Contest Information
Rename the Edgar Cayce Play

About the Contest
Here is your chance to introduce new generations to an amazing stage production about the "sleeping prophet" and "father of holistic medicine," Edgar Cayce. Now through September 30, 2008, the A.R.E. is accepting suggestions for a new name for Granville Burgess' play, "The Freak." New title suggestions will be reviewed by A.R.E. staff and Burgess himself. A winner is expected to be selected by the end of October, 2008.

Granville Burgess

Showbill for The Freak

About the Play's Author

In 1976, Granville Burgess longed to achieve success as a writer, yet needed inspiration for a project. He wanted to write a stage play, and a roommate suggested he write about Edgar Cayce. Though he knew little about Cayce and his readings, Granville sensed an esoteric connection with the famed psychic, and went right to work, discovering an enthusiasm for his subject that saw his dream to completion.

About the Play

Granville's play, "The Freak," first opened Off-Off-Broadway on February 29, 1980, at the WPA Theatre in New York City. Sitting in the audience, Granville recalled one particular scene where, "When the doctors stabbed Edgar with a needle at the end of Act I, a woman in the audience fainted. Now, that's a dramatic moment!"

Since then, "The Freak" has been performed around the country in venues large and small, entertaining audiences and informing them about the early life of Edgar Cayce. Yet, for all his success with the play, Granville remained uncomfortable with the title. "Oh, how I agonized over different titles, often 'asking' Edgar for guidance," he writes.

See Your Name in Print!

The winner of our Rename the Edgar Cayce Play Contest will have their new title and credit appear on all future printings of the play and receive six (6) free copies signed by the author himself. In addition, the play will be renamed in any of its future productions.

Contest Rules

You do not need to read or see the play in order to participate, but if you are a member of the A.R.E. you can access a PDF version of "The Freak" in the Members' Only section of our Web site at EdgarCayce.org. For an overview of the play, please visit the author's Web site at GranvilleBurgess.com/freak.html. The only rule is that your suggested title be submitted by September 30, 2008, in order to be eligible for consideration.

How to Enter

Go to our special Zoomerang Survey to complete your title suggestion at this link: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227XQU3KGSX