Performance Network's production of Ice Glen. Photo by Peter Smith

About this Photo

(LtoR): Chris Korte and Robin Lewis-Bedz in ICE GLEN by Joan Ackermann

What Playwrights Say About NNPN

“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

Contacting NNPN

National New Play Network
Jason Loewith, Executive Director
c/o Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
641 D Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

Phone: 202-312-5270
Fax: 202-289-2446
Email Jason Loewith Here

 

Becoming a Member of NNPN

NNPN is always looking for partners in new regions of the country. 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.
  • 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.

WHAT ARE THE ELIBILITY CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP IN NNPN?

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 $150K
  • produce a minimum annual season of three mainstage productions

I'M NOT AN ELIGIBLE THEATER, BUT I WANT TO BE INVOLVED...

In 2009-10, NNPN is undertaking a serious study of Affiliate Membership for theaters and other institutions – play development organizations, stand-alone festivals, universities, and so on – which do not fit these criteria. The study is to be completed by June 2010. In the meantime, Executive Director Jason Loewith is actively exploring new partnerships to provide a smooth and continuous pipeline for the country’s best new works.