Dear Dramatists Guild Members,
I’m writing you, the members of The Dramatists Guild, to inform you that I will be stepping down from my role as Co-Executive Director at the end of September 2024 to explore other opportunities in new play and musical development and work on my writing for the first time in 17 years.
It's been the honor of my life to serve this nation’s playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists. I’ve had the great pleasure of traveling the country to meet many of you in person, and I'm genuinely thankful for your unwavering support and for having the opportunity to support you in return.
Below is my official statement of departure. I’m not sure what my next adventure will be, as I intend to rest for the first time in seven years. I put two kids through high school while working at the Guild, and I desperately need to pause for a bit and recharge.
I also want to express my gratitude to the incredible Guild staff, both current and past. Their hard work and dedication have been instrumental in our collective achievements. I've had the pleasure of working with some exceptional individuals, and I'm confident you're in good hands. Together, we've achieved some remarkable milestones that have significantly contributed to the Guild's 100-year labor movement.
Thank you to Tina, Ralph, and Claudia for hiring me seven years ago, and thank you to each and every one of you for your commitment to the Guild.
Stay committed. This movement needs all of us.
Please feel free to invite me to your readings or productions (if I can make it, I’ll be there). You can stay in touch with me at theaterwilson@gmail.com.
Look at what we have done together. Anything is possible. Thank you for seven wonderful years.
Official Statement of Departure
At the age of 11, I attended the opening night of the original production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson.
March 27, 1988.
I don't recall my life before that moment.
Sitting in the audience of the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, four rows from the stage, center aisle, I found myself. The language, the performances, the set, the direction, the nuance, the power—it all spoke to a part of me I didn't know existed. It was in that moment I decided to become a playwright. I had no idea what it meant or what it entailed, but the die was cast.
Over my lifetime, I’ve done everything but write. I directed, I performed, I started a theatre company, and I ran a national non-profit. In 1988, I became a writer, but the career I manifested was that of an executive producer (Tina Fallon was the first one to name it and speak that term into my life). But I rarely wrote. It is now time I challenge myself to fully embrace my identity as a writer/director and dedicate myself to the craft that has always called to me.
After seven and a half transformative years with The Dramatists Guild of America, I have made the difficult decision to embrace the unknown and leave my position as Co-Executive Director to realize a lifelong dream.
My experience as an arts administrator has been nothing short of extraordinary. If August opened the door to the theatre for me, my time at the Guild deepened my love and commitment to it. Serving dramatists working in America has been the greatest honor of my life. I am profoundly proud of the transformative changes achieved during my tenure—fostering a more inclusive, dynamic, and nurturing environment for all theatre writers and helping to bring forth the mission of the Guild to every corner of the country. Together, we have championed the rights of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists, ensuring our voices are heard and our creations safeguarded. Today, theatre writers of all ages across the nation better understand the Guild’s purpose and the vital battles we fight on their behalf.
As I step away from my role at the Guild, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit eager for new challenges. I look forward to the next chapter, knowing that the lessons I’ve learned and the relationships I’ve built will continue to guide and inspire me. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey. Your support, creativity, and dedication have meant more to me than words can express.
Writing for the theatre is not just a profession; it is a calling, a community, a family. And though I may be leaving my position, I am not leaving this family. I carry with me the stories, the memories, and the passion that have defined these past seven years, and I am excited to see where this path leads next. I will remain a Guild member for the rest of my life, forever committed to our shared mission. I live in a spirit of abundance, and I wish that for every writer everywhere and for the Guild itself.
I’ve done a great deal of work in these seven years, equivalent to about 20 years' worth of experience. My current focus is to set everyone up for success. I’ll be working diligently to pass all my information to the staff and ensure that membership operations run smoothly. My last day will be September 30.
My deepest thanks to Ralph, Tina, and Claudia for hiring me seven years ago. It changed my life.
With deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks,
Emmanuel
