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The History of The Playwrights’ Center
The Playwrights’ Center was founded in 1971 by
five playwrights looking for moral and professional support in
the creation, development,
and eventual production of their work. These playwrights conceived
of The Playwrights’ Center as a place where writers could
have the rare opportunity to hear their work read aloud by professional
actors,
to hear comments and criticism from peers and audience members,
and to develop their scripts with the help of artistic collaborators
and working professionals.
34 years later, the Center has grown into a regional and national
resource for script development, which currently provides a range
of services for writers at all stages of their careers. Members
and affiliates of The Playwrights’ Center include nationally
distinguished artists such as Lee Blessing, Ping Chong, Barbara
Field, Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Kevin Kling, Emily Mann, Eric Overmyer,
Paula Vogel and August Wilson. The work of Center playwrights
has
won every major recognition the field offers, including two Pulitzers,
the Tony, the Olivier, numerous Obies (NYC), Joseph Jefferson awards
(Chicago), The Princess Grace Award, Helen Hayes Awards (DC), New
York Dramatists Critics Circle Best New Play Award (NY), and Dramalogues
(LA), as well as fellowships from the National Endowment for the
Arts and major foundations and state arts councils.
In 2001, the Center completed a $1.1 Million construction project
on its existing building which includes a state-of-the-art 120-seat
theater. This change at the Center is part of a larger initiative
to connect audiences to playwrights.
The work of Center playwrights is supported by a Board
of Directors consisting of fourteen members, and a staff of five full-time, and
three part-time, employees.
