The following is a list of groups in Los Angeles dedicated to playwrights and public readings of work. In some cases, submissions are accepted from outside. In most cases, the playwright has to become a member of the group, through submission of a play or by recommendation from a group member. There are, in many cases, monthly dues required; higher-priced workshops and classes have not been included. Be advised that some of these groups may take as long as six months or longer to respond, because of staff limitations. This list was drawn from the A.S.K. Playwrights Guide to Los Angeles, and other sources.
Asian Theatre Workshop
Mark Taper Forum
135 North Grand Ave.
L.A., CA 90012
(213) 972-7267; contact: Chay Yew.
Los Angeles-based Asian-American playwrights are eligible to request membership in this workshop, affiliated with the Mark Taper Forum. The workshop has monthly meetings to read and critique new work. Send a cover letter, resum , synopsis and a copy of a play.
A.S.K. Theater Projects
11845 Olympic Blvd., Suite 1250
L.A., CA 90064
(310) 478-3200; contact: Matt Almost, script development coordinator.
A.S.K. is a support group that presents readings, seminars, and workshop productions. Plays must be unproduced. Send a cover letter, resum , and 5-10 pages of sample dialogue.
BlackSmyths
Mark Taper Forum
135 N. Grand Ave.
L.A., CA 90012
(213) 972-7539; contact: L. Kenneth Richardson.
BlackSmyths is open to black playwrights. The group meets Monday nights. Submit plays between June and August. A June symposium presents readings and workshop productions through the Mark Taper Forum.
First Stage
6817 Franklin Ave.
L.A., CA 90028
(213) 850-6271; contact: Dennis Safren, literary director.
The group meets 7 p.m. Mondays at the United Methodist Church at Franklin and Highland; cost to members is $35 per quarter. First Stage focuses on development of new plays and screenplays. Non-members are eligible to participate in staged readings and workshops.
Group Repertory Theatre Playwrights Unit
10900 Burbank Blvd.
N. Hollywood, CA 91601
(213) 464-0316, ext. 376; contact: Carrie Ross, new play coordinator.
The group meets every other Saturday at 1 p.m., working with actors and presenting a staged reading program. Cost is $30 per month. To apply for membership, submit a full-length play. Members must live in the L.A. County area.
Interact Theatre Play Development Lab
P.O. Box 8830
Universal City, CA 91618-0830
(818) 773-7862;
contact: Anita Khanzadian-Jones.
Playwrights are invited to audit a session and then contact Khanzadian-Jones for details about membership. Cost of the lab is a donation. The writers' unit meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Interact Theatre, 11855 Hart St., N. Hollywood. New plays are read and critiqued by members.
Los Angeles Playwrights Group
P.O. Box 368
Sun Valley, CA 91352;
contact: Paul Casey, director.
Group meets at 4:30 p.m. Sundays, and some Tuesday nights, at the Jewel Box Theatre, 1951 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Send a writing sample of up to 10 pages, resum , and query letter to Paul Casey, LAPG. The group meets to read and critique members' new works. Staged readings are arranged at the Jewel Box, as well as productions of new work. There is a monthly fee.
The Last Word:
A Playwright's Collective
c/o Erwin Pond
11328 Erwin St.
N. Hollywood, CA 91606
(818) 980-0287;
contact: Catherine Coke, director.
The group meets weekly at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $35 per month. Professional playwrights who are produced and/or published are eligible to apply. The program involves in-house readings, public staged readings, and workshop presentations, in order to develop the script.
Latino Theatre Initiative
c/o The Mark Taper Forum
135 N. Grand Ave.
L.A., CA 90012
(213) 972-7586 or 7588; contact: Luis Alfaro or Diane Rodriguez, directors.
New work of Latino artists is arranged through readings, workshops and mainstage productions. Submit a script to apply for membership. Meetings vary depending on the program. An annual festival of new Latino work is featured.
Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop
335 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 502-3309; contact: John Sparks, co-director.
The workshop meets for two hours, Monday through Wednesday nights, once a month from September through June. To join, arrange for an interview. Application deadlines are Sept. 1. Cost is $500 a year for the introductory year; $300 for subsequent years. Group consists of 30 beginners and 90 continuing members, including choreographers, performers, directors, writers and musicians. Writers study the craft of music theatre. The workshop culminates in staged readings and showcases.
New Work Festival
c/o The Mark Taper Forum
135 N. Grand Ave.
L.A., CA 90012
(213) 972-8033
Send 5-10 sample pages along with a short summary or synopsis, plus a resum . Allow at least two months or so for a reply. Deadline is Apr. 30 for the festival.
Originals Only
723 S. Gramercy Dr.
L.A., CA 90069-0005
(213) 738-6941; contact: Tom Hill.
A group of about 25 directors, actors and directors meet on Monday nights. Members' works are read for invited audiences.
Other Voices
c/o The Mark Taper Forum
135 North Grand Ave.
L.A., CA 90012
(213) 972-0759;
contact: Victoria Ann Lewis.
A lab for professional playwrights with disabilities. Programs include May Days and Chautauqua Nights, in May, featuring a reading series. Call or write for application.
The Pasadena Playwrights Workshop
30 N. Raymond St., Ste. 410
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 577-4956; contact: Hoyt Hilsman.
This play development workshop meets weekly for intermediate to advanced playwrights. Readings series are arranged. There is a monthly fee. To apply, submit a script.
The Playwrights Group
2062 N. Vine St.
L.A., CA 90068
(213) 463-3224; contact: Joanna Miles.
The group meets 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at St. Ambrose Art Center at 1261 Fairfax Ave. in W. Hollywood. Cost is $20 a month. Playwrights should submit a play after attending a few meetings. The group consists of 125-members: playwrights, directors, actors, and producers. Program includes staged readings and mounted performances.
Playwrights' Kitchen Ensemble: The Writer's Lab
368 N. La Cienega Blvd.
L.A., CA 90048
(310) 652-9602; contact: Richard Zavaglia or T. Jay O'Brien.
Submit a full-length play or screenplay for acceptance. There are two groups, one meeting on Tuesdays under O'Brien; the other meeting Thursdays under Zavaglia. PKE develops and promotes new work, and offers critiques and readings. Cost of the workshop is $50 a month. Another division of PKE offers public readings, often with nationally known actors, to promote the work of playwrights. Contact Dan Lauria, artistic director.
Re-Wrights
11940 Weddington St. #17
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 769-7180; contact: Josh Schiowitz.
The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. To gain admission, playwrights must be recommended by a current member. Re-Wrights, formerly the Theatre Geo Writers' Workshop, focuses on developments of new plays of any length.
Theatre East
12655 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 760-4160; contact: Literary Manager.
Staged readings and writers labs are scheduled on Tuesdays upon request. Member dues are $40 per month. To join, submit a resum and two scripts as writing samples. The program involves staged readings and workshop productions. Membership is not necessary for script submission or for possible readings and productions.
Theatre West Writer's Workshop
3333 Cahuenga Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90068
(213) 851-4839; contact: Doug Haverty.
The workshop, meeting 8 p.m. Tuesdays, is a forum for experienced playwrights to develop their skills. There are occasional staged readings. Cost is $60 to join, plus $40 per month. To apply for membership, send a script.
West Coast Ensemble Playwrights Unit
P.O. Box 38728
L.A., CA 90038
(310) 449-1447; contact: Les Hanson.
A small group of invited playwrights (send script) develop plays, which can culminate in stage readings or performances.
The Whitley Group
4709 Ambrose Ave.
L.A., CA 90027
(213) 665-9494; contact: Suzanne Collins.
The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays. To apply, submit a writing sample and come to an informal interview. The small group meets weekly to generate material for performance. Work is critiqued. Public readings take place at various locations.