Reston Community Players, one of the Washington, D.C. area's premier local theater groups, has announced the formation of The New Play Project.
According to Sue Pinkman, President of RCP, the Players will welcome new unpublished scripts for development and presentation. "We often have casual 'playreadings' within our regular season, but what sets this program apart is that we will work with the authors on an ongoing, longer-term basis, providing multiple avenues to further develop their work," said Pinkman.
For approximately a three-month period, the Players will accept scripts from authors (in 2009 we are targeting May, June, July). The Players will read each new script, and determine whether to offer a basic reading of the play in RCP's rehearsal hall. For this presentation, actors will perform with scripts in hand, and no scenery or costumes. There is a lot of flexibility built into the system, so that, for example, the Players will provide a director, cast, and a rehearsal space. Conversely, the author may have already chosen his/her actors, and the Players will gladly welcome them into the program. During the next six or nine months, we hope to present up to twelve readings, each open to the public, and will include a reception and "talk back" with the audience, author, performers, and other personnel connected to the work. In this way, the author gets valuable feedback, making the rewriting process more productive.
Thereafter, the Players will invite several of authors back for a second reading, where we may add some production value, such as set pieces, props or costumes as appropriate for the work. This performance will also be open to the public, with a talk back afterwards.
During the course of the next year or so, the Players will invite some of the authors back for further developmental presentations. Eventually, one new script each year will be selected for presentation at the CenterStage theater at the Reston Community Center, in Reston, Virginia. This presentation will be complete with scenery, costumes, lighting, and all that goes with a complete presentation on a main proscenium stage.
Pinkman pointed out that this is not a playwriting competition—we will not be announcing "winners." More importantly, authors pay no submission/application fee, and will incure no production costs. On the contrary, a royalty will be paid to the author each time his or her work appears in front of an audience. Moreover, Pinkman notes that these readings are not presented under the Equity Showcase code, so that the authors have total freedom to work with various actors, and will be able to replace actors as the scripts develop from performance to performance. There are no commitments required of the authors once they move on from the Players.
While the regular RCP season generally consists of established Broadway plays and musicals, The New Play Project has no such limitation. The Players welcome edgy, avant garde works, as well as traditional musicals, dramas, comedies, mysteries, etc. They are interested in bold, passionate, innovative and compelling new works, and have no restrictions as to theme, style or subject matter.
The first three-month window to send scripts to the Players ran from May through July, 2009.
To get started, go to The New Play Project.
Questions? Contact us at newplays@restonplayers.org.
