Deadline: April 8, 2022 11:59 PM
The Strides Collective, a Philadelphia-area queer theatre company, is seeking emerging playwrights to participate in a long-term collaborative cohort: The Emerging Playwrights Program 2022 Cohort. This is a remote play development opportunity that will culminate in a live, in-person reading of your work’s progress, as part of our ongoing commitment to serving and providing a safe and productive environment emerging queer playwrights.
The EPP 2022 Cohort will be a five-month-long writers' room from May to October 2022, focused on the growth and future of one work by each Cohort Member, culminating in an in-person presentation celebrating each member’s progress. It is a highly collaborative development process, meant to facilitate the growth of a play that is still a new idea, or one that has been sitting on the back burner.
Submissions are open NOW and will be accepted until 11:59pm on April 8th!
Click on each of the questions below to learn a little bit more about what it means to be emerging and what we’re looking for in our selection process!
The states highlighted in red and marked with triangles are states from which qualifying playwrights may submit (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the Metro D.C. Area)
+ WHAT DOES “EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT” MEAN?
To us, Emerging Playwrights are those who have not had their work fully produced before, or who may not have the resources or means to have their work developed otherwise. Whether you’re young in your playwrighting career or seeking a change of direction in your career path, we’d be happy to consider your work!
+ WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO SUBMIT?
We highly encourage unfinished works - not just a concept, but does not need to be a finished draft.
We are seeking submissions that:
Have not had a full production (workshops and other readings are okay.)
Call for no more than 5 actors (doubling of parts is fine.)
Are a modern play and original in content - not a period piece, adaptation, or musical.
Align with The Strides Collective mission ("...theatrical work by Emerging Playwrights that embraces the queer experience through authentic, modern, and innovative storytelling."
Playwrights must be 18+, queer-identifying folx who are residing in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or Maryland / the Metro D.C. Area). Priority will be given to those in closer proximity to Philadelphia in hopes of having writers present for the culminating reading.
+ WHAT’S THE PROCESS LIKE?
Throughout a member's time in the Cohort, The Strides Collective will devote time and resources towards the artistic development of a full-length play of their choosing, alongside meet-ups with fellow EPP 2022 Cohort members. Some of these offerings include:
A dedicated dramaturg working to facilitate the play's growth;
A selected cast for the culminating reading;
A "graduation gift" of curated resources to offer future support for each playwright and their work.
+ WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROCESS?
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm on Friday, April 8th. Interviews for applicants in consideration will occur on a rolling basis, with final selections made before April 22nd. Cohort meetings will begin remotely May 1st, with the culminating presentation in October in Philadelphia.