As a member of the Dramatists Guild, you receive a rundown of the latest industry news, DG events, member shout-outs, and so much more. From submission deadlines to community engagement opportunities, we’ll keep you in the loop. Not a part of the Guild yet, but still want access? Join today.
NEWS
"Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President"
Join the Historic Letter Writing Campaign by Dramatists Guild Members for Be An #ArtsHero
The story of our nation is in critical condition. It needs big ideas. It needs bold vision. It needs a critical mass of voices going to where the silence is, making the invisible visible — and the impossible roar to life.
That is why Be An #ArtsHero and The Dramatists Guild of America are calling on you to incite a monumental reimagining and help steer a crucial course redirection in 2021.
Together, we invite you to a historic letter-writing initiative titled "Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President," urging the incoming Biden Administration to make Arts & Culture Workers a legislative priority. Your letter should chronicle your hopes, dreams, and vision for what America can become with the arrival of a new administration.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AND SUBMIT YOUR LETTER
2021 Authors Coalition Survey: Please Help Us Help You
We are calling on all Guild members to complete this year's Authors Coalition Survey, so that we can receive the funds necessary to continue our advocacy work on behalf of dramatists.
This year, it more important than ever that we have a strong rate of participation from our membership. Because our share of the money collected is determined by the responses that we get from the genre survey, your prompt and accurate answers will determine how much money we receive in the coming year.
TAKE THE SURVEY AND HELP DG MEMEBRS
Share Your Story: PBS American Portrait
Videos due by December 23, 2020
PBS American Portrait, a national storytelling project, is looking to hear from arts workers who have been impacted by the pandemic. The stories that are shared will be displayed on their platform, and will be eligible to be featured in an upcoming PBS special.
In order to participate in this project, DG members should create a 20-60 second video responding to a prompt on the PBS American Portrait website.
SAVE THE DATE: Regional Town Halls in January 2021
In order to take the next step in our work, we want to hear from you, the members, about your thoughts, ideas, and desires for the coming year. How can we best serve your communities? What would you like our staff and Council to know? Do you know of theatres or organizations with which we should be developing relationships?
We will be hosting five Regional Town Halls across the country on the following dates (below). You will receive an invitation to register to these Town Halls in the first half of January, following the holidays.
These dates are subject to change, pending availability.
Northeaster Region:
Sunday, January 17 at 11am EST
Middle Region:
Sunday, January 10 at 6pm CST
Southern Region:
Sunday, January 10 at 5pm EST
Southern California Region:
Saturday, January 9 at 11am PST
Western Region:
Tuesday, January 12 at 3pm PST
"Write in the Dark," DGF's Virtual Benefit to Support Theatre Writers
Monday, December 21 at 7pm EST
Please join our friends at The Dramatists Guild Foundation on Monday, December 21 at 7pm EST for "Write in the Dark," a virtual benefit to support theatre writers.
"Write in the Dark" will spotlight the work of theatre writers who have captured the impact and energy of cultural moments throughout history.
Featuring DG members Michael R. Jackson, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Sarah Jones, Melissa Li, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Heidi Schreck, Stephen Sondheim, Kit Yan, and more.
Since the theatre industry went on extended intermission, DGF has given out $1 million in Emergency Grants to playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists to help with rent payments, utility bills, healthcare costs, child care, and other life necessities.
Join the Dramatists Guild Foundation in support of writers, so that they can continue to lift up the stories that need to be shared.
In order to make this event accessible to all of the writers in our community, "Write in the Dark" will be free to watch via a live broadcast at dfg.org.
Digital Play Premiere of #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence
The Dramatists Guild is a proud co-sponsor of the digital premiere of #ENOUGH: Plays To End Gun Violence, streaming for free, now through December 20, via Broadway on Demand.
#ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence is a theatre activism campaign launched by Michael Cotey in 2019. #ENOUGH strives to spark critical conversations, and incite meaningful action in communities across the country on the issue of gun violence, through the creation of new works of theatre by teens. #ENOUGH's mission is to promote playwriting as a tool of self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation's spirit of activism, and providing a platform for America's playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today. Learn more at www.enoughplays.com.
ADVOCACY
Ed Bullins, Constance Congdon, and Philip Kan Gotanda are the inaugural recipients of the Legacy Playwrights Initiative Award(s)
The winners will be recognized by their friends and peers, including Lou Bellamy, Oskar Eustis, David Henry Hwang, Tony Kushner, Phylicia Rashad, and Paula Vogel, at the Dramatists Guild Foundation “Write in the Dark” virtual benefit on December 21, 2020.
The industry-wide Legacy Playwrights Initiative is a process of rediscovery and advocacy for important elder playwrights whose writing has fallen out of the public eye. The initiative aims to honor these writers and, as necessary, provide financial support for the exigencies of late life. The initiative includes Legacy Playwright Awards for sustained achievement, enduring excellence, and influence on the American theatre; advocacy and, when possible, financial incentives for professional theatre production; reissues of previously published plays; activities to build awareness within the profession and within American universities, to get the Legacy playwrights’ work read, taught, and produced.
THE DRAMATIST
Question from the Editor, Joey Stocks
Have any Dramatists Guild members ever written "green" or environmentally friendly practices into the production notes of your script? If so, tell me about it!
Jan/Feb 2021: The Terrence McNally Issue
The January/February issue of The Dramatist magazine is now available to access online, and hard copies are currently being shipped to DG members. This issue is dedicated to Terrence McNally (1938-2020), and features writing advice from him, as well as tributes from numerous friends and collaborators.
It isn't often that we dedicate an entire issue to one person. Terrence McNally is that rare exception for many reasons, including his impressive body of work, his dedication to mentorship, his outspoken advocacy for authorial rights, and his career-long support and service to the Guild and the Dramatists Guild Foundation. He joined the Guild in 1963, was elected to Council in 1970, and served as Vice President from 1981-1999.
FINANCIAL HELP
DGF has distributed more than $750,000 in Emergency Grants this year.
For over 50 years, DGF has administered Emergency Grants that provide financial aid to writers in serious need. These grants are available to playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists at all stages of their careers.
TICKET OFFERS
Share Your Live Stream Productions!
We are rebuilding this newsletter feature to better promote member productions. To view a list of upcoming live streams, please use the button below. Members are now able to submit their live stream readings and productions to our new Productions webpage.
Upcoming Live Streams
Maria Indomable
by Dorothy Velasco
A Christmas Carol at Merchant's House
by Charles Dickens, John Kevin Jones
Sleep Deprivation Chamber
by Adam P Kennedy, Adrienne Kennedy
The Half-Life of Marie Curie
by Lauren Gunderson
Ain't Congregatin'
by Patrick McGeever, Karen Clark, Edward Schechter, Reva Rosard, Patricia Wisch, Gerry Schneeberg, Fran Hunter, Bernie Littman, Marjorie Fiterman
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Submission Highlight: Campbell Opera Librettist Prize
Conceived and funded by acclaimed librettist and lyricist Mark Campbell, the prize is the first award in the history of American opera that specifically recognizes the work of the opera librettist. Applications are now open.
The prize will be awarded annually to an American librettist who demonstrates an exceptional talent for writing opera librettos, and exhibits the potential for making a substantial contribution to the opera literature. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to the art form, and have written at least two complete opera librettos that have been set to music or are in the process of being set to music. The winner will be chosen by a panel of independent experts.
The winner of the prize will receive a $7,000 award in support of their artistry and development as an opera librettist to be used at their own discretion. In addition, they will gain access to OPERA America’s professional development programs for artists, and receive introductions to leading opera producers through Opera America Magazine, OPERA America’s digital and social media channels, future Opera Conferences, and New Works Forum convenings.
RESOURCE CALENDAR
December 19
#ENOUGH on Broadway On Demand
December 20
#ENOUGH on Broadway On Demand
December 21
ARKANSAS ONLINE: Holiday Happy Hour
December 21
"Write in the Dark," DGF's Virtual Benefit to Support Theatre Writers
December 22
FLORIDA ONLINE: Meet & Write
December 25 - January 1
Guild Office Closed
December 29
FLORIDA ONLINE: Meet & Write
January 05
FLORIDA ONLINE: Meet & Write
January 08
ATLANTA ONLINE: New Year, New Frontiers
January 9
DG Regional Town Hall: Southern California Region
January 10
DG Regional Town Hall: Middle Region
January 10
DG Regional Town Hall: Southern Region
January 12
DG Regional Town Hall: Western Region
January 17
DG Regional Town Hall: Northeastern Region
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
December 20 - The Artists's Relief Fund
December 21 - Irondale Ensemble Project On Women Theater Festival
December 21 - The Future of Playwriting Prize
December 25 - Tin Pan Alley 2 Concert Series Open Call
December 30 - Ghostlight Make/Believe Theatre for Children Festival
December 30 - Victory Gardens Theater Open Mic Series
January 01 - Black Writer Monologues at NWT
January 01 - Wily West Productions
January 02 - Growing Stage New Play Reading Festival
January 03 - Drama League: New York Directing Fellow
January 05 - Circle of Confusion Writers Discovery Fellowship
January 05 - Reverb Theatre Arts Festival
January 06 - Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
January 07 - Miranda Family Fellowships
January 08 - Sesame Street Workshop
January 11 - Leah Ryan's FEWW Playwriting Prize
January 14 - McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting
January 15 - Bogliasco Foundation
January 15 - Call for Monologues and Short One Act Plays
January 15 - Neukon Award for Playwriting
January 15 - Next Generation Works: Playworks
January 15 - The Black List & Google Assistant Storytelling Fellowship
January 15 - White Horse Theater Company Call for Musicals
January 15 - Wichita State University New Play Competition
January 19 - Central Square Theater Women & Science 10-Minute Plays
January 21 - Campbell Opera Librettist Prize
January 31 - Dubuque Fine Arts Players One-Act Playwriting Contest
January 31 - Playwrights Voiced