26 MILES by Quiara Alegría Hudes
AGNES UNDER THE BIG TOP: A TALL TALE by Aditi Brennan Kapil
END DAYS by Deborah Laufer
JERICHO by Jack Canfora
COLLAPSE by Allison Moore

“In grad school I was writing politically, socially-derived works, not blockbusters. I saw very little future for my voice. Then NNPN invited me in... I am not only a better writer because of my association with them, but I am a better artist, and witnessing their generosity, a better person. ”

-Sean Christopher Lewis, Playwright-in-Residence 2008

 

“NNPN not only lives up to its mission of championing ‘the development, production, and continued life of new plays,’ but also champions the authors of those new plays in the long journey from page to stage.”

-John Biguenet, Rising Water, Shotgun

“I can't say enough about the impact the Continued Life Program had on my play. That elusive and desirable thing called 'buzz' that consecutive productions can create… very much became the case for Love Person. Three productions grew to six thanks to NNPN.”

-Aditi Brennan Kapil

“The National New Play Network is so vital and necessary - one of those really bright ideas - that one wonders why it took so long for theaters to get together and create it.”

-Yussef El Guindi, Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes

 

 

“[NNPN’s] professional network is as vital (and unique) as the artistic support -- I've not found any other group that offers both.”

-Eric Coble, For Better

"The generosity and vitality of this unique and much needed organization ultimately benefits playwrights, theatres, audiences and the culture."

-David Rambo, The Ice Breaker

“[CLNPF] secures for the playwright not simply a 'product' (the premiere) – but a process (the ongoing series of productions)... The model – giving several theatres a crack at a new work, giving a writer several chances at their revisions – is a godsend."

-Steven Dietz, Yankee Tavern

 

“I was and remain deeply honored and encouraged by the Smith Prize… I love that the prize is awarded to a script and not a production… I love that NNPN is working against premiere-itis.”

-Y York, 2008 Smith Prizewinner, ...And LA is Burning

“NNPN really acts as a new play grapevine. Because member theaters are in regular contact, they get to know each theater's mission and tastes and a recommendation from one member to another is much more meaningful. Those relationships have helped my work find a home. ”

-Allison Moore, Hazard County, Collapse
 

“The Smith Prize was a great shot in the arm for me. It served as a valuable affirmation from my peers that my work is both of a high quality and exploring important issues. ”

-Seth Rozin, 2007 Smith Prizewinner, Black Gold

Associate Membership

Eligibility

Associate Membership in the National New Play Network is open only to professional, nonprofit producing entities; professional, nonprofit Festivals which produce public presentations of new plays, and University programs with MFA playwright training programs attached. 

Associate Members must also be:

  • At least three years old
  • Have minimum annual expenses of $50,000 per year
  • Demonstrate a commitment to new plays as evidenced by production of at least one new play (defined as a play first produced within the past three seasons) each year for producing entities and festivals, and for universities, as demonstrated by production opportunities for MFA playwriting students
  • Maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct within the industry

Requirements

NNPN Associate Members are required to pay annual dues of $500 per theater.

NNPN's Associate Members help broaden the Network's reach, and disseminate its most important programs, plays and playwrights to every corner of the globe. Associate Members receive the following benefits:

  • Participate in Rolling World Premieres, which carry awards of $7,000 per theater (theaters must meet Rolling World Premiere criteria) 
  • Access to the Collaborative Literary Office, including monthly online Literary Chats, annual in-person pitch sessions, crowd-sourced dramaturgy and Festival Reporting, the Alumni Playwrights' Council, and the Virtual Script Library*
  • Invitations for two to the National Showcase of New Plays♦ 
  • Invitations for University-affiliated Associate Member faculty to the MFA Playwrights Workshop
  • Automatic subscription to newsletters from NNPN's Executive Director on field trends and important updates
  • Membership Listings in all promotional materials and on the NNPN website

*Associate Members will be able to download program archive scripts from all NNPN programs, along with scripts posted by NNPN Core Members and alumni playwrights through the Virtual Script Library.  They may also upload scripts to their own Online Reading Room in the VSL, whereby they may share plays with other Associate Members and the Core Members who subscribe to it. 

♦Associate Member slots are occasionally limited by host theater size, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

NNPN is now accepting applications for Associate Membership.

Download a Theater Application here.
Download an MFA Program Application here.

Please send all applications to General Manager Jojo Ruf.  Upon receiving applications, staff will ensure eligibility requirements have been met.  Once the candidate organization has paid dues, the organization’s Associate Membership will become active.  It will expire each year on July 31.  Associate Members may renew indefinitely, but may at any time be subject to Core Member review and approval.