Playwrights Horizons Welcomes New Director of Development

Playwrights Horizons announced the appointment of Liz Fallon Culp as the institution's new Director of Development. Ms. Culp joins the acclaimed theater company direct from New York Public Radio (WNYC/WQXR), where she served as the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Legacy Giving. She began with the theater company this month, leading its seven-person Development department.

Ms. Culp joined New York Public Radio (NYPR) in 2007 as Associate Campaign Director before becoming Director of Major Gifts & Legacy Giving and, ultimately, Senior Director. Her work at NYPR played a significant role in achieving a 124% increase in donations from individuals and trustees, a 170% increase in known bequest intentions and the successful completion of the $57.5 million Campaign for New York Public Radio and the $15 million Campaign for WQXR. During her 25-year career in the non-profit sector, she has also worked with Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Big Apple Circus, Planned Parenthood, Coalition for the Homeless and at several organizations engaged in AIDS research, education and direct care.

A native of New Jersey and 24-year resident of Brooklyn, Liz is a graduate of both Syracuse University and Baruch College, and she has a Certificate in Digital Marketing from New York University.

"We are thrilled to welcome Liz to Playwrights," said Managing Director Leslie Marcus. "Her comprehensive experience in all aspects of fundraising, as well as her impressive track record in individual giving, made Liz the standout candidate as we conducted a national search for this position. As we enter a period of growth, Liz will be a leader and a partner in meeting our long-range goals."

"I couldn't be more excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work with this tremendously important company," said Liz Culp. "What a joy to bring together my experience in fundraising with my love of the theater to help nurture playwrights and present new works by American writers!"

Playwrights Horizons is a writer's theater dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists and to the production of their new work. Under the leadership of artistic director Tim Sanford and managing director Leslie Marcus, the theater company continues to encourage the new work of veteran writers while nurturing an emerging generation of theater artists. In its 44 years, Playwrights Horizons has presented the work of more than 400 writers and has received numerous awards and honors, including a special 2008 Drama Desk Award for "ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work." Notable productions include six Pulitzer Prize winners - Annie Baker's The Flick (2013 Obie Award, 2013 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize), Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park (2012 Tony Award, Best Play), Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife (2004 Tony Award, Best Play), Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles (1989 Tony Award, Best Play), Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy and Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George - as well as Ms. Baker's Circle Mirror Transformation (three 2010 Obie Awards including Best New American Play); Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Lisa D'Amour's Detroit (2013 Obie Award, Best New American Play); Samuel D. Hunter's The Whale (2013 Lortel Award, Best Play); Kirsten Greenidge's Milk Like Sugar (2012 Obie Award); Sarah Ruhl's Stage Kiss and Dead Man's Cell Phone; Gina Gionfriddo's Rapture, Blister, Burn; Dan LeFranc's The Big Meal; Amy Herzog's The Great God Pan and After the Revolution; Bathsheba Doran's Kin; Adam Bock's A Small Fire; Edward Albee's Me, Myself & I; Melissa James Gibson's This (2010 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist); Doug Wright, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie's Grey Gardens (three 2007 Tony Awards); Craig Lucas's Prayer For My Enemy and Small Tragedy (2004 Obie Award, Best American Play); Adam Rapp's Kindness; Lynn Nottage's Fabulation (2005 Obie Award for Playwriting); Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero; David Greenspan's She Stoops to Comedy (2003 Obie Award); Kirsten Childs's The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (2000 Obie Award); Richard Nelson and Shaun Davey's James Joyce's The Dead (2000 Tony Award, Best Book); Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins; William Finn's March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland; Christopher Durang's Betty's Summer Vacation and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You; Richard Nelson's Goodnight Children Everywhere; Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Once on This Island; Jon Robin Baitz's The Substance of Fire; Scott McPherson's Marvin's Room; A.R. Gurney's Later Life; Adam Guettel and Tina Landau's Floyd Collins; and Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley's Violet.

The 2014/2015 Playwrights Horizons Season kicked off earlier this month with the opening of the New York premiere of BOOTYCANDY, a new play written and directed by Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara. In his review of the production, Charles Isherwood of The New York Times called the theater company, "One of the city's more adventurous incubators of daring playwriting."

The 2014/2015 Season will continue with GRAND CONCOURSE, the World Premiere of a new play by two-time Obie Award winner Heidi Schreck, directed by Kip Fagan; POCATELLO, the World Premiere of a new play by Obie and Lortel awards winner Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Davis McCallum; PLACEBO, the World Premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson, directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin; IOWA, the World Premiere of a new musical play by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Commendation winner (2008) and finalist (2013) Jenny Schwartz, music and lyrics by Todd Almond, oratorio lyrics by Ms. Schwartz, directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll; and conclude with THE QUALMS, the New York premiere of a new play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Bruce Norris, directed by Tony Award and Obie Award winner Pam MacKinnon.

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