Women’s Work Project
A unique process of developing scripts to production quality
WOMEN'S WORK is an award-winning program comprised of two separate, dramaturgically-driven Labs: 1) The Short Play LAB (SPL) selects 6 emerging women playwrights each year and leads them through a rigorous, step-by-step process to create original 15-30 minute scripts in six-months, written to an assigned theme. The plays are then produced in an annual festival; 2) the Full-Length LAB is for selected alumnae of the SPL to develop longer works over an extended period, with the same guidance and production goals.
Both LABS meet monthly, have submission deadlines, and provide comprehensive and rigorous feedback to the writers. 6-8 directors commit to the full year of the two LABs, both permanent resident directors and guest artists.
NOTE: All LAB members are required to have a COVId-19 vaccination and booster.
in-person attendance is expected for the interview and lab meetings unless the situation changes.
Short Play Lab
The WOMEN’S WORK LAB for short plays provides a supportive and nurturing environment to emerging and mid-career women playwrights while maintaining a rigorous feedback process that leads to production within six months.
Six playwright members are selected each year, along with a similar number of directors. The LAB meets monthly (Sundays) from February through June, allowing for time in between sessions for writers to continue to develop and revise their work in response to specific feedback from the dramaturgical team. Members are expected to bring work to each session beginning with the development of an original short play based upon an assigned theme.
Monthly feedback from the dramaturgs focuses on the nuts and bolts of creating a 15-30 minute script ready for production. In a process unique to NPTC, feedback is given in a unified manner so playwrights do not have conflicting advice about what to work on, and so that the script moves forward according to NPTC's instructions as the producing entity. This approach creates a collaborative group from which members can draw inspiration and energy while modeling professional standards. Scripts are then produced in our annual Women's Work Short Play Festival.
Note: those still enrolled in a degree-seeking program are ineligible for applying.
Application Guidelines For Short Play Lab
PLAYWRIGHTS
Playwrights should apply by midnight, September 30, 2023 by sending the following as email attachments, with the email Subject Line “Women’s Work Application” to contact@nptnyc.org:
Please include:
- a full resume, including specific information on your training as a writer (i.e. degree program, workshops, etc.) and website URL if applicable
- a 10-15 page writing sample from a playscript
- a personal statement explaining your understanding of the purpose of the LAB and why you wish to be a member, including goals for your own growth and development if selected. Please include in this statement how you choose to be identified re: ethnicity and gender (she/they).
(Please note that ALL 3 items are required to be considered.)
DIRECTORS
Directors: A group of six directors is also chosen as part of the LAB. Directors to reading and commenting on all scripts before each meeting, and to being present at all monthly meetings, where consolidated feedback is given to each playwright. The short plays from the LAB are produced in "minimalist" productions in early August. Casting begins in June, with rehearsals in July. Decisions about who is directing which play are made by the directors as a group in May.
Directors should apply by September 30, 2023 by sending as email attachments to newper37@gmail.com. Please include in this statement:
- how you choose to be identified re: ethnicity and gender (she/they).
- a directing resume including website URL
- contact information for three references
- a personal statement explaining why you wish to be part of the LAB incorporating your understanding of its goals and priorities.
The email Subject Line should read “WWP-Directors.”
Full-length Lab
Playwrights who have completed the short play LAB may be invited to submit a proposal for a full-length work and continue with the LAB in the fall. This may be a new play, or a script already in progress. They, too, follow a schedule for presenting longer completed works and rough drafts. In this way, the LAB retains NPTC’s desire to develop full length scripts by women writers while still allowing for continuous creativity. These plays are presented as readings for invited or for public audiences at various stages of development. “Bare bones” productions of full-length scripts are presented as part of NPTC's season when it becomes clear that they will benefit from a full rehearsal process. When resources permit, full productions are scheduled.
Professional Guidance
Artistic Director Melody Brooks oversees both Women's Work LABs; Jenny Greeman, is Associate Manager for the Short Play LAB.
The resident director/dramaturgs for the Full-length LAB are BIANCA LOPEZ, Teresa Fischer and Zoya Kachadurian; they work as a team and commit to the long-term development process as active collaborators with the writers.
