NEW YORK CITY: Ensemble Studio Theatre has named the eight recipients of its inaugural “exit” commissioning grant program, awarded to playwrights as they turn 30 and leave EST’s Youngblood program, which is dedicated to under-30 writers.

This year’s graduating playwrights, each receiving a grant of $1,000, are Lucy Gillespie, Paul Cameron Hardy, Patrick Link, Martyna Majok, Anna Moench, Ana Nogueira, Jen Silverman, and Emily Chadick Weiss. The funds for the grants were donated by Tony-nominated playwright and Youngblood alumnus Robert Askins (Hand to God).

Youngblood also announced the new playwrights admitted into the program, including Brittany K. Allen, Cary Gitter, Amanda Keating, Sylvia Khoury, Claire Kiechel, Andrew Massey, Catya McMullen, Ming Peiffer, Christina Quintana, Rebecca Schlossberg, and Kristin Slaney.