Labyrinth Theater Company's New Play Development Programming https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2016/labyrinth-theater-companys-new-play-development-programming https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Labyrinth Theater Company's New Play Development Programming

Additional Information
Used for	Support from The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation will help underwrite Labyrinth Theater Company’s Barn Series and Up Next Series, as well as our general new play development activities. These endeavors support artists at all stages of their careers with the guidance, mentorship, and feedback they need to grow as playwrights. Your grant will help us sustain a dynamic, artistic home that playwrights can return to each time they create a new piece.
Benefits	Our play development efforts, which include the Barn Series and Up Next Series, typically result in the development of 50 new pieces of American theater, contributing to the vibrant American theater canon. In addition, Labyrinth will continue to thrive as a haven where artists return again and again, while also continually welcoming and nurturing diverse, fresh voices.
Proposal Description	A Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation grant will support our Barn Series and Up Next Series, which, in conjunction with our robust play development activities, seed the next great dramatic works, showcases new talent, and incubates innovative works on our stage. Barn Series Our popular Barn Series features free staged readings of plays by Company members and guest artists. Each play is presented after 15 hours of rehearsal, and the playwrights remain actively engaged throughout the process. Through workshop rehearsals and the presence of an audience at culminating performances, the Barn Series helps writers to identify "what works" and "what doesn't.” We have not yet selected all our Barn Series readings for FY17, but the partial list includes ALL WILL BE FORGIVEN EVENTUALLY by Cusi Cram; BEAUTEOUS by Craig Mums Grant; and THE JOKERS by Greg Keller. Our FY17 Barn Series will take place in spring 2017 over the course of 1-2 weeks, with exact dates TBD. The Barn Series provides a unique opportunity for playwrights to deeply analyze their work with the guidance and support of Labyrinth's artistic staff and selected directors. In addition, Labyrinth encourages artist feedback on the program to ensure it continues to best serve each writer’s needs: in past years, the Barn Series provided two public readings with less rehearsal time but our writers encouraged us to reduce the number of public readings for each play from two to one in order to increase the number of working hours at the table for the playwright, actors and directors. Ultimately, this Series gives our artists new opportunities to make their voices heard and gives audiences the chance to play their part in the process. Numerous plays presented in the Barn Reading Series have gone on to be produced on Labyrinth’s mainstage or at other regional theaters; of our four most recent plays selected for production (EMPANADA LOCA, THE WAY WEST, HOMOS OR EVERYONE IN AMERICA, and DOLPHINS AND SHARKS) three began their lives in the previous year’s Barn Series. The Barn Series, combined with the Summer Intensive, provides a pipeline of new work for our mainstage season. Up Next Series Now in its second year and designed to primarily serve emerging writers of color, the Up Next Series provides seven early career playwrights a 29-hour workshop that culminates in a free public reading before an invited audience. In FY17, the Up Next Series will include: THE BLACK FRIEND by Keli Goff; SUMMER SESSION WITH BONES BRIGADE by Kirby Fields; SCRAPS by Geraldine Inoa; THE SUPREME LEADER by Don Ngyuen; ASHE by Ricardo Perez Gonazalez; DIDO OF IDAHO by Abby Rosebrock; and THE REVOLVING CYCLES TRULY and STEADILY ROLL'D by Jonathan Payne. Workshops and readings will be scheduled monthly throughout the season based on each playwright’s schedule, and are free to our loyalty program members. Play Development Labyrinth’s New Play Development programming runs year-round and is helmed by Artistic Director Mimi O’Donnell and Artistic Associate Kevin Snipes. Labyrinth Company members and guest artists at all stages of their careers are invited to submit projects in varying stages of development for consideration, and are also encouraged to submit work by other artists they are familiar with. In addition, Mimi and Kevin receive submissions via agents, literary managers and other industry professionals for consideration. Together they evaluate the proposals and select projects to support to varying extents depending on each project’s needs and our capacity to support them. Our staff then works with artists to help them shape a development schedule best suited to the strengths and weaknesses of their project. In addition to our Barn Series and Up Next Series, the programs and resources we offer include: Summer Intensive: Company Member actors, playwrights, and directors come together to work on new pieces within a supportive ensemble setting. Previously held out-of-town as a retreat, the Intensive is now an ongoing multi-week program in New York City to make it more accessible to our artists. As always, the Intensive is the dedicated time of year when every Company Member is given carte blanche use of the theater and its resources to work on a new play of their choosing. In FY17, our Summer Intensive took place in July at Labyrinth’s Bank Street Theater, and consisted of 14 new projects including plays by longtime Company members Cusi Cram, Bob Glaudini, Greg Keller and Brett C. Leonard. 29-hour Development Workshops: These workshops support promising plays that could benefit from an extended rehearsal period with actors and a director in order to solve a final dramaturgical and logistical problem with the script. These workshops are scheduled on a case-by-case basis throughout the year. Customized Artist Support: In addition to our more traditional programs, we may offer artist residencies, presentation opportunities, research and editing help, or mentoring as needed. Company Member artists or outside artists with whom we have a relationship can come to us at any time if they need space, admin support, or readings for a project outside of our normal new play development schedule. By keeping our Up Next Series and Barn Series free and offering numerous opportunities for our audiences to see new work in development, Labyrinth maintains a commitment to keeping development events accessible to New York City’s diverse population of theatre-goers. No one should be denied access to the arts because of cost, so our free play development series ensure that anyone hungry for new work has the chance to be part of that experience. Conclusion Labyrinth serves as an important home for diverse voices, both emerging and established, and the vibrant work they create. Over 25 years, Labyrinth has become a beacon in the field for artists and audiences seeking challenging, non-traditional plays in all stages of development. With your help, Labyrinth will continue to perform daring and untraditional theater, reach and engage diverse audiences, and offer resources to artists at all stages of their career. Thank you for your consideration of this grant request.