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New Play Development

New work is the future of theatre, and this is where you’ll find in-depth content about best practices for its development, as well as pieces about specific work. Consider starting with the essay “Rules of Engagement for New Play Development” and Notes to the Note-Givers; or, Embracing the Paradox.” For musings on the power of new work, watch the video of Todd London’s keynote for the 5th Annual ORIGINKC: NEW WORKS FESTIVAL or read the transcript.

The Latest

On Collaboration
Podcast
On Collaboration
by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Jennifer Goff, Padraic Lillis
14 May 2024
World Voices
Video
World Voices
Displacement Plays from Uganda, Lebanon, West Africa, Haiti and Ukranian Playwrights Project
Monday 13 May 2024
New York City
On Teaching Dramaturgy
Podcast
On Teaching Dramaturgy
by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Jacqueline Goldfinger, Martine Green-Rogers
7 May 2024
Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater

A playwriting masterclass

Wednesday 29 May 2013
New York, NY, United States

Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed Watch Me Work from The Public Theater in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 29 May 2013 at 2 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. CST (Austin, UTC -6) / 5 p.m. EST (Montréal, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0) / 23:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1).

 

Photo from a contemporary production of Hamlet.
Postcards from Russia 2
Essay

Postcards from Russia 2

Yekaterinburg

29 May 2013

Continuing the series, Christopher W. White reflects on his time viewing the strikingly contemporary art in Yekaterinburg

Wide photo of the Buenos Aires skyline.
Take (more than) Five
Essay

Take (more than) Five

The Argentine Production Model

26 May 2013

Paz Pardo explores the theatre models of the United States and Argentina.

Event banner ad for The Egypt Play.
Tori Keenan-Zelt's The Egypt Play, or The Misses Blake on a Holiday Jihad at Panglossian Productions
Video

Tori Keenan-Zelt's The Egypt Play, or The Misses Blake on a Holiday Jihad at Panglossian Productions

Saturday 25 May 2013
Williamsburg, VA, United States

Panglossian Productions in Williamsburg, Virginia presented a livestreaming workshop performance of Tori Keenan-Zelt’s new work The Egypt Play, or The Misses Blake on a Holiday Jihad livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 25 May 2013 at 4:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 6:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 7:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 23:30 GMT. View a conversion into your local time.

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater

A playwriting masterclass

Wednesday 22 May 2013
New York, NY, United States

Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed Watch Me Work from The Public Theater in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 22 May 2013 at 2 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. CST (Austin, UTC -6) / 5 p.m. EST (Montréal, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0) / 23:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1)

Photo from the play Baritones Unbound.
A Day in the Life of a Creative Producer
Essay

A Day in the Life of a Creative Producer

17 May 2013

Shari Malyn takes us inside a day in the life of a Creative Producer at ArtsEmerson's Creative Producers in Training program.

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater

A playwriting masterclass

Wednesday 15 May 2013
New York, NY, United States

Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed Watch Me Work from The Public Theater in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 15 May 2013 at 2 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. CST (Austin, UTC -6) / 5 p.m. EST (Montréal, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0) / 23:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1

Event banner ad for Ingram New Works Festival.
Tennessee Rep's Ingram New Works Festival
Video

Tennessee Rep's Ingram New Works Festival

Saturday 11 May through Tuesday 14 May 2013
Nashville, TN, United States

Tennessee Rep in Nashville presented the Ingram New Works Festival livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Saturday 11 May through Tuesday 14 May 2013.

The Annual Young Playwrights Festival at Florida Studio Theatre
Video

The Annual Young Playwrights Festival at Florida Studio Theatre

Saturday 11 May 2013
Sarasota, FL, United States

Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota presented the annual Young Playwrights Festival livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 11 May beginning at 7 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 9 a.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10 a.m. EDT (New York) / 14:00 GMT / 3 p.m. BST (London). ​

Candid photo of Ben Gransky.
How We Wild Plan
Essay

How We Wild Plan

2 May 2013

In this installment, Ben Gansky and Eric Powell Holm talk about making the The Wild Plan.

Pacific Playwrights Festival logo.
Pacific Playwrights Festival Panel Why This Play, Now? at South Coast Repertory
Video

Pacific Playwrights Festival Panel Why This Play, Now? at South Coast Repertory

Sunday 28 April 2013
Cosa Mesa, CA, United States

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California presented a new addition to the 16th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival: a playwrights' panel delving into the question “Why this play, now?” livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 28 April 2013 at 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. EDT (New York) / 16:30-17:15 GMT / 5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m. BST (London).

A drawing of a penguin holding a briefcase.
Why We Wild Plan
Essay

Why We Wild Plan

28 April 2013

Ben Gansky offers steps to optimize a theatre's business platform.

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater

A playwriting masterclass

Thursday 25 April 2013
New York, NY, United States

Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed Watch Me Work from The Public Theater in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 25 April 2013 at 2 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. CST (Austin, UTC -6) / 5 p.m. EST (Montréal, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0) / 23:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1)

Logo for Scriptworks.
Playwrights Doing It For Themselves
Essay

Playwrights Doing It For Themselves

19 April 2013

Christina J. Moore writes about the weirdness of Austin, and how FronteraFest has revolutionized the way the city develops and produces new work.

Skyline photo of Austin, Texas in the U.S.
Austin
Essay

Austin

17 April 2013

Daniel Alexander Jones muses on his lively experiences working in Austin's expanding theatre scene.

The company of Rude Mechs.
Making Friends to Make Shows With to Show Friends
Essay

Making Friends to Make Shows With to Show Friends

16 April 2013

The Rude Mechs explain how their method of including their audiences – inviting them to join in on the creative process – helps to better engage their patrons... and their artists.

A man with a baby chick.
Charles Mee's soot and spit World Premiere livestreamed from Arizona State University
Video

Charles Mee's soot and spit World Premiere livestreamed from Arizona State University

Sunday 14 April 2013
Tempe, AZ, United States

Arizona State University in Tempe's School of Theatre and Film presented the world premiere of soot and spit by Charles Mee livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 14 April at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York) / 21:00 GMT / 10 p.m. BST (London).

Banner event ad for Crying for Lions.
Reading of Steven Young’s The King’s Face at Panglossian Productions
Video

Reading of Steven Young’s The King’s Face at Panglossian Productions

Saturday 6 April 2013 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York)
Williamsburg, VA, United States

Panglossian Productions presented the second installment in its new Plays in Progress series: a live and on-line developmental reading of Steven Young’s new play, The King’s Face, hosted by the New Town Art Gallery in Williamsburg, Virginia, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 6 April 2013 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York). Click here for a conversion into your local time zone.

Banner poster for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays
Video

Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays

Friday, April 5 2013
Louisville, KY, UNited States

Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays presented a livestreaming panel discussion Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York) / 17:00 GMT / 6 p.m. BST (London). Click here for a conversion into your local time.

 

 

The New York Times logo.
Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch
Essay

Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch

5 April 2013

This first set of notes from the NYT Critic Watch projects disects the focus of reviews and if the readers actually agree with them

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work and Lecture at Emerson College
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work and Lecture at Emerson College

Wednesday 3 April 2013
Boston, MA, United States

Emerson College in Boston presented two events involving Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 3 April 2013.

Banner poster for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
The Playwright as Teacher and Student Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays
Video

The Playwright as Teacher and Student Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays

Saturday, March 30 2013
Louisville, KY, United States

Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays presented a panel discussion The Playwright as Teacher and Student livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday, March 30 at 7 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 9 a.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10 a.m. EDT (New York) / 14:00 GMT (London). Click here to find your local time.

 

 

Poster for New American Plays festival.
Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom
Essay

Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom

30 March 2013

Engine31 is a team of twelve journalists striving to serve the artists of Humana Festival by reporting through a pop-up newsroom.

A logo for People's Light.
Being Regional for a Reason
Essay

Being Regional for a Reason

The Revolution Will Not Be Subsidized

29 March 2013

There is no lack of supply of new plays. Now we must make space for them.

Event banner logo for the Cohen New Works Festival.
Keynote Address by P. Carl at the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op
Video

Keynote Address by P. Carl at the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op

Monday 25 March 2013
Austin, TX, United States

Watch the Opening Ceremony for the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op, featuring a keynote address by P. Carl, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 25 March 2013 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 11 a.m. CDT (Austin) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York) / 16:00 GMT (London).