Last night, the 2016-2017 class of Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows presented excerpts of full length works at Playwrights Horizons at 7:00 PM. This presentation caps off a year spent working under the tutelage of Michael Korie (Grey Gardens), Laurence O' Keefe (Heathers), Diana Son (Stop Kiss).
Hosted by the Dramatists Guild Foundation President, Andrew Lippa, the event featured the work of the 2016-2017 class, including Michael R. Jackson, Patricia Ione Lloyd, Zoey Martinson, Len Schiff, David Mallamud, James Christy, Madeline Myers, C.A. Johnson, Nicole Pandolfo, and Khiyon Hursey.
The evening also included the presentation of the Thom Thomas Award, given to a Fellows alumnus demonstrating outstanding talent. The $10,000 Award was established last year by Iris Rainer Dart and Helen Lee Henderson on behalf of the late Thom Thomas (Beaches, The Musical; A Moon To Dance By). This year, the award was given to Sylvan Oswald (Sun Ra, A Kind of Weather), a playwright, professor, and DGF Fellow from 2003-2004.
Directed by Laura Brandel with Music Direction by Josh Kight, the Presentation featured performances by Kristen Browne, LaDonna Burns, Elijah Caldwell, Joanna Carpenter, Tyla Collier, Victoria Csatay, Latoya Edwards, David Foley Jr., Evan Gambardella, Caroline Gombe, Olli Haaskivi, Kendal Hartse, Mandi Masden, Doron JePaul Mitchell, Jason Moody, Melanie Nicholls-King, Larry Owens, Destinee Rea, Mouna R'miki, Grace Ann Rundhaug, Tai Lyn Sandhu, Tally Sessions, Jes Tom, Jesse Weil, and Remy Zaken.
The Presentation also served as a welcome event for a new class of Fellows. At the end of the evening, Andrew announced that Keelay Gipson, Morgan Gould, Eric Micha Holmes, Oliver Houser, Jeremy King, Janine McGuire, Sam Salmond, Arri Simon, Riti Sachdeva, and Deborah Yarchun would be the next group of individuals to embark on the development intensive.
The Fellows program is a selective, nine-month intensive for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters. The program pairs talented writers with accomplished professional mentors, who help them hone their process, and find their unique voices. Fellows also have the chance to partner with one of several esteemed arts organizations, including Macdowell Colony and SPACE at Ryder Farm, for Fellows-specific development opportunities.
Former Fellows include Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen), Deborah Zoe Laufer (End Days), Masi Asare, Adam Gwon, and many others.
For more information on the Fellows program, visit dgf.org/programs/#fellows
Program chairs Laurence O'Keefe, Diana Son, Michael Korie, left to right attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Presentation director Laura Brandel with Kendal Hartse, and actress from the evening. attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
New Fellows Class - Left to right: Jeremy King, Sam Salmond, Deborah Yarchun, Arri Simon, Janine McGuire, Oliver Houser, Morgan Gould (not pictured: Keelay Gipson, Riti Sachdeva, Eric Micha Holmes) attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Program Chairs with DGF President Andrew Lippa (Laurence O'Keefe, Andrew Lippa, Diana Son and Michael Korie - left to right) attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Thom Thomas Award winner, Sylvan Oswald attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
The DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Michael R. Jackson's during the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Michael R. Jackson's presentation during the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
The DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Sylvan with Iris Rainer Dart, one of the two women, along with Helen Lee Henderson who established the award in Thom Thomas's memory attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Fellow Nicole and Program Chair Diana with Playwright, Tina Howe attending the DGf:Fellows 2017 Presentation of New Works on September 18, 2017 at the Playwrights's Horizons in New York City.
Videos