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Nocturnal Commissions: A theatrical whirlwind

MONDAY, OCT. 27 

PRESENTATION OF NEW WORKS
DOORS AT 6:30PM; CURTAIN AT 7:00PM 

a one-night-only benefit evening of mini-masterpieces written in minutes by New Dramatists residents and alums—inspired by the prompts of adventurous commissioners.

Are you ready to see your play idea brought to life?

The Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom 
at Houghton Hall Arts Community: 
22 East 30th Street
New York, NY 10016


New Dramatists Writers & Staff Members gather on night one of Nocturnal Commissions 2024 in the houghton hall ballroom.

Resident & Alumni writers gather with New Dramatists staff at Houghton Hall Arts Center, Night One of Nocturnal Commissions 2024.


Graphic Text: WHAT IS NOCTURNAL COMMISSIONS? Nocturnal Commissions is New Dramatists’ whirlwind one-night-only fundraising event where generous supporters are invited to COMMISSION one of our resident or alumni writers to create a short play. THE ONLY CATCH? THE WRITERS HAVE 30 MINUTES TO WRITE THE ENTIRE PIECE. OH - and the actors only have 30 minutes to rehearse it too! Commissions start at $3,000 - or you can witness the madness firsthand by purchasing a performance ticket. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27TH 12PM - Commissioners meet with Playwrights VIRTUALLY 5:30pm - commissioners & their plus ones meet the playwrights for COMPLIMENTARY cocktails & appetizers 6:30PM - DOORS OPEN 7PM - Performance of these made-in-a-moment-masterpieces

image reads: NEW DRAMATISTS PRESENTS NOCTURNAL COMMISSIONS 2025 A WILD NIGHT OF INSTANT THEATER WRITTEN BY AMERICA'S LEADING PLAYWRIGHTS OCTOBER 27TH, 2025

 

THE WRITERS

C.A. Johnson smiling in black and white

C.A. Johnson is a Brooklyn-based playwright originally from Metairie, Louisiana. Her plays include ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS (MCC Theater), THIRST (2017 Kilroys List, CATF), THE CLIMB (Cherry Lane Mentor Project), AN AMERICAN FEAST (NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School),I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW, and SOMEBODY’S BODY....read full bio here


Jorda Seavey smiling outdoors in a jean jacket

Jordan Seavey (he/him/they/them) is a playwright, theater-maker and screenwriter from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Plays include The Seven Year Disappear, Stephen Miller of Santa Monica, Homos, or Everyone in America (OBIE Award for Michael Urie; NYTimes Critic’s Pick; NYMagazine’s 10 Best Theater Events of 2016), Wight, November 4th 2008, The Funny Pain, The Truth Will Out, Children at Play, 6969 and This is a Newspaper... read full bio here

image of Quincy Long

QUINCY LONG Productions: The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite, Atlantic Theatre, starring Felicity Huffman, directed by William H. Macy, and Mark Taper Forum; The Virgin Molly, Atlantic Theatre and Berkeley Rep; Shaker Heights, Atlantic Theatre= Current projects: The Embalmer’s Daughter, an opera, and The Murderman, a play. Quincy is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. a member of New Dramatists and Ensemble Studio Theater. Quincy is from Warren, Ohio and lives in New York City.

...Keith Glover, and more to be announced!

JOIN US AS COMMISSIONER

Receive and see your own mini-masterpiece, inspired by YOUR idea, written by a brilliant resident or alum playwright, performed and directed by some of the incredible talents of Broadway, off-Broadway, and film/TV!

The afternoon of the show, (Monday, Oct. 27 at 12PM ET) commissioners will meet for a brief-45 minute video call to meet your playwrights, and commission your plays (5-minutes, get those elevator pitches ready!)

Once you sign off, playwrights will immediately get to work crafting your idea in only 30 minutes. The plays will be swiftly cast, staged, and rehearsed while you go about the rest of your day. 

From 5:30-7:00PM, commissioners are invited to join the evening's playwrights, as well as ND staff, for complimentary apps and cocktails at a local spot before heading to Houghton Hall for the evening's Presentation of New Works featuring YOUR play.

RESERVE YOUR COMMISSION HERE - $3000

includes your one-of-a-kind commissioned work of art, cocktails/appetizers for you and a guest, and prime seating for two (2) at the Presentation of New Works

or email Emily Bubeck, Development Associate (@email) for more information. 

THIS YEAR'S INTREPID AND GENEROUS COMMISSIONERS INCLUDE:

  • CHARLOTTE ACKERT
    • Food & Beverage Sponsor
  • JILL MATICHAK
    • Luck of the Draw Sponsor
  • ROBIN LYNN
  • ABBIE VAN NOSTRAND

WILL YOU BE NEXT?

JOIN OUR AUDIENCE

Join us at the Fred & Adele Astaire Ballroom at Houghton Hall (22 East 30th Street) for the evening's never-before-seen, never-to-be-seen-again Presentation of New Works, written, directed, and performed by NYC's premier talents.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE - $75

or email Emily Bubeck, Development Associate (@email) for more information. 

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, AUDIENCE MEMBERS CAN JOIN IN THE MIRACLE OF CREATION!

FOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE IN-ROOM DONATION, YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR IDEA FOR A PERSON, PLACE, OR THING. THE FINAL PLAY OF THE EVENING WILL BE WRITTEN ON-THE-SPOT, INSPIRED BY AUDIENCE SUGGESTIONS PULLED FROM A HAT. 

DIRECTORS AND PERFORMERS

TBD - MAJORLY EXCITING NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED!

We wish to express our gratitude to

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION

for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear in this program.

 

THE MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES 

Nancy Giles

Performer, CBS Sunday Morning contributor, and ND favorite Nancy Giles!