The Public's Emerging Writers Group Spotlight Series Begins 3/27

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will continue its popular Spotlight Series of free staged readings of new plays by The Public's Emerging Writers Group, beginning on Wednesday, March 27 and running through Monday, April 29. Now in its fifth year, the Emerging Writers Group is an important part of The Public's commitment and long legacy of supporting current and future generations of our country's most important writers.

This year's Spotlight Series will present readings of a full-length play by each writer of the 2013 Emerging Writers Group: Manuel Borras, A-lan Holt, Boo Killebrew, Andrew Kramer, Brian "Dyalekt" Kushner, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Harrison David Rivers, Riti Sachdeva, Susan Soon He Stanton and Kyle Warren. These evenings are directed and performed by experienced artists from the theatrical community. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance by calling The Public Theater box office at (212) 967-7555.

The Emerging Writers Group is a component of The Public Writers Initiative, a long-term program that provides key support and resources for writers at every stage of their careers. In doing so, The Public hopes to create an artistic home for a diverse and exceptionally talented group of up-and-coming playwrights. The Public Writers Initiative creates a fertile community and fosters a web of supportive artistic relationships across generations. Time Warner is the Founding Sponsor of The Public Writers Initiative.

"As a global leader in entertainment and journalism, Time Warner is committed to telling the world's stories," says Lisa Garcia Quiroz, chief diversity officer and SVP of corporate responsibility at Time Warner Inc. "Our philanthropy is closely aligned with this passion for storytelling. That's why our partnership with The Public Theater to create the Emerging Writers Group has been a great source of pride to us."

"We are delighted to introduce the next class of our Emerging Writers Group," said Public Theater Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett. "It's an incredibly talented and diverse group - smart, passionate, deeply engaged in the big issues of our time - and we are looking forward to sharing their work with a wider audience."

In just five years, The Public's Emerging Writers Group has nurtured numerous playwrights who have gone on to have their plays staged at The Public and elsewhere around the country. The Public's production of Detroit '67, written by Dominique Morisseau and premiering in February, marks the fifth work presented at The Public by a member of the Emerging Writers Group. Most recently, the Obie Award-winning No Place To Go, written by Emerging Writers Group alum Ethan Lipton, was presented at Joe's Pub at The Public in March 2012. Emerging Writers Group alum Mona Mansour's Urge For Going was presented in The Public Lab in March 2011, as well as Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Neighbors in February 2010 and Raul Castillo's Knives and Other Sharp Objects in March 2009.

Ethan Lipton's Luther, written during his time in the Emerging Writers Group, had a critically praised run last summer at Clubbed Thumb, and Bethany, written by 2011 Emerging Writers Group alum Laura Marks, was recently presented Off-Broadway by the Women's Project at City Center. Mona Mansour's The Hour of Feeling was presented as part of the 2012 Humana Festival, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play Appropriate, which he wrote during his time with the Emerging Writers Group, will be presented at the Humana Festival this spring. He was also recently chosen as a playwright for Signature Theatre's Residency Five program, where three of his works will receive full productions over the next five years.

Tickets are free for The Public Theater's Emerging Writers Group Spotlight Series, but must be reserved in advance by calling The Public Theater box office at (212) 967-7555.