Here are descriptions of the organizations and resources mentioned by the playwrights interviewed, as well as some additional organizations available to New York playwrights. Individual academic programs are not on this list.
Theatre Companies That Develop and Produce New Work
Abingdon Theatre Company
312 West 36th St., 1st fl., NYC 10018-6494
(212) 868-2055, (212) 868-2056 (fax); www.abingdontheatre.org; email:
Abingdon develops and produces new plays by American playwrights exclusively. The company provides a laboratory in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback by utilizing first readings, staged readings, Workout Labs, Stage II productions, and Mainstage productions.
Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays
316 West Main St., Louisville, KY 40202-4218
(502) 584-1265;
(502) 561-3300 (fax); www.actorstheatre.org/humana_festival.htm; contact Tanya Palmer, director of new play development, by email at tpalmer@actorstheatre.org
Full-length plays are accepted at this new-play festival only via agents, but unrepresented playwrights are welcome to query with a cover letter and 10 pages of dialogue. In addition, all playwrights are encouraged to enter the National Ten-Minute Play Contest; the deadline is Dec. 1. The festival produces 10-12 new plays yearly and is attended by artistic directors and literary managers from all over America and the world.
Drama Dept.
451 Greenwich St., 7th fl., NYC 10013-1757
(212) 633-9108, (212) 633-9578 (fax); www.dramadept.org;
email: info@dramadept.org
Founded by Douglas Carter Beane, Cynthia Nixon, and other theatre professionals in 1994, this company also co-sponsors (with the founders of the Tribeca Film Festival) the Tribeca Theater Festival. This festival runs for the first time from Oct. 19-31 and will feature new work from Neil LaBute, Jon Robin Baitz, Warren Leight, and others. More information on the festival is available at www.TribecaTheater Festival.org.
Ensemble Studio Theatre
549 West 52nd St., NYC 10019
(212) 247-4982;
www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org
Founded in 1972, EST has over 500 members in its organization. However, readings and classes, including the Summer Conference, are open to the public. Other programs include Youngblood, a group of writers under 30; the EST/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation program of grants to support new works exploring science and technology; "Going to the River," an annual celebration of African-American women playwrights; the Rusty Magee Music Project, a development program for musical writers; Octoberfest, an annual new-play festival; the Annual Marathon of One-Act Plays; and many more. Participation in the writers' lab is by invitation only. EST does accept unsolicited manuscripts.
Impact Theatre
P.O. Box 12666, Berkeley, CA 94712-3666, Attn: Melissa Hillman
www.impacttheatre.com
Impact accepts unsolicited scripts by mail at the above address. The company also has something called the Playwrights' List for contacting writers directly. According to its website, "Though we are always keeping our eyes and ears open for fabulous new work, sometimes we put out specific calls to the playwriting community."
Long Wharf Theatre
222 Sargent Dr., New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 787-4284,
(203) 787-0422 (fax); www.longwharf.org;
email: info@longwharf.org
Long Wharf Theatre does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, but it will respond to queries that include a synopsis, 10 pages of continuous dialogue, a resume, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Manhattan Theatre Club
311 West 43rd St., 8th fl., NYC 10036
(212) 399-3000, (212) 399-4329 (fax); www.mtc-nyc.org;
email: questions@mtc-nyc.org
Manhattan Theatre Club accepts only agent-submitted scripts. However, they are open to faxed invitations to readings and productions. Emily Shooltz is the literary manager.
Naked Angels
9 Desbrosses St., 2nd fl., NYC 10013
(646) 214-7939; www.naked angels.com; email: info@naked angels.com
Tuesdays@9 is the name of a program, not an email link. This large forum attended by writers, actors, and directors consists of cold readings of scenes from long plays, short plays, and fiction. To submit material, writers should bring a hard copy of no more than 10 pages in 12-point font (five pages for fiction, poetry, or monologues) to the Tuesday session. Contact information should be on the material. If your work is selected, you will be contacted. Actors are also encouraged to come at 8:30 pm and introduce themselves to creative directors Joe Danisi and Stephanie Cannon and tell them of their interest in reading. Starting Oct. 26, Tuesdays@9 will be held at the Tribeca Cinemas as part of the Tribeca Theater Festival.
New Georges
109 West 27th St. Ste. 9A, NYC 10001
(646) 336-8077 (phone and fax); www.newgeorges.org;
email: info@newgeorges.org
New Georges accepts full-length unsolicited manuscripts from female playwrights. Its annual programs include a season of two full productions, play development programs and a reading series, and the New Georges Perform-a-Thon, a daylong performance marathon and benefit for New Georges.
The New Jersey Repertory Company
179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740, Attn: Literary Manager
(732) 229-3166, (732) 229-3167 (fax); www.njrep.org; email: info@njrep.org
Go to the company's website for information on a stimulating playwriting challenge called Theatre Brut.
New York Stage and Film
315 West 36th St., Ste. 1006, NYC 10018
(212) 736-4240,
(212) 736-4241 (fax);
www.newyorkstageandfilm.org;
email: info@newyorkstageandfilm. org
Through the Powerhouse Program, an eight-week residency at Vassar College, New York Stage and Film has provided a creative home for over 2,000 artists, including writers Jon Robin Baitz, Beth Henley, Steve Martin, and Theresa Rebeck. Unrepresented writers may send a synopsis and 10 pages of dialogue; submissions should be in by the end of December.
Playwrights Horizons
416 West 42nd St., NYC 10036
(212) 564-1235, (212) 594-0296 (fax);
www.playwrightshorizons.org;
email: literary@playwrightshorizons.org
Playwrights Horizons still reads unsolicited manuscripts; in fact, it prefers them to synopses.
Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey
P.O. Box 1295, Madison, NJ 07940
(973) 514-1787, (973) 514-2060 (fax); www.ptnj.org; email: info@ptnj.org
PTNJ has a strong development program.
Primary Stages
131 West 45th St., 2nd fl., NYC 10036
(212) 840-9705, (212) 840-9725 (fax); www.primarystages.com;
email: info@primarystages.com
The New American Writers Group at Primary Stages is by invitation only. However, Primary Stages will read dialogue samples and queries about full-length plays from unrepresented writers, and full scripts via agents. Plays may not have had a full production in New York. They prefer work that is heightened in style and that challenges realism.
The Public Theater
425 Lafayette St., NYC 10003
(212) 539-8500; www.publictheater.org
New writers are often included in the Public's twice-yearly New Work Now! Festival. Information on the festival can be found at www.publictheater.org/nwn.fall04_000.htm.
Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre
No website, but call Allen Davis III at (212) 354-1293.
The company produces multicultural work, not just Puerto Rican.
The Themantics Group
www.themantics.org; email: plays@themantics.org
This company, founded by Blake Lawrence, organizes its season around a theme and welcomes submissions of new plays. Send a treatment and synopsis (no full scripts) to plays@themantics.org.
Voice & Vision
520 Eighth Ave., Ste. 308, NYC 10018
(212) 268-3717, (212) 268-5462 (fax); www.vandv.org;
email: vandv@vandv.org
Voice & Vision is committed to developing and producing vibrant theatre works with female artists at their core. At the heart of Voice & Vision's programming is the Envision summer retreat, a two-week residency at Bard College. Each spring, from an open call for submissions, Voice & Vision selects six new works in various stages of progress to be developed at the retreat. Of the six retreat projects, two or three are chosen for further development through the New York City-based Envision Lab.
The Williamstown Theatre Festival
Box 517, Williamstown, MA 02167
For agent submissions: Literary Manager, Williamstown Theatre Festival, 229 West 42nd St., Ste. 801, NYC 10036-7205
(413) 458-3200, (413) 458-3147 (fax); www.wtfestival.org;
email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org
The Williamstown Theatre Festival develops plays through workshops, the Fridays@3 reading series, and occasional playwright residencies. The festival also administers the L. Arnold Weissberger Award, given annually in support of a new play (submissions via agents or professional organizations only). Only agent submissions are accepted for consideration for Fridays@3 and production on the Nikos Stage.
Women's Project & Productions
55 West End Ave., NYC 10023
(212) 765-1706, (212) 765-2024 (fax); www.womensproject.org/main.html; email: info@womensproject.org
The theatre does not accept unsolicited manuscripts; playwrights can apply yearly to the Playwrights Lab and Directors Forum—consisting of eight to 10 members in each group and meeting once a month from September-May—by sending a current resume, letter of recommendation, and copy of your best script. The application deadline is usually July.
The WorkShop Theater Company
312 West 36th St., 4th fl. east, NYC 10018
(212) 695-4173, (212) 695-3384 (fax); www.theworkshoptheater.org; email: info@workshoptheater.org
The WorkShop Theater Company now has over 200 professional playwrights, actors, and directors as members. Its course of play development includes readings at different stages in the process, with plays ready for an audience given four-week showcase productions with design and technical support.
Organizations That Develop New Work
American Renaissance Theatre Company
Email: ARTC2004@hotmail.com
Those interested should contact Terri Campion or Elowyn Castle, who are the co-artistic directors this season. ARTC meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 at the Common Basis Theatre at 750 Eighth Ave., Room 500. Members are encouraged to explore all areas of theatrical creativity and to present work to and with each other.
The Lark Play Development Center
939 Eighth Ave., #301, NYC 10019
(212) 246-2676, (212) 246-2609 (fax); www.larktheatre.org; email: info@larktheatre.org
The Lark offers many programs for beginning and established playwrights, including roundtables, studio retreats, "bare bones" productions, a Playwright's Workshop, and Playwright's Week, a weeklong festival of new plays with open submissions.
New Dramatists
424 West 44th St., NYC 10036
(212) 757-6960, (212) 265-4738 (fax); www.newdramatists.org; email: newdramatists@newdramatists.org
New Dramatists is a membership organization with programs that include readings, workshops, literary services, and artistic services. Members are included in the ScriptShare national script distribution service and receive monthly member bulletins, free tickets, international playwright exchanges, travel grants, and award opportunities. The membership application is available on the website. Nonmembers can still participate by joining the mailing list and attending readings.
New Jersey Dramatists and the Waterfront Ensemble
Box 1486, Hoboken, NJ 07030
(201) 708-6535; www.njdramatists.org, email: njdramatists@hotmail.com
Self-described as being "where new plays emerge," the group does readings only.
The Playwrights' Center
2301 Franklin Ave. East, Minneapolis, MN 55406-1099
(612) 332-7481, (612) 332-6037 (fax); www.pwcenter.org; email: info@pwcenter.org
This national play development center has a wonderful reputation, and submission for the 2005 PlayLabs summer festival of new work is still open—until Dec. 3.
The Playwrights Foundation
131 Tenth St., 3rd fl., San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 626-0453, (415) 626-1138 (fax); www.playwrightsfoundation.org; email: literary@playwrightsfoundation.org
The Playwrights Foundation produces the annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival, which is held in San Francisco but is open to all American playwrights, including students, writing in English.
Theater Resources Unlimited
309 West 104th St., 1D, NYC 10025
www.truonline.org
The TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series is held every spring and the New Musicals Reading Series every fall. They are unique opportunities for writers in that they develop works from the producer's point of view. The deadline for submission is Dec. 15 for works that have a producer attached, Dec. 1 without one. See the website for an application form.
Conferences/Retreats/Fellowships
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Playwrights Conference
305 Great Neck Rd., Waterford, CT 06385
(860) 443-5378, (860) 443-9653 (fax); www.oneilltheatercenter.org; email: playwrights@theoneill.org
After some changes in its artistic staff, the O'Neill Playwrights Conference has returned to a policy of open submissions for full scripts, with a postmark deadline of Oct. 31—no drop-offs and no incomplete submissions. Full guidelines are available on the website. Playwrights whose scripts are selected are guaranteed room, board, and round-trip transportation. During the conference, playwrights live on the grounds, work six days a week, and receive up to two readings of their plays. Playwrights who have participated in the past include Wendy Wasserstein, David Henry Hwang, John Guare, Kia Corthron, and many more.
The Last Frontier Theatre Conference
Prince William Sound Community College
P.O. Box 97, Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 834-1615, (907) 834-1611 (fax); www.pwscc.edu; email: dmoore@pwscc.edu
The Play Lab, which has been attended by such luminaries as August Wilson, Romulus Linney, and Tony Kushner, is a summer workshop for new work, and selected plays receive a staged reading. Submissions are open. The deadline for next year's conference has not yet been posted, but information about last year can be found at http://137.229.240.35/gen/newtc/03cfp.htm. No children's plays or musicals are considered.
The MacDowell Colony
100 High St., Peterborough, NH 03458, Attn: Admissions Coordinator
(603) 924-3886, (603) 924-9142 (fax); www.macdowellcolony.org; email: admissions@macdowellcolony.org
Founded in 1907, the Colony's mission is to provide an environment in which creative artists living in a community are free to pursue their work without interruption. Aaron Copland composed parts of "Appalachian Spring" here; Thornton Wilder wrote "Our Town," Virgil Thomson worked on "The Mother of Us All," and Leonard Bernstein completed his "Mass."
The New Harmony Project
P.O. Box 441062, Indianapolis, IN 46244-1062
(317) 464-1103; www.newharmonyproject.org
Per its website, "In a community of professional, supportive people, the New Harmony Project seeks out and serves those writers—and helps develop those scripts—that explore the human journey by offering hope and showing respect for the positive values of life."
The Sewanee Writers' Conference
310 St. Luke's Hall, The University of the South, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37383-1000
(931) 598-1141; www.sewaneewriters.org; contact Cheri Peters by email at cpeters@sewanee.edu
Applications for this summer's conference are due Feb. 1, 2005; the application can be found on the website. Fees and scholarships are also posted there. The conference, supported by the estate of Tennessee Williams, allows writers time to hone their craft with professionals and colleagues in small group workshops, and to attend readings of prestigious writers who are visiting and teaching. The playwriting program is often run by Romulus Linney.
The Sundance Institute Theatre Laboratory
8857 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 360-1981, (310) 360-1975 (fax); www.sundance.org
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Sundance Institute is largely known for its development of films, but in fact it has programs dedicated to many fields, including theatre. The submission process for the three-week workshop is open and each year seven to eight artists (playwrights, directors, choreographers, and others) are chosen to participate.
The Van Lier Playwriting Fellowship
www.newdramatists.org/van_lier_application.htm
The application for the 2005-06 fellowship just passed (Oct. 18), but interested writers aged 30 and under who live in New York and are not full-time students should check the website for updates for next year. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens who are Asian-American, African-American, Arab-American, Native American, or Latino. Recipients are provided with a two-year fellowship grant (consisting of $10,000, or $5,000 per year), a mentor (a New Dramatists resident playwright), and opportunities to workshop their plays with professional actors.
William Inge Center for the Arts Playwright-in-Residence
Independence Community College, P.O. Box 708, 1057 W. College Ave., Independence, KS 67301
(620) 331-4100, ext. 4216, or (800) 842-6063, ext. 4216; (620) 331-9022 (fax); www.ingefestival.org/inresidence.htm; contact Peter Ellenstein by email at pellenstein@ingecenter.org
While in residence, playwrights teach a playwriting class at Independence Community College and also at a local high school as part of the Inge Center's Playwrights-in-the-Schools program. Playwrights have time to work on their own plays while living in the historic boyhood home of award-winning writer and Independence native William Inge. The program does accept unsolicited nominees but can only consider playwrights with professional productions and some teaching experience; most playwrights come referred through other organizations.
Research Resources
The Drama Book Shop
250 West 40th St., NYC 10018
(212) 944-0595; (212) 730-8739 (fax); www.dramabookshop.com; email: info@dramabookshop.com
For those plays you need to study and many wonderful books about playwriting. And you never know who you'll meet there.
"Dramatists Sourcebook (23rd Edition): Complete Opportunities for Playwrights, Translators, Composers, Lyricists and Librettists"
Published annually by Consortium, this is the best-selling compendium of opportunities for stage writers.
dramatists@yahoogroups.com
An online group for writers.
www.google.com
A Internet search engine that just keeps getting better.
The New York Public Library
www.nypl.org
Open Directory for Playwrights
www.dmoz.org/Arts/Writers_Resources/Playwriting
An excellent general resource.
Playwriting Opportunities for the E-Merging Writer
www.playwritingcompetitions.com
News on contests, competitions, retreats, workshops, theatre links, ongoing submissions, and year-round deadlines for playwrights.
The Playwrights' Noticeboard
www.stageplays.com/markets.htm
Includes an online chat forum and an e-zine.
"Stage Writers Handbook: A Complete Business Guide for Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists and Librettists"
Published by Theatre Communications Group, 1997.
When you do get that production, protect yourself from hassles by reading Dana Singer's book.
Service Organizations
The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.
1501 Broadway, Ste. 701, NYC 10036
(212) 398-9366, (212) 944-0420 (fax); www.dramatistsguild.com; email: Igor@dramaguild.com
Many playwrights do not realize that anyone with a completed play can join the guild as an associate member (only active members can vote). Benefits include advice on business affairs; contract review; a subscription to the guild's bimonthly magazine, The Dramatist; the Dramatists Guild newsletter; and the "Resource Directory." Discounted or free tickets to New York shows are another perk of membership.
Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas
P.O. Box 728, Village Station, NYC 10014
(212) 561-0315; www.lmda.org; lmdanyc@hotmail.com
This member organization is aimed at the people who will be reading, evaluating, and promoting your work and publishes a serial in which literary managers tell each other about the plays they love but cannot do. Associate membership (nonvoting) is open to anyone in the arts, and it's a terrific way to network. The discussion board is free and often stimulating; it's located at www.conversation.ca/mailman/listinfo/dramaturgy.
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Ave., 24th fl., NYC 10018-4156
(212) 609-5900, (212) 609-5901 (fax); www.tcg.org; email: tcg@tcg.org
Theatre Communications Group is the largest professional umbrella group for theatre in America, and publishes the monthly American Theatre magazine, the biweekly ArtSearch employment listings, and "Dramatists Sourcebook," a bible of listings, opportunities, and other resources that is updated yearly. Programs include internships, grants, advocacy, and artistic and management training programs. Though most not-for-profit theatre groups join institutionally, membership is also available to individuals, who receive discounts on TCG publications and other benefits, including a subscription to American Theatre.
Not to Mention
Playscripts, Inc.
www.playscripts.com
Kelly Miller is the first full-time literary manager for this reputable online play publisher (profiled in Back Stage's Sept. 17, 2004 issue).
West Bank Cafe
407 West 42nd St., NYC 10036
(212) 695-6909, (212) 695-9161 (fax); www.westbankcafe.com; email: wbcparty@aol.com
Although at one time this Theatre Row restaurant had a resident playwright and an ongoing series, it now uses the Laurie Beechman Theatre downstairs as a rental space. Readings still go on, but they are not officially sponsored by the restaurant. Still, this space is wonderfully located for Midtown events and is always full of theatregoers and theatremakers.