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New Play Development Workshop
What is the true heart of your play?
Class Description
Semester: Summer 2025 Instructor: Che'Rae Adams (PlayPenn Artistic Director) This one-day intensive workshop will be held in person in Philadelphia. After multiple sold-out intensives, PlayPenn's Artistic Director, Che'Rae Adams, returns with an in-person workshop at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Philadelphia! (Please note: Earlier information was incorrect due to a change in the rehearsal schedule for the 2025 Conference. The correct and final location is the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.) With decades of experience in new play development, Che'Rae guides playwrights through a series of exercises designed to uncover the true subject of their play. She shares her expertise, offering invaluable insights and practical tools to support the creative process. Open to all levels, this workshop includes a PDF of Che'Rae's workbook, "Writing is Hard", to help participants continue their writing journey. PlayPenn Summer Classes Starts July 23: Monday * Summer of Sondheim – Starts July 28, 2025 Tuesday * Writing Disability on Stage – Starts July 29, 2025 * Crafting Dialogue – Starts July 29, 2025 Wednesday * Submissions Intensive – Starts July 23, 2025 * The New Canon: Plays by Visionary Women – Starts July 30, 2025 Thursday * Script Rewrite Lab – Starts July 31, 2025 Friday * Song Dramaturgy Intensive – Starts August 1, 2025 Questions? Email Us! classes@playpenn.org
Enrollment Policies (Time Zones, Payment Plans, and Refunds)
ONLINE SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: Most of our classes are offered online and open to participants worldwide. Our website automatically displays class start times based on your device’s current location, so you will always see the correct time no matter where you are. If you are traveling for work or personal reasons, please verify the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class. For example, if a class begins at 7:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time (ET), it will appear as 4:00 PM PT when viewed from the U.S. West Coast, or 11:00 AM the next day if you are in Sydney, Australia. Many of our instructors are based in the U.S. Eastern Time (ET) zone, but not all. Once again, please double-check the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class if you are traveling. IN-PERSON SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: If the class is held in person, please note that the start time is based on the time zone of the city where the class takes place. If you book the class while traveling, be sure to use the class’s local time zone rather than the time zone of your current location. TRAVEL FOR HYBRID CLASSES: Many of our classes are held online but for time to time we offer hybrid classes where a portion of the class takes places online and a portion of the class takes place in-person. Please note the cost of the class does not include travel or housing for students to attend the in-person sessions. As well, PlayPenn cannot cover the cost of travel or housing. CLASS LINK: The hyperlink to join your respective online class(es) will be emailed to you separately from your class registration confirmation, closer to the first session. PAYMENT PLANS: PlayPenn believes that cost should never be a barrier to learning. Flexible payment plans are available, and we’re happy to work with students to find a solution that fits your needs. To inquire about setting up a payment plan, please email using the form on the Upcoming Class main page. REFUND POLICY: In order to offer a small-group class experience and pay our professional instructors consistently, please note all sales are final and tuition is not refundable. PlayPenn is not able to offer a voucher/credits towards a future purchase. Please consider this before making your purchase. Please visit our Refund Policy webpage to learn more about our other policies.
Learn More About Your Instructor
Our teaching artists are all working professional writers—award-winning playwrights and musical theatre creators—who bring real-world experience, insight, and passion to every session.
Get to know our artists by clicking a name below to read their full bio.