NNPN Programs Overview
Continued Life of New Plays fund
The flagship program of NNPN is the Continued Life of New Plays Fund (CLNPF). The CLNPF program grew out of NNPN’s belief that the continued life of new plays of quality is vital to the health of the American theater. All over the country, hundreds of new plays are developed each year, yet only a handful receive full productions. Among the plays that do, only a fraction receive second, third or fourth productions outside their immediate regions. Without subsequent productions, plays have little opportunity to evolve artistically or to generate significant critical attention and momentum. In addition, without the "hype" generated by an Off-Broadway run or a major festival, new plays struggle to attract audiences equal to those enjoyed by classic plays, musicals, and star-studded pre-Broadway tryouts. The CLNPF program helps develop an alternative model to the “New York-down” method of a play’s continued life on the regional theater circuit.
This innovative program - now being replicated by grantmakers and development organizations across the country - provides stipends of at least $5,000 to each of three theaters that commit to producing the same new play within a 12-month time-frame. These "rolling world premieres" provide opportunities for playwrights to develop their work with three completely different creative teams, and taken together, they generate a level of interest and excitement that leads to further productions.
National Showcase of New Plays
The National Showcase of New Plays (NSNP) is a rotating festival, or trade show, that showcases new plays, new playwrights and theatres from across the country in a staged reading format. NSNP creates a unique and invaluable opportunity for dozens of production-ready new plays to be viewed by artistic directors, literary managers, literary agents, publishers, and independent producers from around the country. To date, 67 plays have been showcased, of which 35 have been subsequently produced at professional theatres inside and outside NNPN.
Emerging Playwrights Residencies
One of the most exciting recent initiatives undertaken by NNPN is the Emerging Playwrights Residency, established in 2007 to support playwrights graduating from qualified MFA programs for a season-long residency at an NNPN member theater. Playwrights are nominated annually by member theaters, and those writers selected for the program receive stipends of $8,750 to learn from and engage with NNPN members throughout the year.
New Play Commissions
NNPN awards one commission annually, to a playwright nominated and selected by member theaters. Nominating theaters are responsible for the administration and development of the commissioned play. Commissioned playwrights agree to grant right of first refusal to produce their play to all NNPN members in their respective markets. Both NNPN and the nominating theater participate in the subsidiary royalties from the commissioned play.
Script Exchange
Through monthly, online meetings, Literary Managers from NNPN member theaters regularly exchange information on plays and playwrights in an effort to help identify, cultivate, develop and produce promising new plays. Aside from the plays that have been a part of the CLNPF, many other plays have also benefitted as a direct result of the National New Play Network. Since 1998, at least twenty-five plays have had or will have over 60 full productions, collectively, by the end of the 2006/2007 performance season:
The Smith PrIze
In the Spring of 2006, NNPN announced that it will administer a new, annual play prize. Funded by a gift from novelist and playwright Timothy Smith, The Smith Prize will be awarded to a play that specifically focuses on American politics - examining our civic institutions, particularly our democratic institutions, and asks: Who are Americans as a people? What are we becoming? What are our global responsibilities? The prize carries a $5,000 cash award, which will be split between the playwright and the first National New Play Network member theater that chooses to produce the winning play.
Travel Fund
In keeping with the NNPN's mission to create an informed and collegial community of member theatres, NNPN reimburses members for up to $500 in travel expenses, annually, to facilitate artistic exchange, networking opportunities, professional development and collaborations.
Annual Conference
NNPN hosts an annual conference of its member theaters, which also serves as the annual meeting of the Board of Directors. The conference features member presentations, pitches of new plays, brainstorming of new programs, evaluation of existing programs, discussion of prospective new members, approval of the annual budget, and other administrative business. The annual conference is hosted by a different member each year.
University Playwrights Workshop
In conjunction with the Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival and Stanford University's National Center for New Plays, NNPN presents a week-long workshop for recent plays of merit written by qualified MFA students. NNPN directors are paired with freelance dramaturgs to provide MFA playwrights with a professional development opportunity and links to Network theaters.
TIcket Discount Program
Keeping in mind that many of our patrons travel across the country on business and pleasure, member theatres have joined together to provide ticket discounts to visiting patrons from other NNPN theatres. Discounts range from "two-fers" to half price seats, subject to availability.
Partnership with Playscript.com
NNPN currently shares a partnership with Playscripts, Inc. whereby Playscripts is the official publisher and licenser of NNPN-generated plays. Through this partnership Playscripts receives a 'first look' at NNPN-generated plays, and NNPN plays receive special promotion on Playscripts' website and in their printed catalogue. Playscripts, Inc. provides a venue for new plays to be easily seen, distributed, and ultimately, performed by a wide circle of theatres.
