Applications are now being accepted for the Black Playwrights' Gathering, led by playwright and dramaturg TJ Young and taking place July 18 - 21. Guest artists such as Caleen Sinnette Jennings and Psalmayene 24 will join for master classes.
During a special weekend designed for playwrights of the African Diaspora, a cohort of 12 writers will engage in curated experiences, workshops, and exercises to kick-start or sustain their creative impulses. This time together is not for workshopping current works but for creating new writings and ideas that may serve as inspirations or a basis for pieces in the future and developing additional tools that you can take back to your writing practice.
Writers of all levels are encouraged to apply.
The Kennedy Center will cover three nights of shared lodging for accepted participants from outside the Washington DC area. Participants will be responsible for covering their travel and meals.
To apply, you will need:
1. A letter of motivation for attending the Black Playwriting Workshop, including areas you wish to grow in your writing;
2. A resume of related experience; and
3. Up to 10 pages of writing from a recent work or series of works.
By: June 17, 2024
Every effort will be made to notify participants of acceptance by June 24.
TJ Young is a Texas-born playwright and dramaturg based in Pittsburgh, where he serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild - Pittsburgh region. He is a founding member of the Pittsburgh Public Theater's Playwrights Collective. His plays include WE FLY, The Inseparables (Pittsburgh Public Theatre Commission), Isle of Noises (James Madison University Commission), No. 6 (2017 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Award Winner – KCACTF, Indiana Rep), Lyon’s Den (2018 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Distinguished Achievement awardee), Ruby’s Baby Blue (2016 John Cauble Short Play Award Regional Finalist- KCACTF), Hell is Empty (2017 John Cauble Short Play Award Regional Finalist - KCACTF), and Sperm Donor Wanted (2023 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award Finalist, New York Premier - 2024). He is the recipient of the 2017 Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship. He was the 2019 Spotlight Artist of Throughline Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, PA. He received his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Texas State University. He is also the NPP Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where he also aids with the Playwriting Intensive and teaches workshops both at the regional and national levels. He is currently an Associate Professor of Dramaturgy at Carnegie Mellon University.
For any questions on concerns, please contact Gregg Henry, Artistic Director of KCACTF, at GHenry@kennedy-center.org
The Black Playwrights' Gathering 2024
Applications are now being accepted for the Black Playwrights' Gathering, led by playwright and dramaturg TJ Young and taking place July 18 - 21. Guest artists such as Caleen Sinnette Jennings and Psalmayene 24 will join for master classes.
During a special weekend designed for playwrights of the African Diaspora, a cohort of 12 writers will engage in curated experiences, workshops, and exercises to kick-start or sustain their creative impulses. This time together is not for workshopping current works but for creating new writings and ideas that may serve as inspirations or a basis for pieces in the future and developing additional tools that you can take back to your writing practice.
Writers of all levels are encouraged to apply.
The Kennedy Center will cover three nights of shared lodging for accepted participants from outside the Washington DC area. Participants will be responsible for covering their travel and meals.
To apply, you will need:
1. A letter of motivation for attending the Black Playwriting Workshop, including areas you wish to grow in your writing;
2. A resume of related experience; and
3. Up to 10 pages of writing from a recent work or series of works.
By: June 17, 2024
Every effort will be made to notify participants of acceptance by June 24.
TJ Young is a Texas-born playwright and dramaturg based in Pittsburgh, where he serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild - Pittsburgh region. He is a founding member of the Pittsburgh Public Theater's Playwrights Collective. His plays include WE FLY, The Inseparables (Pittsburgh Public Theatre Commission), Isle of Noises (James Madison University Commission), No. 6 (2017 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Award Winner – KCACTF, Indiana Rep), Lyon’s Den (2018 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Distinguished Achievement awardee), Ruby’s Baby Blue (2016 John Cauble Short Play Award Regional Finalist- KCACTF), Hell is Empty (2017 John Cauble Short Play Award Regional Finalist - KCACTF), and Sperm Donor Wanted (2023 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award Finalist, New York Premier - 2024). He is the recipient of the 2017 Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship. He was the 2019 Spotlight Artist of Throughline Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, PA. He received his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Texas State University. He is also the NPP Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where he also aids with the Playwriting Intensive and teaches workshops both at the regional and national levels. He is currently an Associate Professor of Dramaturgy at Carnegie Mellon University.
For any questions on concerns, please contact Gregg Henry, Artistic Director of KCACTF, at GHenry@kennedy-center.org