Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Mellon Foundation Give $10M to Playwriting Orgs

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation recently awarded nearly $10 million to U.S. playwriting organizations and theaters in the hopes of getting more fresh voices before an audience. The recent grants are a result of a three-year study into the particular problems new plays encounter.

It turns out that developing plays is not the problem. Producing them is. New playwrights often get stuck in “workshop hell,” as Diane E. Ragsdale, the foundation’s program officer for theater and dance, put it. Supporting playwrights directly and creating long-term residencies at theaters were among the recommendations that emerged.

Recipients include Lark Play Development Center, New Dramatists, Sundance Institute Theater Program and the Playwrights’ Center. Three-Legged Dog, a nonprofit media and theater group in New York City, also received a grant. Read the full NYTimes article here.

No comments: