1949 - 2005
Brief Background History
New Dramatists is the nation’s oldest nonprofit center for the development of talented playwrights. It is a national membership organization that cultivates the work of its resident playwrights through a free, seven-year program of play readings, workshops, educational and career support.
Mission Statement:
New Dramatists is dedicated to finding gifted playwrights and giving them the time, the space, and the tools to develop their craft, so that they can fulfill their potential and make lasting contributions to the theatre.
History:
New Dramatists was founded in 1949 by the playwright Michaela O’Harra, with the assistance of Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, John Golden, Elmer Rice, John Wharton and Moss Hart, as a workshop and monthly craft seminar for young playwrights. Since it’s inception over 53 years ago, New Dramatists has
served over 500 writers.
Tony Honor:
On June 3rd, 2001 The American Theatre Wing and The League of American Theatres & Producers awarded New Dramatists with a special Tony® honor for “nurturing talented playwrights by providing them with the tools necessary for their craft and thus blessing the theatre with new and exceptional works that have assured both a rich theatrical heritage and future for the American Theatre.”
Membership:
New Dramatists has 48 current resident playwrights and has served over 500 writers since its inception. Over 250 writers apply each year for a seven-year term of membership. Applications, which include two full-length plays, are reviewed by an Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee changes yearly and includes current member playwrights, alumni, and theatre professionals. Candidates may reapply as many times as they wish. Membership is free. New Dramatists charges its members neither dues nor fees, seeks no rights to their work, and neither produces nor licenses members’ works.
Programs and Services:
New Dramatists provides its members with a wide array of programs and opportunities. Chief among them is providing member-writers with readings of their works-in-progress, performed by top-notch actors. Many of these readings are open to the public, and are frequently attended by theatre and film and development executives in search of new talent. Other services range from the New Dramatists’ Scriptshare program, which links playwrights with theatres and film companies across the country; to a variety of international exchange programs which foster communication with theatre communities around the world; to clerical support and free photocopying; to workspace and temporary accommodations in “Seventh-Heaven,” on the top floor of the New Dramatists facility.
This page was last updated 11/18/2005