New York City - The American Theatre Wing has announced an online essay contest in conjunction with the release of its original book, "The American Theatre Wing presents The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them," available on December 1.

The American Theatre Wing presents "The Play That Changed My Life" which shares the stories of 19 playwrights talking about work that had a great influence on them and ultimately their careers. But whether you work in theatre, hope to make your life in the theatre or just enjoy being in the audience, surely you've had that same experience: a single play (or musical) that you saw at some point in your life that had a profound effect on you, be it a childhood production of "Cinderella" in a school auditorium featuring an older sibling, a parent's appearance at the local community theatre, a Broadway spectacle like "Les Miserables" or "The Phantom of the Opera," a journey to a small out-of-the-way theatre that told its story with a minimum of technical tools. Frankly, it could be any production, and that's what ATW wants to hear about: what show had the greatest impact upon you, when you saw it in the course of your life, and most importantly why it meant so much to you. Entries (limited to 350 words) will be judged based on their creativity, their clarity and perhaps most importantly, for how they convey your passion for the theatre.

So tell ATW about the play that changed your life - those few hours in the theatre, at any age, in any theatre, that had the greatest impact on your life and your perception of theatre - and have the opportunity to share your story with the thousands of visitors to americantheatrewing.org while getting the chance to win an autographed copy of "The Play That Changed My Life" and other theatrical books from Applause Publishing. Enter at americantheatrewing.org/contest.

The contest entry period closes on Sunday, November 29. To enter, go to www.americantheatrewing.org/contest. The final expert panel judging the contest includes ATW Board of Directors Chairman and President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Ted Chapin; Applause Books Editorial Director Carol Flannery; award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang; and former Time magazine arts editor and "Broadway and Me" blogger Janice Simpson. Additional prizes will be given based on voting by the general public, which will continue through December 11.

Published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, the 200-page paperback, edited by Ben Hodges (Theatre World), will be released in December 2009 and features an Introduction by Paula Vogel and contributions from 19 of America's most distinguished playwrights on the plays that transformed their lives. Contributors, who have a combined total of some 40 Tony Awards, Pulitzer Prizes and Obies, include Jon Robin Baitz, Nilo Cruz, Christopher Durang, Horton Foote, Lynn Nottage, Suzan-Lori Parks, John Patrick Shanley and more.

From Edward Albee's 1935 visit to New York's Hippodrome Theatre to see Jimmy Durante (and an elephant) in Rodgers and Hart's "Jumbo," to Diana Son's 12th grade field trip in 1983 to see Diane Venora play "Hamlet" at The Public Theater, from David Henry Hwang's seminal San Francisco encounter with "Equus" to a young Beth Henley's epiphany after seeing her mother in a "Green Bean Man" costume, "The Play That Changed My Life" offers readers a unique peek into the theatrical influences of some of the nation's most important dramatists on stages both professional and amateur, in New York, across the country and overseas.

Other contributors include David Auburn, Charles Fuller, A.R. Gurney, Tina Howe, David Ives, Donald Margulies, Sarah Ruhl, Regina Taylor and Doug Wright.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. The Wing sponsors many activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre. These programs include 'Downstage Center,' a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the leading artists and professionals working on stage today; 'Working in the Theatre,' a weekly television program on CUNY TV which gathers panels of theater artists to discuss their crafts; 'In the Wings,' a new web series that spotlights theatre's behind-the-scenes talents; 'Guides to Careers in the Theatre,' a video series developed for schools and libraries; a grants program for New York City not-for-profit theatre companies, which has awarded nearly $3 million since its inception; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC; and the Jonathan Larson® Grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers.

The expanded offerings of the American Theatre Wing website include 'Masters of the Stage' with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and 'This is Broadway' with The Broadway League.

For additional information about all American Theatre Wing programs, go to americantheatrewing.org.