National New Play Network commissions Peter Sinn Nachtrieb

Peter Sinn Nachtrieb is one of the funniest Americans; wrote one of its most widely-produced plays; and has nabbed the first fruits of a fantastic program from New Dramatists. As if that weren't enough, Peter will be coming in as guest faculty to teach a playwriting workshop at Carnegie Mellon this spring.

NNPN TAPS PLAYWRIGHT PETER SINN NACHTRIEB FOR $25,000 FULL STAGE USA COMMISSION!

NNPN proudly announces the selection of playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (Boom, Hunter Gatherers, BOB) for the first of five Full Stage USA commissions sponsored by New York's New Dramatists.  This aggressive commission-through-development-to-production grant provides $25,000 to the selected playwright, travel and development resources at New Dramatists, and $40,000 in subsidies for eventual production.

Funded by a gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Full Stage USA will provide a total of five grants over the next several years.  New Dramatists playwrights selected NNPN and four other producing partners for the program over the summer; New Dramatists will announce the other four producing partners in the next few months.  In each case, a New Dramatists playwright will be selected to receive a commission award of $25,000, and the partner will receive a subsidy of up to $50,000 upon commitment to production.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

Nachtrieb's proposal for a play about lying in contemporary America was evaluated alongside fourteen others submitted by New Dramatists writers.  NNPN's 26 member theaters voted on the projects and ultimately selected Nachtrieb, a writer familiar to many of them through previous work developing scripts.  The playwright has developed or premiered scripts with NNPN member theaters Marin Theatre Company and Woolly Mammoth.  NNPN's Full Stage project aims to ultimately produce the commission via the Continued Life of New Plays Fund, which creates Rolling World Premieres across a minimum of three theaters within a single year.

"I am honored and excited to receive this opportunity from NNPN and New Dramatists," said Nachtrieb.  "I love how this commission not only offers substantial financial support, but also provides abundant resources for the development, collaboration and production of the play. I think it's going to help me create something really awesome."

"The thought of Peter Sinn Nachtrieb collaborating on a new play with the 26 NNPN theaters, who are together remapping the American theatre, is terrifically exciting," said New Dramatists Artistic Director Todd London.  "Because Peter is a national member of New Dramatists (from San Francisco), we're also delighted to offer him, through Full Stage USA, two years of enhanced developmental time while he's readying the play for production.  We can't wait to see which three of the NNPN theaters step forward to produce his work once he's written it."

It begins with the scream of a train whistle...

Of such honors as I have received, none has come with quite the same aura as the Whitfield Cook Prize, which my new play A Maze received this year. The award is the legacy of screenwriter Whitfield Cook, who collaborated with Hitchcock on Stage Fright and Strangers on a Train. I am awed by the idea of having profited... from murder.

A great opportunity - New Dramatists seeks spring interns

Bernard B. Jacobs Internship Program 

New Dramatists seeks interns to assist in all areas of administration in supporting a company of resident playwrights. The New Dramatists internship experience offers a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a professional, non-profit arts organization in New York City. As essential members of the New Dramatists staff, the interns provide administrative, maintenance, creative, and clerical support. They serve as the first face of New Dramatists, staffing our front office and serving as liaisons to the many professionals who seek out our resident playwrights’ work. In addition to stage managing for play readings and workshops, the interns work as full-time assistants in our Literary, Casting, Development and Administrative offices. While the interns are not hired within a specific department, their professional aspirations often guide their experience to be focused on a particular discipline.

The New Dramatists internship program provides crucial early-career training to theatrical professionals and has proven to be a reliable stepping stone to careers both within the field as well as at New Dramatists specifically. Two of our current staff members previously held internships here: Morgan Allen (General Manager) and Erin Detrick (Artistic Programs Administrator). Several of our current resident playwrights also once held New Dramatists internships: David Adjmi, Zakiyyah Alexander, Jason Grote, Deborah Stein, and Anne Washburn.

An internship with New Dramatists provides great exposure to the playwright’s process, and serious involvement in the many workshops and readings that happen in the building. Our interns are invited to all of New Dramatists’ public events and are given access to complimentary tickets to Broadway and Off- Broadway productions. Throughout the season, we offer several intern workshops led by our resident playwrights and staff. These workshops focus on the craft of playwriting, on issues affecting the industry, on careers in the theatre, or on topics of interest specifically voiced by the interns. Recent workshops include sessions with Daniel Alexander Jones, David Grimm, Adam Bock, Sarah Ruhl, Anne Washburn & Dominic Taylor.

The best candidates will thrive in a fast-paced environment, have strong written communication skills, computer and general office skills, work well independently, and be incredibly organized. Self-motivated, enthusiastic individuals excel in such an environment, because an internship at New Dramatists is truly what you make of it.

Application Details: A complete application should include: 1) the application form; 2) a statement of interest; 3) two letters of recommendation from theatre professionals; and 4) your resume. Visit our website to fill out an application. The application deadline for the spring internship (January 3 – May 27) is December 1. (There are also internship periods in the summer and fall.)

His fists hit hard, and his rage runs red-hot.

Now playing in Washington, D.C.: Cherry Smoke by CMU Dramatic Writing alum James McManus, a Princess Grace Award winner and a brand-new resident playwright of New Dramatists. Cherry Smoke was first produced in the New Works Series at CMU as Jim's thesis production. He was one of six guests we brought in to advise the Class of 2010 on their careers when the class traveled to NYC for their graduate showcase last spring.

A Welcome for the New Dramatists class of 2017

(fanfare)

(hushed silence)

Annie Baker!
Daniel Beaty!
Madeleine George!
Sibyl Kempson!
James McManus!
Peter Sinn Nachtrieb!
Betty Shamieh!
Francine Volpe!

(processional march of the playwrights)

(unfettered dance of the gorgeous crazy loons)