Our Playwrights

Nocturnal Commissions Benefit

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024: Commissioning night!
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024: Performance night!

Commission, inspire, and witness the premiere of a custom, never-before seen short play! Click the button below for details about tickets and for information about the bold, luminescent, playwrights of New Dramatists who will answer this year's commissioning call! All proceeds benefit our writers and their new play development work at New Dramatists.

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Latest

Welcome Lauren Holmes, the 2024-2025 Princess Grace Fellow in Playwriting!

Congratulations to Lauren Holmes, recipient of the Princess Grace Award in Playwriting/2024-2025 Fellowship at New Dramatists. 

New Dramatists administers the application process on behalf of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. This year, we will accept open submissions beginning March 1, 2025 until March 15, 2025 OR UNTIL A CAP OF 35O SUBMISSIONS IS REACHED, whichever comes first. Guidelines will be posted in January, 2025.

Welcome New Members of the Resident Company!

New Dramatists, an artistic home and developmental laboratory for professional playwrights, is proud to announce the addition of five writers to its illustrious, dynamic resident playwright company: Nkenna Akunna, Hilary BettisEdwin Rivera-AriasJesús I. Valles, and Deborah Yarchun.

Welcome to Our Fall Bernard B. Jacobs Academic Intern!

For the first time since 2019, we are delighted to welcome a new intern for the fall, Aditri Khadilkar, who has joined us as part of the SUNY Global Engagement Program. Moving forward, one intern per semester will receive academic credit for their work with us. The Bernard B. Jacobs Academic Internship Program was named in memory of the late President of the Shubert Organization, who discovered and mentored many talented theatre people during his lifetime. This program at New Dramatists offers a unique opportunity for early-career theatre artists and managers to learn about artist support and the operations of a non-profit arts service organization in New York City. 

New Dramatists Announces Support for Actors in Memory of Lynn & Ron Cohen

After receiving varied, constant, and numerous gifts from Ron and Lynn Cohen throughout decades of service, New Dramatists has once again been blessed by this extraordinary couple. We are humbled and grateful to announce a donation in their memory by their son, Laurence "Larry" Frazen, to help support actor fees over the next two years.

Jamila Ponton Bragg Joins the Board

New Dramatists is proud to announce the addition of new Board member, Jamila Ponton Bragg. The Board voted unanimously in favor of her membership at the fall Board meeting. Ms. Ponton Bragg’s first meeting as a full and official member was in December 2023.

New Leadership Partners

Christie Brown is named the new Executive Director of New Dramatists, beginning on July 1, 2023. She joins veteran Artistic Director Emily Morse to lead the organization. Brown’s cumulative service to New Dramatists spans 15 years in various leadership roles.

Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre

Congratulations to the winners of the 34th Annual Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre! Lisa Loomer, New Dramatists alumna is the 2024 Kleban Prize winner for most promising librettist and Rona Siddiqui is the 2024 Kleban Prize winner for most promising lyricist.

New Dramatists administers the Kleban Prize on behalf of the Kleban Foundation. Applications for the 2025 Prize are currently under review. Watch this space for announcements about the 2025 winners in January. Click here for application information.

Library Closed

The library remains closed to the public, as we restore in-person programming for writers and their teams of collaborators. Please visit playwright profiles to learn more about New Dramatists playwrights and their work. For script inquiries, please email @email.