MTC & Ars Nova Announce Inaugural Group of Artists for THE WRITER'S ROOM

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director, Manhattan Theatre Club), Barry Grove (Executive Producer, MTC), Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer, MTC), Jason Eagan (Artistic Director, Ars Nova), and Jeremy Blocker (Managing Director, Ars Nova) are pleased to announce the inaugural participants for The Writer's Room a new program to commission, develop and support playwrights in the process of creating new work for the stage.

The commissioned writers for 2012-2013 are Adam Bock (A Small Fire) and Justin Levine (Bonfire Night) collaborating on the creation of a new musical; Thomas Bradshaw (Job); Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale); and Sharyn Rothstein (The Invested).

MTC's Mandy Greenfield said, "Adam Bock, Justin Levine, Thomas Bradshaw, Sam Hunter, and Sharyn Rothstein are brave, bold, funny, inventive, theatrical writers and I am thrilled they'll take the leap into The Writer's Room with us in our inaugural year. We look forward to working with each of them, to create new plays and musicals for the future."

Ars Nova's Jason Eagan said, "Our initial conversations with these artists have been fertile and inspiring. It's especially fulfilling to bring together a mix of writers who have passed through our emerging artist development programs with others who will be new to our community. These artists are ready to push the limits of their creativity and engage in this new venture wholeheartedly. We couldn't be more invigorated by the inaugural group and look forward to supporting the daring and innovative new work The Writer's Room is designed to foster."

The Writer's Room is a multi-year partnership between MTC and Ars Nova drawing on each organization's strengths and areas of expertise to create a unique, collaborative developmental program for advancing new works from commission through production.

Each year, MTC and Ars Nova will jointly select four playwrights or writing teams to receive Writer's Room Commissions. The commissioned writers will then come together to participate in a program designed to offer extensive developmental support. The Writer's Room will encourage artistic risk taking in an environment that is supportive and sustaining.

The Writer's Room is part of The Studio at Stage II, a new initiative where bold, new work meets bold, new audiences.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. Over the past three decades, MTC productions have earned a total of 18 Tony Awards and six Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution. MTC has a Broadway home at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and an Off-Broadway theatre at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Since January 2011, Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) has taken the lead in programming and execution at MTC's Off-Broadway home. Renowned MTC productions include Venus in Fur; Master Class; Good People; The Whipping Man; Time Stands Still; The Royal Family; Ruined; The American Plan; Come Back, Little Sheba; Blackbird; Translations; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Love! Valour! Compassion!; A Small Family Business; Sylvia; Putting It Together; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin.'

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