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Apply Now for PlayPenn’s 2025 Fall/Winter Access Scholarship — Classes Begin October 13
The PlayPenn Access Scholarship provides financial support for a limited number of participants the Fall/Winter 2025. Scholarships are awarded based on the potential impact of participation.
7 days ago


Announcing PlayPenn's Fall 2025 Classes: Your Creative Journey Begins October 13
2025 PlayPenn Fall/Winter Instructors C. Julian Jiménez, Mathilde Dratwa, Santiago Iacinti, John Dietrich, Matthew Paul Olmos, and...
Sep 8


Broadway Debuts for PlayPenn Playwrights Jordan Harrison and Samuel D. Hunter
PlayPenn is proud to share that two PlayPenn playwrights will have their Broadway debuts in the upcoming 2025–2026 theatre season.
Aug 14


PlayPenn Is Accepting Applications for the 2025/2026 Playwrights Cohort
The Playwrights Cohort is a free year-long professional development program that helps emerging playwrights build sustainable careers by understanding the business of theatre.
Aug 8


Summer at PlayPenn! Professional Development Classes Start July 23!
This summer, PlayPenn offers seven dynamic classes for theatre writers and makers, including intensives on submissions, song dramaturgy, and script revision; deep dives into musicals, dialogue, and disability representation; and a study of groundbreaking plays by visionary women.
Jul 15


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...
Jul 3


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...
Jun 21


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.
Jun 19


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.
Jun 13


PlayPenn Playwright, Jonathan Spector, Wins 2025 Tony Award
From PlayPenn 2020 to Broadway’s biggest night — Jonathan Spector has sparked laughter, conversation, and critical acclaim for his play...
Jun 9


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....
May 7


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...
May 6


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...
May 2


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,...
Mar 17


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...
Feb 20


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...
Dec 2, 2024


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...
Nov 8, 2024


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...
Aug 1, 2024


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...
Mar 29, 2023


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...
Jan 12, 2022
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