Launching The Playwrights Realm's Newest Program

The Playwrights Realm is at it again, filling an opportunity gap in the field with the new Aspiring Playwrights program—and I’m thrilled to be the Program Content Producer!

It all began during lockdown, with ScriptShare, a free, lottery-based submission program pairing aspiring writers with a theatre professional for a one-hour feedback session about their work. Building on the idea, The Realm has created Aspiring Playwrghts, a program open to anyone who's interested in writing for the stage. Through a curriculum of free online articles, videos, and services created in conjunction with our Realm family of artists, this program covers the basics of playwriting as an art form and profession, and requires no application - all are welcome! (ScriptShare remains as a part of the A.P. program, too!)

The first slate of written and video content goes live TODAY. Check it out, share widely, and come back every month for additional content!

"Domestic Help" named a finalist in the Samuel French OOB Fest!

Last night’s performance of Julie Jigour's "Domestic Help" was fantastic, and I’m thrilled to share that it resulted in the play being named named a finalist in the The Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival! The recognition is all the sweeter given the caliber of the adjudicators: Emily Morse (Artistic Director, New Dramatists) , Eboni Booth (writer and actress), and Jill Rafson (Producing Artistic Director, Classic Stage Company).

Tickets for our 2pm Encore Performance on Saturday available now!

Congratulations to the “Domestc Help” team!

Soomi Kim - Margaret
Connor Johnson - Felix
Amelia F. Bethel - Stage Directions
Julieanne Jigour - Playwright
Corey Atkins (that’s me) - Director

Directing for the Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival

I’m looking forward to directing Julianne Jigour’s Domestic Help, as part of the 47th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Julie and I met during the 2019 HBMG National Winter Playwrights Retreat where I was working with Andrew Rosendorf on his play Refuge. I’m so glad to get this chance to work with LA-based Julie, on this darkly funny, slightly surreal story about what, and who, privilege allows us to keep outside our door…

The play performs Tuesday, 8/16, at 6:30pm, at Playwrights Horizons’ Peter Jay Sharp Theater. Tickets and more info HERE.

Working with Film Independent's Project Involve

I was so thrilled to spend some time in Los Angeles last week, working side-by-side with my long-time friend Jaime Castañeda as Script Coordinator on the shoot for his Project Involve short, Sabor. Written by Jeanette Lim, it’s the story of of two Latinx sisters wrestling with what it means to balance your commitment to family, and commitment to your dreams. The film will premiere alongside other Project Involve shorts in October.

A few more BTS pics below!

Ebony Elaine Hardin + Takara Joseph, Producers
Jaime Castañeda, Director
Akina Van De Velde, Director of Photography
Calvin Chin, Editor

An amazing return to public performance for The Playwrights Realm!

What do you get when you add 4 playwright-directors-SM teams, 4 new plays, 34 actors, 2 dramaturgs, dozens and dozens of (negative) COVID tests, and 100s of audience members!? The answer is: an incredible return to live performance for The Playwrights Realm, after more than 2 years!

It was a true pleasure to be back working with the amazing people at The Realm, to produce the 2022 INK’D Festival of New Plays—with a special shout out to Associate Artistic Director Alexi Williams and Artistic Programs Coordinator Chelsea Fryer for their support!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2021-22 Writing Fellows, and everyone involved!