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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
event poster for watch me work with suzan lori parks.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 23 March 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

event poster for watch me work with suzan lori parks.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 2 March 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

event poster for torches a conversation with aya ogawa.
Video

TORCHES: 30+ Years of Downtown Performance

Monday 2 March 2026
New York City

On 2 March 2026, TORCHES will continue with a conversation with the nuanced and provocative award-winning writer, director, and performer Aya Ogawa. 

event poster for watch me work with suzan lori parks.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 23 February 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

A laptop with a play in progress typed on it.
Essay
11 February 2026

Playwright Enid Brain explores the artistic and political potential of the closet drama as an alternative to restrictive new play development processes. 

A promotional graphic for Watch Me Work.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 9 February 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

event poster for the tune up! love revolution.
Video

LOVE REVOLUTION Season One, Episode 4

Thursday 5 February 2026
New York City

The Tune Up! is a new episodic performance series created by Suzan-Lori Parks (SLP) and directed by Niegel Smith. It centers SLP and The Joyful Noise in a feature-length variety show that blends short plays, original music, and high-voltage performance on themes that unite us in our shared humanity. 

A promotional graphic for Watch Me Work.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 2 February 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

A promotional graphic for Watch Me Work.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 26 January 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

A promotional graphic for I Don't Know How They Do It
Essay
26 January 2026

This month’s diarist is a dramaturg with a full-time job at an arts service organization and a toddler at home. With a strong support system and an even stronger commitment to getting up early, she makes time for playdates in between work travel and freelance projects. 

A promotional graphic for Watch Me Work.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 12 January 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

teaser image for Basil Twist interview.
Video

TORCHES: 30+ Years of Downtown Performance

Monday 12 January 2026
New York City

Basil Twist is an award winning puppeteer (including MacArthur and Rome prizes) and director of HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program.

A promotional graphic for Watch Me Work.
Video

A Playwriting Masterclass

Monday 5 January 2026
New York City

Watch Me Work, facilitated by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a virtual communal work session for nurturing creativity. Hosted by the Public Theater, these Zoom and HowlRound livestream sessions are accessible worldwide, allowing participants to join from home, school, or anywhere with internet access.

headshot of Abhishek Majumdar.
Video

A Reading of a New Play in Development With an Indian and Pakistani Cast

Thursday 4 December 2025
New York City

Behram Khan, set amid the brutal trenches of World War I, follows an Indian soldier in the Lahore Light Infantry who finds his faith in Islam and renounces violence. The reading will be followed by a panel discussion.

event poster for AfroLatine Superfriends Playwriting Hour.
Series

AfroLatine Superfriends Playwriting Hour

An AfroLatine-Led Playwriting Series Featuring Writers/Theatremakers from Across the United States

A group of people posing for a photograph
Series

Playwrights In Dialogue 

Conversations from the National Playwright Residency Program

In-depth conversations between playwrights in the National Playwright Residency Program. 

Series

Where the Grass is Always Greener

This series explores the exciting new play development happening along the US/Canada border.

Series

Team Awesome Robot producing series 

Theatre company Team Awesome Robot documents their production timeline.

Series

Submitting Like a Man

The project examines what happens when a woman resubmits scripts to previously rejected opportunities, this time using a man’s name.

Series

Triple Play

A discussion on Triple Play, an initiative exploring what artists and administrators can do to entice casual ticket buyers to see more new plays.

Series

NNPN Rolling World Premiere

Weekly series of interviews examining the process of developing a new play through the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere as part of their Continued Life of New Plays Fund.

Series

Playwriting Peer Review Series

This three-part series explores the “Why” behind one playwright project’s choice to utilize peer review for play selection, the “How” to implement it, and “What” the end result has been.

Art that reads Why Did You Come Here.
Series

Reunion Series

A series on the process of producing I Came to Look for You on Tuesday by Chiori Miyagawa.

Series

Twin Cities

A series featuring voices from in and around the Twin Cities' theatre communities.

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