Deadline: August 31, 2023
Over the next two years InterAct will commission three plays to be written about and with Philadelphia communities that are under-represented on local (and national) stages. The second commission will focus on the city’s community of Southeast Asians, specifically those displaced by the wars in Southeast Asia.
InterAct Theatre Company is seeking U.S.-based playwrights who would be interested in immersing themselves in deep and ongoing conversations with this diverse community and ultimately crafting a singular story that centers this community.
Selected playwrights will receive a $15,000 commission, support for extensive play development both in and apart from the relevant community (including travel & local housing for playwrights based outside Philadelphia), and a guaranteed production (ideally in InterAct’s 2025-26 season)
InterAct will support the development of each of The Philly Cycle play in four distinct ways:
• Facilitating partnerships with community leaders and community organizations as resources for playwrights to fully mine the worlds of their plays. For this play, we are partnering with three local organizations: The Cambodian Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, Laos in the House, and VietLead.
• Identifying and engaging fully professional artistic teams, including directors, dramaturgs, actors and others, as desired.
• Coordinating private workshops and public readings of each play, including in-progress readings on-site in relevant communities.
• Providing ongoing dramaturgical consultation with InterAct’s artistic staff throughout the process
Submissions will be evaluated in a two-phased process, within the context of conversations already underway with leaders in the Philadelphia Southeast Asian community.
Phase 1: InterAct artistic staff will evaluate all applications, advancing those that are best aligned with the guidelines, vision and/or spirit of The Philly Cycle. Producing Artistic Director, Seth Rozin, and Literary Manager, Chaz T. Martin, will conduct (virtual or in-person) interviews with applicant playwrights.
Phase 2: InterAct will re-engage community partners and leaders in conversation about the final short list of candidates, and together make a final decision.