Playwrights' Platform is a
not-for-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
cooperative organization of
playwright
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays.
Etymology
The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
s based in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts, USA. The organization has been in existence since 1973 and is "the most established and longest-lived playwrights' group in the area".
It was founded by writers Steven Lydenberg, Allen Sternfield, and Saul Zachary.
It was incorporated with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in May 1974 as Playwrights' Platform, Inc. The officers were the three founders and Jack Bresnahan.
In its early years, the Platform met at Pine Manor Junior College in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston and staged plays at Pine Manor Junior College, the Boston Center for Adult Education, Boston College, the People's Theater, Falmouth Arts Center, the Publick Theater,
and the Church of All Nations on Tremont Street in Boston.
[{{cite news, last1=Murphy, first1=Ray, work=Boston Globe, title=Playwright's Platform stages local writer's work, date=May 18, 1976] Some of the playwrights associated with the Platform in its early years are John O'Brien, Geralyn Horton, John Chatterton, Beverly Creasey, Tanya Contos, Sheldon Feldner, and Janet Neipris.
The Platform has met at various locations through the years, including Massachusetts College of Art, Hovey Players, Lasell College,
Boston Playwrights' Theatre, the Cambridge Public Library, and the Woman's Club of Newton Highlands.
Mission
The mission of the Playwrights' Platform is:
* To help playwrights develop their work in a supportive environment of fellow theater artists.
* To help playwrights improve their skill and craft.
* To provide a place where playwrights can network with each other and with other local theater artists.
* To provide a space where new work can be tried, tested, and refined.
* To provide an opportunity for local playwrights to see their work produced on the stage.
Annual festival
Playwrights' Platform showcases its member playwrights' work every year with a Festival of New Plays. Since 2003, the Festival has been staged at the
Boston Playwrights' Theatre.
Famous alumni
Playwrights' Platform has had several of its members go on to major success in the worlds of theater, film and television, such as
Theresa Rebeck
Theresa Rebeck (born February 19, 1958) is an American playwright, television writer, and novelist. Her work has appeared on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage, in film, and on television. Among her awards are the Mystery Writers of America's E ...
,
Kirsten Greenidge
Kirsten Greenidge is an American playwright. Her plays are known for their realistic language and focus on social issues such as the intersectionality of race, gender, and class. Her sister is the historian Kerri Greenidge.
Career
Greenidge ha ...
,
Matt Witten
Matthew Witten (born in Baltimore) is an American television writer for ''House'' and other shows. He also has written several mystery books, the first of which was ''Breakfast at Madeline's''. His novel ''The Necklace'' will be published in Septe ...
, and Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro.
A. R. Gurney
Albert Ramsdell Gurney Jr. (November 1, 1930 – June 13, 2017) (sometimes credited as Pete Gurney) was an American playwright, novelist and academic. He is known for works including ''The Dining Room'' (1982), '' Sweet Sue'' (1986/7), and ''The ...
was a board member in the early years.
References
External links
Playwrights' PlatformThe 45th Annual Playwrights' Platform Festival: A Collection of New Plays
The 44th Annual Playwrights' Platform Festival: A Collection of New PlaysThe 43rd Annual Playwrights' Platform Festival: A Collection of New Plays
Theatrical organizations in the United States
Artist cooperatives in the United States
Cooperatives based in Massachusetts