THE 37 TH ANNUAL PLAYLABS FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 19–25, 2020 Nora Montañez and the cast Pan Genesis by Marvin González De León in movement created by Pedro Pablo Lander, presented in PlayLabs 2019. Photo by Paula Keller THE 37TH ANNUAL PLAYLABS FESTIVAL ROOM ENOUGH (FOR US ALL) we are continuous by Daaimah Mubashshir by Harrison David Rivers Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. & Friday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.

Fatimah, a recently widowed matriarch, is determined to have it all. She wants the opportunity When a son reveals that he is HIV positive, his mother must decide how far her unconditional love to set right a 10-year mistake by inviting Jamillah, her queer daughter, to return home after a long forced extends. In this tender autobiographical play, Harrison David Rivers explores how people can change absence. Can she have it all when Abdullah, her son, is driven to fight against this decision even though he and how love can evolve. loves his mother deeply? Room Enough (For Us All) is centered on a contemporary African-American Muslim Family coming to terms with how to treat queerness up against long-standing ideals and faith.

MOTHER OF EXILES BEGIN, BEGIN, BEGIN AGAIN by Jessica Huang by Erin Courtney Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.

In 1898 California, a pregnant Eddie Loi faces deportation. In 1998 Miami, her grandson Braulio In a re-imagining of The Oresteia set in an art museum in the near future, an audio tour guide voice accidentally summons her spirit while patrolling the border. In 2063 somewhere on the ocean, their artist is haunted by the desire to kill her husband. Is it possible to seek justice instead of revenge? In this descendants try to survive the climate crisis. An epic multigenerational tale of sacrifice, love, and formally inventive work, Erin Courtney invites us to see the horror behind the brutality of our current survival that spans 150 years in 90 minutes. justice system and to invite change through collective imagination. PLAYWRITING FELLOWS SHOWCASE Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.

Join us for an evening of scenes from plays in progress by our 2020-21 Playwrights’ Center fellows and mentees: Cristina Florencia Castro, Gracie Gardner, Marvin González De León, JuCoby Johnson, Candrice Jones, Shannon TL Kearns, Nora Montañez, Savannah Reich, Tylie Shider, and Katie Ka Vang. Welcome And Thank You For Joining Us For Our 37th Annual Playlabs Festival!

We are embracing what it means to create theater during a pandemic and At the heart of PlayLabs is the holistic incubation of new work, and this year is moving the entire process online. While we will miss those personal moments no exception. We are thrilled to bring you these incredible new plays by Erin of connection by being in space together—from the warm greetings in the Courtney, Jessica Huang, Daaimah Mubashshir, and Harrison David Rivers. lobby to that collective gasp at a play’s surprise moment in the theater—we’re Whether beautifully written family dramas or relevant reimaginings of classic grateful that this year, geography will no longer limit who can experience the tales, each story told is both unique and universal. You may see yourself in festival. Whether you’re joining us from across the country, around the world, people you’ve never met or find new laughter and understanding in or just down the street in the Twin Cities, we’re excited you’re here with us to characters you’ve known. celebrate these powerful new stories. These stunning plays accomplish what all good stories seek to do: bring us At Playwrights’ Center, we lead with our values, and this year we are creating closer to our human connection with one another and guide our path to a even more paid artist jobs by expanding the festival. Four playwrights are more equitable, empathetic, and imaginative world. currently developing their new work, partnering with the creative team of their choosing, receiving two full weeks of writing and rehearsal time, and—as So gather your friends or family (if you’re able to in a socially distanced way) always at Playwrights’ Center—being equitably compensated for their time and around the Zoom screen. Sit back. Get comfortable. And experience these new their artistry. Over the course of the festival, nearly 70 paid opportunities for plays along with the rest of the world for the very first time. theatermakers are being created. On behalf of the PlayLabs artists, the Playwrights’ Center staff and board, and the 2,200+ playwright members we serve each year, thank you and enjoy!

Jeremy B. Cohen Robert Chelimsky Producing Artistic Director Managing Director Begin, Begin, Begin Again by Erin Courtney

Director Actors Hayley Finn** Chloe Armao / Chorus A

Sound Design Consultant Sun Mee Chomet* / Museum Guard

Daniel Ison Carolina * / Chorus B Đỗ Stage Manager Arcadia German / Stage Directions snem DeSellier Rachel Leslie* / Chorus Y Apprentice Stage Manager Tyler Michaels King* / Pre-Verbal Tour Guide Kaitlyn Boyer Miriam Schwartz / Sister Festival Producer Hayley Finn Sandra Struthers* / Audio Recording Voice Actor “I began this play with rage, and the question: ‘When a system is broken and injustice Associate Producer Sally Wingert* / Chorus X is rampant, how can rage be channeled Julia Brown into creating systemic change?’” —Erin Courtney *Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre, the Playwrights’ Center, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

**Member, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Erin Courtney (playwright) is writing Chloe Armao (Chorus A) is a Sun Mee Chomet* (Museum a musical, The Tattooed Lady, with Minneapolis-based actor. Some of Guard) is a Twin Cities-based Max Vernon. Her play Ann, Fran, her credits include: Significant Other actor. She is proud to call the Mary Ann is a commission from (Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company); Playwrights’ Center one of her Playwrights Horizons. Her Obie Swede Hollow Ghost Sonata (Sod House artistic homes. Sun Mee has worked award-winning play, A Map Of Virtue, Theater & Black Label Movement); at ’s LCT3, Hartford produced by 13P and directed by Ken The Wolves (Jungle Theater); Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Rus Schmoll, was described by the Trouble in Mind, The Crucible Kansas City Repertory, Syracuse New York Times as “one of the most (Guthrie Theater); While You Were Stage, Guthrie Theater, Ten terrifying plays of the past decade.” Out (Red Eye Theater); Skin Deep Thousand Things Theater, Penumbra Her play I Will Be Gone, directed by Sea (Workhaus Collective); King Theatre, Jungle Theater, Theater Kip Fagan, premiered at ATL. She is a member of New Dramatists, a Lear, Merry Wives of Windsor (Nebraska Shakespeare); Romeo and Mu, Mixed Blood Theater, Pillsbury House Theatre, Park Square MacDowell Colony fellow, and a Guggenheim Fellow. She is the Juliet, Hamlet, As You Like It, The Tempest (Nebraska Shakespeare Theater, among others. Recognition includes 2019 McKnight Program Director of MFA Playwriting at College. – On Tour); Fully Committed (St. Croix Festival Theater); and Theater Artist Fellowship, 2019 Decades Awards (Star Tribune, Inconvenient Truths (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). Chloe is a graduate City Pages), 2015 TCG Fox Fellowship, and 2015 Lucille Lortel Hayley Finn** (director) is the of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress. Sun Mee is Associate Artistic Director at the Program and a proud teaching artist. thrilled to be one of the many actors ushering new voices into Playwrights’ Center, where she works the canon and sustaining the continued creation of theater with some of the nation’s leading and Kaitlyn Boyer (apprentice stage during this challenging time. emerging playwrights and in her manager) is a performer and teaching tenure has produced close to 1,000 artist who was born and raised in snem DeSellier (stage manager) workshops. Hayley is a director, the Twin Cities. She most recently is a multi-modal maker: deviser, writer, producer, and advocate for performed in Actors Theatre of designer, dramaturg, writer-poet, playwrights and new work. She has Louisville’s 44th Annual Humana dancer, manager, and facilitator. directed and developed work Festival of New American Plays They were born, raised, and nationally and internationally as a member of their Professional graduated Hampshire College including at Cherry Lane Theatre, Curious Theatre Company, Training Company. She is currently on Nipmuc and Pocumtuc land and Edinburgh Fringe, Ellis Island, Guthrie Theatre, HERE Arts a teaching artist with NorCal SOTA are now based on the Dakota lands Center, History Theatre, Flea Theater, The Kitchen, Labyrinth School of the Arts, a Sacramento- of Wahpekute and Anishinabewaki. Theater Company, Marin Theater Company, Minnesota Jewish based theater company. Some of her credits include: Deux Femmes snem has presented work in the Theater, People’s Light, New Dramatists, O’Neill Theater Center, on the Edge de la Revolution at the Playwrights’ Center; Cyrano de Twin Cities with 20% Theatre Pillsbury House, People’s Light, Public Theater, Playwrights’ Horizons, Bergerac at the Guthrie Theater; FLEX, Are You There?, and A Company, 9x22 Dance/Lab, Lightning Rod, Fresh Oysters Red Eye Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, and the Nine Gates Christmas Carol at Actors Theatre of Louisville; Seven Guitars, Titus Performance Research, Theatre Mu, Mixed Precipitation, as well Festival in Prague. Hayley is a recipient of the Ruth Easton Fellowship, Andronicus, and In The Blood at the University of Minnesota/ as with the Playwrights’ Center where they served as an artistic TCG Future Leader Grant, National Endowment for the Arts support, Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program. For more information, and administrative apprentice 2019-20. and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. She received visit kaitlynboyer.com. her BA and MA from Brown University and is a co-artistic director of Red Eye Theater. Carolina * (Chorus B) is an Daniel Ison (sound design consultant) THE Đỗ actor, playwright, producer, and Off Broadway: Hot Wing King, RUTH EASTON proud daughter of Vietnamese assistant sound designer (Signature freedom fighters and refugees. She’s Theatre). Regional: Gem of the NEW PLAY SERIES a community organizer and advocate Ocean, Streetcar Named Desire December, 2020–April, 2021 for art that facilitates healing in (Arden Theatre); Wilde Tales, marginalized communities. Her Frankenstein, Julius Caesar, Aesop’s acting credits: Broadway: Linda Vista Fables (Quintessence); Box Clever, (u/s), Grand Horizons (u/s). NYC Our Few, and Evil Days (Inis Nua); theater: Loading Dock, The Tank, The Audience Disturbs Marcel (Tiny Dynamite); Collected Stories (Act II Dec. 9, 2020 New Dramatists, Naked Angels, The Playhouse); Ready Steady Yeti (Azuka Theatre); Othello, All My Sons No Cure Flea. TV/Film: FBI: Most Wanted, Law & Order: SVU, Sideways Smile, Catfight, Queens The Series. Her play, My Mother’s Daughter, was a (Curio Theatre); Tartuffe (Mauckingbird). Film/Television: Howard Jake Jeppson semifinalist for Space on Ryder Farm and a 2020 finalist for (Zorinah Juan). Education: BA Music Composition (Eastern University). Awards: Barrymore Winner Sound Design, Gem of the Jan. 13, 2021 BRICLab. Co-founder of The Sống Collective. BFA: Brooklyn College. Getting There Currently, she has projects screening at Austin Film Festival, Outfest, Ocean. Barrymore Nominee Sound Design, Untitled. Barrymore NewFest, and SXSW. @carolinakaydo; www.carolinado.com Nominee Original Music, Art of Swimming. Dipika Guha

Feb. 3, 2021 Arcadia German (stage directions) Rachel Leslie* (Chorus Y) is a New This Much I Know is a California native and a recent York City based actor. Most recently she Jonathan Spector graduate from the University of was in Harry Potter and the Cursed Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Child and is hoping to return when-

Mar. 3, 2021 program where some favorite roles ever we get back to live theater! Pulp Vérité include Masha (The Three Sisters), Rachel has done numerous shows in Crystal Skillman Clytemnestra (Electra), and Monica/ and regionally. Some Jesus (The Last Days of Judas of her film and television credits Apr. 7, 2021 Iscariot). Arcadia has also had the include Billions, Difficult People, Nancy pleasure to be a Tap Dancing Bear/ Alpha House, The Ticket, and Rhiana Yazzie Ensemble (Cinderella-STC), Baby Unforgettable. Rachel is a member Blue (Marvelous Miss Marvel-Open Eye), Mary Bennet (Pride and of Quick Silver Theater Company and The Actor’s Center. Prejudice-STC), and many more. When not on the stage Arcadia loves photography, Dance, and writing plays of her own. She is ecstatic to join PlayLabs and continue to grow and learn about the magic world Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 of playmaking. professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the For Information And Tickets art of live theatre as an essential component of society and pwcenter.org/ruth-easton-series advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of

Meghan Kreidler as Volina in Betty Shamieh’s Malvolio, during the February 2020 Ruth Easton New Play Series. Photo by Paula Keller performing arts unions. #EquityWorks Tyler Michaels King* (Pre-Verbal Sandra Struthers* (Audio Recording Tour Guide) is a Twin Cities-based Voice Actor) (she/her or they/them) Presenting theater artist and improviser and has performed locally with The is the Founding Artistic Director of Guthrie, Ten Thousand Things, CTC, UNIVERSITY Trademark Theater. He has worked Frank, Mixed Blood, and Pillsbury and played with the Guthrie Theater, House, and regionally at Mint Theater, COURSES The Ordway, Theater Latté Da, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Children’s Theater Company, Actor’s Theater of Louisville. Sandra Hennepin Theater Trust, History also works as playwright, director, Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, and teacher and holds an MFA from Illusion Theater, Live Action Set, ART/Harvard. and Artistry, among many others. Tyler is also a founding member of The Bearded Company. He holds the 2014 Emerging Artist Ivey Sally Wingert* (Chorus X) is an Award, the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Performance from the actor home-based in the Twin Kennedy Center National ACT Festival, and was named “Artist Cities. Over her nearly 40 years of the Year” by City Pages. Tylermichaels.com in the profession she has worked at numerous theaters here and Miriam Schwartz (Sister) is a across the country, the Guthrie, Seattle native and graduate of Theater Latté Da, Mixed Blood, the University of Minnesota Ten Thousand Things, Broadway, /Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Yale Rep, ART, Asolo Rep, among Training Program. Although she others. New play development is now resides in Portland, Oregon, she one of the most thrilling things an has been seen on many Twin Cities actor can be a part of. It has never seemed more vital than now. stages including the Guthrie Thank you, Playwrights’ Center. Theater, Mixed Blood Theater, Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, Artistry MN, and The One-and-On- ly Playwrights’ Center. PlayLabs is her very favorite, and she’s thrilled to be a part of it. The Playwrights’ Center, in partnership with Augsburg University, is offering online, accredited playwriting courses taught by today’s leading writers in the field, creating unparalleled arts education access for aspiring writer! Learn more at pwcenter.org/univeristy-programs

Jerome Fellow Tylie Shider teaches Playwriting II at Augsburg University. Photo Paula Keller PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER THANK YOU DONORS The Playwrights’ Center gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and organizations who have financially supported MEMBERSHIP our work. The following names represent gifts given between August 1, 2019 and October 15, 2020. GOVERNMENT, FOUNDATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS $100,000

$50,000–$99,000

$25,000–$49,999

The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust We serve a worldwide network of over 2,250 member playwrights through a collection of robust and ever-expanding resources, $2,500-$24,999 Up to $999 INDIVIDUALS including: ArtSpace Projects, Inc. Actors’ Equity Foundation, Inc. $10,000+ Boss Foundation AmazonSmile Eric Anderson and Roger Beck • Seminars and multi-week classes on craft Bush Foundation The Benevity Community Impact Fund Barry Berg and Walter Tambor Patrick & Aimee Butler Family Foundation GiveMN.org and the industry Lee Blessing and Melanie Marnich Dual Citizen Brewing Co. Jamf • • Access to experienced actors for private Jeffrey Bores and Michael Hawkins France 44 Wines & Spirits Network for Good Mary Beidler Gearen• new play development readings The Head Family Foundation Seagate Technology LLC Christina Ham • One-on-one dramaturgical support KNOCK, Inc. US Bank Foundation MaryAnn Lippay Kanee and Stephen Kanee Family • Member-centered play readings and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) YourCause Fund Piper Sandler & Co feedback sessions Jennifer Melin Miller and David Miller City of St. Paul (Cultural STAR) In-Kind Wayne Zink and Christopher Schout• • Connection to the world’s largest and Tides Foundation Alma Dana and Stephen Strand most curated database of play submission Trader Joe’s opportunities. $1,000 - $2,499 Learn more at Faegre Drinker Foundation Securian Financial Foundation pwcenter.org/join Whole Lotta Future Foundation •denotes Playwrights’ Center Board Member THANK YOU DONORS Individuals (contINUEd)

$5,000-$9,999 $1,000 - $2,499 Michelle Vaught Peter Brosius and Rosanna Staffa Anonymous Anonymous Barbara Weber Robert P. and Debbie A. Brown David Chelimsky and Flor Pinho dik Bolger and Carmen Gutierrez-Bolger Suzanne Weinstein and Danny Levey Mary and Mike Burke Barbara Davis Peter and Maura• Brew Joan and Scott Wilensky Bob and Carolyn Bye Robert P. Englund Jeremy Cohen and Michael Elyanow Jamie Wilson and David Ericson Allene Cohen Barbara Field Jeanne Corwin Robert Dorfman Larissa Kokernot and Karl Gajdusek• Dan Dietz $250 - $499 Marilyn J. Doyle John Geelan and Megan Feeney Nancy Engh Patricia Barrier Robert C Droddy Elizabeth Grant Chelle and Mike Gonzo George Brant and Laura Kepley Bonnie S. Dudovitz and Jean K. Quam Jeff Hedlund• and Amy Apperson Dan Hedlund and Robin Preble Carlyle Brown• and Barbara Rose-Brown Paul Eiding David and Leni Moore Family Foundation Charlyne Hovi• Sarah and Matt Chaplin Scott Elyanow Peter and Carla• Paulson Family Fund Marlon James Sarah Cooke and Adam Lowe Nancy Finn Diane and Mark• Perlberg Janet Jones and Rob Reul Mary Dolan Tiffa Foster The Racciatti Family Fund Miriam and Erwin Kelen Adam Rao and Elizabeth Emery Seth Freeman Marcia and John Stout Anita Kunin Liz Engelman Robin Gillette John Sullivan Firouzeh Mostashari Lesley Ferris Carol Grady Margaret VB Wurtele Wendy Nelson Jeffrey Grover Josh and Pamela Gruber Kira Obolensky and Irve Dell Kathleen Hansen Rossi and Penelope Snipper $2,500 - $4,999 George Steitz Ross Johnson Scott Halle Harrison David Rivers and Christopher R. Bineham Weiser Family Foundation Willard Kitchen Craig Harris and Candy Kuehn James and Julie Chosy Sally and Jonathan Lebedoff W. Blake and Erin Herron Geoffrey M. Curley• and Associates $500 - $999 Doug and Mary Logeland Thang and Randy Holt Fran Davis Elissa Adams and Michael Margulies Karen Hartman and Todd London Harriet Horwitz Polly Brown Grose Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation. Toni Nebal Bjorklund and Lee Bjorklund Beth MacDonald Jessie Houlihan• Jodi Grundyson• Jane Blanch Ron and Mary Mattson Robert Hybben Tessa Gunther and Scott Hagg Susan Conley De Castro Robert and Lucy Mitchell J. Lynn Jackson Lili Hall and Andrea Scarpa Erika and Nathan Eklund Amy Muse Margaret Johnson Bruce and Jean Johnson Beth Gaede Amy Noble Seitz Bobbi and Louis Kaplan Patrick Kennedy Greg Giles and Teresa West Tonja Orr Daisuke Kawachi Rebecca Krull Kraling• and James Kraling Karen Grabow and Keith Halperin Timothy J. Pabst and Dana Lindsay Martine Kei Green-Rogers Mr. and Mrs. Chad M. Larsen/Larsen Fund Katie Hey Kendra Plant Mary Louise Klas Annie Lebedoff• Suzanne Joyce Audray Rees David Koehser and Nancy Dunnigan Heather and John Leiviska Dr. Art Kaemmer Carl Atiya Swanson and Stacy Schwartz Katherine Kohl James Empson and Cheryl Olseth Faye Knowles and Douglas Muirhead Jane E Zilch Aaron and Eric Komo Randall and Gail Ross Jon Newman and Brooks Christensen Laura Zimmermann Neal and Abigail Kreitzer Mary and Adam Sellke JoAnne Pastel Joseph Kuznik Mary Anne Ebert and Paul Stembler• James A. Payne $100 - $249 Sigrun Leonhard Harry Waters, Jr.• and Tom Borrup Charlie Quimby and Susan Cushman Monika Albrecht Seth Levin and Mia Nosanow Ginger Wilhelmi• Shannon Robinson Howard Ansel Edith Leyasmeyer Donald and Linda Silpe Karen Bachman and Robert Fisch David Manderson Merrie and Aaron Sjogren James Ball Jeff Masco Ed McConaghay and Margaret Telfer Jeannette and Jeffrey Bineham Timothy Mason THANK YOU DONORS Individuals (contINUEd) David McNeil $99 & Under Jake Johansen Noël Raymond and Amy Finch Kelly Miller Valetta Anderson Lauren Johnson Sara Richardson Patricia Mitchell Linda Anderson Willette and Jan Willette Jaclyn Johnson Julie Robbins Silas Morgan Mark Armstrong Pat Johnston Cliff Robinette Sarah Myers Carol Barnett Jeremy Jones Susie Rowland Rebecca Noon, in honor of Daisuke Kawachi In memory of Susan Barton Mervyn Kaufman Whitney Rowland Anne L. Paape Angela and George Bernhardt Anne-Lynn Kettles Candyce Rusk James and Susan Peterson Ann M. Biggar Adeeb Khalid and Cheryl Duncan Christina Saunders Beth and Wes Pfeifer Kate Brennan Mary T. Kokernot Jill Schafer Eric Polizer Harriet Chessman Jonna Kosalko and Dan Rabin Kate Schwartz Barbara Pratt Todd Clasen Jennifer Kranz Maureen Siliman Denise Prosek and Milton Ferris Marvin Gonzalez De Leon Carson Kreitzer Nancy Simon Daniel Rech and Nicole DeBace-Rech John DeLaire Jessica Kubzansky Christopher G. Smith Lawrence Redmond and Eddie Ellington Sheila DeSellier Jim Larson Philip Spensley Christopher Reeves and MaryAnn Nord Andrew Dominus Carol Lichterman Joseph H Stanley Melissa and Scott Rockman Denise Dreher Mark Lutwak and Y York Sandra Struthers Charlene K. Roise Mary Easter Bruce Manning and Tricia Cornell Melissa A. Thone Rn Erika Schwichtenberg Jill Engeswick Susan Marrash-Minnerly Doug Tiede Dan and Margaret Shulman Diane Faissler Judy McConnell Andrew Troth Emily Simon and Nathan Lucero Leigh Flayton Linda McDonald Stephen Troutman Jerrie Steele Peter Fleck and Mary Weber Chaz Mena Ken Urban David Odenbach and John Stefany Annette Gavens Lynne Menturweck Ryan Volna Carol Stoddart Ain Gordon Ellen Merlin Daniel Weiner and Carl Roller Seema Sueko Donna Gordon Meg Miroshnik Dawn Williams Virginia Sundberg Judy Goss Lacey Morgan Sarah Woessner Megan Erlandson and Merritt Swain Rachel Greene and Victor Perazzoli Joseph Moses Robert Young Elizabeth Thimmesh and Matthew Johnson Janet Allen and Joel Grynheim Miriam Must Jared Zeigler William Underwood and Christopher Everett Matt Haar Jon Neuse and K.C. Foley Susan Zwickey Adrian Walker Peter Heeringa Douglas Nopar Eryn Warne Stephanie Melissande Jennifer and Joe Novak Wendy Weckwerth John Humphrey Kemi Ojelade Barbara Weissberger Ivan Idland William Parry Joan Heule Wright and Jeffrey Wright Walt Jacobs Barb and Rick Person Scott and Pam Wright Laura Jacqmin Daniel Pinkerton Laura Zabel and Levi Weinhagen Andrew and Amy Jendrzejewski Shelli Place Deborah Zanish and Daniel Danielson Rachel Jendrzejewski and Theo Goodell Marilynn Pyatigorets

AMPLIFY VITAL STORYTELLING THROUGH GIVING Social justice is at the heart of the Playwrights’ Center’s work. We strive for it by actively supporting equitable theater-making practices that shift the paradigm, uplifting unheard stories and sharing them with the world. With your support, the Center can provide the greatest diversity of artists with the time, tools, and space to tell their truths and reshape audiences’ perspectives. Make a gift and amplify vital storytellers today! pwcenter.org/donate STAFF BOARD THE 2020–21 Carla Paulson, President Jeremy B. Cohen, Producing Artistic Director Harrison David Rivers, Vice President FELLOWS AND CORE WRITERS Robert Chelimsky, Managing Director Maura Brew, Secretary May Adrales, Artistic Associate Kelly Renee Armstrong Sofya Levitsky-Weitz Adam Rao, Treasurer Alayna Barnes, Membership Programs Associate Lee Blessing Nora Montañez Jeffrey Bores Julia Brown, Artistic Programs Manager Sharon Bridgforth Daaimah Mubashshir Carlyle Brown Hayley Finn, Associate Artistic Director Carlyle Brown Kira Obolensky Geoffrey Curley Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Fellowship Associate Darren Canady John Olive Karl Gajdusek H. Adam Harris, Engagement Associate Cristina Florencia Castro Marisela Treviño Orta Mary Beidler Gearen Katie Hey, Director of Development Jodi Grundyson Erin Courtney Savannah Reich Jasmine Johnson, General Manager Jeff Hedlund Mashuq Mushtaq Deen Stacey Rose Hannah Joyce, Director of Membership Programs Jessie Houlihan Emily Feldman Andrew Rosendorf Emily Mathees, Executive Staff Administrator Charlyne Hovi Gina Femia Riti Sachdeva Sarah Myers, Director of University Programs and Partnerships Jonathan Jensen Barbara Field Tylie Shider Daniel Rech, Director of Marketing and Communications David Kim Gracie Gardner Charly Evon Simpson Whitney Rowland, Institutional Development Manager Rebecca Krull Kraling Teri Schafer, Development Assistant Marvin González De León Crystal Skillman Annie Lebedoff Sonitha Tep, Marketing Communications Graphic and Media Designer Jeffrey Hatcher Jonathan Spector Mark Perlberg Kaitlyn Boyer, Artistic and Administrative Apprentice Rachel Jendrzejewski Ariel Stess Christopher Schout Roshni Desai, Artistic and Administrative Apprentice Jake Jeppson James Anthony Tyler Leah Spinosa de Vega Ashe Jaafaru, Artistic and Administrative Apprentice JuCoby Johnson Katie Ka Vang Cecilia Stanton Adams Isabella Star LaBlanc, Artistic and Administrative Apprentice Candrice Jones Abbee Warmboe Paul Stembler Nicholas Kaidoo Talvin Wilks Harry Waters Jr. Shannon TL Kearns Ray Yamanouchi Ginger Wilhelmi Keyanna Khatiblou Stefanie Zadravec Michael Winn Jeremy B. Cohen, ex officio Kurt Kwan Robert Chelimsky, ex officio THEATER BEGINS HERE ARTISTS IN “Stories give us chances to see ourselves and what we could hope to be.” CONVERSATION —2020–21 Jerome Fellow, Candrice Jones Building on our sold-out Public Discussion series from past seasons, Artists in Conversation offers a uniquely We start with the storytellers. intimate look at playwrights and their process. Unlike the Center’s many The playwrights. scripted events throughout the year, these conversations offer audiences a The artists. chance to connect directly with writers, hearing artists’ thoughts on craft, the field, and the world through their own As we continue to meet the challenges of these unfiltered words. Past conversations times, the Playwrights’ Center seeks to reimagine have featured acclaimed theater artists, including Migdalia Cruz, Lisa D'Amour, what is possible in theater; both in this moment and Daniel Alexander Jones, José Rivera, beyond. Throughout our 2020–21 Season we are and Paula Vogel, among others. intensifying our efforts, investing even more deeply Specific participants, topics, and dates will be announced in creative process, arts education, and access to throughout the year. opportunity. We are working to amplify unheard Stay tuned! voices and promote equitable spaces, allowing for the greatest diversity of artists to make plays around the world. Through additional fellowships and IN THE LAB increased public programming, we are creating new New worlds require new ways. And the Playwrights’ Center is stepping up our support channels of support for thousands of writers—from to meet this moment, launching a brand new online paid opportunities that will sustain playwrights and development and performance project called In the Lab. theatermakers, to expanded educational resources Through this innovative program, three writers will develop that will enhance online learning tools and connect wildly experimental new works, pushing the boundaries of form university students from around the world. We are and content, and revolutionizing the way we experience stories. inspiring a whole new generation of theater artists. TOMORROW CELL SURFACE VAPOR TRAIL It all begins here. WILL BE SUNDAY by Dominic Taylor by Ken Urban by Heather Raffo

Meiyin Wang, Producing Director at The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center joins Philip Bither, Dates and times to be announced soon. McGuire Director and Senior Curator, Performing Arts at Walker Art Center for a sold-out Public Discussion. Visit pwcenter.org for more information. Join us! Photo by Josh Olson