NNPN in NYC: NewYorkRep & New Light Theater Project
NNPN’s national impact is made possible by the extraordinary Member Theaters bringing bold, adventurous new work to communities across the country. Throughout this campaign, we’ll be spotlighting Member Theaters from our hub cities to celebrate the incredible diversity of theaters, audiences, and stories that make up our network.
Through June 30, 2026, all gifts will be matched up to $20,000 thanks to the generosity of NNPN founder David Goldman and Carol Dweck - extending the reach of every contribution in support of new plays and the theaters that champion them.
This week, we’re excited to feature two New York-based Associate Members: NewYorkRep and New Light Theater Project.
Tell us a little about your theater and your role in the local arts community.
NewYorkRep: NewYorkRep develops and produces new plays and musicals that inspire and compel social change by telling stories that expose our humanity. By illuminating social and ethical questions through art, we strive to create provocative theater that promotes empathy, compassion, and inclusion. We began committed to a social justice mission not moving into it. For more than a decade, we have brought real-life stories to the stage to propel social change.
We are committed to social advocacy and partner with many different advocacy organizations that mirror the subject matter of our productions. Visit our Partners page for a full list. NewYorkRep is committed to education. We include talk-backs and community engagement with all productions.
NewYorkRep not only presents full productions, but reacts to timely world events with special theatrical presentations that address those issues. We amplify voices that need to be heard, bringing critical issues to the stage. Our productions spark action beyond the theater, inspiring change.
New Light: New Light Theater Project (NLTP) was created to advance ensemble-based theater, uplift our unique Artist Collective, and produce new plays in NYC and beyond. We are proud to center our mission on our Artist Collective, producing new work highlighting the talents of this diverse group of writers, actors, directors, stage managers, and designers. We celebrate our theater-makers of different genders, races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, and sexual orientations, welcoming all identities so that all members bear weight and voice to the stories we tell.
What began as a weekly gathering over pancakes and plays has grown into a resilient artistic community that meaningfully contributes to New York City’s robust theatrical ecosystem. In 13 years, NLTP has premiered 40+ productions, held 18 workshops, and organized 17 developmental events. We’re proud to have collaborated with 80+ writers, held 9 theater residencies, toured 10 cities outside NYC, and grown our Collective to 90 talented artists. NLTP’s performances have received critical praise, including 2 Drama Desk nominations, numerous Best-Of citations, and TimeOut New York Critics’ Picks. We are currently in residence at 59E59 Theaters and Building for the Arts (Theatre Row).
What makes the theater scene in your city or region unique?
NewYorkRep: New York City is the mega center for theater. To that end, it makes it extremely competitive especially for a small non-profit theater. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to do extremely meaningful work in a commercially focused environment.
New Light: New York City theater is unique because of its density of talent and institutions, mixing Broadway spectacle, Off‑Broadway innovation, and experimental downtown work in close proximity; a deep ecosystem of fierce theatrical artists who cross-pollinate across risk-taking projects; adventurous audience diversity; and a culture of collaboration and hustle that has the capability of turning a new play into a breakout hit.
How does your theater contribute to the development of new plays or playwrights in your area?
NewYorkRep: The first line in our mission statement is: NewYorkRep develops and produces new plays and musicals.
Further, we have an annual playwriting contest, CURTAIN RISING, for new and unproduced playwrights. The winner receives an exceptional development opportunity. We hand select a dramaturg to work on the piece with playwright. They, together with our Artistic Director, select a full creative team including a Director, Cast and Stage Manager to engage in an Actor’s Equity 29-hour reading culminating in a professional presentation to an audience of theater professionals and NewYorkRep patrons. The presentation is followed by an award reception and the recipient receives a $1500 grant for further development. NewYorkRep has also produced some of these plays.
New Light: New Light Theater Project develops new plays and supports playwrights by centering new work for MainStage programming as well as through staged readings and development workshops. NLTP’s primary program for centering new work/writers in NYC is through the New Light New Voices Award. This annual award selects a dynamic NYC playwright who has not yet received a professional production, providing a monetary award, development, mentorship, and a collaborative residency with NLTP’s Collective and extended artist network to bring their play to life. We assemble the winning playwright’s "dream" team of creatives, including but not limited to, director, actors, designers, and production. Throughout the rehearsal process, the writer is supported and encouraged to participate and be a strong voice in the development room.
How has being part of NNPN influenced your theater’s work or approach to new play development?
NewYorkRep: It is mostly the support that is provided through NNPN. There is so much to tap into.
New Light: Although we have not yet worked with other NNPN affiliates, we share NNPN’s commitment to extending a play’s life and have partnered with numerous organizations nationwide to do exactly that. We prioritize collaborative partnerships with like-minded companies to share resources, inspire new ideas, and expand each play’s production pathway and audience reach.
What role do regional partnerships play in sustaining new work and supporting artists?
NewYorkRep: Affordability, greater reach and resources, shared knowledge and creativity, superior talent and opportunity and often a better production.
New Light: Regional partnerships are essential for sustaining new work and supporting artists: these collaborations have enabled NLTP to produce remounts that extend a play’s life and revenue potential, share resources—funding, venues, personnel, and marketing—to reduce costs and raise production value, and provide varied audience contexts for iterative development. Our past collaborations have created pathways for commissions and residencies, where NLTP broadened our geographic and demographic reach to build new audiences, while facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building that strengthened institutional infrastructure and encouraged greater artistic risk-taking.
What is one NNPN-supported project, production, or collaboration that best represents your theater’s impact in your region?
NewYorkRep: Our collaboration with New Light Theater Project and their Artistic Director, Sarah Norris, particularly on Michele Brook’s play Hitler’s Tasters.
How does being part of a national network like NNPN strengthen the work happening locally?
NewYorkRep: Connection – to new work/playwrights . . . to other theaters . . . to the network professionals.
New Light: Being part of a national network like NNPN amplifies new work by creating production pathways, co‑production and remount opportunities, and increased visibility that help new plays move beyond a single run. NNPN facilitates resource‑sharing (funding advice, administrative support, and marketing reach), access to broader audiences and presenters, and structured opportunities for play exchange and touring. Membership also fosters professional development and peer learning—best practices, dramaturgical support, and advocacy—that strengthen institutional capacity, sustain artists’ careers, and ultimately extend the lifespan and impact of the work NLTP develops in NYC.
If you could share one message about your theater and your region’s creative community with NNPN supporters and donors, what would it be?
NewYorkRep: One message about NewYorkRep is our utmost inclusivity both in our work and in our company. The small non-profit theater community is very supportive of each other rather than competitive.
New Light: NLTP is proud to be part of New York City’s theater ecosystem—often described as saturated, but truly a dynamic, ever-changing flow of brilliant theatrical creators. From Broadway spectacle to inventive storytelling in restaurants, parks, and lofts, there’s always something electrifying happening, and that energy pushes NLTP to bring our best work. The adrenaline-fueled competitiveness is exhilarating and challenging—sometimes intimidating—and NLTP wouldn’t have it any other way.
