National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, announces its 87th Rolling World Premiere (RWP): Jump by Charly Evon Simpson. The Roll begins this week in Chapel Hill, NC at PlayMakers Repertory Company (January 23-February 10, 2019), then heads to Portland, OR and a co-production between Milagro and Confrontation Theatre (March 21-April 13, 2019), then heads to Austin, TX and Shrewd Productions (May 10-26, 2019), before concluding at Actor's Express (June 1-23, 2019).
An NNPN Rolling World Premiere (RWP) models a process for developing and producing new plays that results in stronger work overall and the momentum needed for a play to join the repertoire of frequently produced new American works. Each Rolling World Premiere connects three or more NNPN Member Theaters that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period, allowing the playwright to develop the work with a new creative team in each theater's community. To date, NNPN has championed RWPs with over one million dollars in financial support. Alumni plays have received hundreds of subsequent productions, recognition in markets across the world, been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, won Steinberg/ATCA, Stavis, PEN and Blackburn awards, and been adapted into feature films.
A bridge that spans a deep gorge draws tourists, joggers, and more than a few wandering souls. Reeling from the death of her mother, twenty-something Fay comes to the bridge looking for solace and a good place to vape, but what she finds is a journey of self-discovery. In the whimsically theatrical world of Jump, lights flicker, hearts heal - and you never know what surprises will literally fall from the sky.
Charly Evon Simpson's plays include Jump, Scratching the Surface, form of a girl unknown, it's not a trip it's a journey, and more. Her work has been seen and/or developed with Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ars Nova, The Lark, Page 73, Chautauqua Theater Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, National New Play Network through its NNPN/Kennedy Center MFA Playwrights Workshop and National Showcase of New Plays, and others. Jump is receiving a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, with productions at PlayMakers Repertory Company (Chapel Hill, NC), Milagro Theatre in a co-production with Confrontation Theatre (Portland, OR), Shrewd Productions (Austin, TX), and Actor's Express (Atlanta, GA) in 2019. Behind the Sheet is premiering at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City this January. She's currently a member of WP Theater's 2018-2020 Lab, The New Georges Jam, The Amoralists 18/19 'Wright Club and she's The Pack's current playwright-in-residence. Charly is a former member of SPACE on Ryder Farm's The Working Farm, Clubbed Thumb's Early Career Writers' Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood, and Pipeline Theatre Company's PlayLab. She is currently an adjunct lecturer at SUNY Purchase. BA: Brown. MSt: University of Oxford, New College. MFA: Hunter College.
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