Inge Festival Honors Fantasticks Team Jones and Schmidt in 2009

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, two Texans who have fashioned American musical history, are the Honorees of the 28th annual William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence, Kansas.

Jones and Schmidt—perhaps best known for The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history—will receive the Inge Festival’s Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award from April 22-25, 2009. The Inge Festival is named for the late Pulitzer Prize (Picnic) and Oscar-winning writer William Inge, a native of Independence, Kansas.

The award will be presented at the festival’s Tribute finale, Sat. April 25. The Inge Festival is held at the William Inge Theatre at Independence Community College, located 90 miles north of Tulsa, Okla.

“Simplicity” is a supreme compliment that applies to Jones and Schmidt musicals. They broadened the scale of the Broadway musical with their engaging and innovative approach.

“This legendary writing team is bold and adventurous in their work; funny and touching, enormously romantic and sentimental without being cloying,” said Inge Center Artistic Director Peter Ellenstein. “They have a long line of marvelous, innovative musicals, and I’m excited to have the public gain greater knowledge of the breadth of shows by these phenomenal talents.”

The Honorees will be joined at the festival by actors and directors from New York and Hollywood throughout the four-day event. The guests will perform and also conduct public panels and workshops, a unique opportunity for the general public to directly learn from professionals in the field.

Since its founding in 1981, the Inge Festival has brought to America’s heartland some of the world’s most beloved playwrights. Past Inge Festival Honorees include Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Stephen Sondheim, Neil Simon, and Edward Albee.

It is sponsored by the William Inge Center for the Arts at Independence Community College. The Inge Center is a year-round producer of professional play development workshops and theater education. For further information, visit: www.ingecenter.org.