For more information contact:

Lois Lessman, ICC Public Relations/HR Coordinator

331-4100, ext. 4236 or 1-800-842-6063, ext. 4236

 

News Release

April 7, 2004

Writer of Current Broadway Hit “Wicked”

at William Inge Theatre Festival

 

Media contact: Bruce Peterson (800) 842-6063 ext. 4216

 

Winnie Holzman, a co-author of the current Broadway hit “Wicked” that Time Magazine has called “the Best Musical of the Year,” will be a special guest presenter at the 23^rd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival April 21-24 in Independence , Kansas.

 

Holzman will perform at the Gala Dinner in an original short play, “Post-Its,” participate in workshops about playwriting, the future of the theatre, director/playwright collaboration, and creating a musical, all of which are open to the general public.  The Inge Festival is at Independence Community College, Independence , Kansas.

 

“Wicked” is inspired by the “Wizard of Oz” story and centers on Glenda, the Wicked Witch of the West, long before a little girl named Dorothy showed up.

 

Holzman is also the creator and co-executive producer of the acclaimed television drama, “My So-Called Life,” for which she received an Emmy nomination and which is syndicated around the world.

 

A graduate for Princeton University, Holzman received a scholarship to join the New York University Musical Theatre Program. While there, she studied with such luminaries as Arthur Laurents (“West Side Story,” “Gypsy”) and Stephen Sondheim (“Into the Woods,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”).  Laurents will also be at the Inge Festival as the honored playwright who will accept the “Distinguished Achievement in American Theatre Award.”  While at NYU, Holzman wrote the musical “Birds of Paradise” which was directed by Laurents.

 

Holzman, who was raised on Long Island, also wrote nine episodes for the television show “thirtysomething” and received a Writers Guild of America nomination.  She was also the executive producer of the award winning drama series “Once and Again.”

 

Her film credits include: writer of the romantic comedy “Til There Was You”, and can also be seen in the 1996 smash comedy “Jerry Maguire.”

 

The William Inge Theatre Festival is sponsored by the William Inge Center for the Arts, and is hosted annually at Independence Community College. For more information on the William Inge Theatre Festival or other Inge Center activities, phone (800) 842-6063 ext 4216, Tickets can be ordered at x4207 or by visiting the Website,  www.ingefestival.org.