New Dramatists conducts a thoughtful, rigorous admissions process that ensures the equitable distribution of our resources to the next generation of playwrights. Each year, 5 to 8 playwrights are selected to join the company while another 5 to 8 residents complete their seven-year residencies. Our outreach and selection process spans nine months and consists of four rounds, in which a panel of seven theatre professionals, purposely diverse in all aspects—including race, age, gender, ability, sexual orientation, as well as in aesthetic and geographic backgrounds—collectively winnow down the list of applicants, by consensus, to determine a new incoming group.
This new cohort joins one of the most diverse and eclectic communities of writers found anywhere. Of our 62 playwrights of the 2017-18 season (including incoming and outgoing classes and four fellows), 52% are of a non-white ethnic origin, 56% are female
3% are nonbinary, 31% identify themselves as belonging to the LGBTQ+ community, and nearly 75% reside in New York City.
Their work runs the gamut from traditional “well made” plays, to cutting-edge experimental theater, to TV, film, and other media.
POST-RESIDENCY: NEW DRAMATISTS ALUMNI
Since 1949, over 700 outstanding American playwrights have been served by New Dramatists. Many of those writers began at New Dramatists as unknowns and earned national notoriety while in their residencies here.
Kristoffer Diaz, Cori Thomas, Matthew Paul Olmos, Emily Morse, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, J. Julian Christopher, Lloyd Suh, Stefanie Zadravec, and Monet Hurst-Mendoza at the 2018 Spring Luncheon
2017-2018 Admissions Roundup
Total number of applications received in July, 2017: 478
Number of semifinalists after January, 2018 meeting: 88
Number of finalists after March, 2018 meeting: 24
Percentage admitted in May, 2018: 1.5%
Since its founding in 1949 by Michaela O'Harra, a largely unknown female playwright, New Dramatists has operated on the maxim that ALL artists of outstanding artistic merit deserved to be heard. Expressed through our annual admissions process, we balance our transparent and rigorous review of applications with thoughtful outreach, to encourage a truly representative spectrum of new writers to apply for residency.
• Any playwright may apply for a New Dramatists residency with two full-length plays, a resume, and a statement of interest.
• The seven-person admissions panel changes completely every year. The panel is comprised of three current resident writers, two New Dramatists alumni playwrights, and two outside theater professionals. Serving on the committee is one of the essential ways that playwrights govern the organization.
• Staff facilitate the process but do not participate in any way in admissions decisions.
• First round reviews are conducted blindly (playwrights’ names are not disclosed to the readers).
• When needed, New Dramatists alumni volunteers participate in the first-round review and assist our seven-person committee.
• Over the course of the 9-month circulation period, each panelist reads between 160-180 plays.
On September 11, 2017, we welcomed the class of 2024, to a capacity house in the newly named Seth Gelblum Theatre. The New Playwright Welcome kicked off our 2017-2018 season by celebrating the newest members of our resident playwright company. The evening includes reading of excerpts from each playwright's work and introductions by members of New Dramatists community.
Johnna Adams Skinless, introduced by Aditi Brennan Kapil (Class of 2021) & Kara Lee Corthron (Class of 2023)
Boni B. Alvarez Ruby, Tragically Rotund, introduced by Matthew Paul Olmos (Class of 2021)
Kirk Wood Bromley Doggo Dumps Fammy, introduced by Matthew Freeman (Class of 2021)
Morgan Gould No Day but Monday, introduced by christopher oscar peña (Class of 2017)
MJ Kaufman Narwahls: Unicorns of the Sea, introduced by Sylvan Oswald (Class of 2016) & Melisa Tien (Class of 2022)
Aya Ogawa Ludic Proxy, introduced by Kate Cortesi (Class of 2023) & Connie Hall (staff member)
Jiehae Park Peerless introduced by Chisa Hutchinson (Class of 2020)
Andrea Stolowitz Berlin Diary, introduced by Arlene Hutton (Class of 2005)
AFTER SEVEN is New Dramatists' annual festival celebrating the playwrights who are completing their seven-year residencies. On June 20, 2018, we gathered with Joshua Allen, Mia Chung, Kristoffer Diaz, Barbara Hammond, Lucas Hnath, David Wiener, and Stefanie Zadravec for a full day of readings, tributes, and toasts!
1:30pm Inception: excerpts of plays that writers were working on when they were accepted into New Dramatists. 4:00pm: Realization: excerpts of work explored by writers midway through their residencies. 7:00pm New Beginnings: excerpts from current plays and works in progress.
The Princess Grace Award in Playwriting was created by the Princess Grace Foundation–USA in 1994 to seek out and support exceptional, emerging American playwrights. The Award provides an early-career writer with a year-long residency at New Dramatists, a $7,500 stipend, mentoring from New Dramatists playwrights, and a publication opportunity with Samuel French.
The Fellow is chosen through a rigorous, balanced process of initial reader reviews and Finalist consideration by a three-person panel of outside theatre professionals, and selected from a national applicant pool. New Dramatists staff facilitate the process but do not directly participate in selection or decision-making.
Admission Statistics for the 2017-2018 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting
Applicant pool: 262 Semifinalists: 51 Finalists: 12 2017-2018 Fellow: Donja R. Love
Donja won the Princess Grace Award in Playwriting for the first play in The Love* Plays trilogy, Sugar in our Wounds. New Dramatists celebrated the culmination of Donja's residency on April 20, 2018, with a reading of Fireflies, the second play in the trilogy.
Learn more about applying for the Princess Grace Fellowship Learn more about Donja R. Love Learn more about the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and its other awards in theatre, dance and film.
In June 2018, New Dramatists celebrated New Dramatists’ 2016-18 Van Lier Fellows with culminating open work sessions: The Adventures of American Muslims by Hammaad Chaudry;In the Blood: Darjeeling Spill the Tea! by Keelay Gipson; and Lilia by Monet Hurst-Mendoza .
The Van Lier Fellowship intends to help young, economically disadvantaged playwrights living in New York City who are U.S. citizens from minority populations (e.g. Asian American, African American, Native American, Arab American, Latino, etc.), develop their talent and gain entry in to the professional theatre community.
Each ND Van Lier Fellow receives a two-year (July 2016-June 2018) tailored fellowship residency, with playwright mentors and meetings, public presentations of their work, and other residency benefits; and a cash grant of $10,000 per fellowship year.
BREAKOUT OF 2016 VAN LIER APPLICATION PROCESS: Application Requirements: Applicants must be current residents of New York City (one of the 5 boroughs); under 30 years of age; and demonstrate financial need. 2016 Applications: 48 Selected Fellows: Hammaad Chaudry, Keelay Gipson, and Monet Hurst-Mendoza
Van Lier Fellowships are supported by the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund at the New York Community Trust. New Dramatists received this most recent round of Van Lier funding after a 3-year hiatus, during which New Dramatists reconceived its Fellowship program plan and outreach strategy.
