In order to maximize our resources in support of our resident company of playwrights, and without a firm date for reopening our building, New Dramatists has decided to again, suspend admissions for the 2021-2022 cycle, and extend the residencies for all 59 current residents for another year. Read on for full announcement and details.
We are proud to announce two new board members, ND alumni Sharon Bridgforth and Qui Nguyen. The board voted unanimously in favor at the last board meeting held on March 18, 2021; the two will be joining the Board for their first meeting on June 17, 2021. Follow the link below to learn more about these two extraordinary additions to our board.
Dear Friends of New Dramatists,
We’re writing with an update about our continued monitoring of Covid-19 pandemic concerns, which is keeping our beloved Church building closed for the time being. We are elated by the news of multiple effective vaccines and increased vaccine supply. President Biden’s assertion that we may start to find moments of much-needed personal relief in the summertime – if Americans continue to be careful and practice effective mitigation – makes us truly hopeful. We’re also very aware, however, of the troubling news that virus variants are quickly spreading in the US, including one specific to the New York City area, which seems to be more contagious, and scientists fear it may be partially resistant to current vaccine protection. President Biden’s stated hope for a gradual return to a little more normalcy, largely relates to our private lives and is reliant upon the vast majority of Americans continuing to practice effective mitigation. The issues that face us, as we chart the course for New Dramatists as a workplace and employer, remain quite complex. We do not know for certain what our 2021 operating liability insurance will look like, but we’ve received enough initial guidance to expect that communicable disease exclusion riders will remain in place. In the coming weeks, it’s also expected that OSHA will issue emergency Covid-19 workplace standards, which will add new Covid-19 regulations for workplaces like ours. The CDC’s mitigation guidelines are still quite robust and specific about the risk of contracting Covid-19 from indoor spaces. And, it’s unfortunately still the case that our lovely, unventilated building with no HVAC system, remains classified as a high-risk indoor space for any size gathering or daily work. Given all these factors, while we cheer on the daily announcements of positive news, we are not yet at a point when we can begin to plan a building reopening.
View the 2021 virtual awards ceremony hosted by Tony winners and Kleban board members, Richard Maltby, Jr. and Maury Yeston, with musical performances by this year's recipients.
Lyricist Benjamin Scheuer and co-librettists Melissa Li and Kit Yan have been selected as the winners of the 31st annual Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre. While the award celebrates the artists' career work overall, all three winners recently created works that center the transgender community and experience. Click here to read the full announcement on Playbill.
New Dramatists administers the Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre on behalf of the Kleban Foundation.
New Dramatists is electing to extend our pause of facility operations and programs, and will be closed to the public until further notice. We are also suspending admissions for a full season, and extending the residencies of all 51 current resident playwrights for a full year to compensate for lost time and access to our resources during quarantine. Read our full statement on changes we are making in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
