NEW YORK: Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the recipients of its third round of the 2019 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $415,000, allow nine productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team. The goal of the awards is to extend the life of the world premiere plays beyond their first run.

“The third round of the 2019 Edgerton Awards once again demonstrates the vibrant diversity of the new play sector,” said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG, in a statement. “With the longer rehearsal processes made possible by the Foundation’s support, these world premiere productions are more likely to reach their full potential and go on to many subsequent productions.”

This round of recipients includes:

• Bliss by Emma Lively and Tyler Beattie at the 5th Avenue Theatre
• Paris by Eboni Booth at Atlantic Theater Company
• Swept Away by John Logan with music and lyrics by the Avett Brothers at Berkeley Repertory Theatre
• Sanctuary City by Martyna Majok at New York Theatre Workshop
• The Copper Children by Karen Zacarías at Oregon Shakespeare Festival
• 72 Miles to Go… by Hilary Bettis at Roundabout Theatre Company
• The Canadians by Adam Bock at South Coast Repertory
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander at the Old Globe
• Dhaba on Devon Avenue by Madhuri Shekar at Victory Gardens Theater

“The rehearsal time supported by an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award is invaluable to the script and character development, and historical and cultural framework of The Copper Children,” said Nataki Garrett, artistic director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in a statement. “Most importantly, the extra time assembles the full creative team for the first time to dive into the complex material as a group.”

“Our Edgerton New Play Award for Madhuri Shekar’s Dhaba on Devon Avenue affords us the resources to extend rehearsals for two weeks in lead up to its world premiere,” said Erica Daniels, executive director of Victory Gardens Theater, in a statement. “It allows us to give this wonderful addition to Victory Gardens’ signature Chicago Play Cycle.”

The Edgerton Foundation New Plays Program, directed by Brad and Louise Edgerton, was piloted by Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles in 2006 by offering extended rehearsals for the entire creative team, including playwrights, to two musicals in development. The Edgertons launched the program nationally in 2007 and have supported 430 plays to date at over 50 theatres nationwide.