ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE–LA PLAYWRIGHT’S UNIT 2009-2010 SEASON

Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA is now accepting applications for its 2009-2010 Playwright’s Unit. The Unit is moderated by stage and screen writer Peter Basch and playwright, Carole Real. We seek emerging and established writers with a wide variety of artistic voices and styles, who wish to join fellow playwrights in a lively roundtable reading and critique.

click here to download application

Participation in this weekly Unit is free, with the company providing space, a knowledgeable moderator/leader, and administrative support.

The Unit is open to writers who are creating new works for the stage. On occasion, writers may also bring original screenplays and other performance-oriented work into the Unit.

In addition to weekly meetings and the opportunity to become part of the life of our theatre, members of Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA’s Playwright’s Unit may submit their work year-round for production consideration, as opposed to the published 3-month submission window.

Unit members are encouraged to utilize EST-LA’s other play development programs to further their plays. In this regard, Unit members receive the following additional benefits:

  1. Ability to initiate work in EST-LA’s Sunday Best monthly lab where it will be read by professional actors and receive moderated constructive criticism;
     
  2. Fast track consideration for the Company’s First Look series of rehearsed staged reading; First Look plays are under consideration for full production by the company.

Unit playwrights may also participate in Play Day, an annual informal day of readings and camaraderie designed to introduce the artistic leaders and the members of EST-LA to the work of Unit playwrights and vice-versa. Play Day is a wonderful opportunity for members of EST-LA to find plays that they would like to initiate in WINTERFEST, an annual festival of member-initiated readings and staged readings.

Candidates must complete the attached application and submit it along with one original full length work to: Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA, 137 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #134, Los Angeles, CA 90004, ATTN: Playwright’s Unit. This is a rolling applications process; applications are reviewed throughout the year with writers added as space allows. Applications may also be submitted by email to Artistic Director Gates McFadden at artisticdirectorestla@gmail.com.

Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA is one of Los Angeles’ premier developmental and producing organizations. The company nurtured over 300 theatre artists and 90 new plays last season. EST-LA’s productions have won or been nominated for every major Los Angeles theatre honor including GLAAD Media, LADCC, LA Weekly, Ovation, and NAACP Awards. Our work is routinely included on “Critic’s Pick,” “Recommended,” and year-end “Top Ten” lists. Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA is the West Coast branch of the renowned New York company that fostered the work of Christopher Durang, Richard Greenberg, David Mamet, José Rivera, John Patrick Shanley, and Wendy Wasserstein, as well as other winners of Academy, Emmy, Golden Globe, Obie, and Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize.