Playwrights Realm Appoints Renee Blinkwolt Theater’s New Producing Director

Renee Blinkwolt has joined Playwrights Realm as Producing Director, Artistic Director Katherine Kovner announced. Ms. Blinkwolt succeeds Stephanie Ybarra, who departed the Realm last winter.

"Renee's keen eye, love of new plays, and producing acumen make her a wonderful fit for Playwrights Realm and I'm excited to have her on board," Ms. Kovner said upon making the appointment.

As Producing Director, Ms. Blinkwolt will manage the day-to-day operations of Playwrights Realm and work with Artistic Director Kovner to produce early career playwrights and guide the growth of the company.

“The depth of the Realm’s sustained support of emerging playwrights is unparalleled in New York City and I look forward to working with Katherine and the rest of the Realm gang to make a lasting contribution to the lives of our playwrights and the work of our theatre community,” said Ms. Blinkwolt.

Ms. Blinkwolt comes to Playwrights Realm after two years as Managing Director with Naked Angels, an Off Broadway company that develops and produces provocative new work. While there, she produced the critically-acclaimed world premiere production of Zayd Dohrn's Outside People, developed over twenty-five new plays, more than doubled the company's institutional support, and spearheaded a playwriting program for NYC public high schoolers. Prior to her work with Naked Angels, Ms. Blinkwolt was the General Manager at Two River Theater Company in Red Bank, N.J. Additionally Ms. Blinkwolt has worked with The Civilians, The TEAM, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Red Bull Theater.

Playwrights Realm is now New York's largest theater dedicated solely to supporting early-career playwrights through Off Broadway productions, new plays and professional development and yearlong fellowships.

Playwrights Realm produces an Off Broadway play each year. Earlier this season, the company world premiered the acclaimed Crane Story by Jen Silverman and directed by Ms. Kovner. Crane Story was developed over four years with a series of workshops and readings. Previous Playwrights Realm full productions include last season's Gonzalo Rodriguez Risco's Dramatis Personae, Christopher Wall's Dreams of the Washer King (2010), Anna Ziegler's Dov and Ali (2009) and Anton Dudley's Substitution (2008).