Our Mission

Playsmiths’ mission is to provide a workshop for playwrights where new material can be developed into fully-realized productions. Our development process consists of cold readings with actors, staged readings (“Salons”) with a director and an invited audience, and then public performances of selected works (“Showcases”). Additionally, we host seminars and panels by influential playwrights, directors, actors, and other theatre professionals, in order to share the experiences and insights of the more seasoned with emerging talent. We believe that the written work of the emerging playwright is a precious thing, to be treated with respect and critiqued with clarity and care. Our goal is to encourage participation in the process, which includes working and reworking material until it accurately reflects the themes and aspirations of the playwright. We seek playwrights, as well as like-minded actors and directors who are interested in meeting on a weekly basis to have their works read aloud and to receive feedback from a trained facilitator, as well as from the other playwrights and theatrical professionals in attendance. Our directors have the opportunity to hone their craft through watching the pieces presented and identifying potential staging issues with the work, and our actors have the chance to sharpen their talents by reading new work each week. “Playwright” is spelled W-R-I-G-H-T because plays are wrought, hammered into shape, as metal; finished plays do not magically appear on paper. They must be crafted, and the crafters of drama must be provided a safe place to learn, to fail, and ultimately to succeed. That is the goal of Playsmiths.

You can read more about our rules and regulations in this document here.