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 we are continuous by Harrison David Rivers

Director Actors Tyler Thomas** Aimee K. Bryant* / Mother

Scenic Design Consultant Ian Holcomb* / Husband

Peiyi Wong Jon-Michael Reese* / Son

Stage Manager Rosey Lowe

Apprentice Stage Manager Isabella Star LaBlanc

Festival Producer Hayley Finn “So many plays in the HIV/AIDS theatrical canon are about white gay men and death and dying. I Associate Producer wanted to add something Black and gay and full Julia Brown of hope. we are continuous is my contribution.” —Harrison David Rivers *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 Harrison David Rivers (playwright) Aimee K. Bryant* (Mother) has Isabella Star LaBlanc (apprentice is the winner of the 2018 Relentless built a lengthy resume performing stage manager) is a Sisseton Award for The Bandaged Place. His throughout the Twin Cities since Wahpeton Dakota actress and other plays include When Last We she graduated from Howard writer from Minnesota. Onstage, Flew (GLAAD Media Award), Sweet University. Most recently, she she has been seen at theaters (AUDELCO nom), Where Storms appeared in Riddle Puzzle Plot across the country and Twin Are Born (Berkshire Theatre Award with Park Square, A Christmas Cities. Her writing has been seen nom), This Bitter Earth (Jeff nom, Carol at the Guthrie, and Crowns at American Players Theatre, MN Theatre Award for Exceptional with New Dawn Theatre. In The Guthrie Theater, Penumbra New Work), Five Points (Broadway- addition to being an actor, Aimee is Theater Company, Pangea World World Minneapolis Award for Best a teaching artist, songwriter, and Theater, and has been featured New Work), and Broadbend, Arkansas (Antonyo Award nom). He is vocalist. Her debut CD, Becoming, is now available online. in The Minnesota Women’s Press. Her poetry film “Together the recipient of McKnight, Jerome, and Van Lier Fellowships and Aimee was named City Pages 2015 Actress of the Year and in Smoke” was featured in Motionpoem’s 2020 Hothouse residencies with NYS&F, NYTW, Duke University, and the was a McKnight Theater Artist Fellow for 2015-2016. Festival. She is a current recipient of the Tiwahe Foundation’s Artist Williamstown Theater Festival. Harrison is a member of the Grant and an Indigenous Board Member at The Guthrie. Playwrights’ Center’s Board of Directors. harrisondavidrivers.com Ian Holcomb* (Husband) Off- Broadway: London Assurance, It’s a Rosey Lowe (stage manager) (she/ Tyler Thomas** (director) is a Wonderful Life, Ernest in Love (Irish they) is delighted to be back at director and choreographer currently Repertory Theatre), Murder In The PWC for her fourth PlayLabs based in New York City. Her work First (The Directors Company), The festival. She is a multidisciplinary has most recently been shown at Broken Heart, Macbeth (Theatre For theater artist and educator. In the The Vineyard Theatre, Rattlestick A New Audience), Transport (Irish Twin Cities, she has worked at a Theater, New Ohio Theatre, The Arts Center), EightyThree Down variety of theaters as a performer, Flea, and HERE Arts Center. As (Under St Marks). Regional: dramaturg, and stage manager— an associate and assistant, she has Stupid F#*@ing Bird (Syracuse most recently as a dramaturg for worked with Whitney White, Taibi Stage/Portland Center Stage), The 20% Theater’s 2019 Q-Stage Magar, Young Jean Lee, Lear Great Gatsby (Virginia Stage), A Midsummer Night’s Dream Festival. When not in a rehearsal deBessonet, Lee Sunday Evans, (Geva Theater), Dial ‘M’ For Murder (Dorset Theatre Festival), A room, Rosey draws comic strips, plays guitar, and develops antiracist Niegel Smith, Jo Bonney, and the Builders Association. Tyler is a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Guthrie Theater), Dying City (Bottling programming for preschool and elementary aged children through former SDCF Observer, member of the Lincoln Center Directors’ Company), Ghosts (Commonweal Theatre). Television/Web: New City Church. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/ Lab, Visiting Artist at the Athens Conservatoire in Greece, Resident CoExisting, BOKtv, #ThatThingFromBefore, Onion News Network. Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program. Director at The Flea, and current 2050 NYTW Fellow and Foeller Workshops: Look Upon Our Lowliness (New York Theatre Workshop), Fellow at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She holds a BFA in Drama Measured (The Public Theatre) This Bitter Earth (TOSOS). Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, and MA in Arts Politics from the Tisch School of the Arts. is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and 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 performing arts unions. #EquityWorks Jon-Michael Reese* (Son) is an THE actor and musician based out of Presenting RUTH EASTON Brooklyn, NY. Favorite credits include: Jimmy and Lorraine (James NEW PLAY SERIES Baldwin), Pillsbury House; Theo UNIVERSITY December, 2020–April, 2021 (Abe Cramer), Two River Theater; Marry Me a Little (Woman), New COURSES Ohio Theatre; This Bitter Earth (Jesse Howard), Penumbra Theatre; Man of la Mancha (Padre), To Let Go and Fall (Arthur, 16), Theatre Latté Dec. 9, 2020 Da; My Heart is the Drum (Edward Adu, Gregory Award: No Cure Outstanding Actor), Village Theatre; Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat Jake Jeppson (Thomas Edison), Adirondack Theatre Festival; King Lear (Cordelia), Exit Pursued By Bear; when last we flew (Paul), Lucille Lortel. Jan. 13, 2021 BFA: Carnegie Mellon. Getting There Dipika Guha Peiyi Wong (scenic design consultant)

Feb. 3, 2021 is an interdisciplinary artist and This Much I Know designer for performance based in Brooklyn, NY. Recent credits include Jonathan Spector scenic/costume design: Kafka’s A

Mar. 3, 2021 Hunger Artist (Sinking Ship/The Pulp Vérité Connelly Theater), The Trial of the Crystal Skillman Catonsville Nine (Transport Group), MukhAgni (Under the Radar/The Apr. 7, 2021 Public), The Seventh Voyage (TiQ); Nancy scenic/installation: You Are Under Rhiana Yazzie Our Space Control (Object Collection/LaMama), Memoirs of a… Unicorn (NY Live Arts/Collapsable Hole, 2018 Bessie Award for The Playwrights’ Center, in partnership with Outstanding Design), Charleses (The Tank, Hewes Award nom), Now Augsburg University, is offering online, accredited is the Time (Little Lord); costumes: Broadbend, AK (Transport Group), and virtual design consult for Jaamil Olawale Kosoko’s Chameleon: playwriting courses taught by today’s leading writers The Living Installaments. Adjunct Faculty, Playwrights Horizons in the field, creating unparalleled arts education For Information And Tickets Theater School/NYU Tisch. MFA, CalArts. access for aspiring writer! Learn more at pwcenter.org/ruth-easton-series www.peiyiameliawong.com pwcenter.org/univeristy-programs

Meghan Kreidler as Volina in Betty Shamieh’s Malvolio, during the February 2020 Ruth Easton New Play Series. Photo by Paula Keller 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 Bush Foundation The Benevity Community Impact Fund Barry Berg and Walter Tambor • Seminars and multi-week classes on craft Patrick & Aimee Butler Family Foundation GiveMN.org and the industry Lee Blessing and Melanie Marnich Dual Citizen Brewing Co. Jamf Jeffrey Bores• and Michael Hawkins • Access to experienced actors for private 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 Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) YourCause • Member-centered play readings and Fund Piper Sandler & Co Jennifer Melin Miller and David Miller feedback sessions 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