COLLAPSE by Allison Moore
JERICHO by Jack Canfora
26 MILES by Quiara Alegría Hudes
AGNES UNDER THE BIG TOP: A TALL TALE by Aditi Brennan Kapil
JIHAD JONES at Kitchen Dog Theater

“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

“[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

 

“In an industry as competitive, as unstable, and as personal as theater, the acknowledgment from a national body of professional theaters that the Emerging Playwright Residency gives a young writer is invaluable.”

-Jennifer Fawcett, Playwright-in-Residence 2009

“[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

“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

“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

 

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

-David Rambo, The Ice Breaker

“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

“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

 

 

Core Membership

Eligibility

Core Membership in the National New Play Network is open only to professional, nonprofit producing theaters which produce public presentations of new plays.  Eligible theaters must:

  • Be a not-for-profit 501C3 organization
  • Demonstrate a commitment to new plays by producing, commissioning, and/or developing new plays
  • Demonstrate high artistic quality in their mainstage productions
  • Operate as a professional theatre by maintaining one full-time paid executive or artistic director, a staff of at least two, pay all actors at levels commensurate with union commitments and produce exclusively under professional rights agreements
  • Maintain a minimum annual operating budget of $150,000
  • Produce a minimum annual season of three mainstage productions

Requirements

Core Members are already doing plenty of difficult work, and we don’t want to add anything to the burden. Nonetheless, there are some very important requirements which keep the Network dynamic and engaged. NNPN full members are required to:

  • Pay annual membership dues (for 2012-13 between $500 and $1500, based on budget size)
  • Appoint one voting representative to serve on the NNPN Board of Directors, and send that representative to the Annual Conference
  • Participate actively in the literary managers' monthly on-line chat
  • Produce a play originally premiered by another NNPN member at least once every three years OR export a play to another NNPN member for a second or third production at least once every three years
  • Nominate one artist and one patron to the Ambassador’s Council, NNPN’s national network of individuals committed to new plays, and keep those seats filled
  • Provide a pair of complimentary tickets to NNPN Ambassadors and Alumni Playwrights, based on availability
  • Provide a ticket discount, based on availability, to patrons from other NNPN member theaters on request

Because NNPN's Core Members play such an active role in the Network's development and management, their benefits are subtantial:  Core Members receive an average of $4 for every $1 they pay in dues. Core Member theaters are entitled to:

  • Participate in all NNPN Programs:
    • Rolling World Premieres, which carry awards of $7,000 per theater
    • Playwright Residencies, which carry awards of $10,000 per playwright
    • Producer Residencies, which carry awards of $10,000 per producer
    • NNPN Commissions, currently funded at $10,000 per play
    • Nomination privileges to the National Showcase of New Plays, the MFA Playwrights' Workshop, and NNPN Commissions
    • Access to NNPN's Travel and Observership Funds, with awards of up to $1,000 per theater per year
  • Automatic travel reimbursements of up to $1,250 to attend the Network's National Showcase and Annual Conference
  • Membership Listings in all promotional materials and on the NNPN website
  • Nominate individuals to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
  • Automatic subscription to newsletters from NNPN’s Executive Director on field trends and important updates
  • Access to the Collaborative Literary Office, including monthly online Literary Chats, bi-annual in-person pitch sessions, crowd-sourced dramaturgy and Festival Reporting, the Alumni Playwrights' Council, and the Virtual Script Library

NNPN is now accepting applications for Core Membership.

NNPN is always looking for partners in new regions of the country who want to help lead the Network and collaborate with its members. Following a preliminary conversation with either the Executive Director or the Chair of NNPN’s Membership Committee, the Committee may invite the prospective theater to begin the three-step process towards membership:

  • The prospective theater fills out a New Membership Survey, which details the company’s size, history, and other factual information.  Download a Survey here.
  • Upon satisfactory completion of the Survey, NNPN may elect to conduct a site visit in conjunction with a new play production or developmental reading. The site visit will involve more in-depth conversation about the interested theater, focusing on its commitment to and interest in NNPN's mission, values and programs.
  • If NNPN leadership believes it's a good match, the prospective theater will be invited (at its own expense) to visit with other member theaters at the National Showcase of New Plays (usually in December).

After the prospective member visit, the Membership Committee votes on whether to submit a nomination to the full Board, which votes on members at the Annual Conference each year in June. From start to finish, the membership process usually takes about a year. Interested parties should contact NNPN's Executive Director, Jason Loewith, to begin the process.