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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

Podcast
The Trans History Project: A Cohort of Playwrights and Theatres
by Nicolas Shannon Savard, Bo Frazier
19 May 2026
Podcast
The Trans History Project: Ten Plays in Development
by Nicolas Shannon Savard, Bo Frazier
12 May 2026
Podcast
New Threads, New Forms: MENA/SWANA Dramaturgy and Development
by Nabra Nelson, Marina Johnson, Evren Odcikin
7 May 2026
Photo from Mr. Burns.
Essay
26 September 2013

The world has gone dark, and no one will ever watch The Simpsons again. This is where Anne Washburn begins Mr. Burns: a post-electric play.

Logo for Dramatists Guild.
Video
Tuesday 24 September 2013
New York, NY, United States

The Dramatists Guild of America presented the Dramatists Guild Academy Seminar An Evening With the O’Neill livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. EDT (New York). 

Photo from Annie Bosh.
Essay
17 September 2013

Dani Snyder-Young reviews Janine Nabers' Annie Bosh is Missing at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Essay
19 August 2013

As a young artist, it is inevitable that there will being learning curves including learning how to navigate new works and the delicate relationships of the new work process.

theatreworks ad
Video
Sunday 18 August 2013
Silicon Valley, CA, United States

TheatreWorks’ New Works Festival in Silicon Valley, CA presented a panel discussion moderated by TheatreWorks’ Acting Director of New Works Tom Bruett, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 18 August 2013 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York). 

Scrabble letters spelling Friend.
Essay
15 August 2013

Taylor Gruenloh writes about the importance of producing your friends' work, and how it just might be the future of new play development in the United States.

Photo from Push The Button.
Essay

Making Push the Button

13 August 2013

With one actor playing to one audience member, Garret Jon Groenvelt sought to create a play that entices the audience member to interact with the material.

Photo from A Long Distance Affair.
Essay
12 August 2013

Ana Margineanu and Tamilla Woodard talk about how Skype is changing not only the creative experience for artists but also how and where audiences participate in theatre.

Art that reads Why Did You Come Here.
Essay

The Before- and After-Life of a New Play

8 August 2013

Alice Reagan, with the help of Chiori Miyagawa, explores the necessity of parting ways and coming back together through revamping the process of creating plays.

Poster for I Came To Look For You On Tuesday.
Essay

Why Do They Keep Coming Back?

7 August 2013

Jens Rasmussen, Rachael Holmes, Meg MacCary, and Emily Morse discuss long-term engagement with their project, their unique perspectives, and the significance of reunion. 

Write Now logo.
Essay
7 August 2013

Courtney Sale offers an overview of the new play development conference, Write Now.

Art that reads I'd Like To Remember That.
Essay

Fearlessness and Candor of Reunion Storytellers

6 August 2013

Brian Otaño explores the physical and metaphorical implications of what a reunion provides for us in our journey of being.

Art that reads "We Were Disconnected."
Essay

Hey it’s me. Haven’t heard from you and it’s been two days…

5 August 2013

Chiori Miyagawa continues her series on her play I Came To Look for You on Tuesday. This edition: the concept of reunion and the help of friends.

The Twitter logo.
Essay

Collecting Your Conversation Topics

5 August 2013

For the next two Thursdays @HowlRound will be taking a summer break, but in the mean time post your topics in the comments section here that you want to talk about and/or possibly moderate for future conversations.

Essay
30 July 2013

Adam Szymkowicz writes of the frustrating mystery confounding many playwrights: why do their productions continue to fall through?

A photo from Giver of Light.
Essay
30 July 2013

Allison Vanousewrites about the premiere production of Adam Roberts' Giver of Light, an opera based on the life of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi.

Essay

What My Plays Taught Me

29 July 2013

Stephen Spotswood found that self-dramaturgy can illuminate personal themes and motive deeper analysis of the purpose of the work.

A black and white photo of a mother embracing two children.
Essay
28 July 2013

Norman Allen shares insight into writing a play about Isadora Duncan's life in Bolshevik Russia through the eyes of her adopted daughter Irma.

Two actors embrace onstage.
Essay

Creating A Rock + Theater Collaboration

27 July 2013

Inspired by the Adele’s song for Skyfall, the artists of the new play By and By collaborated with the band The Kilbanes to reframe the experience for the audience members.

Poster for The Underground, which reads "Jump for Love".
Essay
21 July 2013

Vanessa Garcia shares an overview of working on a devised theatre piece.

Banner ad for The Living Room Theatre.
Video
Monday 15 July 2013
Kansas City, MO, United States

The Living Room Theatre of Kansas City, MO presented the livestreaming of The Death of Cupid: A Whiskey Musical livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 15 July at 6 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 8 p.m. CDT (Kansas City) / 9 p.m. EDT (Toronto).

Banner event ad for Crying for Lions.
Video
Sunday 7 July 2013
Williamsburg, VA, United States

 

Panglossian Productions in Williamsburg, Virginia presented their next Plays in Progress program with an in-person and online developmental reading of Andrew Kramer‘s new play Crying for Lions, hosted by The New Town Art Gallery livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 7 July 2013 at 10 a.m. CDT / 11 a.m. EDT / 15:00 GMT.

A logo for People's Light.
Essay

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

23 June 2013

Zak Berkman continues his series on People's Light's New Play Frontiers. This week: the regional theater as matchmaker, and our playwrights begin their residency.

Citywrights banner.
Video
Thursday 20 June to Saturday 22 June 2013.
Miami, FL, United States

City Theatre in Miami, Florida hosted CityWrights 2013—CityWrights: A Professional Weekend for Playwrights livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 20 June to Saturday 22 June 2013.

Event banner ad for force/collision's Trust Me.
Video
Sunday 16 June 2013
Washington, D.C., United States

 

 

Arena Stage in Washington, DC presented a work-in-progess performance of force/collision's Trust Me livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 16 June 2013 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 7 p.m. CDT (Austin) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York).

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