Orchard Project Labs

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Deadline: March 10, 2021

Applications for the 2021 Orchard Project labs are now open — all due March 10, 2021. Programs include the OP Performance Lab, Audio Lab, Episodic Lab, and Greenhouse Program.

The Orchard Project today announced its 2021 lab programs, expanded and shifted in response to the ongoing challenges facing performing artists nationally and worldwide. During a time of industry transformation, reckoning, and instability, the Orchard Project is taking steps to do even more to support the most innovative artists and diverse voices, helping creators to explore, create, and share their work in new ways given the current absence of live collaboration.

This year, more than 30 projects will be selected to participate in the Orchard Project's programs. Each will receive support in flexible, collaborative environments that put faith in artists to create new works. In 2021, our offerings will remain virtual.

In summer 2021, the Orchard Project will offer:

The Orchard Project Performance Lab, for professional makers of live performance, either staged in traditional or digital venues;

The Orchard Project Greenhouse Program, for collaborators generating multiple new works and collaborations in a multitude of forms;

The Orchard Project Episodic Lab, for writers working on the advancement of original TV scripts; and

The Orchard Project Audio Lab, for early development of scripts and ideas in the audio storytelling form.

Learn more about the labs or apply online at https://secure.orchardproject.com by March 10, 2021.

The Orchard Project has updated its application process, so please read carefully — especially if you've applied in the past.

All applications are now submitted via a common, simplified application.

There is no application fee at all to apply to any Orchard Project program.

While applications had historically been evaluated by a small reading panel that centered on OP staff, applications will now be read by a diverse panel of 30+ readers.

A full rubric and explanation of evaluation criteria for our application process has been posted online in order to be as transparent as possible.

ABOUT THE ORCHARD PROJECT
For more than ten years, the Orchard Project has become the go-to new work development workshop for many of America’s boldest companies and artists. Orchard Project’s flexible, form-fitting support has provided countless artists, companies, and productions a much needed kickstart through its programs ranging across forms. To date, the Orchard Project has supported more than 1,200 artists and 250 shows from All the Way and its sequel The Great Society to 33 Variations to Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus to Amelie:The Musical; from work of Savion Glover to Mike Bartlett to Annie Baker to Rachel Chavkin to Taylor Mac to Dave Malloy. Even in a performance world stunted by COVID, new shows created at the Orchard Project have been keeping digital audiences engaged at theatres like the Center Theatre Group and American Repertory Theatre, and others, ranging from letter writing plays to immersive outdoor experiences, have been born out of recent labs. Since the launch of its labs, the OP has also played a significant role in the development of new works produced on and off Broadway and at theaters including St. Ann's Warehouse, The Geffen Playhouse, MCC Theatre, BAM, Arena Stage, Philly Live Arts, PS122, The Public Theatre, Atlantic Theater Company, the Edinburgh Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Rep, the Royal Court, and more. Work created at the Orchard Project has also been turned into films distributed through HBO Films (All The Way), Universal (The Riot Club), and optioned into television projects at HBO, Netflix, and AMC Networks.