NEW CANAAN, CONN.: The Tow Foundation has announced the third cohort for its Playwrights-in-Residence program. Seven nonprofit theatres in New York City were selected after a competitive application process.
Each theatre will receive a $75,000 grant to support their selected playwright. The playwrights will receive a full-time salary, and will be integrated into the day-to-day operations at their sponsoring theatres. In addition, the theatres will produce a full production of their resident playwright’s play.
“The theatres have full autonomy over what playwrights they choose, and as a result we see incredible diversity in the backgrounds of applicants,” said Emily Tow Jackson, executive director and president of the Tow Foundation, in a statement. “This season’s Playwrights in Residence take on a number of bold topics in their respective plays. Our goal is to help ensure they have the time and space to create their work and the support and mentorship to see their final production to fruition. We are excited to see the new plays they will produce, which we are confident will make important contributions to New York’s cultural fabric.”
The 2017-18 Tow Playwrights-in-Residence are:
- Atlantic Theater Company, Amy Staats
- MCC Theater, Jocelyn Bioh
- New York Theater Workshop, Hammaad Chaudry
- Primary Stages Company, Sharon Washington
- The Public Theater, Patricia Ione Lloyd
- Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Diana Oh
- Roundabout Theatre Company, Alex Lubischer
“Participating in The Tow Foundation’s Playwright Residency Program has been an incredible asset, not only in helping Atlantic develop the work of a great young writer but also in bringing her deeper into our community—be it as an artist, a staff member, or an educator,” said Atlantic Theater Company artistic director Neil Pepe in a statement. “It’s been a truly rewarding collaboration. We’ve accomplished so much with Paola Lázaro over the past year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to extend that same opportunity to the wonderful Amy Staats.”
