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Playwright Residencies

Having a playwright-in-residence at a theatre or other organization can have huge benefits for the writer, the organization, and the community. Much of the content in this section is about or generated by participants in the National Playwright Residency Program, which HowlRound administers in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Don’t miss this series of conversations between playwrights in the program discussing what they’ve learned from being embedded within a theatre company.

The Latest

What Is the African Diaspora?
Video
What Is the African Diaspora?
A Conversation About Afro-Atlantic Culture with Playwright Zainabu Jallo and Africana Scholar Maboula Soumahoro
Sunday 15 October 2023
Minneapolis, MN
A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora
Essay
A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora
by Saymoukda Vongsay, Ova Saopeng, Samson Syharath, Kaysone Syonesa, Lidet Viravong
7 September 2023
On Collaborative Evolution with Friendship at its Core
Essay
On Collaborative Evolution with Friendship at its Core
by Carlyle Brown, Noël Raymond
21 August 2023
artist headshots
Psalm's Salons at Studio
black text studio theatre
Studio Theatre
Video

Psalm's Salons at Studio

A virtual dance party with conversation in collaboration with theatre-maker and emcee Psalmayene 24

Friday 18 September
United States

Studio Theatre presented Psalm's Salons at Studio livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 18 September at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

actors on stage with text PLAYS TO PROGRESS
Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas
blue text Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The O'Neill
Video

Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas

A brief performance followed by a conversation about the resonance of Lockdown, a work by Cori Thomas launched at the O’Neill

Wednesday 9 September 2020
United States

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center presented Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 9 September at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

A Fireside Chat with playwright Betty Shamieh
photo of theater building with text SF PLAYHOUSE
SF Playhouse
Video

A Fireside Chat with playwright Betty Shamieh

Presented by San Francisco Playhouse

Thursday 27 August 2020
San Francisco, California

San Francisco Playhouse presented a Fireside Chat with playwright Betty Shamieh (The Black Eyed, Roar) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 27 August 2020 at 7 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 9 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 10 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

headshots of octavio solis and kate hamill
Rad Adaptation (Radaptation?) with Octavio Solis and Kate Hamill
Video

Rad Adaptation (Radaptation?) with Octavio Solis and Kate Hamill

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Thursday 27 August 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Rad Adaptation (Radaptation?) with Octavio Solis and Kate Hamill livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 27 August 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Anna Ziegler and Geetha Reddy.
Writing Science for Stage with Anna Ziegler, Charly Evon Simpson, and Geetha Reddy
Video

Writing Science for Stage with Anna Ziegler, Charly Evon Simpson, and Geetha Reddy

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Wednesday 19 August 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Writing Science for Stage with Anna Ziegler, Charly Evon Simpson, and Geetha Reddy livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 19 August 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 19:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

text: jeannette, or how to make a musical in a pandemic. six headshots of the event participants.
Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre
Video

Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre

with Ari Afsar, Erin Ortman, Martha Nichols, Jen Bender, and Regina Victor

Thursday 6 August 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 6 August 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

field of sunflowers.
a farm for meme (ASL-interpreted)
cara mia logo.
Cara Mía Theatre
text: allgo in an orange font.
allgo
isdp's logo, made up of the letters i s d and p.
Innovations in Socially Distant Performance
Video

a farm for meme (ASL-interpreted)

A Zoom performance written by Virginia Grise

1 - 2 August 2020
Dallas, TX United States

allgo and Cara Mía Theatre presented a farm for meme livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August 2020, in collaboration with a todo dar productions and Innovations in Socially Distant Performance, an initiative of Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts.

Betty Shamieh.
SEGAL TALKS: Betty Shamieh
Segal_Centre_Logo
Segal
Center
Video

SEGAL TALKS: Betty Shamieh

An update on the situation for theatre artists in the United States

Thursday 23 July 2020
United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Betty Shamieh and Ty Jones livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 23 July 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

Writing Amazing Audio Plays with Madhuri Shekar and Chisa Hutchinson
Video

Writing Amazing Audio Plays with Madhuri Shekar and Chisa Hutchinson

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Thursday 16 July 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Writing Amazing Audio Plays with Madhuri Shekar and Chisa Hutchinson livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 July 2020 at 11:00 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

three actors onstage
We’ve Seen White American Theatre
Essay

We’ve Seen White American Theatre

How Can We BIPOC Now See Ourselves?

2 July 2020

Betty Shamieh offers a response to the “We See You, White American Theater” open letter as a non-Black American of color.

Lifting Up What We’re Throwing Down
Essay

Lifting Up What We’re Throwing Down

Company One’s Use of Amplify Language

23 June 2020

Kirsten Greenidge discusses how being the Playwright in Residence at Company One Theatre gave her a stronger appreciation for the work of the staff, particularly around speaking to the social justice goals of all the company’s programming.

Herbert Siguenza.
Latinx Superfriends Playwriting Hour with Herbert Siguenza
Video

Latinx Superfriends Playwriting Hour with Herbert Siguenza

A Latinx-led playwriting series featuring writers/theatremakers from across the U.S.

Monday 1 June 2020
United States

Tlaloc Rivas presented Latinx Superfriends Playwriting Hour with Herbert Siguenza livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 1 June 2020 at 3 p.m. EDT (New York) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 1 p.m. MDT (Denver) / 12 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 20:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 21:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Tina Fallon, the Dramatist Guild logo, and Deborah Murad.
Building a Playwriting Career with The Dramatists Guild
Video

Building a Playwriting Career with The Dramatists Guild

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Friday 15 May 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Building a Playwriting Career with The Dramatists Guild livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 15 May 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 19:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Ryan Tacata and Erika Chong Shuch
Devised Theatre Class with Erika Chong Shuch and Ryan Tacata
Video

Devised Theatre Class with Erika Chong Shuch and Ryan Tacata

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Friday 8 May 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Devised Theatre Class with Erika Chong Shuch and Ryan Tacata livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 8 May 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 22:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 23:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Event promotion.
Publishing + Theatre Class with Peter Hagen, President of DPS!
Video

Publishing + Theatre Class with Peter Hagen, President of DPS!

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Wednesday 6 May 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Publishing + Theatre Class with Peter Hagen, President of DPS! livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 6 May 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Headshots of Tori Sampson, Leah Nanako Winkler, Larissa FastHorse, and Jonathan Spector.
Comedy + Playwrighting Class!
Video

Comedy + Playwrighting Class!

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday 5 May 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Comedy + Playwrighting livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 5 May 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 20:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 21:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Benjamin Scheuer, Sean Daniels, and a production of Lauren Gunderson's The Heath
Writing the Personal Epic with Benjamin Scheuer + Sean Daniels
Video

Writing the Personal Epic with Benjamin Scheuer + Sean Daniels

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Monday 4 May 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Writing the Personal Epic with Benjamin Scheuer + Sean Daniels livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 4 May 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 19:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

Headshots of Marissa Wolf, Ari Afsar, and Hana Sharif.
Feminism + Theatre with Marissa Wolf, Hana Sharif, and Ari Afsar!
Video

Feminism + Theatre with Marissa Wolf, Hana Sharif, and Ari Afsar!

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday 28 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Feminism + Theatre Marissa Wolf, Hana Sharif Ari Afsar livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 28 April 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 19:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

performance shots of Nic A. Sommerfeld and Scott Turner Schofield
Writing Trans Realities w/ Scott T Schofield + Nic Sommerfeld
Video

Writing Trans Realities w/ Scott T Schofield + Nic Sommerfeld

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Friday 24 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Writing Trans Realities w/ Scott T Schofield + Nic Sommerfeld livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 24 April 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 22:00 BST (London, UTC+1) / 23:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

actors on an outdoor stage
Director - Playwright Class: Lauren talks with Eric Ting
Video

Director - Playwright Class: Lauren talks with Eric Ting

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday 21 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented the conversation Director - Playwright Class: Lauren talks with Eric Ting livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 21 April 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

actors on stage reading from music stands
A Critical Approach: Playwriting, Advocacy and Dramaturgy with Regina Victor and Lauren
Video

A Critical Approach: Playwriting, Advocacy and Dramaturgy with Regina Victor and Lauren

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday 21 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented a conversation A Critical Approach: Playwriting, Advocacy and Dramaturgy with Regina Victor and Lauren livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 21 April 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

actor onstage in front of a pink background
Directors + Playwrights - Lauren talks with Evren Odcikin
Video

Directors + Playwrights - Lauren talks with Evren Odcikin

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Friday 17 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented a conversation Directors + Playwrights - Lauren talks with Evren Odcikin livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 17 April 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

headshot of diep tran
Theatre Journalist + Playwright - Lauren talks with Diep Tran
Video

Theatre Journalist + Playwright - Lauren talks with Diep Tran

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Thursday 16 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented a conversation Theatre Journalist + Playwright - Lauren talks with Diep Tran livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

two actors onstage
"Our Voices Are the Future of Theatre"
Essay

"Our Voices Are the Future of Theatre"

An Interview with Seven Latinx Playwrights During COVID-19

16 April 2020

Playwright Herbert Sigüenza talks to seven of his Latinx playwriting friends about how they’ve been affected by COVID-19, writing during this time, the future of Latinx theatre in the United States, and more.

actors in shakespearean garb
Dramaturgs + Playwrights - Lauren and Martine Greene-Rogers talk
Video

Dramaturgs + Playwrights - Lauren and Martine Greene-Rogers talk

with playwright Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday 14 April 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented a conversation Dramaturgs + Playwrights - Lauren and Martine Greene-Rogers talk livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 14 April 2020 at 12:05 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 2:05 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3:05 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).