Development History

2019

Archipelago by Amy E. Witting
directed by Desdemona Chiang (Gavin Witt, dramaturg)

Cave Canem by A. Emmanuel Leadon
directed by Jade King Carroll (Quinn D. Eli, dramaturg)

Incendiary by Dave Harris
directed by Steve H. Broadnax III (Clare Drobot, dramaturg)

Strange Men by Will Snider
directed by Arpita Mukherjee (Kristopher Karcher, dramaturg)

The Piper by Kate Hamill
directed by Stuart Carden (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Wayfinding by Whitney Rowland
directed by Jackson Gay (Julia Mauro Bumke, dramaturg)

Esther Choi & the Fish That Drowned by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters
directed by Cat Ramirez (Donnell Powell, dramaturg)

Buffalo Bill or How To Be A Good Man by Meghan Kennedy
directed by Rachel G. Karp (Julia Mauro Bumke, dramaturg)

Year-Round Readings

I LIVE YOU [AUTOCORRECT] by Douglas Williams
directed by Matthew S. Decker (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

How A Boy Falls by Steven Dietz
directed by Anne Marie Cammarato (Michele Volansky and Paul Meshejian, dramaturgs)

Homeridae by Alexandra Espinoza
directed by Erlina Ortiz

2018

Bruise & Thorn by J. Julian Christopher
directed by Jesse Jou (Chelsea Philips, dramaturg)

You, the Fire, and Me by Sevan K. Greene
directed by Ed Iskandar (Maura Krause, dramaturg)

Dimenticar by Mattie Hawkinson
directed by Ed Sobel (Clare Drobot, dramaturg)

The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle
directed by Kimberly Senior (Alexandra King, dramaturg)

Kids Drop (Off) by Dominic Taylor
directed by Paul Meshejian (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Tha Chink-Mart by Ray Yamanouchi
directed by Lisa Dring (Gina Pisale, dramaturg)

Down in the Holler by Val Dunn
directed by Elaina DiMonaco (Hallie Martenson, dramaturg)

Joan by Stephen Belber
directed by Melia Bensussen (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Year-Round Readings

The Haunted Life by Sean Daniels
directed by Christopher Oscar Peña (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Salt, Pepper, Ketchup by Josh Wilder
directed by Jerrell L. Hendersen (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

TJ LOVES SALLY 4 EVER by James Ijames
directed by Maura Krause (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Ripe Frenzy by Jennifer Barclay
directed by Bridget O’Leary (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Honor Flight by Willy Holtzman
directed by Paul Meshejian

2017

The House of the Negro Insane by Terence Anthony
directed by Tamilla Woodard (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Hard Cell by Brent Askari
directed by Paul Meshejian (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Galilee by Christine Evans
directed by Eleanor Holdridge (Tessa LaNeve, dramaturg)

Thirst by C.A. Johnson
directed by Benjamin Kamine (Val Dunn, dramaturg)

With by Carter W. Lewis
directed by Skip Greer (Gina Pisasale, dramaturg)

penny candy by Jonathan Norton
directed by Derrick Sanders, (Elaina DiMonaco, dramaturg)

Bobby James by Anne Marie Cammarato
directed by Edward Sobel (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Pancake Queen by Brie Knight
directed by Christina May (Jacqueline Goldfinger, dramaturg)

Bottle Fly by Jacqueline Golfinger
directed by Melia Bensussen

 Mini-Conference

Replica by Mickey Fisher
directed by Seth Gordon (Michele Volansky, dramaturg).
In cooperation with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Welcome to Fear City by Kara Lee Corthron
directed by Elena Araoz (Michele Volansky, Dramaturg).
In cooperation with Contemporary American Theater Festival

2016

Another Kind of Silence by Lauren Feldman
directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian (Jeremy Stoller, dramaturg)

Flat Sam by Antoinette Nwandu
directed by Danya Taymor (Jacqueline Goldfinger, dramaturg)

Heartland by Gabriel Jason Dean
directed by Edward Sobel (Kittson O’Neill, dramaturg)

Heavenly Cosmic by Meghan Kennedy
directed by Daniel Goldstein (Emilia LaPenta, dramaturg)

Poor Edward by Jonathan Payne
directed by Katie Brook (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

The Found Dog Ribbon Dance by Dominic Finocchiaro
directed by Oliver Butler (Elaina DiMonaco, dramaturg)

Sensitive Guys by MJ Kaufman
directed by Rebecca Wright (Elaina Di Monaco, dramaturg)

Suicide Jockey by Lena Barnard
directed by Maura Krause (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

 Additional Readings

The Playmakers by Julie Zaffrano
directed by David O’Connor (Jacqueline Goldfinger, dramaturg)

Time Is On Our Side by R. Eric Thomas
directed by Jarrod Markman (Sarah Totora, dramaturg)

When Mercy Comes by Jeffrey Stingerstein
directed by Jack Tamburri (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Berlin Diary: Schluterstrasse 27 by Andrea Stolowitz
directed by Daniel Brunet
In cooperation with English Theatre Berlin

2015

Giantess by Genne Murphy
directed by Shelley Butler (Maura Krause, dramaturg)

Human Error by Eric Pfeffinger
directed by Paul Meshejian (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Oslo by J.T. Rogers
directed by Tyne Rafaeli (Heather Helinsky, dramaturg)

Prince Max’s Trewlsy Awful Trip to the Desolat Interior by Ellen Struve
directed by Bill Fennelly (Rebecca Wright, dramaturg)

White by James Ijames
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Elaina DiMonaco, dramaturg)

Widower by David J. Jacobi
directed by Anne Marie Cammarato (Jeremy Stoller, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

r/LYPSE: A subreddit of our dark lips and heart by Brian Grace-Duff
directed by Rebecca Wright (Heather Belinskey, dramaturg)

War Stories by Richard Dresser
directed by Paul Meshejian (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Spring Workshop

Shitheads by Douglas Williams
In Cooperation with Azuka Theatre

Fall Workshop

Time is On Our Side by R. Eric Thomas
directed by Jarrod Markman.
In Cooperation with Simpatico Theatre 

2014

The Dizzy Little Dance of Russell DiFinaldi by Stephen Belber
directed by Benjamin Kamine (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

A Scar by Anne Marie Cammarato
directed by Matt Morrow (Maura Krause, dramaturg)

Behind the Motel by Emily Schwend
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Sarah Mantell, dramaturg)

Wild Blue by Jen Silverman
directed by Meredith McDonough (Kittson O’Neill, dramaturg)

Cattle Barn, Hoochie Coo by Davey Strattan White
directed by Casey Stangl (Jeremy Stoller, dramaturg)

Mr. Wheeler’s by Rob Zellers
directed by Shelly Butler (Carrie Chapter, dramaturg)

Additional Reading

Moon Cave by Douglas Williams
directed by Kevin Glaccum
In cooperation with Azuka Theatre

Fall Workshop

The House That Jack Built by Suzanne Bradbeer
directed by John Pietrowski (Michele Volansky and Paul Meshejian, Dramaturgs)
In cooperation with Writers Theatre of New Jersey

2013

Terminus by Gabriel Jason Dean
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Carrie Chapter, dramaturg)

No Such Thing by Lisa Dillman
directed by Meredith McDonough (Kittson O’Neill, dramaturg)

Cockfight by Peter Gil-Sheridan
directed by Anna Brenner (Lizzy Pecora, dramaturg)

The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington
(previously: A Thousand Kinds of Silence) by James Ijames
directed by Niegel Smith (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Informed Consent by Deborah Zoe Laufer
directed by Sean Daniels (Kathryn Moroney, dramaturg)

Profiles by Joe Waechter
directed by Margot Bordelon (Sarah Mantell, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

Uncanny Valley by Thomas Gibbons
directed by Seth Rozin

The First Mrs. Rochester by Willy Holtzman
directed by Paul Meshejian

2012

A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World by Liz Duffy Adams
directed by Daniella Topol (Liam Daley, dramaturg)

G.O.B. by Willy Holtzman
directed by Daniel Goldstein (P. Seth Bauer, dramaturg)

Too Much, Too Much, Too Many by Meghan Kennedy
directed by Josh Hecht (Sarah Mantell, dramaturg)

Household Spirits by Mia McCullough
directed by Casey Stangl (Rick DesRochers, dramaturg)

My Tidy List of Terrors by Jonathan Norton
directed by Melissa Maxwell (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Seven Spots on the Sun by Martín Zimmerman
directed by Mikhael Tara Garver (Rebecca Wright, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

JC3 by Seth Rozin
directed by Matt Pfeiffer

Barcelona by Bess Wohl
In cooperation with People’s Light & Theatre

2011

A Man, His Wife and His Hat by Lauren Yee
directed by Hal Brooks (Rick DesRochers, dramaturg)

American Wee-Pie by Lisa Dillman
directed by Jackson Gay (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Another Girl by John Yearley
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Robert Sandberg, dramaturg)

Nerine by Brian Quirk
directed by Casey Stangl (Sarah Mantell, dramaturg)

Slip/Shot by Jacqueline Goldfinger
directed by Edward Sobel (Rebecca Wright, dramaturg)

The Electric Baby by Stefanie Zadravec
directed by Daniella Topol (Carrie Chapter, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

Chasing Waves by Quinn Eli
directed by Casey Stangl

At the Edge of a Promised Land by Jesse Bernstein
directed by Seth Rozin

2010

Clementine in the Lower Nine by Dan Dietz
directed by Aaron Posner (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Etched In Skin on A Sunlit Night by Kara Lee Corthron
directed by Rebecca Wright (Carrie Chapter, dramaturg)

Hum by Nicholas Wardigo
directed by David O’Connor (Harriet Power, dramaturg)

Love and Communication by James J. Christy
directed by Adam Immerwahr (Elizabeth Pool, dramaturg)

Raising Jo by Charlotte Miller
directed by Jackson Gay (William D’Agostino, dramaturg)

The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter
directed by Hal Brooks (John Baker, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

Imagining Madoff by Deb Margolin
directed by Seth Rozin

The Outgoing Tide by Bruce Graham
directed by BJ Jones (Meghan McCarthy, dramaturg)
In cooperation with Northlight Theatre

Cowboy/Indian by Matt Ocks
directed by Edward Sobel (Sally Ollove, dramaturg)

Some Other Kind of Person by Eric Pfeffinger
In cooperation with InterAct Theatre

2009

410 Gone by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig
directed by Kenneth Prestininzi (Carrie Kaplan, dramaturg)

Appetite by Arden Kass 
directed by Edward Sobel (Rebecca Wright, dramaturg)

Blood and Gifts by J.T. Rogers
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Ghost-Writer by Michael Hollinger
directed by Harriet Power (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)
In cooperation with Arden Theatre Company

The Specificity of Paradise by John Orlock
directed by Jackson Gay (Rick DesRochers, dramaturg)

We Three by Mary Hamilton
directed by Hal Brooks (Elizabeth Pool, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

The Morini Strad by Willy Holtzman
directed by Paul Meshejian (Rick DesRochers, dramaturg)

Two Jews Walk Into A War by Seth Rozin
directed by James Glossman

2008

Another Man’s Son by Silva Semerciyan
directed by Laura Kepley (Gavin Witt, dramaturg)

Breadcrumbs by Jennifer Haley
directed by Katie Pearl (Gregory Romero, dramaturg)

A Human Equation by Peter Bonilla
directed by Casey Stangl (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

House of Gold by Gregory Moss
directed by Holly Derr (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Saving Grace (now entitled Salvation) by James McLindon
directed by Rick DesRochers (Becky Wright, dramaturg)

Wildflower by Lila Rose Kaplan
directed by Sarah Rasmussen (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

Dear Brutus by J.M. Barrie
adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Jim Christy

Any Given Monday by Bruce Graham
directed by Harriet Power

The Beef by Katie Gray
directed by Nicholas Gray

2007

The Rant by Andrew Case
directed by Rick DesRochers (Kittson O’Neill, dramaturg)

The Day of the Picnic by Russell Davis
directed by Valentina Fratti (Emily Morse, dramaturg)

After Adam by Christina Ham
directed by Jade King Carroll (Kittson O’Neill, dramaturg)

Militant Language by Sean Christopher Lewis
directed by Seth Rozin (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)

There or Here by Jennifer Maisel
directed by Amy Feinberg (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

My Name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner
directed by Daniel Goldstein (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Additional Readings

Carlo vs. Carlo by Aaron Cromie

Bubu the Terrible by Rick DesRochers

2006

A Scream by Gina Barnett
directed by Dan Foster (Michael Walkup, dramaturg)

Bad for the Jews by Peter Morris
directed by Daniel Goldstein (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

Malignance by Eric Pfeffinger
directed by Rick DesRochers (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)

Scarcity by Lucy Thurber
directed by Brian Mertes (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

2005

We Are Not These Hands by Sheila Callaghan
directed by Linsay Firman (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)

Act a Lady by Jordan Harrison
directed by Anne Kauffman (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

The Overwhelming by J. T. Rogers
directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Michele Volansky, dramaturg)

On Clarion by Lydia Stryk
directed by Peter Rothstein (Larry Loebell, dramaturg)

Partnerships

Through our partnerships with producing theatres, PlayPenn aims to ensure that new work is seen on stages in Philadelphia and all across the country.
Our past partners include:

 

Repertory of St. Louis – Replica by Mickey Fisher (2017)

Contemporary American Theater Festival – Welcome to Fear City by Kara Lee Corthron (2017)

English Theatre Berlin, Berlin Diary: Schluterstrasse 27 by Andrea Stolowitz (2016)

Simpatico Theatre, Time is On Our Side by R. Eric Thomas (2015-16)

Azuka Theatre, Shitheads and Moon Cave by Douglas Williams (2014-15)

Writers Theatre of New Jersey, The House That Jack Built by Suzanne Bradbeer (2014)

People’s Light & Theatre, Barcelona by Bess Wohl (2012)

Northlight Theatre, The Outgoing Tide by Bruce Graham (2010)

Arden Theatre Company, Ghost-Writer by Michael Hollinger (2010)

InterAct Theatre, Some Other Kind of Person by Eric Pfeffinger (2010)