the foundry
is Playpenn’s free three-year mentorship program supporting playwrights in Philadelphia guided by playwrights L M Feldman
and R. Eric Thomas.
the foundry
is Playpenn’s free three-year mentorship program supporting emerging playwrights in Philadelphia guided by playwrights L M Feldman and R. Eric Thomas.
Overview
The Foundry at PlayPenn is a three-year playwrights workshop for Philadelphia-based writers, guided by lead artists L M Feldman and R. Eric Thomas.
Members meet twice a month to share work, exchange feedback, and engage in meaningful artistic dialogue within a supportive and rigorous creative community.
The primary objective of the Foundry is to help emerging playwrights hone their skills through self-directed writing and revision. After completing the initial three years, writers continue as ongoing members, remaining active participants in The Foundry community.
History
In the summer of 2012, Philadelphia-based playwrights and educators Michael Hollinger, Jacqueline Goldfinger, and Quinn D. Eli realized they were losing promising playwriting students to other cities after graduation.
The reason: a lack of support for Philadelphia’s emerging playwrights, specifically those in the gap between college and their first or second professional production.
In response, they founded The Foundry, a playwright support organization modeled on successful national development programs. In 2016, PlayPenn welcomed The Foundry as one of its core artistic programs.
Alumni
The Foundry at PlayPenn has cultivated a remarkable community of playwrights and artistic leaders who began their careers in Philadelphia. Alumni include Chris Davis, Emma Goidel, Sarah Mantell, MJ Kaufman, R. Eric Thomas, Erlina Ortiz, MK Tuomanen, Iraisa Ann Reilly, Chaz T. Martin, Lex Thammavong, and Zahra Patterson along with the more than 60 playwrights who have participated in the program since 2012.
By nurturing talent, fostering collaboration, and championing bold new voices from Philadelphia, The Foundry at PlayPenn has become an essential launching pad for many of our nation’s theatrical innovators.
Current Members
The Foundry at PlayPenn, Philadelphia's preeminent playwrights collective for emerging professional writers, welcomes Rayne, Siddarth Anand, and Monica Flory as new Foundry members and the 2028 Cohort.
Rayne, Siddarth, and Monica join current members of The Foundry who include Natyna Bean, Lulu Duffy-Tumasz, Aly Gonzalez, August Hakvaag, Nick Jonczak, and Pravin Wilkins.
The Foundry New Play Festival
The Foundry at PlayPenn, Philadelphia's preeminent playwrights collective for emerging professional writers, welcomes Rayne, Siddarth Anand, and Monica Flory as new Foundry members and 2028 Cohort.
Rayne, Siddarth, and Monica join current members of The Foundry who include Natyna Bean, Lulu Duffy-Tumasz, Aly Gonzalez, August Hakvaag, Nick Jonczak, and Pravin Wilkins.
The Foundry at PlayPenn, Philadelphia’s preeminent playwright collective, launches its inaugural festival in 2027, spotlighting new work by the next generation of theater artists, produced in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company.
The Foundry New Play Festival will feature readings of new work by Lulu Duffy-Tumasz, Aly Gonzalez, and August Hakvaag.
March 12–14, 2027 at The Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake in Philadelphia
March 20 and 21, 2027 in New York City
The Foundry is open to emerging playwrights living in Philadelphia who are committed to developing their work within a supportive, collaborative community. Playwrights typically join shortly after college or early in their professional journey and remain in the program for a three-year term.
How It Works
A new cohort is welcomed each year. Selected playwrights workshop their writing alongside peers who may be in their second or third year in the program. Alumni also join half of the meetings to offer feedback and continue their own development.
Each member sets a goal to write a new play each year and may use meeting times for a wide range of feedback - from early conversations and partial drafts to notes on full scripts or grant applications.
