Director and Playwright Incubator Mentoring Program

Apply

Applications are closed

Program dates

January 2020-December 2021

Submit

Resume, statement of purpose, script sample (playwrights)

You can't be what you can't see.

Marian Wright Edelman, advocate and activist

The Incubator Mentoring Program is a two-year program, based on feminist co-mentoring pedagogies, challenging the standards of hiring in the theatre by crafting new networks and creating effective relationships for and among women theatre artists, and between those artists and the people who can leverage their careers.

What

Designed for women and non-binary theatre artists, a cohort of four directors and four playwrights meet monthly, coming together as a group and then splitting into practice-area concentrations for conversation, idea exchanges, and project updates. Pairs of directors work with individual playwrights to prepare script workshops and readings, depending on the readiness of the script. Directors gain experience as director for one playwright and the assistant director for another playwright. Playwrights gain valuable insight to their script and story by observing how it is handled by director and actors. As needed or desired by the playwrights, readings will range from workshop-style table readings, to concert readings with actors, to fully staged productions.

Why

Women/non-binary playwrights and directors

• gain experience working together in a collaborative and supportive environment to improve their craft in a professionally oriented environment;

• build personal and professional networks among themselves and with potential sponsors who might help them “level-up” their careers; and

• to learn valuable skills in giving and receiving advice as an artist and a human being.

How

Director applicants

Applicants submit a resume and a 300 word statement of purpose about their goals for their career as a director (theatre artists who have worked in other areas are asked to reflect on what has brought them to the desire to direct). There is no requirement for previous directing experience; however, people who have directed more than two fully-staged productions will be considered after people who have less experience.

Playwright applicants

Applicants submit a resume, a 300 word statement of purpose about their goals for their career as a playwright (theatre artists who have worked in other areas might be asked to reflect on what has brought them to playwrighting), and up to three 10-page samples of scripts. There will be no requirement for previous production of scripts; however, people who have previously had more than two fully-staged scripts will be considered after people with less experience.

Selection criteria

Weight will be given to older theatre artists investigating a new aspect of their career and to members of historically underrepresented populations. Since research evidence shows that longer mentoring relationships are more effective in assisting women to advance in their professions, preference will be given to people who can commit to a two-year mentoring process, which will include one year of directors and playwrights collaborating on aspects of script development and production of readings.

When

Meetings of the inaugural cohort begin in January 2020; final readings wrap up in December 2021.