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This page is updated regularly. It has links to all kinds of resources for writers, readers, actors, producers and other curious people.
 Festivals & Theatre Companies |
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| Artists Colonies, Retreats |
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| Conferences |
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| Membership Organzations |
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| Education & Classes |
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| Actors |
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| Artists, Musicians, etc |
Festivals & Theatre Companies Three Wise Monkeys Theatre Company:
| I founded this not for profit company with Dawson Moore and Richard Bernier in 2000. We produce the work of San Francisco Bay Area writers only, and we do so primarily in our Bay One Acts Festival, a four week showcase and anthology in Feb each year, and in our Short Leaps reading series. My one acts Along The Watchtower and Three Horseshoes have both been produced and published as part of BOA |
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San Francisco Fringe Festival:
| Organized by the wonderful people at the Exit theatre. Places in the fringe are selected by lottery. They provide a venue and some tech and publicity, you need to self-produce a one act or short caberet or improv, etc. Great exposure though at little cost (you can even make $!) if you have the energy and resources to mount your own show. |
Directors Theatre of San Francisco / ABYDOS:
| These guys do a terrific one page play festival. The plays are fully produced and sometimes by more than one director, allowing you to see several versions of your work. A small stipend is also offered (or was the year they produced The Anniversary Gift) Very high quality for this kind of festival. |  |
| Terrific nomadic company in San Francisco. They typically do a show for BOA, produce a summer show of shorts, and put up a Christmas show also. Good and busy. My short play Talk was part of their 2003 Summer Shorts Festival and I was very happy with it (great cast, nicely directed) and they've done great work for BOA as well. |
| Another excellent nomadic theatre company in San Francisco who have done impressive work at New Conservatory, the Eureka (BOA) and the Exit. Very much worth going to see their work if you get a chance. They produced my short comedy Dead In The Water; A Play Noir For Three Hams as part of their One-Act Marathon, though more recently they have been producing full-length works (including Food Chain, Libidoff and The Book of Liz) |
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| A company that does very good work and specifically has a focus on theatre by and for women. They've done some pretty wide ranging projects. They were co-producers of The Ghost of Molly Malone, which starred one of their founding members, Arwen Anderson (see my actors link) and was directed by talented erinys regular Zanne Gerrard. They don't have a regular season outline so you just have to keep an eye out for them. Mostly but no longer entirely San Francisco Bay Area based. |
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Actors Theatre of Louisville / Humana Festival:
| These guys are doubtless the biggies for ten-minute plays in the USA, and accept open submissions, one per playwright. They only showcase a few plays at the Humana Festival (which also showcases longer new work by mid-career writers through a more selective process) making it pretty competative. When Elephants and Coffee was a finalist in 2003 they reportedly had about 1500 submissions. They have an excellent reputation and are very well worth submitting to and attending. |
| This theatre company in Michigan is a great supporter of new work and are definately worth knowing about. They annually produce a Play by Play Marathon of short new plays as a fundraiser; playwrights can submit a small number of shorts (up to 15 minutes) for consideration. They also hold a festival at the same time with other readings and workshops, etc. My plays Monologue for Lady Macbeth and Elephants and Coffee have both been part of their play by play marathon. |
The Looking Glass Theatre, NYC: This theatre company has a small blackbox space in midtown New York City and you'd be surprised what they can do with it. They do an annual forum of women writers/ women directors, which showcases a number of new plays over the course of three weeks. they also offer internships for emerging thespians wanting to gain some practical experience. Julie Ann McMillan as Juliet in Hell Hath Three Furies as part of the Winter Forum at Looking Glass in NYC. |
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| City Theatre has a well established and well run annual ten minute play festival that I hear very good things about. They did Elephants and Coffee in 2002. |
Estrogenius/Manhattan Theatre Source:
A celebration of women's voices, held in the Fall in NY, includes 3 - 4 weeks of plays and monologues.
Lovely people, great intimate space.
| A fabulous, intimate theatre in Ithaca with a packed season. This theatre produces one world premiere a year. They also have a Kitchen Sink series that promotes new work. Readings of full-length plays by area writers are part of the program, as is a forty eight hour new play marathon for ten-minute plays. I've co-produced the 48 Hour Fest twice and had a ball. A professional and talented group. If you are in New York State, do check them out. | |
American Globe (Turnip Theatre Company - NY 15 Minute Play Festival):
| The people at American Globe and Turnip are just lovely to work with. Very organized, very professional and very friendly. I've participated in their New York 15 Minute play festival twice now, once as a semi-finalist with Ophelia's Hamlet and once as a finalist with Elephants and Coffee which won their Alan Minieri Award as well as honorable mention for best play. It works much like a fringe festival. They provide venue, some tech, and publicity, ticketing, etc, you have to produce the show. When I have been there, it has always played to a pretty full house. |
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Sonoma Repertory Theatre Company:
| This company runs a number of writing contests for plays of various lengths and styles so there are lots of ways to submit. And it is run by John Moran who is really a great supporter of new work. Full length winners are produced while shorter pieces have staged readings (Elephants and Coffee had a staged reading there as the winner of their 15-minute play category in 2002) |
| Actors Theatre of SC runs several contests each year including one for ten-minute plays, and one for full-lengths. It has to be new work and the playwright has to be from the west coast of the USA, so check guidelines for details. The eight winning ten-minute plays are fully produced in a 4-6 week run which is well attended and reviewed. Great production values for this kind of festival. When they did Beach With Telephone in 2002 they built a huge wooden crutch and painted a Dali replica backdrop! Runners up are given staged readings in a follow up festival also. Full length winners are produced. |
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Newtown Theatre (Short and Sweet Festival):
| The Newtown Short and Sweet Festival is really growing. They did my play Till Death Do Us Part in 2002 as part of a line up of 40 plays over four weeks. I saw just one week but thought it was very good with a great variety of work. And they have now added readings, talks and more to the festival agenda. I'd say they were very well worth checking out...assuming you're in Sydney, though they have been taking submissions from all over the world. |  |
| This Alaskan company is run by David Edgecombe and Elizabeth Ware. David Edgecombe also teaches at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (where he directed Somewhere In Between) and he was recently named Director of The Year for 2003 by "Stage Talk" on Anchorage Public Radio. They currently have a great educational piece about Shakespeare that tours to schools and other venues. |
| This Sydney based theatre and film production company was founded by Ben Flaxman, with whom I studied at UNSW. They've been up and running a couple of years now and are wonderfully unusual in the Sydney scene for producing both plays and films, and taking on new work! |
Playwrights: if you are looking for places to have your work produced, don't forget universities, many of whom welcome the chance to do new work. It's a great learning experience for all involved when you have students working on your plays. And universities often have fewer budget restrictions for things like cast, set, and costumes. I 've had plays done at several universities (University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Wyoming, SUNY at Brockport) and had very good experiences each time.
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Conferences Breadloaf Writers Conference Vermont |
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A ten day conference for fiction writers, poets, and non-fiction writers. This is perhaps the most prestigious conference of its kind in the USA and scholarships to attend are very competative. I had a great workshop experience here (lead by the wonderful Thomas Mallon) and met a lot of gifted writers. Lots of readings, lectures and other activities make it fun, very stimulating and challenging. |
| Last Frontier Theatre Conference Alaska |
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A ten day conference in beautiful Alaska. This conference encourages emerging writers. Playwrights can submit work for staged readings and response. Lots of other panels, performances, and workshop as well as time to hike or take a cruise to a glacier! |
Southampton Writers conference |
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This conference is fairly new but is nonetheless great and really well run. They have workshops in fiction, poetry, essay, drama, and hold lots of readings and other events. Like Breadloaf, submission is based on quality of writing sample. The visiting writers are terrific and are very accessible (my short fiction workshop was lead by the lovely Melissa Bank and Matt Klam, but other regulars include Billy Collins and Frank McCourt. Some scholarships are available. |
| Sewanee Writers Conference Kentucky |
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Another conference with an excellent reputation. They offer scholarships and workshops in various genres. Runs about 10 days over the summer. Recent playwriting faculty include Romulus Linney and Daisy Foote. Fiction writers include the likes of Margot Livesy, Alice McDermott. |
| Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region Colorado |
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This is a three day conference and festival of readings in Colorado. Lots of readings followed by critiques of new work from writers in the western half of the USA. There are also workshops and discussions. Playwrights from the west can submit by March 15. I have twice been on the panel. |
| Australian National Playwrights Conference Australia |
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This is the biggie in Australia for playwrights and is run by the Australian National Playwrights Center. I have not attended yet but will when I'm in town at the right time. Lots of panels, discussions and readings. Hard to get your work read at though as they only take a small handful of mid career writers. |
see also Iowa Summer Workshops under classes and education.
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Artists Colonies / Retreats| Byrdcliffe Arts Colony (New York) |
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www.woodstockguild.org This one has been around a long time and I loved it there. About a dozen artists in residence for each of four months over summer. In upstate New York. Feed yourself but still very affordable and a simply terrific environment. |
| Dorland Mountain Arts Colony (California) |  |
www.ex2.net/dorland/ This special place very sadly burned down in forest fires (May 2004). It is now being rebuilt. The site is located in beautiful woodlands between LA and San Diego. It should re-open in 2006/2007. I will update as I know more. |
| Vermont Studio Center (Vermont) |  |
www.vermontstudiocenter.org This place is huge. They offer merit scholarships that include partial work arrangements to keep the cost down. Fully serviced. Includes visiting writers who are available for meetings and so on. I will be going there in 2005 |
| MacDowell Colony (New Hampshire) |  |
www.macdowellcolony.org Very competative. Residencies up to 8 weeks. Fully supported. I haven't been there but know people who have been and LOVED it. Has an excellent reputation and has been around a long while. |
| Headland Center for the Arts (California) |  |
www.headlands.org These guys look great, though I haven't been here. Nice facilities and if you are in the SF Bay area it is very accessible. I think they offer off site situations too where you can just use the workspace but live at home. |
| I'd love to know more about retreats and writing colonies in Australia. If you have information you'd like to share on this topic, please contact me. | ||
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Membership Organizations |
The Dramatists Guild: A must for playwrights in the US. Advise on production contracts, copyright and more, monthly subscription to the Dramatist magazine, discounts, symposia and seminars (NY). Just join! www.dramaguild.com |
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The Playwrights' Center of San Francisco: If you are a playwright in the Bay Area, you really should join! www.playwrightscentersf.org |
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Playwrights Six: A LA based theatre company run by playwrights for the development of new work. This is a great organization. We have a small membership base, conduct scene-readings every second monday and are setting up a staged reading series as well. www.playwrights6.com |
| The Assoc of Writers and Writing programs offers subscriptions to Writer's Chronicle, a magazine with articles and submission opportunities, and they hold a conference, plus offer cheap books and stuff for teachers. www.awpwriter.org | |
| The Australian Writers' Guild.Offers advice, script registration and assessment, a directory of writers and many other services much like the US dramatists' guild www.awg.com.au | |
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Australian National Playwrights' Center: another must for Aussie playwrights. Script assessment, courses, a monthly newsletter with opportunities and info, plus they have an exchange program with New dramatists and they run the big conference. www.anpc.org.au |
| Not a membership organization but a great publication to subscribe to if you are a fiction writer or a poet. Articles, interviews and submission opportunites. www.pw.org | |
Aliance of Los Angeles Playwrights: events like the playwrights expo, discount tickets, information on member productions and readings (which means you can promo your show too) and a script catalogue. www.laplaywrights.org |
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Theatre Bay Area: discounted tickets & Callboard: a monthly magazine with submission and audition opportunities in San Francisco and around, plus show listings and more, and they host a big general audition. www.theatrebayarea.org |
| Theatre Communications Group: the main membership benefit I use is the subscription to American Theatre magazine, but they also offer ticket discounts, and other publications. www.tcg.org | |
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The NSW writer's centre: discounts at some book stores, printed resources, info on contests, special events and seminars, etc, discounted writing workshops: www.nswwriterscentre.org.au |
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Classes & Education |
Playwrights Center of San Francisco: offer classes, workshops and talks, as well as readings of member's work. I've taught a business of playwriting workshop there. www.playwrightscentersf.org Their site also lists opportunities for writers. Great organization! |
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Will Dunne: Great ongoing playwriting classes (different levels) with exercises, good actors for readings and helpful critiques. San Francisco. www.willdunne.com |
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Playground: Mostly known for their excellent emerging playwrights Fest and readings, but now also teaching classes. San Francisco. www.playground-sf.org |
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National Institute for Dramatic Art. Most famous theatre school in Australia offering a range of courses (none of which I've done, but they do have a great reputation). www.nida.edu.au |
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Iowa Summer Writing Workshops. Over June/July. They offer a wide range of classes (one week or weekend length) in all kinds of genres. Entry is not assessed, ie, first in gets in. www.uiowa.edu/~iswfest |
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Actors |
Erica Yoder | Los Angeles. We met in Valdez Alaska, when she read "Woman" in Elephants and Coffee at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference. Erica has since read that role and the role of Anne Boleyn (who is written for her) at the Living Room series. |
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Arwen Anderson | San Francisco. We met through various convoluted theatrical circles in San Francisco and then I was fortunate enough to be have erinys co-produce The Ghost of Molly Malone, in which Arwen played Young Molly. I'm now writing Jane Seymour for her in Henry's Wives. |
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Heath Wilder | Sydney. We met at University when we were both cast in a production of Tom Topor's Nuts. I then cast him in the next thing I directed! Heath was in Ophelia's Hamlet, Along The Watchtower and Black Saturday at Studio One. |
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Jay Moore | San Francisco. We met doing Daytrippers. Since then we've worked together on BOA (several times) and the Unidentified One-Act Marathon, and he played John in The Ghost of Molly Malone |
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Rebecca Friese |
Chicago. We met when she was cast in Three Horseshoes. Since then she's been in a reading of The Redwood Cage, and I wrote the part of Kate Parr for her in Henry's Wives |
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Elizabeth Allen | Los Angeles. We met in San Francisco when she read Megan in the Playwrights' Center reading of Love And A Wide Moon. She is also my Katherine Howard for readings of Henry's Wives at the Living Room Series in L.A. |
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Artists, Musicians & Creatures of the Night |
Candice Flewharty: seriously gifted painter (really, check her out), performer, cooker of purple-chicken and all round lovely human. We met at Dorland Mountain arts colony. www.candiceflewharty.com |
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Anne Marie Donahue: has a great website showcasing her photography. She is very talented, so if you need a photographer and you're in San Francisco, check her out. We met working together on a play, of course! Talented lovely person. www.annmariedonahue.com |
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Bari Koral: wonderful musician and singer, yoga partner, hiker and just terrific fun. We met at Byrdcliffe and I've been listening to her music ever since. Cloudwalking is a really beautiful album. www.barikoral.com |
| Elissa Gore: A painter of really beautiful landscapes. I've had the pleasure of being around her work at Byrdcliffe. www.elissagore.com | |
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James Lloyd: Astrophysicist (every playwright should have one), chef, worm-farmer and ex-resident of the South Pole. His website indcludes a lovely photo of him scanning his own head. Go figure. www.astro.caltech.edu/~jpl |
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Alice Shikina: not only a talented actor/director/writer/producer whom I've worked with on several projects, but also a really good (really) graphic & web design artist. She designed the postcard for the San Francisco production of The Ghost of Molly Malone, which, frankly, was stunning. www.aidesign.org |
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Miranda Stone: A gifted singer/songwriter and a painter, and someone who can carve a yoke. Hard to believe, I know, but this Canadian wonder can do all sorts of things. We met at Dorland. If you don't know her music, check her out: www.mirandastone.com |
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Sarah Zakis: Make-up artist (as should be self evident). And my niece. Check her and her sister Ainslie (trouble artist) out when they are old enough to have their own sites, which probably won't be long! |
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Kinsey: Sleep artist. Often 'scene' with dog pal Marlowe, cuddle artist. |
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Fish: Tummy artist. (website currently unavailable) Photo courtesy of President of the Fish Fan Club, Ms. Rebecca Powles. |
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Actors, Directors, Theatre Administrators, and Writers gather in
