Playwrights’ Center

The Playwrights' Center, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a preeminent organization dedicated to fostering the growth and development of playwrights and promoting the production of new plays nationally. Established in 1971 by a group of five writers seeking support for their artistic and professional endeavors, the Center has since become a vital hub for playwrights in the United States, offering unparalleled support and resources. As one of the most generous and esteemed theater organizations in the nation, the Playwrights' Center is committed to nurturing playwrights' careers and ensuring their work reaches the stage. The Center has been instrumental in the advancement of many nationally acclaimed artists, including Daniel Alexander Jones, Lee Blessing, Carlyle Brown, Sheila Callaghan, Karl Gadjusek, Marcus Gardley, Idris Goodwin, Sarah Gubbins, Jordan Harrison, Jeffrey Hatcher, Craig Lucas, Martyna Majok, Melanie Marnich, Qui Nguyen, Kira Obolensky, and the legendary August Wilson. Plays developed through the Center's programs have been performed on prestigious stages such as The Guthrie, Lincoln Center Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf, The Public, Woolly Mammoth, among others. The Playwrights' Center's Core Writer Program supports 25-30 of the nation's most promising playwrights by providing them with the time, space, and tools needed to develop new works. Core Writers benefit from development workshops involving collaboration with top-tier directors, actors, dramaturgs, and designers. Their work is showcased in the Center's season of public readings, which includes the PlayLabs festival and the Ruth Easton New Play Series. The Center also actively promotes Core Writers and connects them with a broad network of educational institutions, cultural organizations, and producing theaters. The Center administers several fellowships, funded by the McKnight and Jerome foundations, which offer over $315,000 annually in residencies, commissions, and development funds. These fellowships support a diverse group of playwrights and theater artists, including Jerome Fellows (emerging American playwrights), Many Voices Fellows (early-career playwrights of color), Many Voices Mentees (Minnesota-based beginning playwrights of color), McKnight Fellows in Playwriting (accomplished Minnesota-based playwrights), McKnight National Residency and Commission (nationally selected playwright), and McKnight Theater Artist Fellows (exceptional Minnesota-based theater artists other than playwrights). Membership at the Playwrights' Center is open to all, with over 2,300 playwrights worldwide enjoying access to a comprehensive database of playwriting opportunities, seminars, classes, professional readings, dramaturgical services, and more. The New Plays on Campus program extends the Center's reach into the academic sphere, offering script-matching services, playwright residencies, and apprenticeships for student playwrights at numerous colleges and universities. The Playwrights' Center's influence extends through local and national partnerships, collaborating with theaters to develop and stage new works. Recent partnerships have included the Denver Center, Marin Theatre Company, Mixed Blood, Pillsbury House Theatre, and The Walker Art Center with Elevator Repair Service. The Center also connects playwrights with artistic leaders and has initiated the Regulars program, which brings together nearly 100 producing theaters in the U.S. to support the development and production of new plays. Located at 2301 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406-1099, the Playwrights' Center remains a cornerstone of the American theater landscape, upholding its mission to sustain, develop, and advocate for playwrights and their work, helping them to realize their full artistic potential.