Now in its 14th year, The Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group brings together six to eight emerging and culturally diverse playwrights each season. The Group meets weekly to share and receive constructive feedback on the development of their new work along with the Primary Stages Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director and Literary Manager.
The work developed during the eight weeks in The Group is presented at the The Dorothy Strelsin Fresh Ink Reading Series. The Series lasts a full week with each night dedicated to a workshopped presentation of a playwright's work.
Since its inception, over 50 full-length plays have been written in The Group, many of which have been produced by prominent local and national theaters, including The Long Wharf, Blue Light, South Coast Repertory, The New Group, New York Stage and Film, Cherry Lane Theater, MCC and of course, Primary Stages.
Current Members
- Bekah Brunstetter's plays include Be a Good Little Widow , OOHRAH!, To Nineveh and is currently working on a commission for the Roundabout Underground, Naked Angels, and Playscripts / The Keen Company
- David Caudle is the award-winning author of The Sunken Living Room, Likeness, Visiting Hours and The Others. He adapted his one-act Feet of Clay into a short film directed by Carrie Preston.
- Cheri Magid's plays include The Tavern Wench, et al;, Manna, The Reluctant Dragon, and The Ghost of Enoch Charlton. She is currently writing two musicals, The Surreal Housewives of Woodstock and The Christmas Windows of 1937.
- Janine Nabers's plays include West of the Willow Tree, Welcome to Jesus, When the Levee Broke, Juniper; Jubliee, and Generation Grafitti. Her play Annie Bosh Is Missing will be developed at the TLC emerging writing program this fall.
- Tommy Smith's plays include Beautiful Night, White Hot, Air Conditioning, Caravan Man, among others. 2008 awards: Page 73 Playwriting Fellow, Sloan Grant, MAP fund, Creative Capital.
- Adam Szymkowicz was a founding member of the Ars Nova Play Group and his plays include Deflowering Waldo, Open Minds, Anne, The Art Machine, Pretty Theft and Nerve.
Past Members
- David Lindsay Abaire
- Tanya Barfield
- Neena Beber
- Brooke Berman
- Andrew Case
- Cusi Cram
- Janis Astor del Valle
- Bruce Faulk
- Josh Fox
- Jessica Goldberg
- Daniel Goldfarb
- Rinne Groff
- Stephen Adly Guirgis
- Katori Hall
- Jerome Hairston
- Rolin Jones
- Julia Jordan
- Rogelio Martinez
- Dan O’Brien
- Edwin Sanchez
- Julian Sheppard
- Lucy Thurber
- Sheri Wilner
