Applications for the 2025-28 Core Writer Program are due Thursday, January 23, 2025. Don’t wait til the last minute for this opp, you will need an accompanying letter of recommendation.
(NOTE: The primary language used by evaluators during the selection process is English. If text is intentionally written not in English, a line of context would be helpful to an evaluator. Playwrights’ Center acknowledges this is an ethnocentric practice. While most Fellowship activities and engagements are conducted in English, Playwrights' Center staff are available to discuss additional support and resources as necessary.)
Each application will contain the following pieces:
-Application Form (including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)
-Playwriting Resume (any legible format)
-1 page Artist Statement Use this statement to describe your artistic goals and vision as a theater maker. This is also an opportunity to provide context for the play you submitted and discuss how it fits into your larger body of work and how you envision your work developing.
-1 page statement of Core Writer Goals This is a statement explaining how the Core Writer program would benefit your career as a playwright. You may want to discuss projects you hope to develop as a Core Writer, specific resources you hope to take advantage of, as outlined in the program description, and/or goals you have for your career. This statement should reflect a clear understanding of the program and Playwrights’ Center and explain to the evaluators why becoming a Core Writer is the right next step for you.
-Full-length play script Please be sure that your name and the play title appear on the cover page. A full-length play generally runs at least 45 minutes. If you are hoping to submit a script that is shorter than 45 minutes in length, please contact Julia at juliab@pwcenter.org to discuss. Scripts for a musical may be submitted by the book writer only . Co-written work that does not have a clear division of who created which part will not be accepted—the evaluators need to be able to evaluate your work specifically. NOTE: If you are planning to apply with a musical, please be aware that only text submissions are allowed. We do not accept any audio files or links to external websites, and evaluators will be instructed to not seek out any demos or audio tracks related to submitted scripts. We recommend that you consider the strength of just the text of your piece—separate from any music or other elements—as you select which piece to submit.
-One letter of recommendation Please request one letter of recommendation from an individual who is familiar with your work as a playwright. Letters must be received by the application deadline: January 23, 20245. You will be sending a request through the application portal below. You may request a letter through the application system before finishing your final application, so we recommend that you click on the link below and begin your application sooner rather than later to give your recommender time to complete their letter. Letters of recommendation are valid for three years. If you would like to resubmit a past letter of recommendation, please email Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org at least two weeks before the application deadline. We try to keep all letters on file, but we cannot guarantee that each letter will be available. We cannot use a previous letter from another program application (i.e. for a McKnight Fellowship application) for this program.
Note: You will need to make a SlideRoom account in order to apply. If you are a Playwrights’ Center member, your login will not automatically log you in to SlideRoom—they are two different systems. If you already have a SlideRoom account, you should be able to access the application using your existing login. For a video tutorial on using SlideRoom, please click here.
How To Playwright is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
An information session about the Core Writer Program will be held on Zoom at this link on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:00pm CT. The recording of last cycle’s information session is available on the right.
We are offering a Working Session in partnership with Springboard for the Arts on the topic of creating artist statements. Feel free to join us for this free event on Monday, November 18 at 6:00pm CT to help prepare for your application. Click here to register. If you are not able to join the session but would like to receive materials after the fact, please email juliab@pwcenter.org.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org or 612-332-7481 ext.1115.
DEADLINE: Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT
21 Things I Know About Playwriting I wrote my first play twenty years ago. I wrote my second play one year later. Here are 21 things I learned in the year between the two.
Audrey Cefaly's plays (Alabaster, Maytag Virgin, The Gulf, The Last Wide Open, Trouble) have garnered the Lammy Award, the Calicchio Prize, the NNPN Goldman Prize, the Edgerton, and a Pulitzer nomination. Her works have been produced at Signature Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Barter Theatre, Merrimack Rep, Florida Studio, Florida Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, and countless others. Cefaly is a Dramatist Guild Foundation "Traveling Master," an Arena Stage playwright cohort, and a recipient of the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference. She is published by Concord Theatricals, Applause Books, Smith & Kraus and TRW
Thanks for reading How To Playwright!
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Submit: PWC Core Writer Apps Due, Deadline Extended 1/30/25
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Applications for the 2025-28 Core Writer Program are due Thursday, January 23, 2025. Don’t wait til the last minute for this opp, you will need an accompanying letter of recommendation.
APPLY: https://pwcenter.org/programs/core-writer-program
The Application
(NOTE: The primary language used by evaluators during the selection process is English. If text is intentionally written not in English, a line of context would be helpful to an evaluator. Playwrights’ Center acknowledges this is an ethnocentric practice. While most Fellowship activities and engagements are conducted in English, Playwrights' Center staff are available to discuss additional support and resources as necessary.)
APPLY: https://pwcenter.slideroom.com/#/login/program/80963
Each application will contain the following pieces:
-Application Form
(including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)
-Playwriting Resume (any legible format)
-1 page Artist Statement
Use this statement to describe your artistic goals and vision as a theater maker. This is also an opportunity to provide context for the play you submitted and discuss how it fits into your larger body of work and how you envision your work developing.
-1 page statement of Core Writer Goals
This is a statement explaining how the Core Writer program would benefit your career as a playwright. You may want to discuss projects you hope to develop as a Core Writer, specific resources you hope to take advantage of, as outlined in the program description, and/or goals you have for your career. This statement should reflect a clear understanding of the program and Playwrights’ Center and explain to the evaluators why becoming a Core Writer is the right next step for you.
-Full-length play script
Please be sure that your name and the play title appear on the cover page. A full-length play generally runs at least 45 minutes. If you are hoping to submit a script that is shorter than 45 minutes in length, please contact Julia at juliab@pwcenter.org to discuss. Scripts for a musical may be submitted by the book writer only . Co-written work that does not have a clear division of who created which part will not be accepted—the evaluators need to be able to evaluate your work specifically. NOTE: If you are planning to apply with a musical, please be aware that only text submissions are allowed. We do not accept any audio files or links to external websites, and evaluators will be instructed to not seek out any demos or audio tracks related to submitted scripts. We recommend that you consider the strength of just the text of your piece—separate from any music or other elements—as you select which piece to submit.
-One letter of recommendation
Please request one letter of recommendation from an individual who is familiar with your work as a playwright. Letters must be received by the application deadline: January 23, 20245. You will be sending a request through the application portal below. You may request a letter through the application system before finishing your final application, so we recommend that you click on the link below and begin your application sooner rather than later to give your recommender time to complete their letter. Letters of recommendation are valid for three years. If you would like to resubmit a past letter of recommendation, please email Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org at least two weeks before the application deadline. We try to keep all letters on file, but we cannot guarantee that each letter will be available. We cannot use a previous letter from another program application (i.e. for a McKnight Fellowship application) for this program.
Note: You will need to make a SlideRoom account in order to apply. If you are a Playwrights’ Center member, your login will not automatically log you in to SlideRoom—they are two different systems. If you already have a SlideRoom account, you should be able to access the application using your existing login. For a video tutorial on using SlideRoom, please click here.
How To Playwright is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
An information session about the Core Writer Program will be held on Zoom at this link on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:00pm CT. The recording of last cycle’s information session is available on the right.
We are offering a Working Session in partnership with Springboard for the Arts on the topic of creating artist statements. Feel free to join us for this free event on Monday, November 18 at 6:00pm CT to help prepare for your application. Click here to register. If you are not able to join the session but would like to receive materials after the fact, please email juliab@pwcenter.org.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org or 612-332-7481 ext.1115.
DEADLINE: Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT
APPLY: https://pwcenter.slideroom.com/#/login/program/80963
Thank you for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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LEAN MORE ABOUT AUDREY
@audreycefaly | Linktree
Visit my website for more about me and the work I do!
Purchase my plays from Concord Theatricals.
Follow me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow me on Insta.
QUICK LINKS TO MY PLAYS
Alabaster
The Gulf
The Last Wide Open
Maytag Virgin
Trouble
Audrey Cefaly's plays (Alabaster, Maytag Virgin, The Gulf, The Last Wide Open, Trouble) have garnered the Lammy Award, the Calicchio Prize, the NNPN Goldman Prize, the Edgerton, and a Pulitzer nomination. Her works have been produced at Signature Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Barter Theatre, Merrimack Rep, Florida Studio, Florida Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, and countless others. Cefaly is a Dramatist Guild Foundation "Traveling Master," an Arena Stage playwright cohort, and a recipient of the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference. She is published by Concord Theatricals, Applause Books, Smith & Kraus and TRW
Thanks for reading How To Playwright!
How To Playwright is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Thank you for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Share