Topics – Video

Beyond the Culture Wars: A Conversation

Playwright J.T. Rogers and economist Eric Helland have been friends since childhood. Rogers, the author of Blood and Gifts, The Overwhelming and other plays, and Helland, a professor of economics at Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles and a former adviser to the White House under President George W. Bush, found themselves, as they grew to adulthood, engaged in raging political disagreements. One ongoing argument concerns the propriety and the efficacy of public funding for the arts. On more than one occasion, Rogers and Helland have been asked to share their well-reasoned disagreements with an audience. The latest such event was an early-August session at New Dramatists, organized by American Theatre magazine and dubbed by the speakers “Beyond the Culture Wars: Arts Funding in America, Part 2.”  Read More

Video: Todd London - I Don’t Want to Talk about Innovation: A Talk about Innovation

Artistic Director Todd London, Executive Director Joel Ruark and resident playwright/board member Deborah Stein attended the National Innovation Summit for Arts & Culture in Denver, Colorado from October 20 - 22 as invited representatives of New Dramatists. Todd's speech I Don’t Want to Talk about Innovation: A Talk about Innovation was featured as part of the Artists as Agents of Change session of the summit.  Read More

First Full Stage USA Project to Hit the Stage as Cornerstone Debuts New James McManus Play in November

New Dramatists resident James McManus is the first of five playwrights commissioned through Full Stage USA - a joint-project between ND and partner theaters across the country - to have his play debut. Los Angeles' Cornerstone Theater Company opens Love on San Pedro on November 7.  Read More

The Class of 2020: What Does Seven Years Mean to You?

Carla Ching, Jennifer Haley, Samuel D. Hunter, Chisa Hutchinson, Kristen Kosmas, Mona Mansour and Mark Schultz, whom together comprise the incoming playwright Class of 2020, kick-off their seven-year residencies at New Dramatists by answering the question "what does seven years mean to you?"  Read More

Sibyl Kempson and John Collins in Conversation at Walker Art Center

Elevator Repair Service director John Collins and New Dramatists resident playwright Sibyl Kempson talk about their creative process, both in general and in the making of Fondly, Collette Richland.  Read More

Playwright-to-Playwright: The After Seven Festival Video Series

In this video series celebrating the 2013 After Seven Festival, we randomly paired the eight out-going playwrights of New Dramatists and asked them each to, after spending 7-years in each others' company either directly or universally, consider something they needed to know from that person and then to pose the burning questions.  Read More

Fellows Feature: 2012/13 Van Lier Fellows, Pt. 3 - The Plays

In early 2012, three writers were selected by three outside adjudicators to be Van Lier Fellows: Jackie Sibblies Drury, Brian Otaño and Charise Castro Smith. In conjunction with the upcoming Van Lier Festival, in a series of brief segments, Van Lier Coordinator Kristoffer Diaz engages the Fellows in conversation about influences, dream collaborators and the plays on which they are currently working. This is part two of three.  Read More

Fellows Feature: 2012/13 Van Lier Fellows, Pt. 2 - Dream Collaborators

In early 2012, three writers were selected by three outside adjudicators to be Van Lier Fellows: Jackie Sibblies Drury, Brian Otaño and Charise Castro Smith. In conjunction with the upcoming Van Lier Festival, in a series of brief segments, Van Lier Coordinator Kristoffer Diaz engages the Fellows in conversation about influences, dream collaborators and the plays on which they are currently working. This is part two of three.  Read More

Fellows Feature: 2012/13 Van Lier Fellows, Pt. 1 - Influences

In early 2012, three writers were selected by three outside adjudicators to be Van Lier Fellows: Jackie Sibblies Drury, Brian Otaño and Charise Castro Smith. In conjunction with the upcoming Van Lier Festival, in a series of brief segments, Van Lier Coordinator Kristoffer Diaz engages the Fellows in conversation about influences, dream collaborators and the plays on which they are currently working. This is part one of three.  Read More

Fellows Feature: Matthew Paul Olmos

In this six-minute segment, Rogelio Martinez, New Dramatists alumnus, and former Princess Grace Award winner, and Matthew Paul Olmos, winner of the 2012 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting, discuss Matthew's award-winning play, "so go the ghosts of mexico", part one of a trilogy, writing process, influences and where they stand on the question, is theatre dead?  Read More

U.K. New Play Development Forum Video and Storify Now Available

Watch video and read the Storify transcription of the follow-up Twitter conversation for OVER THERE, OVER HERE: A Forum on New Play Development in the U.K. right here.  Read More

Taylor Mac Reveals His Inner Thoughts in Short Film "Walk"

In this beautiful 2007 short film by Matthew Snead, ND resident playwright Taylor Mac makes his way across London and shares some of his inner thoughts.  Read More

My America: The Subcontractor

by Andy Bragen, resident playwright

Centerstage in Baltimore commissioned 50 short monologues based upon the theme of “My America” from a wide variety of American playwrights, including a number of New Dramatists and New Dramatists alums. These monologues were then directed and filmed by the prominent Indie film director Hal Hartley. My monologue The Subcontractor is one of these fifty.  Read More

Barbara Hammond Shares Advice for New Playwrights

Resident playwright Barbara Hammond speaks with the website Scripts and Scribes about her newest works. She discusses how she came to be a writer, what her biggest lessons have been, and shares advice for new playwrights.  Read More

Kirsten Greenidge: Inspired by the Huntington

In 1986, Kirsten Greenidge attended a student matinee performance of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. The experience was a seminal one for her, one that inspired her to become a playwright.   Read More

Sylvan Oswald Discusses His New Play "Profanity"

Resident playwright Sylvan Oswald explores Philadelphia and the roots of his play Profanity, which is being presented on May 17 and 18 as part of Soho Rep's 2011/12 Studio.  Read More

I AM THEATRE: Marcus Gardley

Theatre Communications Group's I AM THEATRE captures pivotal moments in the lives of theatre-makers in an online video series. This project will raise awareness for the theatre field and champion the diverse group of people who are creating, supporting, and engaging with theatre. TCG has graciously allowed New Dramatists to re-post videos related to our current resident playwrights, alumni and family of collaborators.  Read More

I AM THEATRE: Michael John Garcés’

Theatre Communications Group's I AM THEATRE captures pivotal moments in the lives of theatre-makers in an online video series. This project will raise awareness for the theatre field and champion the diverse group of people who are creating, supporting, and engaging with theatre. TCG has graciously allowed New Dramatists to re-post videos related to our current resident playwrights, alumni and family of collaborators.  Read More

March 2012 at New Dramatists

Director of Development Christie Brown gives you the low down on what's happening at New Dramatists during the month of March. Come on down to the Church and join us.  Read More

I AM THEATRE: Kwame Kwei-Armah

Theatre Communications Group's I AM THEATRE captures pivotal moments in the lives of theatre-makers in an online video series. This project will raise awareness for the theatre field and champion the diverse group of people who are creating, supporting, and engaging with theatre. TCG has graciously allowed New Dramatists to re-post videos related to our current resident playwrights, alumni and family of collaborators.  Read More