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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
Banner poster for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
Video
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.
Essay
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.
Essay

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.
Video
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.
Video
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.
Essay

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.
Video
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.

Video
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.
Video
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.
Video
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
Video
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.
Essay

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.

The Twitter logo.
Essay

Join Us for an "Idea Hackathon" on Sharing Resources & Infrastructure!

12 February 2013

This weeks Howl is going to be our attempt at an "idea hackathon" to brainstorm how the theatre community at large can share resources and infrastructure

Video
Thursday 31 January 2013
Baltimore, MD, United States

Generous Company in Baltimore, Maryland presented Gumbo, a six-night festival of new works from theater, visual arts, and music blurring the lines between art and neurobiology, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 31 January 2013 at 4:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 6:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 7:30 p.m. EST (New York).

A portrait of David Copelin smiling.
Essay
25 January 2013

David Copelin writes about being a dramaturg and a playwright, and the frustrations and gifts of self-critique.

Five actors pose for a group photo in front of a white wall with a window on the left.
Essay

Easy to Revere, Tough to Recreate

24 January 2013

Alex Barron on the challenge of finding leadership to make collectives like 13P work.

Logo for One Minute Play Festival.
Video
Sunday 20 January 2013
Trenton, NJ, United States

The One-Minute Play Festival and Passage Theatre presented The 3rd Annual New Jersey One-Minute Play Festival livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 20 January 2013 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 7 p.m. EST (New Jersey). Use Twitter hashtags #1MPF and #howlround to join the conversation.

The cover for Outrageous Fortune by Todd London and Ben Penser, which features two dice with tragedy and comedy masks on their sides.
Essay

Success on Whose Terms?

10 January 2013

David Dower traces the landscape for playwright residencies in the American theatre, advocating the need for redefining what success looks like in these programs.

Portrait of Deanna Downes.
Essay

A Revolution Not Yet Dead

27 December 2012

Deanna Downes on her experience assisting in the development of Party People, and the lessons she is carrying into her own work as a director.

Logos for National Performance Network and Visual Artists Network.
Video
Friday 14 December and Saturday 15 December 2012.
Philadelphia, PA, United States

National Performance Network presented ten performances and one panel from their Annual Meeting in Philadelphia livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 14 December and Saturday 15 December 2012.

Logo for Playwright's Center.
Video
Wednesday 5 December 2012
Minneapolis, MN, United States

The Playwrights Center presented a live information session for their Many Voices Program, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 5 December 2012 at 4:30 p.m. PST / 5:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. EST.

A portrait of Stephen Adly Guirgis
Essay

Stephen Adly Guirgis

6 December 2012

Todd London on playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.

A hand writing.
Essay

How Do Young Writers Forge Their Artistic Identities?

28 November 2012

Kimberly MacCormack writes about the idea that young playwrights don't just have something to say – they have the ability to speak to experiences they've yet to have through the art of voyeurism.

Playlabs logo.
Video
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Minneapolis, MN, United States

The Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis presented the panel A Culture For New Work as a part of PlayLabs, their national festival of new plays,livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 21 October 2012.

Logo for 13P.
Essay

13P's End Days

8 October 2012

Maria Goyanes on the conscious imploding of 13P, death, endings, choice and the lessons to be learned from the closing of a curtian.

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