Playwrights at Work: December 2024

Houghton Hall Arts Community: Our Home Away from Home

New Dramatists, a playwright development organization that supports playwrights through seven-year residencies, is itself “in residence” during the current season: It is with gratitude that we announce the totality of our work – administrative and artistic - is taking place at Houghton Hall Arts Community, 22 East 30th Street, while we assess and conduct needed repairs to our building on 44th Street.  

Welcome New Members of the Resident Company!

New Dramatists, an artistic home and developmental laboratory for professional playwrights, is proud to announce the addition of five writers to its illustrious, dynamic resident playwright company: Nkenna Akunna, Hilary Bettis, Edwin Rivera-Arias, Jesús I. Valles, and Deborah Yarchun.

Welcome to the Board!

We are delighted to welcome two new talented individuals to New Dramatists' board of directors this fiscal year: Chisa Hutchinson, recent New Dramatists alumni playwright and Ian Calderon, who brings robust experience from Sundance Institute, and many other institutions. In addition, we welcome Andrea Stolowitz, who fills a rotating current resident playwright seat on the board which was recently vacated by outgoing playwright, Cori Thomas.

Welcome Lauren Holmes, the 2024-2025 Princess Grace Fellow in Playwriting!

Congratulations to Lauren Holmes, recipient of the Princess Grace Award in Playwriting/2024-2025 Fellowship at New Dramatists. 

New Dramatists administers the application process on behalf of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. This year, we will accept open submissions beginning March 1, 2025 until March 15, 2025 OR UNTIL A CAP OF 35O SUBMISSIONS IS REACHED, whichever comes first. Guidelines will be posted in January, 2025.

Welcome to Our Fall Bernard B. Jacobs Academic Intern!

For the first time since 2019, we are delighted to welcome a new intern for the fall, Aditri Khadilkar, who has joined us as part of the SUNY Global Engagement Program. Moving forward, one intern per semester will receive academic credit for their work with us. The Bernard B. Jacobs Academic Internship Program was named in memory of the late President of the Shubert Organization, who discovered and mentored many talented theatre people during his lifetime. This program at New Dramatists offers a unique opportunity for early-career theatre artists and managers to learn about artist support and the operations of a non-profit arts service organization in New York City. 

New Dramatists Announces Support for Actors in Memory of Lynn & Ron Cohen

After receiving varied, constant, and numerous gifts from Ron and Lynn Cohen throughout decades of service, New Dramatists has once again been blessed by this extraordinary couple. We are humbled and grateful to announce a donation in their memory by their son, Laurence "Larry" Frazen, to help support actor fees over the next two years.

New Leadership Partners

Christie Brown is named the new Executive Director of New Dramatists, beginning on July 1, 2023. She joins veteran Artistic Director Emily Morse to lead the organization. Brown’s cumulative service to New Dramatists spans 15 years in various leadership roles.

Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre

Congratulations to the winners of the 34th Annual Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre! Lisa Loomer, New Dramatists alumna is the 2024 Kleban Prize winner for most promising librettist and Rona Siddiqui is the 2024 Kleban Prize winner for most promising lyricist.

New Dramatists administers the Kleban Prize on behalf of the Kleban Foundation. Applications for the 2025 Prize are currently under review. Watch this space for announcements about the 2025 winners in January. Click here for application information.