By Gary Wien
originally published: 01/18/2015
Did you ever wish you could pullback the curtain and get a glimpse behind the scenes of an arts committee debating who should receive grant money? It's a process that befuddles many, including artists and those who often decry the winning works as controversial or not something they believe was art. In Catherine Trieschmann's play, The Most Deserving, we get to see the Ellis County Arts Council of Kansas debate how to award $20,000 to a local artist with an "under-represented American voice."
The Most Deserving is having its New Jersey premiere at Dreamcatcher Repertory this February. The production stars Julie Chen, Andre DeSandies, Noreen Farley, Scott McGowan, Janet Sales, and Jason Szamreta. The play caught the eye of Laura Ekstrand, Dreamcatcher's Producing Artistic Director, when she learned of its debut at the Colorado New Play Summit in Denver.
"The play is hilarious," said Ekstrand. "The subject matter is so close to home for an arts organization. It's about a small town arts council sending out a grant to a single artist and all of the politics and drama and personal strife that goes into this choice. They're trying to find out who is the most deserving artist, but it's very complicated; it's not just who's the best artist, it's a lot of other stuff too."
Although the play is set in Kansas, it could take place anywhere. The same debates occur behind closed doors throughout New Jersey and the entire country. People on the committee know each other well and know many of the same artists. They are all pushing their own agendas, whether they are even aware of it or not. As usual when money is being given to artists, controversy is bound to follow.
"I think the important thing about the play being set in a small town that's isolated is that they can do whatever they want," explained Ekstrand. "They don't answer to anybody and that's the problem and the issue of the play — the arts council doesn't answer to anybody."
The committee of characters debate who should and who shouldn't be considered a minority. There are conservatives, liberals, transplants from elsewhere, and long-time citizens of Ellis County. Being arts committee members provides ultimate decision-making power. They consider extending the deadline to add more people for consideration because they make the rules. They consider artists such as a high school teacher who might be one-sixteenth Native-American and a woman that might be considered a minority by marriage. One committee member even submits himself for consideration. After being laid off from his job, he took up painting a series of Vice Presidents because Presidents have already been done. Even though his paintings are awful, he thinks he's deserving and somehow is seriously considered.
While suggesting possible artists, the Trash Man's name comes up. He's an African-American man confined to a wheelchair and living on disability just outside town limits. He creates extraordinary sculptures depicting religious subjects out of trash. The Trash Man meets every single criteria for the grant; however, he also raises one of the major themes of the play — who is a "real artist" and what is "art"?
"I'm not an expert, but if it looks like it came from the dump, then it ain't art," says one committee member.
For some on the committee, art is something that reaffirms their beliefs. Others seek art that soothes the soul. While some committee members think the role of art is to provoke, others believe art should simply match their furniture.
"Some of them have deep emotional reasons for wanting what they want and they're just full out going for it," said Ekstrand. "That's what makes it a comedy. Everyone is just barrelling ahead for whatever it is that they want and, of course, that brings a lot of conflict. What makes it so funny to me is how much everybody wants what they want. They all go to the extreme."
Ekstrand, who is directing the production, once served on a grant panel for Essex County and has experience applying for grants for Dreamcatcher as well. She believes the hardest thing is to break down something that is abstract into corporate terms. Whether seeking corporate funding or a government grant, there's a certain language that revolves around the grant process.
"There's a whole jargon that springs up around grants," she explains. "You have to translate what you do every day into this other language in order to express it with the grants. You have to quantify something that's qualitative and I find that very challenging. Some of the grants that we get or don't get offer feedback, but some of them are mysterious. The hardest part is when it's a total mystery. We'll get a yes, we'll get a no, yet we have no idea why. And certainly with the no's you want to know why you were turned down so you know what to do better next time."
If you've ever wondered what goes on behind those closed doors, check out The Most Deserving at Dreamcatcher. It'll have you debating what is art and maybe even whether or not the question itself has any merit. Art means something different to everybody, and isn't that the point?
The Most Deserving
Dreamcatcher Repertory
February 12 - March 1, 2015
Oakes Center - 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
About the author:
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
George Street Playhouse Presents Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-woman Show
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJWritten by and starring
Vicki Lawrence Two Performances Only
Vicki Lawrence, the legendary actress, comedian, and singer, brings her signature wit and charm to the stage in Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show. Best known for her iconic role as Thelma Harper, or "Mama," from The Carol Burnett Show and Mama’s Family, Lawrence delivers a hilarious and heartfelt performance that takes audiences on a journey through her extraordinary career. From her Emmy-winning years alongside Carol Burnett to her chart-topping hit, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” she shares behind-the-scenes stories, comedy, and music—all with her trademark humor. Whether reminiscing about her Hollywood adventures or embodying the feisty Mama, Lawrence proves that laughter is timeless.
Kean Department Of Theatre Presents "the Drowsy Chaperone"
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Kean Stage - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJMusic and lyrics by
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
Princeton’s Famous Triangle Show: Roswell That Ends Well
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 8:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJIf you’re feeling all alone in the universe – or even if you’re not – Triangle’s newest musical comedy is for you! Join us as Triangle explores what it means to have friends in high – or should we say “sky”? – places. Extraterrestrial visitors, crazy conspiracy theories, and intergalactic shenanigans power this year’s annual laugh-fest of witty jokes, lavish production numbers, and, of course, Triangle’s famous kickline. Can interplanetary goodwill blossom in the dystopian desert of our current times? Get your Triangle tickets now and learn if
Roswell That Ends Well!
George Street Playhouse Presents Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-woman Show
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJWritten by and starring
Vicki Lawrence Two Performances Only
Vicki Lawrence, the legendary actress, comedian, and singer, brings her signature wit and charm to the stage in Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show. Best known for her iconic role as Thelma Harper, or "Mama," from The Carol Burnett Show and Mama’s Family, Lawrence delivers a hilarious and heartfelt performance that takes audiences on a journey through her extraordinary career. From her Emmy-winning years alongside Carol Burnett to her chart-topping hit, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” she shares behind-the-scenes stories, comedy, and music—all with her trademark humor. Whether reminiscing about her Hollywood adventures or embodying the feisty Mama, Lawrence proves that laughter is timeless.
Kean Department Of Theatre Presents "the Drowsy Chaperone"
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Kean Stage - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJMusic and lyrics by
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
EVENT PREVIEWS
Theater League of Clifton presents "1776" in November
(WAYNE, NJ) -- Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of opinionated, stubborn and deeply divided delegates gathered in Philadelphia and somehow managed to create a new nation. This November, the Theater League of Clifton brings their story to the stage with 1776, the Tony Award-winning musical about the tumultuous days leading to the Declaration of Independence. Directed by Maren Sugarman, the production will be presented November 13–15, 2026, at the Wayne Community Center.
Lomotion Live presents "Etiquette" by David Lee White
(BOONTON, NJ) -- Lomotion Live presents Etiquette, a timely and biting comedy by playwright David Lee White, directed by Lauren Moran. The production will run November 13–15, 2026 at Lomotion Live at Parsippany Arts Center in Boonton.
NJ Rep presents Theatre Brut Short Play Festival 2026: "Through The Window"
(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- What happens when we look through a window? Do we see the world as it really is, the world as we wish it could be, or something we never expected? New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) invites audiences to discover the unexpected with NJ Rep presents Theatre Brut Short Play Festival 2026: "Through The Window" a festival of eight original short plays presented over two weekends, November 13–15 and November 20–22, 2026 at the West End Arts Center in Long Branch.
Bridge Players Theatre Company presents "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical"
(BURLINGTON, NJ) -- Bridge Players Theatre Company presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical weekends from November 13-28, 2026. In this musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic, The Herdmans – widely known as the "worst kids in the history of the world" – crash Sunday School lured by the promise of free snacks and end up hijacking the annual church Christmas pageant!
For the Whim Productions presents William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
(BRIDGETON, NJ) -- For the Whim Productions presents William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream from November 13-20, 2026 at the Ashley McCormick Theatre in the Hopeloft in Bridgeton. A whimsical comedy where fairies, lovers, actors, and our audience collide in an enchanted forest, blending magic, romance, and mischief. The production is directed by Heidi Dugan.
The Maplewood Strollers presents "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Maplewood Strollers present Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street weekends from November 13-22, 2026. Attend the dark, witty and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London.
Readington Community Theatre presents "Anatomy of a Murder"
(WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ) -- Readington Community Theatre presents Anatomy of a Murder by Elihu Winer across two weekends from November 13-22, 2026 at Rockaway Reformed Church. In a quiet town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a small-time lawyer is pulled into a sensational case that quickly grips the entire community.
The Barn Theatre presents Roald Dahl's "Matilda, the Musical"
(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Roald Dahl's Matilda, the Musical weekends from November 13 to December 5, 2026. The story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
Villagers Theatre presents "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot"
(SOMERSET, NJ) -- Villagers Theatre presents The Last Days of Judas Iscariot in The Andrew Russoniello Black Box weekends from November 13-21, 2026. Set in a time-bending, darkly comic world between heaven and hell, the play reexamines the plight and fate of the New Testament’s most infamous and unexplained sinner.
Holmdel Theatre Company presents "Love, Loss, and What I Wore"
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Holmdel Theatre Company presents Love, Loss, and What I Wore from November 13-15, 2026. Told through a series of personal stories and monologues, Love, Loss, and What I Wore reveals how the clothes we wear often become intertwined with who we are and the moments we never forget. The show celebrates the humor and heartbreak of everyday life, reminding audiences that while fashion trends may come and go, the experiences that connect us are timeless.
