Announcing the Inaugural Playwrights Retreat

In response to great interest on the part of alums of the Summer Playwriting Intensive, we are happy this year to offer The Playwrights Retreat to run simultaneously and in conjunction with the schedule of our annual Intensive.

The Retreat is open only to graduates of prior Intensives. Enrollment is very limited.

The Retreat is designed to offer playwrights the chance for more concentrated work on a play than the Intensive is designed to accommodate. Playwrights who are a part of the Retreat will meet as a group and individually in consultation and rehearsal with Arthur Giron and Shirley Kaplan (and selected other faculty). The Retreat will offer extensive time for writing. Playwrights accepted into the Retreat will be asked to send a script well in advance of the start of the program. This play will become the focus of the week’s work. Each playwright will get to discuss and rehearse this play as it moves toward a Staged Reading on Friday. Each play will be rehearsed three times, once as a first reading, once with basic blocking and movement established, and once more as a ‘dress’ before Friday’s presentation. There are some practical limitations to the length and type of play that can be best served in this format and amount of time. Your play should run no longer than 45 minutes. One-Act plays and the first acts of longer plays work best. For purposes of the most efficient use of our actors, please do not send plays that require more than four performers (unless you indicate that doubling roles is acceptable). And for the Retreat, please do not send a musical.

The Retreat and Intensive are built upon a common goal: to best support a playwright so that his voice and words can be heard. Retreat playwrights will be a part of the Intensive. Playwrights in both groups will gather for all meals, nightly readings and talkbacks. Retreat playwrights will also have the chance to sit in on designated Intensive classes and to have their first night writing assignments presented as part of our nightly readings. (The faculty of the Intensive however will not be available for the afternoon one-on-one meetings that are a specific part of the Intensive program.) The Retreat is designed to allow playwrights ample time for the re-writes that are a part of the production process.

Tuition and fees for the Retreat are the same as those for the Intensive. Please use the Intensive application for this program, indicating that you are applying to the Retreat. The deadline for Retreat applications and deposit is May 1. Because enrollment is very limited please apply as soon as possible. Enrollment is on a first come, first served basis.