Playwrights Realm Names Ethan Lipton Inaugural Recipient of New PAGE ONE Program

Playwrights Realm (www.playwrightsrealm.org), under the leadership of Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Renee Blinkwolt, announces PAGE ONE, a new program that significantly deepens the company's commitment to early-career playwrights. Ethan Lipton will be the inaugural recipient of the program.

PAGE ONE guarantees one playwright a sweep of services for one year to aid in the advancement of their career. These services include a competitive stipend, health insurance, travel/professional development funds, a full Off-Broadway production, readings of script(s) in development, theatre tickets, and midtown office space. More than just a residency for the development of one play, PAGE ONE provides a comprehensive toolkit a playwright can use to build their entire career.

"In our first five years, the trademark of our service to early-career playwrights has been the depth of our support," said Ms. Kovner. "I'm thrilled to be able to provide a whole sweep of benefits for our production playwright that really empowers them to use this Off-Broadway production as a launch pad for their entire career."

PAGE ONE is focused on far more than the development of one particular play; it is about the development of one playwright's career. One part launch pad and one part "crash pad," every component of the program is specially designed to achieve the ultimate goal of supporting one playwright deeply for an entire year, and providing them the tools to use to continue to build a successful career.

Instead of the standard reading series typical to residencies or fellowships, the PAGE ONE playwright receives a full Off-Broadway production. To round out the personal and professional benefits of this premiere, a competitive stipend, health insurance, and midtown office space is provided for the full year. Travel/professional development funds are provided to the playwright for whatever use might be most beneficial to them, whether it be for research for a particular script or for networking or professional development purposes.

And with an eye on their continued development as artists, Playwrights Realm provides money for readings of works-in-progress and an allowance to see New York theater. Not only can the writer get out and see what colleagues are working on to discover current producing and writing trends, they can take these discoveries from page to stage. Combined, these benefits are designed to provide a solid base, and a safe artistic home, from which the playwright can grow their career.

The charter PAGE ONE playwright will be Obie Award-winner Ethan Lipton (No Place to Go), whose well-received play Luther recently played as part of Clubbed Thumb's SummerWorks Festival.

"We believe Ethan is one of the next great voices in the American theatre," Ms. Kovner continued "and we think this program could be one of the next great ideas in American theatre's service to playwrights. They're a perfect pair in this kick-off year."

Mr. Lipton's quirky new comedy Red-Handed Otter will premiere this fall as the first PAGE ONE production. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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. 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).