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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
Essay

MSP

14 February 2012

Joe Waechter writes about Minnesota, and the unique space that it provides for developing, performing, and thinking about new work.

Video

"Open Access - Old School vs New School Programming"

27 January 2012
Washington, D.C., United States

The difference between old school and new school programming, a demonstration in two acts.

Podcast

Taylor Mac

20 January 2012

David Dower talks to performance artist, playwright, and composer Taylor Mac on this week's edition of Friday Phone Call.

Essay

In Search of the Artistic Home

19 January 2012

In the latest installment of our Artistic Home series, playwright Aditi Kapil speaks with Jamie Gahlon about finding her home in new play development.

Video

@upnextbayarea blogs about "Theatre via Livestream"

12 January 2012
Washington, D.C., United States

Two teens converse about #NEWPLAY TV, the #newplay initiative

The Twitter logo.
Essay

Jan 9 Daily News & Opps Sourced from the #NewPlay field

10 January 2012

What's happening in the #NewPlay world this week? Check out the roundup for January 9th, 2012.

Video
Sunday 8 January 2012
Brooklyn, NY, United States

651 ARTS presented a pre-show chat for Marc Bamuthi Joseph's Word Becomes Flesh livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 8 January 2012 at 12 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 3 p.m. EST (New York) / 8 p.m. GMT (London).

The cover of Stand Up Tragedy, a play by Bill Cain. The title of the play is etched into the bottom of a shoe.
Essay
1 December 2011

"I keep thinking about these orphaned plays, which were in fact once loved. Where do they fit in the new play lifecycle of American Theater?"

Portrait of P. Carl.
Essay
23 November 2011

P.Carl, a founder of HowlRound highlights some quotes from articles published in the first year of HowlRound.

Essay
20 October 2011

As he becomes the President of the TCG Board of Directors, Philip Himberg shares his hopes for the impact and value new plays and playwrights can bring to America.

A man and a woman look at each other and read from a script.
Essay
14 September 2011

Playwright Anne García-Romero writes about the LoNyLa Writers Lab, which uses live video streaming to facilitate script development workshops for one play, in three cities.

Essay
12 September 2011

David Dower, the Co- Artistic Director of ArtsEmerson, wrestles with the role of being a producer for a new play.

Actors performing martial arts in a line.
Essay
4 September 2011

Composer and Sound Designer Robert Kaplowitz writes about the tendency in mainstream American theater to focus on servicing and clarifing one single idea.

The cover of Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who.
Essay
28 August 2011

From Horton Hears a Who, Jeni Mahoney connects the world of Dr. Seuss' book to the theatre world, drawing a line from Jo-Jo and Whoville to playwrights and artists.

An illustration of cartoonish tan figures against a black background.
Essay
22 August 2011

Following up to a piece for the Brooklyn Rail on Gesamtkunstwerk, playwright Lydia Stryk contrasts the German practice with contemporary American theatricality and collaborative practices.

Portrait of Liz Engleman holding a boat paddle.
Essay
17 July 2011

Liz Engelman has turned to nature and the outdoors for inspiration and respite, finding joy and greater authenticity in her dramaturgical work.

a map of the National New Play Network.
Essay
8 July 2011

Dramaturg Margot Melcon interviews Jason Loewith about the new play development sector, and opportunities theatres can take advantage of.

Essay

What's Fabulous Got to Do with It

1 June 2011

The playwright James Still mueses on creativity, the role of the inner and outer creativity, and finding happiness in unlikely places in the journey of creating new work for his keynote adress at the Cohen New Works Festival at the University of Texas at Austin on March 28th, 2011.

Essay
1 May 2011

Aaron Carter and Erik Ramsey suggest a taxonomy for new play development techniques to serve as a reference for playwrights and developers to avoid the "zombification" of new plays.

A portrait of Josh Tobiessen
Essay
18 April 2011

"I was used to having a play produced every year and I assumed that the next production would come easily. I wasn’t expecting the lull that followed."

Essay
6 March 2011

Ed Stern, former Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Playhouse, shares his experiences of curating new works and the reactions of the community; both good and bad.

Essay
21 February 2011

Peter Sinn Nachtrieb interviews Marc Masterson on his position as Artistic Director of the Actors Theater of Louisville and how to create a collaborative environment for new work.

The Skyline of Portland, Oregon.
Essay
13 February 2011

In this final installment of the series From Scarcity to Abundance: Capturing the Moment for the New Work Sector, P. Carl interviews David Dower on the results of the convening, and his assertion that new plays are in a state of abundance, not scarcity.

Essay
11 February 2011

In this installment of the series From Scarcity to Abundance: Capturing the Moment for the New Work Sector, Anthony Werner interviews Richard Montoya of Culture Clash on the importance making marginal voices heard.

Essay
10 February 2011

In this installment of the series From Scarcity to Abundance: Capturing the Moment for the New Work Sector, Anthony Werner interviews Derek Goldman of Arena Stage on how the abundance in theatre is found in partnerships and collaborations.

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