at The Wilbury Theatre Group

Founded in response to the clear need for an artists and new works development program in the city of Providence, the New Works program at The Wilbury Group allows audiences to experience the "birth" of a play. Throughout the rehearsal, workshop, and eventual run of the show, the playwright and director work together to make constant changes in response to audience reactions and feedback.

Encompassing commissions, readings, workshops, adaptations, world premieres, and full-scale productions, The Wilbury Group's New Works series is meant to nurture and serve the specific needs of a project throughout its evolution, helping qualified artists at all stages of their career take their chosen work to the next level of development.

BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR PLAY, PLEASE NOTE:

• Plays may have had prior readings, but should not have appeared in any presentation in which actors performed “off-book.” 
• Writers should reside in New England (preferably Southern New England), and be able to participate in some rehearsals, plus 1-2 meetings with a director/dramaturge, in addition to attendance at the reading/workshops. (We currently do not provide housing.) Local themes are not required. 
• We are interested in stage plays using stage play format. Please do not submit screenplays, or stage plays typed in screenplay format. We are looking for diversity in perspective, background, and theme: plays, plays with music, musicals, and ideas for devised pieces will all be considered. 
• While we request only the first 15 pages of your script, please be ready to submit more. Please do not submit plays for which you have not completed a full draft.
• One-act plays are acceptable as long as there is enough to make a full evening’s entertainment. When submitting a collection of one-acts, please submit only the one you view as most representative, and summarize the remaining plays in your synopsis. 
• A resume or bio is entirely optional. Inexperience will not disqualify writers.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

To apply to our New Works program, please submit the following in PDF or Word format to Interim Director of New Works Brien Lang via email at brien@thewilburygroup.org:

1. The first 15 pages of the play you would like to workshop, plus: a title page, character breakdown, setting, and notes. Please use a standard stage play manuscript format.

2. A 500 to 1000-word synopsis of the play. (In this case, we are looking for a synopsis of the story, rather than a marketing synopsis. What happens in the play?)

3. A 1000-word maximum statement of your objectives in workshopping the play. What do you hope to achieve at the end of the reading? (Please consider that the usual process for readings involve 3-4 rehearsals or meetings with a director/dramaturge; the process for a full workshop production may be considerably longer.)

4. A completed submission form (available for download here).

5. (Optional) A bio or resume.

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