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The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator
NOTE: SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2023 INCUBATOR ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2024 INCUBATOR WILL OPEN LATER THIS SEASON.
Introducing our Inaugural Fellows
Molly Herron Bicks
Mentored by MJ Kaufman
HyoJeong Choi
Mentored by David Henry Hwang
Haygen-Brice Walker
Mentored by Halley Feiffer
Rattlestick Theater, in partnership with the Terrence McNally Foundation and Tom Kirdahy Productions, is excited to announce the three inaugural Terrence McNally New Works Incubator fellows. This Incubator will support three emerging playwrights by awarding each of them critical financial support, personalized mentorship, and a three-week incubation period, followed by a one-week developmental workshop culminating in a presentation of their work.
“Terrence McNally was an integral part of the Rattlestick community from the very beginning, and the value he placed on ambitious and innovative new play-making remains at the core and ethos of the company. Our three inaugural fellows embody the creative ambition and bold experimentation that has always been central to Rattlestick’s mission and a signature of Terrence McNally’s work. Rattlestick is grateful for the opportunity to honor Terrence McNally’s singular legacy through the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator and is thrilled to partner with Tom Kirdahy Productions and the Terrence McNally Foundation to offer crucial support and resources to early career playwrights.”
- Will Davis, Artistic Director of Rattlestick Theater
About the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator
The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator is a fellowship program created by the Terrence McNally Foundation in partnership with Tom Kirdahy Productions (TKP) and Rattlestick Theater. As a continuation of Terrence McNally’s singular legacy of fostering bold new voices in the American theatre, the incubator will support the development of new plays by offering resources and professional mentorship to three early-career playwrights and creating an opportunity for them to develop their work with the support of both a nonprofit theater and a commercial theatrical production company.
McNally fellows are selected by a panel of renowned American playwrights. The Playwright Advisory Council for the inaugural cohort of McNally fellows includes Sheila Callaghan, Stephen Karam, MJ Kaufman, Donja R. Love, Taylor Mac, Lynn Nottage, Paula Vogel, and Chay Yew.
Elements of the program:
A - Stipend
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Each McNally fellow will receive a one-time stipend of $5000 to be used as the playwright sees fit to best further their goals.
B - Mentorship
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In consultation with Rattlestick Theater and Tom Kirdahy Productions, each McNally fellow will be paired with a veteran playwright mentor who will read a minimum of two drafts and offer one-on-one feedback, in addition to attending a workshop rehearsal and/or final presentation subject to their availability.
C - Three-Week Incubation
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After the initial mentor meeting, the playwright will revise and develop their play for three weeks. This is time for rigorous thinking, dreaming, and writing outside the constraints of a product-oriented rehearsal space.
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In addition to mentor feedback, the playwright will meet with the literary teams at both TKP and Rattlestick to discuss their work and process.
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McNally fellows will be invited to participate in a series of luncheons where they will have the opportunity to get to know the teams at TKP and Rattlestick as well as the other McNally fellows and other industry professionals.
D - 29-Hour Workshop
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The second part of the incubator will take the form of a week-long workshop culminating in a public presentation.
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Core collaborators (director, dramaturg, actors) will be chosen in consultation with the selected playwright, TKP, and Rattlestick and will be compensated for their time.
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The makeup of the audience for the public presentation will be determined by the playwright in consultation with TKP and Rattlestick.
