TYSONS, VA.: 1st Stage has announced the playwrights selected for its new Commissions of Solo Work program. The company will support 11 artists from across the country in developing new works through digital workshops and readings. 1st Stage plans to present full productions when it is safe to reopen the theatre.
“These incredible artists represent the theatre community from coast to coast and will bring to our theatre stories told in boundary-breaking new ways,” the company said in a statement. “Through these commissions of solo work, 1st Stage is working to build and strengthen the body of work available in the American theatre to include a diverse and inclusive array of multi-generational voices. We believe that our community can emerge from this pandemic closure stronger than ever before. As we work with the Solo Work Commission artists, we’ll keep our community in the loop through workshops, readings, and digital updates. It is our hope that you will one day see these stories on our stage and in theatres around the country.”
The selected artists include Frank Britton, Jasmin Cardenas, Gary-Kayi Fletcher, Khanisha Foster, Jeremy Keith Hunter, Caleen Sinnette Jennings, James J. Johnson, Natsu Onoda Power, Brian Quijada, Juan Francisco Villa, and Justin Weaks.
Founded in 2008, 1st Stage serves as a cultural hub for the community in producing theatrical productions, hosting professional musicians, orchestras, and visual artists, and providing educational opportunities.
