCRW hired Fox to direct 7 1/2 hours of Isak Dinesen stories, performed by an all-star cast and scored by composer Jonathan Sacks.

Realizing her passion for the form after partnering on several other literary salons, Fox launched WordTheatre in 2003 at the Canal Club in Venice, California.[2] Later that year, WordTheatre debuted in London[3] under producer Kirsty Peart, herself a writer of animation for film and television.[4] In 2006, WordTheatre expanded to New York.

In the U.K., WordTheatre cast and directed the actors reading the six shortlisted stories for the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award, also known as "the world’s richest short story prize."[5][6][7][8][9] WordTheatre also headlined the Literary Arena at the Latitude Festival for seven consecutive years[10][11] and, in 2013, debuted "In the Cosmos" at the Wilderness Festival,[12] featuring a 44-piece orchestra and the "Most Dynamic And Extravagant Act"[12] according to MTV. In 2017, WordTheatre restaged "In the Cosmos" at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.[13]

Authors

WordTheatre has worked with authors such as Joyce Carol Oates, Brian Doyle, TC Boyle, Richard Bausch, John Edgar Wideman, Pamela Painter, Percival Everett and Anthony Doerr. A full list of participating authors is below.

Participating Authors
A.M. Homes David Galef Jac Jemc Martha Ronk Ron Carlson
Adam Johnson David Means James Lasdun Mary Gaitskill Rose Tremain
Adam Marek David Prete James Salter Mary Gordon Roshi Fernando
Aimee Bender David Vann Jane Smiley Mary Otis Sarah Maclay
Alethea Black Deb Olin Unferth Janet Fitch Matthew Vollmer Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
Alison MacLeod Deborah Levy Jean Kwok Mayda del Valle Scott O'Connor
Allan Gurganus Denis Johnson Jess Row Meg Howrey Seamus Heany
Amy Bloom Diana Wagman Jill McCorkle Melissa Pritchard Simon Van Booy
Amy Dawes Don Lee Joanne Avallon Michael Cunningham Siv Cedering
Amy Hempel Donald Atrim Joe Dunthorne Michel Faber Spencer Holst
Andre Dubus III Donald Hall John Edgar Wideman Michelle Latiolais Stacy Aumonier
Ann Beattie Doug Coupland Jonathan Tel Miranda July Stefan Zweig
Anna Metcalfe Dylan Landis Joyce Carol Oates Mona Simpson Steve Almond
Anna Nicholas Edith Pearlman Julian Gough Nina Revoyr Stuart Dybek
Anne-Marie Kinney Elizabeth Pearlman Julie Myerson Pam Houston Susan Orlean
Anthony Doerr Elizabeth McCracken Julie Orringer Pamela Painter Susan Straight
Ben Loory Elizabeth Strout K. Kvashay Boyle Patricia Engel T.C. Boyle
Ben Okri Ellen Slezak Kate Milliken Patrick Neate Tahmima Anam
Bernice McFadden Emma Donoghue Kevin Barry Paula Morris Tara Ison
Brad Watson Erinna Mettler L. Annette Binder Percival Everett Teresia Teaiwa
Brian Doyle Etgar Keret Linda Oatman High Peter Orner Tim O'Brien
C.K. Stead Eve Ensler Lionel Shriver Peter Terrin Tiphanie Yanique
Carys Bray Evgenia Citkowitz Luis Rodriguez PG Wodehouse Tobias Wolff
Carys Davies Geoff Dyer Madeleine Thein Ramona Ausubel Toby Litt
Charles Baxter Gerard Woodward Maile Meloy Rebecca F. John Tod Goldberg
Charles Yu Guy Ware Manuel MuNoz Rebecca Miller Tom Lee
Christine Lincoln Hal Ackerman Margaret McMullan Richard Bausch Victoria Patterson
Dan Chaon Hilary Mantel Marisa Matarazzo Richard Shelton Wendy Cope
Dan Duling Holiday Reinhorn Marisa Silver Rick Moody Will Cohu
Danzy Senna Ian Frazier Marjorie Celona Robert Bausch William Trevor
David Almond Ian Rankin Mark Richard Robert Minhinnick Yiyun Li


Actors

WordTheatre performances have featured actors such as Amanda Seyfried, Carla Gugino, James Franco, Gemma Chan, Dennis Haysbert and Sarah Paulson. A full list of participating actors is below.

Participating Actors
Adam Arkin Charlie Moss Gemma Jones Joel Van Liew Marin Ireland Ray Panthaki
Adam Riches Chip tha Ripper Geno Monteiro Joely Fisher Mark Addy Rebecca Hobbs
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Chipo Chung George DelHoyo John Farmanesh Bocca Mark Bazeley Rebecca Mozo
Adrian Pasdar Chris Bauer Gethin Anthony John Fleck Mark Christopher Lawrence Reign Morton
Agni Scott Chris Mulkey Gil Bellows John Heard Mark Moses Reynaldo Pacheco
Aimee Garcia Chris Sarandon Gina Bellmna John Schwab Mark Ruffalo Rhashan Stone
Alan Cox Chris Stack Gina McKee Johnnie Lyne-Pirkis Mark St. Amant Richard Ayoade
Alan Mandell Christina Pickles Gina Torres Johnny Simmons Marlee Matlin Richard Burgi
Alastair Mackenzie Christine Avila Glynn Turman Jon Huertas Martin Jarvis Richard Hawley
Alex Hyde-White Christopher Eccleston Graham Hamilton Jon Tenney Mary Beth Hurt Richard Schiff
Alex Wolff Christopher Gorham Gregg Henry Jonathan Pryce Mary McDonnell Riz Ahmed
Alred Molina Christopher McDonald Guy Paul Jonny Phillips Mary Stuart Masterson Rob Morrow
Amanda Donohoe Cindy Cheung Hallee Hirsh Joseph Marcell Maryam d'Abo Robert Forster
Amanda Maple Brown CJ Thomason Halley Feiffer Julia Davis Matthew Barber Robert Pine
Amanda Seyfried Clive Standen Hannah Waddingham Julian Sands Matthew Beard Robin de Jesus
Amber Tamblyn Colman Domingo Harriet Walter Julian Wadham Maura Vincent Rodd Houston
Amy Brenneman Concetta Tomei Harris Yulin Julianna Margulies Maureen Lipman Roger Guenveur Smith
Amy Irving Connie Britton Harry Treadaway Juliet Stevenson Max Adler Roma Maffia
Amy Madigan Connor Paolo Hattie Winston Justin Chambers Max Burkholder Ron Bottitta
Amy Pietz Craig T. Nelson Hatty Preston Kali Rocha Mayda del Valle Ron Simons
Amy Sloan Dallas Campbell Helen Atkinson Wood Kasha Kropinski Mayim Bialik Ronald Guttman
Andrew Borba Dallas Roberts Helen McCrory Kate Fuglei Megan Dodds Rya Kihlstedt
Angela Bassett Damian Lewis Henry Naylor Kate Levering Meredith Scott Lynn Ryan Michelle Bathe
Angela Paton Damien Molony Hina Abdullah Kate Miles Michael Chiklis Sally Hawkins
Ann Hearn Dan Lauria Honeysuckle Weeks Kathryn Erbe Michael Nouri Sam Jaeger
Anne De Salvo Dana Delany Hong Lei Kathy Baker Michael T. Weiss Sam Spruell
Annette O'Toole Danielle Panabaker Howard Hesseman Keith David Michael Zegen Samantha Mathis
Anson Mount Daphne Cheung Iain Glen Keith Randolph

Smith

 Michaela Conlin Sarah Alexander
Ari Graynor Darren Criss Ian Hart Kenny Johnson Miguel Sandoval Sarah Clarke
Arye Gross Dave Fennoy Imogen Poots Kerry Fox Miles Jupp Sarah Paulson
Assaf Cohen David Ashton Indira Varma Kevin Corrigan Ming-Na Wen Sarah Wynter
Austin Butler David Call Jack Shepherd Kevin Kearns Mozhan Marnò Scott Handy
Autumn Chiklis David Cross Jack Whitehall Kevin Kilner MyAnna Buring Seamus Dever
Baadja-Lyne Odums David Elkins Jackson Rathbone Kevin McKidd Nancy Bell Sean Maguire
Barbara Bain David Morrissey James Franco Kevin Weisman Naomi Sheldon Sean Young
Barry Shabaka Henley David Soul James Gammon Kirsten Vangsness Natalija Nogulich Selina Lo
Beata Pozniak Dayo Okeniyi James Gleason Kulvinder Ghir Natascha McElhone Sharon Lawrence
Beatie Edney Dean Chekvala James Pickens Jr. Larisa Oleynik Niall Buggy Simon Shepherd
Belinda Stewart-Wilson Dennis Haysbert Jamie Blackley Lauren Graham Nicholas Brendon Stephen Collins
Bellamy Young Dermot Mulroney Jan Munroe Lauren Tom Nicki Aycox Stephen McKinley Henderson
Ben Foster Desirae Whalen Jane Stanton Lawrence Werber Nicki Micheaux Stephen Tobolowsky
Ben Miller Di Quon Jane Zingale Len Cariou Nicole Ansari Sterling Sulieman
Ben Schwartz Diana Vickers Janel Moloney Lesley Manville Nigel Whitmey Steven Berkoff
Ben Starr Dohn Norwood Jason Harner Lesley Nicol Nina Siemaszko Tess Harper
Bhasker Patel Dorian Missick Jason George Liam Cunningham Nita Whittaker Thomas Howes
Bill Cobbs E.G. Daily Jason Ritter Lily Tomlin Nyambi Nyambi Thomas Mann
Bill Nighy Ed Harris Jean Marsh Linda Cardellini Okezie Morro Tim Daly
Bill Pullman Ed Weeks Jeff Goldblum Lindsay Duncan Olivia Williams Tom Bower
Bill Ratner Edi Gathegi Jeff Perry Linus Roache Omar Dorsey Tom Greaves
Bob Wisdom Edith Fields Jemma Redgrave Lisa Gay Hamilton Ony Uhiara Tom McKay
Bradley Whitford Elizabeth McGovern Jennifer Mudge Lucy Brown Owiso Odera Tom Riley
Brenda Strong Elizabeth Peña Jennifer Skura Lucy Cohu Parker Sawyers Toni Trucks
Brendan Sexton III Ella Smith Jere Burns Lucy Sheen Paul Guilfoyle Tony Shalhoub
Brent Jennings Elliot Cowan Jeremy Davidson Lynn Ferguson Paula Newsome Tracee Chimo
Brian Cox Emily Bergl Jerrika Hinton Lynn Whitfield Peter Krause Tracie Thoms
Brian Howe Emily Bevan Jessalyn Gilsig Mae Whitman Peter Marinker Valerie Ray Miller
Brian J. White Emily Meade Jesse Bradford Maggie Siff Peter Sandys-Clarke Vanessa Aspillaga
Brooke Adams Emma Hamilton Jessica Collins Maggie Wheeler Peter Sullivan Victor Williams
Bruce Davison Erika Christensen Jessica Gunning Malinda Williams Phil Abrams Vincent Piazza
Bruce Vilanch Evanna Lynch Jing Lusi Marc Elliott Philip Baker Hall Wendie Malick
Camryn Manheim Fenella Woolgar JK Simmons Marc Menchaca Polly Draper William Stanford Davis
Carla Gugino Finn Wittrock Jodi Long Marcia Firesten Prunella Scales Xander Berkeley
Caroline Goodall Fred Melamed Jodie Markelll Marcia Gay Harden R. Ernie Silva Zach Grenier
Carolyn McCormick Gary Carr Joe Dixon Maria Bello Rachel Boston Zachary Quinto
Cassidy Freeman Gary Cole Joe Spano Marianne Jean Baptiste Rae Hendrie Zoe Boyle
Catherine Dent Gary Dourdan Joel David Moore Mariette Hartley Ravi Kapoor Zuleikha Robinson
CCH Pounder Gemma Chan Joel Polis Marin Hinkle Raviv Ullman

Venues

WordTheatre has performed in venues across the globe, including the Royal Festival Hall[14] and Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre, the St James Theatre,[15][16] The Arts Club[17][18][19] in London and Chatsworth House[20] in Derbyshire; Soho House West Hollywood,[21] The Geffen Playhouse,[22] The Broad,[23] the Grammy Museum,[24] the Microsoft Lounge[25] and the Ford Amphitheatre [26][27] in Los Angeles; and Soho House New York,[3] the East Hamptons Guild Hall[28] and NeueHouse[29] in New York.

Writers' Workshop & Retreat

Each year, WordTheatre hosts a Writers' Workshop & Retreat in Edale, England.[25][30] Morning workshops and evening salons are led by authors spanning several genres—short story, travel writing, children's books and novelists—as well as agents, publishers, journalists and more. Previous workshop leaders include:

Community Outreach

WordTheatre began its own outreach program, WordTheatre in the Schools (WITS), in 2011.[32][33] WITS serves Los Angeles Title 1 Schools, where English is commonly the second language and 40-90% of students live at or below the poverty line.[34] Many of the same actors and authors who perform at WordTheatre’s main events volunteer their time to participate in WITS as well.[35][36] By connecting under-resourced youth with curriculum-relevant literature, WITS educates and connects communities in and out of the classroom.

"WordTheatre brings contemporary literature to a market that would have never found it otherwise. These kids are not given gift subscriptions to The New Yorker at their quinceaneras. This helps to supplement their education.”[35] —Actor Bruce Vilanch

In 2015, WordTheatre expanded WITS internationally to include under-resourced schools in the U.K.[37]

In addition to WITS, WordTheatre is known for its benefit work with charities such as Autism Speaks,[38] NARSAD,[39] the One Billion Rising movement dedicated to ending rape and violence against women,[40] Anaphylaxis[41] and The Parkinsons Appeal[42] in the UK.[43] WordTheatre also stages annual benefits for the Pushcart Prize, honoring today's literary excellence.[44][28]

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References
  1. "Oscars: Cedering Fox to Serve as Voice of Academy Awards (Exclusive)". Thewrap.com. 28 February 2014.
  2. "Cedering Fox: Word Up". Laweekly.com. 20 November 2003.
  3. Shattuck, Kathryn (3 March 2011). "WordTheatre, Selected Shorts and Other Story Salons". Nytimes.com.
  4. "Live performances to light up poetry prizes". Standard.co.uk.
  5. "OMG: Text speak short story in running for £30,000 prize". Telegraph.co.uk. 19 February 2012.
  6. "WordTheatre: Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award, Volume 1". Audible.com.
  7. "The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award Readings 2016". Foyles.co.uk.
  8. "Our 2016 Winner: Jonathan Tel - The Sunday Times Short Story Awards". Shortstoryaward.co.uk.
  9. Times, The Sunday (29 July 2012). "Calling all short story writers". Thetimes.co.uk.
  10. "The latest from Latitude". Independent.co.uk. 6 June 2012.
  11. admin (24 March 2014). "Latitude Festival 2007". Latitudefestival.com.
  12. "MTV Review: Sam Smith And London Grammar Enchant Crowds At Wilderness Festival". Mtv.co.uk.
  13. Gelt, Jessica. "Stars reading about our stars: Sterling K. Brown, Darren Criss and others to perform 'In the Cosmos'". Latimes.com.
  14. Desk, BWW News. "Photo Flash: Christopher Eccleston, Emma Hamilton and Nikki-Amuka Bird Present The Time Machine". Broadwayworld.com.
  15. Flynn, Mike. "James Pearson and WordTheatre presents 'And All That Jazz'". Jazzwisemagazine.com.
  16. Desk, BWW News. "St. James Studio to Host EFG London Jazz Festival Once Again in November 2016". Broadwayworld.com.
  17. "WordTheatre®: Hannah Waddingham reading Dorothy Parker's "But - Lovreka". Bilibun.com.
  18. "Damien Molony to Perform with WordTheatre 30 September, The Arts Club London". Damienmolony.org. 6 September 2013.
  19. "David Soul Fans - April 27, 2015: Revenge". Davidsoulfans.com.
  20. "World-famous actors in "stories to make your heart beat faster"". Web.sheffieldlive.org.
  21. "Book calendar events for the week of May 22, 2011". Articles.latimes.com. 22 May 2011.
  22. ""Acts of Love: Dreams" Stages a Record-Breaking Event". Autism Speaks. 25 July 2012.
  23. "Days of our Lives Guests: Autism Speaks Hosts Celebration!". Soaps.sheknows.com.
  24. "A Tribute To Langston Hughes: Stories, Poems, Jazz & The Blues - Grammy Museum". Grammymuseum.org. Grammy Museum.
  25. Kellogg, Carolyn. "Cedering Fox's WordTheatre gives voice to authors' works". Latimes.com.
  26. "Weekend Roundup: Top LA Weekend Events for August 24-27". Socalpulse.com. 23 August 2017.
  27. "Theater - Jessica Koslow". Jessicakoslow.com.
  28. "A Grand Ol' 40th for Pushcart - The East Hampton Star". Easthamptonstar.com.
  29. "NeueHouse". The New Yorker.
  30. Sheridan, Paula (12 February 2014). "WordTheatre Writers Workshop & Retreat". Mygloryride.com.
  31. Mark Taper Auditorium-Central Library (23 June 2014). "Denis Johnson and The Starlight on Idaho | Library Foundation of Los Angeles". Lfla.org. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  32. "Stars and Star Stuff - The Ford Theatres". Fordthetres.org. 9 August 2017.
  33. "Darren Criss, Bellamy Young, and More Tapped for In the Cosmos - Playbill". Playbill.
  34. "Tier I Schools - Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools (CA Dept of Education)". Cde.ca.gov.
  35. "Darren Criss, Bellamy Young Headline 'In the Cosmos' Performance". Hollywoodreporter.com.
  36. "Word Theatre Returns To The Hamptons - The Arts - Performing Arts". Hamptons.com.
  37. "First Story Trustees' Annual Report : Year ending 30th June 2015" (PDF). Firststory.org.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  38. "New San Francisco Event Raises $500,000". Autism Speaks. 25 July 2012.
  39. Havers (3 January 2011). "Lovely Kathryn: Kathryn reading for WordTheatre®". Lovelykathryn.blogspot.com.
  40. "Stories. Bourbon. Music & Macaroons: A Benefit Performance for One Billion Rising - One Billion Rising Revolution". Onebillionrising.org.
  41. "WordTheatre in aid of The Anaphylaxis Campaign". Whatallergy.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  42. "The Parkinson's Appeal for Deep Brain Stimulation". Parkinsonsappeal.com.
  43. "Love, Hate and Race in the UK on Monday the 12th March at the Cafe de Paris, London W1 in association with Prospect magazine & in support of The Parkinson's Appeal for Deep Brain Stimulation" (PDF). Parkinsonsappeal.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  44. "Where Words Survive and Thrive: A WordTheatre Benefit Celebrating 40 Years of The Pushcart Prize". Patch.com. 28 June 2015.
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