Playwriting

The Latest

Finding Creative Freedom Through Commitment

Essay

Finding Creative Freedom Through Commitment

Reflections on a Six-Year Residency

by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, Lisa Steindler

8 August 2019

Confessions of a Sexist Playwright

Essay

Confessions of a Sexist Playwright

by Jerrod Bogard

25 July 2019

A Manifesto for Staging Gendered Violence

Essay

A Manifesto for Staging Gendered Violence

by Sharanya .

11 July 2019

Finding Creative Freedom Through Commitment

Essay

Finding Creative Freedom Through Commitment

Reflections on a Six-Year Residency

8 August 2019

Playwright Peter Nachtrieb and artistic director of San Francisco’s Z Space, Lisa Steindler, talk about the National Playwright Residency Program, getting out of your comfort zone, making a living as a writer, and more.

Confessions of a Sexist Playwright

Jerrod

Bogard

Essay

Confessions of a Sexist Playwright

25 July 2019

Jerrod Bogard talks about sexism, theatre, and unpacking his invisible knapsack.

The Afro-Atlantic Playwright Festival Closing Roundtable

Playwrights' Center

Video

The Afro-Atlantic Playwright Festival Closing Roundtable

Hosted by the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis

Sunday 14 July 2019

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Playwright's Center in Minneapolis presented the Afro-Atlantic Playwright Festival Closing Roundtable livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network on Sunday 14 July 2019 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Minneapolis, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:00 UTC+0.

a lone dancer against a black background

A Manifesto for Staging Gendered Violence

Sharanya

Essay

A Manifesto for Staging Gendered Violence

11 July 2019

Sharanya shares her thoughts on restaging gendered violence, including how the representation of sexual violence has the power to be scripted and also to script, the importance of de-spectacling violence, and more.

Try Not to Make a Mess When You Smash That Window In Protest

Rebecca Benzie

Fraser

Essay

Try Not to Make a Mess When You Smash That Window In Protest

8 July 2019

Rebecca Benzie Fraser uses Her Naked Skin as an example in the exploration of the different decisions made when it comes to staging violence by women and staging violence against women.

A group of people posing for a photograph

Reimagining the Relationship Between Playwrights and Institutions

HowlRound

Theatre Commons

Essay

Reimagining the Relationship Between Playwrights and Institutions

Announcing an Open Call for the Third Round of the National Playwright Residency Program

5 July 2019

Applications for the third round of the National Playwright Residency Program, an intervention into the traditional relationships between artists and institutions, are now live!

Calling in the Spirits

Pearl

Cleage

Essay

Calling in the Spirits

How Theatre Can Help Us Tell the Truth

20 June 2019

Playwright Pearl Cleage discusses playwriting, activism, and how theatremakers can help save the world in this excerpt from her keynote speech at the 2019 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference.

Directing and Embracing Open Texts

Kate

Bergstrom

Essay

Directing and Embracing Open Texts

11 June 2019

Kate Bergstrom investigates the open text, looking at how theatremakers approach the form, the balance between respect for the script and unique interpretation, and more.

Disability, Identity, and Representation

Andrea

Kovich

Essay

Disability, Identity, and Representation

Notes from a Dramaturg

27 May 2019

Andrea Kovich talks about the glaring need for more disabled theatremakers, the importance of new plays and musicals, and working with a disabled dramaturg during a new work’s development.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

Public Theatre

Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

A playwriting masterclass

Monday 20 May 2019

New York City

Watch Me Work is a play with an action and dialogue — it’s also a meta-theatrical, free writing class! Come join us. Livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 20 May 2019 at 2 p.m. PDT (Vancouver) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (Montréal) / 22:00 UTC +0 (London).

Discovering Your Authentic Voice As a Playwright

Herbert

Sigüenza

Essay

Discovering Your Authentic Voice As a Playwright

19 May 2019

Herbert Siguenza, co-founder of the Latino performance troupe Culture Clash, talks about his unconventional writing path, his time working with the collective, and finding his unique voice.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

Public Theatre

Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

A playwriting masterclass

Monday 13 May 2019

New York City

Watch Me Work is a play with an action and dialogue — it’s also a meta-theatrical, free writing class! Come join us. Livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 13 May 2019 at 2 p.m. PDT (Vancouver) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (Montréal) / 22:00 UTC +0 (London).

The Gift

Pearl

Cleage

Essay

The Gift

The Importance of Difficult Conversations Between Collaborators

12 May 2019

Playwright Pearl Cleage reflects on the power of truth-telling to find common ground and discusses how Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA is working to confront the legacy of Southern racism.

The PEN World Voices International Play Festival

Segal

Center

PEN AMERICA world voices festival: Open Secrets text

PEN World Voices

Video

The PEN World Voices International Play Festival

at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Monday 6 May to Thursday 9 May 2019

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Center presented the PEN World Voices: International Play Festival 2019 livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Monday 6 May to Thursday 9 May 2019.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

Public Theatre

Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

A playwriting masterclass

Monday 6 May, 2019

The Public Theater, New York City

Watch Me Work is a play with an action and dialogue — it’s also a meta-theatrical, free writing class! Come join us. Livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 6 May 2019 at 2 p.m. PDT (Vancouver) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (Montréal) / 22:00 UTC +0 (London).

What Does the Play Need?

Vera

Starbard (Tlingit/Dena’ina)

Essay

What Does the Play Need?

Why I Cancelled a Workshop in Favor of a Two-Week Trip Through Rural Alaska

6 May 2019

Playwright Vera Starbard (Tlingit/Dena’ina) reflects on her journey through rural Alaskan Native communities to reawaken the ancestral spirit of her work, Native Pride (and Prejudice).

New Works Panels from the ORIGINKC New Works Festival

KCRep

Video

New Works Panels from the ORIGINKC New Works Festival

at Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Saturday 4 May 2019

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Repertory Theatre presented two New Works Panels from the ORIGINKC New Works Festival livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 4 May 2019.

On Seeing and Being Seen

Kirsten

Greenidge

Essay

On Seeing and Being Seen

30 April 2019

Playwright Kirsten Greenidge talks about what it means to see and be seen in theatre.

Harry Newman’s Dry Time

Segal

Center

Video

Harry Newman’s Dry Time

at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Monday 29 April 2019

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center in New York City presented a reading of Harry Newman's Dry Time livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Monday 29 April 2019 at 1:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 3:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 4:00 p.m. EDT (New York).

2019 PPF Playwrights Panel: Playwrights and Institutional Change

South Coast Repertory

Video

2019 PPF Playwrights Panel: Playwrights and Institutional Change

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa

Sunday 28 April 2019

Costa Mesa, California

South Coast Repertory presented the 2019 Pacific Playwrights Festival Playwrights Panel: Playwrights and Institutional Change livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 28 April at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco) /11 a.m. CDT (Chicago) /12 p.m. EDT (New York) / 16:00 GMT / 5 p.m. BST (London).

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

Public Theatre

Video

Suzan-Lori Parks' Watch Me Work from The Public Theater, New York

A playwriting masterclass

Monday 22 April 2019

The Public Theater, New York City

Watch Me Work is a play with an action and dialogue — it’s also a meta-theatrical, free writing class! Come join us. Livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 22 April 2019 at 2 p.m. PDT (Vancouver) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 5 p.m. EDT (Montréal) / 22:00 UTC +0 (London).

a table with a scone, coffee, and spilled coffee beans

Buy a Scone, Feed a Playwright

Mora V.

Harris

Essay

Buy a Scone, Feed a Playwright

9 April 2019

Mora V. Harris offers suggestions for what organizations can do if they can’t afford the travel costs associated with bringing an artist from out of town.

Fritz Kater’s Heiner 1-4 (Berliner Ensemble): A Celebration of Heiner Müller’s 90th Birthday

Segal

Center

Video

Fritz Kater’s Heiner 1-4 (Berliner Ensemble): A Celebration of Heiner Müller’s 90th Birthday

at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Monday 8 April 2019

New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center in New York City presented Fritz Kater’s Heiner 1-4 (Berliner Ensemble): A Celebration of Heiner Müller’s 90th Birthday livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Monday 8 April 2019 at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York).

From Kosovo

Essay

From Kosovo

A Playwright Who Provokes Change

4 April 2019

Karen Malpede sits down to talk with Kosovar playwright and provocateur Jeton Neziraj about freedom and theatre.

white outline of germany with text STOLEN

A staged reading of Stolen

PMJ Productions LTD

Video

A staged reading of Stolen

A new play by F. Lynne Bachleda at Rich Mix in London

Monday 1 April 2019

London, England

PMJ Productions presented a staged reading of a new play by F. Lynne Bachleda, directed by Prav MJ at Rich Mix, London livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 1 April 2019 at 11:30 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7) / 2:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 18:30 UTC / 7:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1).