The Foundry
is Playpenn’s free three-year mentorship program supporting emerging playwrights in Philadelphia guided by lead mentors L M Feldman and R. Eric Thomas.
Overview
The Foundry at PlayPenn is a three-year playwrights workshop for emerging Philadelphia-based writers, guided by lead artists L M Feldman and R. Eric Thomas.
Writers meet regularly to share work, exchange feedback, and engage in meaningful artistic dialogue within a supportive and rigorous creative community.
In addition to the workshop process, The Foundry offers professional development, networking opportunities, and exposure as playwrights launch their careers. 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 programs.
Alumni
Members of The Foundry have gone on to develop and produce work with theatres across Philadelphia, including InterAct, Azuka, Act II Playhouse, and Simpatico, as well as festivals and theatres nationwide.
Eligibility
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.
