Road Less Traveled Productions Joins National New Play Network

The National New Play Network (NNPN), a national, non-profit theatre alliance that champions the development, production, and longevity of original new plays, officially has welcomed Western New York's (WNY's) Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) as its 27th member.

Since 2002, RLTP has developed and/or produced dozens of world-premiere plays by WNY playwrights. With new-play development integral to its mission, NNPN membership became "a natural and very exciting prospect" for RLTP, said the organization's Founder, Executive & Artistic Director Scott Behrend.

"Joining the National New Play Network is the next, right step for Road Less Traveled Productions," said Behrend, "and a significant advancement for playwrights and new plays in Western New York."

RLTP began the membership application process approximately one year ago. As an Associate Member of the now 14-year-old NNPN, approved benefits to RLTP include participation in the NNPN flagship program, The Continued Life of New Plays Fund; the opportunity for collaboration with NNPN Core Members at the annual National Showcase of New Plays; access to new plays via NNPN's Virtual Script Library; and the ability to pitch plays to other members via the NNPN Collaborative Literary Office.

Behrend emphasized that RLTP has the honor of being the first producing theatre company in New York State – including New York City and Manhattan – to be accepted into the NNPN.

RLTP Co-Founder & Literary Director Jon Elston said that both he and Behrend are "ecstatic" about RLTP addition to the NNPN. "The opportunities that RLTP's participation will present – for exposure, networking, and potential continued life of original plays by WNY playwrights – absolutely cannot be understated," said Elston. "This is a major breakthrough for not just RLTP, but the entire local playwrighting community."

About The National New Play Network

The National New Play Network (NNPN) is the country's alliance of non-profit professional theaters, championing the development, production, and continued life of new plays. Since its founding in 1998, NNPN has commissioned twenty playwrights, provided nineteen MFA graduates with paid residencies, and supported 100 productions nationwide through its innovative Continued Life of New Plays Fund, which creates "rolling world premieres" of new plays. Through these activities and others, NNPN has granted a half million dollars to theaters and playwrights in the past ten years. Hundreds of artists have gained employment through these efforts in the 24 regions of the country where NNPN member theaters are located. NNPN receives substantial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Boeing Company, the Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Shubert Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. NNPN's 27 member theaters are: Actor's Express Theatre (Atlanta, GA), Actor's Theatre of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC), Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ), Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CO), Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL), Fountain Theatre (LA, CA), Horizon Theatre Company (Atlanta, GA), InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA), Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas, TX), Magic Theatre (San Francisco, CA), Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley, CA), Mixed Blood Theatre Company (Minneapolis, MN), New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch, NJ), New Repertory Theatre (Watertown, MA), New Theatre (Coral Gables, FL), Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando, FL), Performance Network Theatre (Ann Arbor, MI), Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN), Playwright's Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ), Prop Thtr Group (Chicago, IL), Riverside Theatre (Iowa City, IA), Road Less Traveled Productions (Buffalo, NY), Salt Lake Acting Company (Salt Lake City, UT), San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego, CA), Southern Rep (New Orleans, LA), Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO), and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, DC).

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) is a professional, non-profit theatre company dedicated to the development and production of new theatrical works by Western New York playwrights, as well as presentations of esteemed modern dramas of outstanding literary merit. RLTP, a member of the National New Play Network, is located in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre in the Theatre District of Downtown Buffalo, NY. For more information about RLTP and to purchase tickets, please visit www.RoadLessTraveledProductions.org or call (716) 629-3069. RLTP's work is made possible through public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

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