PlaywrightsFoundation.org
Title
Playwrights Foundation: Developing New Works by American Playwrights
Description
Mission
Playwrights Foundation, now in its 29th year, is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging local and national American playwrights in the inception and development of new plays that speak to and from an increasingly diverse society. Founded on a deeply held belief that the relevance and vitality of American theater depends upon a continual infusion of new work, Playwrights Foundation sustains a commitment to the playwright who we regard as the creative wellspring of theater. Through its programs the Foundation actively fosters the creative process and the dissemination of new works to national theater producers.
History
Founded in 1976 by Robert Woodruff for the purpose of creating new works of theater with the support and feedback of other playwrights, Playwrights Foundation was one of the first new play development organizations established in the nation. Sustained throughout the years by community members who share a deep belief in the value of new plays, the Foundation continues to encourage the artistic development of playwrights through innovative programs and collaborative relationships between professionals in the field. Alumni of the annual BAPF have gone on to win every major award in the theater world (including the Tony, the Obie, and the Pulitzer). Our alumni include such writers as Nilo Cruz, Sam Shepard, Philip Kan Gotanda, John O’Keefe, Mac Wellman, Brighde Mullins, Bill Irwin, Migdalia Cruz, Anna Deavere Smith, David Henry Hwang, Naomi Iizuka, Prince Gomolvilas, Liz Duffy Adams, Christine Evans and several hundred others.
As our cornerstone program and the heart of the organization, the annual BAPF brings together a select group of playwrights and professional collaborators to engage in an in-depth development process over three weeks. The work leads to public staged readings, complemented by the artwork of selected artists in our Visual Artist Project.
