MINNEAPOLIS: The Playwrights’ Center has announced its 2015–16 Jerome Fellows, its McKnight Fellows in Playwriting and the recipient of its McKnight National Residency and Commission. These seven writers will split nearly $150,000 in awards and additional development funds.
“The talent level of these new fellows is just astounding,” said Jeremy B. Cohen, the center’s producing artistic director, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome back writers who have been on fellowships with us before, as well as writers coming to the Center for the first time.”
This year’s Jerome Fellowships, given to emerging playwrights who receive a $16,000 award and a yearlong residency in Minnesota, go to:
- Ryan Campbell, a recent Yale School of Drama M.F.A. graduate whose plays include Preston Montfort–An American Tragedy and Dead Ends
- Basil Kreimendahl, a 2012–13 Playwrights’ Center Core apprentice, 2013–14 Jerome fellow, and 2014–15 McKnight Fellow in Playwriting whose play Sidewinders had its world premiere at San Francisco’s Cutting Ball Theater
- Andrew Rosendorf, whose plays include Cane (Florida Stage), Brilliant Corners (NNPN National Showcase of New Plays) and Tranquil (Lark Playwrights’ Week)
- Keliher Walsh, an actor, director, writer and member of Ensemble Studio Theatre in Los Angeles, where her play Year of the Rabbit was produced in 2012
The Playwrights’ Center has awarded these fellowships in partnership with the Jerome Foundation since 1976, the longest-running fellowship funded by the foundation.
This year’s McKnight Fellowships in Playwriting, intended to further the careers of two Minnesota-based playwrights, which comes with a $25,000 award, $2,500 to support play development and other professional expenses, and $1,400 in travel funds, go to:
- Carson Kreitzer, who is receiving this fellowship for the third time and has also been a Core Writer and Jerome Fellow, whose play Lasso of Truth recently received a National New Play Network rolling world premiere (Marin Theatre Company, Synchronicity Theatre Company, Unicorn Theatre)
- Harrison David Rivers, a 2014–15 Many Voices Fellow at the Playwrights’ Center whose plays include When Last We Flew and And She Would Stand Like This, part of the upcoming Q-STAGE: New Works Series at Intermedia Arts
And this year’s McKnight National Residency and Commission, which funds the creation and development of new work by nationally recognized playwrights and comes with a $14,000 commission, $5,750 in workshop funds, and travel and housing stipends, goes to Erik Ehn, whose work includes The Saint Plays, No Time Like the Present, Wolf at the Door, Tailings, Beginner and Soulographie, a 17-play series on the history of the U.S. in the 20th century from the point of view of its genocides.
Each year, the Playwrights’ Center serves as an artistic home for 35-40 playwriting fellows and Core Writers, in addition to supporting 1,500-plus member playwrights living all over the world. The center was founded in 1971.
Core Writers, Many Voices Fellows and McKnight Theater Artist Fellows will be announced at a later date.
