fbpx New Play Development | HowlRound Theatre Commons

New Play Development

New work is the future of theatre, and this is where you’ll find in-depth content about best practices for its development, as well as pieces about specific work. Consider starting with the essay “Rules of Engagement for New Play Development” and Notes to the Note-Givers; or, Embracing the Paradox.” For musings on the power of new work, watch the video of Todd London’s keynote for the 5th Annual ORIGINKC: NEW WORKS FESTIVAL or read the transcript.

The Latest

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
Video
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
A Playwriting Masterclass
Monday 22 April 2024
New York
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
Video
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
A Playwriting Masterclass
Monday 15 April 2024
New York
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
Video
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Watch Me Work
A Playwriting Masterclass
Monday 1 April 2024
New York
The Annual Young Playwrights Festival at Florida Studio Theatre
Video

The Annual Young Playwrights Festival at Florida Studio Theatre

Saturday 11 May 2013
Sarasota, FL, United States

Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota presented the annual Young Playwrights Festival livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 11 May beginning at 7 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 9 a.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10 a.m. EDT (New York) / 14:00 GMT / 3 p.m. BST (London). ​

Candid photo of Ben Gransky.
How We Wild Plan
Essay

How We Wild Plan

2 May 2013

In this installment, Ben Gansky and Eric Powell Holm talk about making the The Wild Plan.

Pacific Playwrights Festival logo.
Pacific Playwrights Festival Panel Why This Play, Now? at South Coast Repertory
Video

Pacific Playwrights Festival Panel Why This Play, Now? at South Coast Repertory

Sunday 28 April 2013
Cosa Mesa, CA, United States

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California presented a new addition to the 16th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival: a playwrights' panel delving into the question “Why this play, now?” livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 28 April 2013 at 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. EDT (New York) / 16:30-17:15 GMT / 5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m. BST (London).

A drawing of a penguin holding a briefcase.
Why We Wild Plan
Essay

Why We Wild Plan

28 April 2013

Ben Gansky offers steps to optimize a theatre's business platform.

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater

A playwriting masterclass

Thursday 25 April 2013
New York, NY, United States

Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed Watch Me Work from The Public Theater in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 25 April 2013 at 2 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 4 p.m. CST (Austin, UTC -6) / 5 p.m. EST (Montréal, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0) / 23:00 CET (Berlin, UTC +1)

Logo for Scriptworks.
Playwrights Doing It For Themselves
Essay

Playwrights Doing It For Themselves

19 April 2013

Christina J. Moore writes about the weirdness of Austin, and how FronteraFest has revolutionized the way the city develops and produces new work.

Skyline photo of Austin, Texas in the U.S.
Austin
Essay

Austin

17 April 2013

Daniel Alexander Jones muses on his lively experiences working in Austin's expanding theatre scene.

The company of Rude Mechs.
Making Friends to Make Shows With to Show Friends
Essay

Making Friends to Make Shows With to Show Friends

16 April 2013

The Rude Mechs explain how their method of including their audiences – inviting them to join in on the creative process – helps to better engage their patrons... and their artists.

A man with a baby chick.
Charles Mee's soot and spit World Premiere livestreamed from Arizona State University
Video

Charles Mee's soot and spit World Premiere livestreamed from Arizona State University

Sunday 14 April 2013
Tempe, AZ, United States

Arizona State University in Tempe's School of Theatre and Film presented the world premiere of soot and spit by Charles Mee livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 14 April at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York) / 21:00 GMT / 10 p.m. BST (London).

Banner event ad for Crying for Lions.
Reading of Steven Young’s The King’s Face at Panglossian Productions
Video

Reading of Steven Young’s The King’s Face at Panglossian Productions

Saturday 6 April 2013 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York)
Williamsburg, VA, United States

Panglossian Productions presented the second installment in its new Plays in Progress series: a live and on-line developmental reading of Steven Young’s new play, The King’s Face, hosted by the New Town Art Gallery in Williamsburg, Virginia, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 6 April 2013 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York). Click here for a conversion into your local time zone.

Banner poster for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays
Video

Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays

Friday, April 5 2013
Louisville, KY, UNited States

Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays presented a livestreaming panel discussion Charting the Course: New Play Directors in Conversation livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York) / 17:00 GMT / 6 p.m. BST (London). Click here for a conversion into your local time.

 

 

The New York Times logo.
Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch
Essay

Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch

5 April 2013

This first set of notes from the NYT Critic Watch projects disects the focus of reviews and if the readers actually agree with them

Teaser poster for Watch Me Work, which features Suzan-Lori Parks leaning an arm against a bench.
Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work and Lecture at Emerson College
Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work and Lecture at Emerson College

Wednesday 3 April 2013
Boston, MA, United States

Emerson College in Boston presented two events involving Suzan-Lori Parks livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 3 April 2013.

Banner poster for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
The Playwright as Teacher and Student Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays
Video

The Playwright as Teacher and Student Panel at Humana Festival of New American Plays

Saturday, March 30 2013
Louisville, KY, United States

Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays presented a panel discussion The Playwright as Teacher and Student livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday, March 30 at 7 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 9 a.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10 a.m. EDT (New York) / 14:00 GMT (London). Click here to find your local time.

 

 

Poster for New American Plays festival.
Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom
Essay

Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom

30 March 2013

Engine31 is a team of twelve journalists striving to serve the artists of Humana Festival by reporting through a pop-up newsroom.

A logo for People's Light.
Being Regional for a Reason
Essay

Being Regional for a Reason

The Revolution Will Not Be Subsidized

29 March 2013

There is no lack of supply of new plays. Now we must make space for them.

Event banner logo for the Cohen New Works Festival.
Keynote Address by P. Carl at the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op
Video

Keynote Address by P. Carl at the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op

Monday 25 March 2013
Austin, TX, United States

Watch the Opening Ceremony for the Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-op, featuring a keynote address by P. Carl, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 25 March 2013 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 11 a.m. CDT (Austin) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York) / 16:00 GMT (London).

Banner event ad for Crying for Lions.
A Reading of Elford Alley's In Search of the Amherst County Wildman at Panglossian Productions
Video

A Reading of Elford Alley's In Search of the Amherst County Wildman at Panglossian Productions

Saturday 16 March 2013
Williamsburg, VA, United States

Panglossian Productions presented the first installation of its new Plays in Progress series: a developmental reading of Elford Alley's new play In Search of the Amherst County Wildman, hosted by Aromas Cafe Oyster Point in Newport News, Virginia and livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York) / 22:00 GMT (London).

An outdoor sign pointing toward several offices.
Being Regional for a Reason
Essay

Being Regional for a Reason

Investing in Playwrights as Community Builders

6 March 2013

Zak Berkman begins his series on the birth and infancy of New Play Frontiers at People's Light & Theatre. This week: connecting playwrights and theaters to respond to their regional communities.

Logo for ArtsEmerson.
The Shakespearean Jazz Show livestreamed at ArtsEmerson's TNT Festival
Video

The Shakespearean Jazz Show livestreamed at ArtsEmerson's TNT Festival

Saturday 23 February 2013
Boston, MA, United States

ArtsEmerson presents The Shakespearean Jazz Show created by students of Emerson College and Berklee College of Music.

State of Emergency by Shop Floor Theatre Company
Video

State of Emergency by Shop Floor Theatre Company

Saturday 23 February 2013
Flint, MI, United States

Shop Floor Theatre Company of Flint, Michigan presented a performance of State of Emergency livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 23 February 2013 at 4 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. CST / 7 p.m. EST from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Logo for Dramatists Guild.
Forum on New Play Development in the United Kingdom at New Dramatists
Video

Forum on New Play Development in the United Kingdom at New Dramatists

Tuesday 19 February 2013
New York, NY, United States

New Dramatists presented "Over There, Over Here": A Forum on New Play Development in the United Kingdom livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 19 February 2013 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 7 p.m. EST (New York) / (Wed, Feb 20 at 0:00 GMT—London).

Banner ad for Radio Theatre Project Live.
Marcus Gardley’s the rocks are gonna cry out at Studio@620, WMNF, and University of S. Florida
Video

Marcus Gardley’s the rocks are gonna cry out at Studio@620, WMNF, and University of S. Florida

Monday 18 February 2013
Tampa, FL, United States

Radio Theatre Project, including USF School of Theatre and Dance and sponsored by WMNF and the Studio@620, presented a reading of playwright Marcus Gardley’s work the rocks are gonna cry out livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 18 February 2013 at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York) / 23:30 GMT (London).

interim writers logo
Reading of Highland Center, Indiana by John Greiner-Ferris at Interim Writers
Video

Reading of Highland Center, Indiana by John Greiner-Ferris at Interim Writers

Sunday 17 February 2013
Boston, MA, United States

Interim Writers presented a staged reading of John Greiner-Ferris's new play Highland Center, Indiana livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 17 February 2013 at 4:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 6:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 7:30 p.m. EST (Boston).

Howlround's New Play Map.
Rewriting the Script
Essay

Rewriting the Script

Mapping the Development of New Plays in America

15 February 2013

Jamie Gahlon examines The New Play Map, and how it can help us rewrite the trajectory of new plays and new play development in the U.S.