NNPN Producer in Residence

In 2011-12, NNPN is piloting the Producer-in-Residence program, modeled on its popular Playwright-in-Residence initiative. This program supports eligible early-career new-play producers for a nine-month long residency at an NNPN member theater, and is intended to supplement the training of those who want to dedicate the next phase of their careers to the exploration and production of new work. The program provides a $9,000 stipend to the Resident through the hosting NNPN member theater.

 

PROGRAM RATIONALE AND DETAILS

The program aims to revolutionize the way theaters support new plays by:

• Educating new leaders about collaboration: Producers-in-Residence are introduced to and work with a national Network of like-minded colleagues and theaters that encourages collaboration and works together to address challenges.
• Training early-career producers about successful models: Early-career producers often lack mid-scale production models. The Producer-in-Residence program exposes these professionals via hands-on experience to successful small- and medium-size new-play theaters and their leaders.
• Providing connections to alternative networks: Rather than going straight to New York, where competition for work is fierce, the Producer-in-Residence program introduces its participants to alternative networks of theaters, playwrights and colleagues working in vital theater centers across the country.

In the first few years of this program, NNPN is partnering with Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute, connecting one of their Producing Fellows each year to an NNPN theater via the Residency. NNPN expects to widen the applicant pool after the program's initial phase to include recent graduates of Arts Administration MA programs and the like.

 

2011-12 RECIPIENT

NNPN has awarded a Producer in Residence grant to Ronee Penoi and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Through the 2011/12 season, Ronee will work with Woolly Mammoth in three different areas: bringing devised work into the programming fold, the continued life of Woolly plays and productions, and international partnerships. An exciting aspect of the work she'll do is the creation of a "Devised Work Handbook" that explores the ways in which script-based producers can work with companies that devise work in non-script-based ways.