Plays In Development

Our 2009 cadre of resident playwrights are:

Ayanna Maia
Derek Lee McPhatter
Patricia Ione Lloyd

As resident playwrights, all are charged with writing a new political theatre work featuring a black queer protagonist.

Their work collectively presents a spectrum of human struggle and culture. In Derek's nod to house music, Bring the Beat Back, it's the end of the world and Tru Boo is ready to boogie her way to salvation. With her residency, Ayanna asks do Amazons need men? And Ione's dark comedy explores the lives of a group of women of color, gay and straight, that work as domestics.

The playwright residency is one of our anchor programs. There are many companies in New York City concerned with new play development -- Freedom Train Productions is the only one that centers such work around black queer-inspired political theatre. Director of New Play Development Aurin Squire will lead the Resident Playwright Workshop, where artists mine, discover, and develop their new work. Next we organize Offstage Forums that highlight the issues of community struggle and culture that our playwrights center their work. Spring Fire!, Offstage Forums, and Fire! New Play Festival 2009 -- programs headed by Lead Producer Maisha Azadi -- are the community and performance venues where we share their work with you, our audience community.

Our new dramatists for 2009 have a lot going on this year, please get on our e-list to stay in the loop!

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