This has been the best development experience I have ever had; I have been gushing about it for weeks. The gift of time is truly invaluable. To be able to deeply dive into the work and uncover new crevices of it without worrying about ‘the presentation’ allows for a deeper exploration and evolution of the work.
Core Writer Program
Overview
The Core Writer program is a three-year appointment designed to support a diverse group of playwrights who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment to their craft, and distinct artistic vision. The program is available to professional playwrights nationally and offers significant resources intended to further a playwright’s career.
The Core Writer program annually gives 20-25 of the most exciting playwrights from across the country the time and tools to develop new work for the stage. Each year, Playwrights’ Center selects two to five new writers to join this group, as two to five other writers wrap up their three-year term. All Core Writers receive play development workshops with the Center, in collaboration with prominent directors, actors, dramaturgs, and designers. All writers are paid for their workshop time, and Core Writers who are not local are provided travel to and housing in the Twin Cities for their workshops.
Core Writers are eligible to be included in our formal season of public readings: the PlayLabs Festival, the Ruth Easton New Play Series, the In the Lab Series, and the Fridays@4 Series. Core Writers are also promoted by the Center and provided opportunities through an extensive network of colleges and universities, cultural institutions, and producing theaters.
Each term is three years; Core Writers may reapply for additional terms. At the end of the term, all Core Writers will become Affiliated Writers of Playwrights’ Center.
Eligibility
Applicants must be over the age of 18 and must reside in and have the legal right to work in the United States during the Core Writer term. This program is highly competitive and is designed for committed professional playwrights who are pursuing playwriting as their primary career. Students enrolled in a full-time educational program are not eligible. Playwrights’ Center staff may apply but cannot hold a fellowship while employed by the Center. The Core Writer term will be July 1, 2027-June 30, 2023. At least one slot each year is reserved for a Minnesota-based writer.
Past recipients
Playwrights who have benefited from the Core Writer program include: Christina Anderson, Trista Baldwin, Benjamin Benne, Lee Blessing, George Brant, Sharon Bridgforth, Erin Courtney, Lisa D’Amour, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Larissa FastHorse, Emily Feldman, Barbara Field, Marcus Gardley, Franky D. Gonzalez, Sarah Gubbins, Dipika Guha, Karen Hartman, Jeffrey Hatcher, Samuel D. Hunter, Blossom Johnson, C.A. Johnson, Daniel Alexander Jones, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Martyna Majok, Mona Mansour, Melanie Marnich, Maron McClinton, Winter Miller, Daaimah Mubashshir, Qui Nguyen, AriDy Nox, Dan O’Brien, Kira Obolensky, Stacey Rose, Andrew Rosendorf, Jen Silverman, Mat Smart, Susan Soon He Stanton, Victoria Stewart, Alice Tuan, Joe Waechter, Ray Yamanouchi, Rhiana Yazzie, Lauren Yee, and Karen Zacarías.
Application preview
NOTE: The primary language used by evaluators during the selection process is English. If a text intentionally does not include an English translation, a line of context may be helpful to an evaluator but is not necessary. Playwrights’ Center acknowledges this is an ethnocentric practice. While most Fellowship activities and engagements are conducted in English, Playwrights’ Center staff are available to discuss additional support and resources as necessary.
01
Application form
Including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information
02
Playwriting resumé
Any legible format, maximum three pages
03
Artistic statement
One page
Use this statement to describe your artistic goals and vision as a theater maker. This is also an opportunity to provide context for the play you submitted and discuss how it fits into your larger body of work and how you envision your work developing.
04
Statement of Core Writer goals
One page
This is a statement explaining how the Core Writer program would benefit your career as a playwright. You may want to discuss projects you hope to develop as a Core Writer, specific resources you hope to take advantage of, as outlined in the program description, and/or goals you have for your career. This statement should reflect a clear understanding of the program and Playwrights’ Center and should explain to the evaluators why becoming a Core Writer is the right next step for you.
05
Full-length play script
Please be sure that your name and the play title appear on the cover page. A full-length play generally runs at least 45 minutes. If you are hoping to submit a script that is shorter than 45 minutes in length, please contact Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org to discuss. Scripts for a musical may be submitted by the book writer only. Co-written work that does not have a clear division of who created which part will not be accepted—the evaluators need to be able to evaluate your work specifically.
NOTE: If you are planning to apply with a musical, please be aware that only text submissions are allowed. We do not accept any audio files, video files, or links to external websites, and evaluators will be instructed to not seek out any demos or audio tracks related to submitted scripts. We recommend that you consider the strength of just the text of your piece—separate from any music or other elements—as you select which piece to submit.
06
Letter of recommendation
Please request one letter of recommendation from an individual who is familiar with your work as a playwright. Letters must be received by the application deadline: January 28, 2027. You will be sending a request through the application portal below. You may request a letter through the application system before finishing your final application, so we recommend that you click on the link below and begin your application sooner rather than later to give your recommender time to complete their letter.
Letters of recommendation are valid for three years. If you would like to resubmit a past letter of recommendation, please email Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org at least two weeks before the application deadline. We try to keep all letters on file, but we cannot guarantee that each letter will be available. We cannot use a previous letter from another program application (i.e. from a McKnight Fellowship application) for this program. Letters of recommendation may not be written by current Playwrights’ Center staff or board members.
Application resources
Note: You will need to make a SlideRoom account in order to apply. If you are a Playwrights’ Center member, your login will not automatically log you in to SlideRoom—they are two different systems. If you already have a SlideRoom account, you should be able to access the application using your existing login.
Information & working sessions
An information session about the Core Writer Program will be held on Zoom on a date to be determined. If you would like to be notified of the information session date, please contact Julia at juliab@pwcenter.org The recording of last year’s information session is available to watch on the right. Read the full transcript here.
We will be offering two free online Working Sessions in partnership with Springboard for the Arts on the topic of creating artist statements in November and January to help prepare for your application. If you would like to receive notification when this session is scheduled, please email juliab@pwcenter.org.
Other resources
Contact
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org or 612-547-5730.
