Dramatists  updated March 12, 2012

Theater of the First Amendment Folds CITYPAPER artsdesk 3/6/12

Production:

Active Cultures  Maryland-based theatre with focus on local playwrights stages annual "Sportaculture" competition for short plays related to local sports. Also conducts reading series.   www.activecultures.org

Baltimore Playwrights Festival  Devoted to works by Maryland playwrights. www.baltimoreplaywrightsfestival.org.

Capital Fringe Festival  is a summer no-holds-barred venue, offering self-production opportunities, workshops for producing playwrights. Participation fee, other expenses may be borne by producing writers or partnering theater.  www.capfringe.org

Madcap Players  produces winter fest of 10-minute plays. Also accepts full-length scripts.   www.madcapplayers.com

Source Festival offers annual 10-minute competition, as well as productions of one-act and full-length plays. Summer festival draws nationwide.   www.sourcedc.org

Development:

Artists Bloc Described as a leadership organization consisting of artists, administrators and audience members. Opportunities for readings, other presentations. Annual dues.   www.artistsbloc.org

First Draft (Charter Theatre) offers developmental readings, workshops and classes. Based in Arlington. No fee to submit. Query first.   www.firstdraft.org

First Light Festival is the Theatre of the First Amendment at George Mason University. Developmental workshops, open to playwrights from around the country. No fee to submit. Deadline usually in the fall.

The Inkwell  One of the new kids on the block (helmed by the ambitious Jessica Burgess) the now 5-year-old "Nation's capital's wellspring for new theatrical work" offers developmental opportunities, including workshops, readings, and classes in play writing and dramaturgy.   www.inkwelltheatre.org

Writing Workshops and Classes

Playwrights Forum  was founded in 1981 in Washington, D.C. and is still administered and taught by playwright and ritch in kop Ernie Joselovitz, "offering activities for playwrights at every level of development, enhanced by the participation of leading universities and professional theatres in the Mid-Atlantic region." Features NW-D.C./Montgomery County-area writing workshops, public readings, and occasional mini-conferences.  Check website for member info, news and workshop/conferences at www.theplaywrightsforum.org

Playwriting Classes at Little Theatre of Alexandria offer beginning and advanced level groups meeting bi-weekly.  http://www.thelittletheatre.com Note that this is a membership-driven organization and you have to join ("Active Members" pay $50) to work.

Black Women Playwrights Group. Founded in 1989 to provide support to black women playwrights in the D.C. region. Meets monthly; also provides educational programming open to nonmembers.   www.blackwomenplaywrights.org

The Playwrights Gymnasium  playwrights' workshop founded by Paul Donnelly and D.W. Gregory focusing on using exercises to help participants sharpen their dramatic writing skills. Offers occasional public workshops and readings of member plays. www.playwrightsgymnasium.com

Theatre Lab offers play writing classes as well multi-skill classes for the actor.  www.theatrelab.org

The Writers Center offers play writing and screen writing classes. Check current catalog for offerings.   www.writerscenter.org