What Is The Mission of the Philadelphia New Play Initiative (PNPI)

The Philadelphia New Play Initiative seeks to improve the climate for new work in the region in the following ways:

  • Galvanize the new play community by encouraging regular interaction and fostering relationships
  • Educate the new play community by offering professional development opportunities and by providing information about new play activities and opportunities, both regional and national
  • Inspire the new play community by creating avenues for exposure to key players in the national new play field
  • Champion the Philadelphia region as a hotbed of new play activity

(We define the "new play community" as playwrights, artistic directors, literary managers, dramaturgs, directors, theatre educators, theatre critics, designers, literary agents and funders)

 

First Date

PNPI Launches Speed-Dating Program for Area Playwrights and Theatres

On June 29, 2009 PNPI conducted a pilot speed-dating event at The Adrienne, involving 10 local playwrights and 10 local theatre leaders (including artistic directors and literary managers from organizations ranging from People's Light and Theatre Company to Nice People Theatre Company). Playwrights sat in a ring of chairs opposite an interior ring of theatre leaders, and each pair had five minutes to chat, before rotating. Theatre leaders discussed their organizations' missions and interest in new work; while playwrights discussed their styles and subjects of interest.

The event proved very successful, as all participants made some new connections, gained valuable insights, and had a positive experience. Here are a few responses to the event:

"Never having done 'speed-dating' before, I found it a curious if fascinating activity. A few things happened that made me understand why 'dating' in general is such a difficult activity. When I meet someone, I'm interested in the person - their warmth, their interests, their interest in me and my organization and what we're trying to do. Is there a reason to keep meeting? If not, that's ok, it seems to me. It doesn't mean I'm not interested in that person's work. What I'm not interested in at a first meeting is being "sold" something. There's not yet any basis for wanting to enter into a transaction of any kind until we know what we share in common. Like almost everyone else on the planet, I'm looking for ways to connect, meaningfully, with other human beings. In my experience, that is the fundamental factor in a successful first date."
- Paul Meshejian, Artistic Director of PlayPenn

"As an early career playwright, it was beneficial for me to meet several literary managers and artistic directors and have an opportunity to hear more about their respective theatres and artistic aesthetics. I am newly aware of specific theatres I might cultivate a partnership with, now or in the future. In addition, having a face-to-face conversation (even if a brief one!) allowed me to walk away with some tangible connections - I feel more confident following up and sending my play to some of the folks I met that day than, say, blindly submitting my work to an unknown contact at a theatre. On a personal note, I enjoy meeting new people and so this event was a good opportunity to chat with cool folks who share my interest in new play development in the region. My advice for playwrights who might attend a future speed-dating event would be to focus on having organic discussions about life, theatre, and your passions as a playwright."
- Genne Murphy, Playwright/General and Program Manager, Philadelphia Young Playwrights

We have since resolved to conduct similar events two or three times per year for the foreseeable future, with each event followed by a "happy hour" at a nearby drinking establishment.

Our next speed-dating event will take place on Sunday, February 21st at The Adrienne (2030 Sansom Street) from 7-9 pm.

Please contact Seth Rozin at SRozin@InterActTheatre.org if you would like to participate in a speed-dating event.

 

Monologue Submissions for Theatre Alliance Auditions

Playwrights residing in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties), Southern New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester) and Delaware may submit up to three (3) monologues to be posted on the Philadelphia New Play Initiative website. The Theatre Alliance will promote this link in its communications with scheduled auditionees.

Monologues should be able to be perfomed in no less than 30 seconds and no more than 150 seconds (2½ minutes).

Each monologue must include the title of the play from which the monologue comes (or the title of the monologue in the case of stand-alone pieces), the name of the playwright, and a brief character description, as follows:

  • Gender (M/F/Either)
  • Age
  • Ethnicity/Race

Each monologue must also be accompanied by a Word file with your entire play, so that prospective auditioners can read the play, if desired.

To upload a monologue for consideration, please click here.

 

Links to Local and National New Play Resources

Who Makes Up The PNPI

The Steering Committee of the PNPI is:

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