Focus on Playwriting Groups - Playwrights Resources

Academy for New Musical Theatre

(Formerly Lehman Engel Workshop)

13029-A Victory Blvd., Ste. 353

North Hollywood, CA 91606

(818) 502-3309

academy@anmt.org

www.anmt.org

The ANMT supports workshops, readings, studio productions, and collaboration opportunities for writers, composers, actors, directors, producers, and audience members who share a love of musical theatre. It offers a writers workshop for composers, lyricists, and bookwriters; the Academy Repertory Company of actors and directors; New Works for Young Audiences; and an online curriculum. The application deadline for the workshop is early August; placement is by interview. Contact: John Sparks, artistic director.

Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights

7510 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 1050

Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 957-4752

info@LAPlaywrights.org

www.LAPlaywrights.org

ALAP is a nonprofit support and service organization for the L.A. playwriting community. Among the group's supported programs are the biennial Playwrights Expo, the annual Reading Festival, the New Works Lab, symposiums, and social events. Publications include a bimonthly newsletter, an annual Membership Directory, an online Script Catalogue, and e-mail listserves. Co-Chairs are Dan Berkowitz and Jon Dorf.

Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center

681 Venice Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

(310) 822-3006

www.beyondbaroque.com

Beyond Baroque promotes reading, writing, and publication of contemporary literature through regular readings, free and tuition-based workshops in literature and performance, a magazine, and an archive of small press publications. Contact: Fred Dewey.

Coronet Theatre Writers Lab

Formerly Playwrights Kitchen Ensemble

Coronet Theatre

368 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90048

(310) 652-9602

www.coronet-theatrela.com

This lab is designed to help playwrights and screenwriters develop their scripts to the highest quality possible. Each week sections of different scripts are read by professional actors, giving writers the opportunity to hear and be objective about that work. Following the reading is a period of constructive criticism about the material. Contact: T. Jay O'Brien.

Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.

(323) 960-5115

www.dramaguild.com

The Dramatists Guild is the professional association of playwrights, composers, and lyricists. The guild is national, with its main office in New York; West Coast membership liaison is Dan Berkowitz (ICIMEDIA@aol.com).

First Stage

Mail: P.O. Box 38280

Los Angeles, CA 90038

Address: 6817 Franklin Ave., 3rd Fl.

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 850-6271

firststagela@aol.com

www. firststage.org

First Stage focuses on the development of new work for the screen and stage. Included are staged readings (Mondays, 7 p.m.), a writers workshop (Tuesdays, 7 p.m.), an annual one-act contest (Sept. 15 deadline), the annual Playwrights Express festival fundraiser with 100-plus plays, skits, poems, and scenes (March 15 deadline), and Stage Oddity, an annual production of short pieces from the writers' workshop. There are two workshop presentations annually. Dues $195 annually or $55 per quarter. Audit is allowed on Monday/Tuesday sessions free (for two times). Contact: literary manager Dennis Safren.

Samuel French Theatre & Film Bookshops

7623 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 876-0570

Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sunday

11963 Ventura Blvd.

Studio City, CA 91604

(818) 762-0535

Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.

www.samuelfrench.com

Samuel French has the largest collection of theatrical books and publications this side of the Chattahoochee.

Mark Taper Forum

New Work Festival

Literary Department

Mark Taper Forum

135 N. Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

www.taperahmanson.com/taper/scripts.asp

Please visit the website for complete submission guidelines and updated information.

New Playwrights Foundation

608 San Vicente Blvd., Ste.18

Santa Monica, CA 90402

(310) 393-3682

dialogue@newplaywrights.org

www.newplaywrights.org

Since 1969 the New Playwrights Foundation has worked to develop and disseminate new works for theatre and other media written by local nascent and lesser-known writers. Writers workshops meet twice a month in the Santa Monica area for readings, critiques, and exchange of information. Contact: Jeff Bergquist.

Playwrights' Arena

Los Angeles Theatre Center

514 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

(213) 627-4473

jrivera923@juno.com

Playwrightsarena.org

Playwrights' Arena is dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing new work written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights. It also holds readings, workshops, and roundtable discussions.

Playwrights Ink

(213) 385-4562

tjacobson@lacma.org

Playwrights Ink works to develop stage-worthy plays with individual and culturally diverse viewpoints. It fosters relationships with acting ensembles, individual artists, and theatres. Contact: Tom Jacobson.

South Coast Repertory

Literary Department

South Coast Repertory

P.O. Box 2197

Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2197

www.scr.org/aboutSCR/colab.html

SCR accepts submissions year-round for full-length plays, translations, and adaptations. Submitted plays are considered for possible inclusion in the NewSCRipts series and the Pacific Playwrights Festival, as well as for production on SCR's Mainstage or Second Stage. Playwrights may submit work through established agents or by first sending a brief synopsis and a 10-page dialogue sample.

Writers at Work

4022 Fountain Ave., Ste. 202

Los Angeles, CA 90029-2220

(323) 661-5954

wtrsatwork@aol.com

www.writersatwork.com

Writers at Work offers workshops and other services emphasizing freedom of the imagination, rigorous standards of craft, commitment to one's work, and a supportive environment honoring diversity of voices, styles, and concerns. While committed to serving all writers, it has a particular interest in those whose stories have not been widely recorded: women, lesbians, gay men, and people of color. Contact: Gwin Wheatley.

The Writer's Store

2040 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 441-5151 or (800) 272-8927

http://writersstore.com

This store sells script-formatting software, supplies, and books related to screenwriting, novel and fiction writing, play scripts, and film/TV/video production. The store also offers writing classes and seminars. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.