 |
| Clockwise from top left: Barbara Hammond, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Susan Mosakowski, John Walch and Jenny Schwartz |
It's been an honor to spend the last two weeks at New Dramatists, an artistic home and creative laboratory for talented, professional playwrights, for the twelfth annual PlayTime Developmental Studio.
This was my second invitation to participate. The PlayTime Developmental Studio is an in-house retreat for five New Dramatists resident playwrights. Designed to give them the time and space they need to explore, workshop, rethink, and revise in the company of fellow playwrights, artistic collaborators including directors, designers, and actors and New Dramatists staff. Set within the context of their seven-year residencies with New Dramatists, PlayTime offers these writers one of the most extended, intensive developmental processes possible within our year-round artistic program. PlayTime is part of New Dramatists’ commitment to giving its writers more workshop time to experiment and refine without the pressures of production. This year’s playwrights are Barbara Hammond, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Susan Mosakowski, Jenny Schwartz and John Walch.
Time and space to explore, workshop, rethink, revise
Additionally New Dramatists residents Carlos Murillo and Julie Marie Myatt participated as resource playwrights, supporting the developmental process for the five PlayTime playwrights.
The five projects rehearsed on a rotating schedule, with time off for rewrites. Surrounding the rehearsals were group events – meals, yoga classes, collaboration meetings, and daily artistic cross-pollinating tea-times – to foster community and exchange.
It has been absolutely invigorating to watch these plays spring forth! And every artist present; from those who are brand new in town to folks who've been treading the boards for decades was brilliant, warm, and generous. I felt especially lucky to get to work with Barbara Hammond, whose play Norman & Beatrice captivated me years ago, and director Tea Alagic whose work I first encountered at what I consider one of NYC's most important companies - The Women's Project.
Thank you New Dramatists, one and all! Till next time!
Thank you New Dramatists, one and all! Till next time!
