top of page
All Posts


WHYY: Another Samuel D. Hunter? Audiences Get To See New Plays Develop
Back in 2010, Samuel D. Hunter was a young New York playwright fresh out of Moscow, Idaho, when Philadelphia gave him a life-changing...
PlayPenn
Jul 31 min read


PlayPenn Among 2025 Philadelphia Cultural Fund Grant Recipients
PlayPenn is honored to be one of the recipients of the 2025 Art & Culture Grants awarded by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF). A total...
PlayPenn
Jun 211 min read


PlayPenn Unveils Free Public Reading Lineup Across the City of Philadelphia
PlayPenn, a nationally recognized new play development organization, proudly announces the full lineup of free public readings for its 2025 New Play Development Conference, running July 5 - 20 at venues throughout Philadelphia.
PlayPenn
Jun 193 min read


Seeking Actor For PlayPenn New Play Development Conference
PlayPenn is seeking an immediate replacement for the reading of Ama. Egg. Oyá. by Lori Felipe-Barkin, produced in partnership with Power Street Theater.
PlayPenn
Jun 131 min read


WHYY PBS: Philly theaters reel from sudden loss of NEA funding
PlayPenn’s Artistic Director, Che’Rae Adams said $15,000 is roughly the cost to stage a single play reading during the conference....
PlayPenn
May 71 min read


Broad Street Review: Philly arts organizations speak up after the Trump administration revokes their NEA grants
PlayPenn’s Artistic Director Che’Rae Adams was interviewed by @broadstreview for an article detailing the impact of recent federal...
PlayPenn
May 61 min read


Update: The NEA Pulled Our Funding
In November 2024, PlayPenn received news that we had been awarded a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts — the first...
PlayPenn
May 21 min read


PlayPenn Announces Resident Playwright Selections and Reimagined Citywide Conference
PlayPenn , a national new play development center based in Philadelphia, proudly announces the 2025 New Play Development Conference,...
PlayPenn
Mar 173 min read


Statement: PlayPenn, the NEA, and DEI
Over the past 20 years, PlayPenn has provided a platform for hundreds of playwrights to share their voices, providing them the...
theaterwilson
Feb 203 min read


PlayPenn's Conference Expands to More Philadelphia Districts
PlayPenn's storied New Play Development Conference returns in 2025— the first since the 2022 Conference which featured plays exclusively...
theaterwilson
Dec 2, 20242 min read


PlayPenn Receives 2025 NEA Grant
PlayPenn is pleased to announce it has been selected by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) @neaarts for a Grants for Arts Projects...
theaterwilson
Nov 8, 20241 min read


PlayPenn featured in The Dramatist Magazine "New Plays" Issue
PlayPenn Artistic Director Che’Rae Adams is featured in the Summer 2024 issue of The Dramatist Magazine . She participated in a...
theaterwilson
Aug 1, 20242 min read


PlayPenn Announces New Initiatives for Playwrights
PlayPenn has announced the creation of two new programs to expand the organization’s support for playwrights. The Playwrights Cohort at...
PlayPenn
Mar 29, 20232 min read


Welcome Che’Rae Adams, the new Artistic Director of PlayPenn!
Che’Rae has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with local writers. She...
theaterwilson
Jan 12, 20226 min read
bottom of page