Commitment to Original Work

Original Works Perspective

Weston’s New Works programs are grounded in the belief that the voice of the author is central to shaping our cultural conversation locally, nationally, and internationally. When we nurture new writing, we nurture new points of view and foster connections within our community and beyond.

Inquiries & Submissions

We accept inquiries from a range of sources, including literary agents, dramaturgs, Weston alumni writers, composers, and directors, direct solicitation from our artistic leadership, national playwright centers and graduate programs, and producers and institutional theaters with new work programs.

Our commitment to original work is a commitment to the creators of that work.

Projects

“This collection of 14 original works, 5 to 8 minutes long, makes a case for the solo direct-address form as the irreducible essence of theater, an essence that even a pandemic (or iPhone) can’t denature.”

— Jesse Green, Co-Chief Theater Critic, The New York Times

THE ACTOR
Written by David Cale
Directed by Lee Sunday Evans
Starring Marin Ireland
MEMORIES OF NEW YORK
and other things that are gone
Written by Andy Bragen
Directed by Knud Adams
Starring Josh Hamilton
EXECUTIONERS
Written by Torrey Townsend
Directed by Celine Song
Starring Zi Alikhan, Miles G. Jackson, Aaron Rossini
FRONT & BACK
Written by Vichet Chum
Directed by Whitney White
Starring Susan Park
A ROOM OF NOBODY ELSE'S
Written by Will Eno
Directed by Kenny Leon
Starring Alfre Woodard
ROOM FOR WORK
Written by Melissa Li
Directed by Mei Ann Teo
Starring Shannon Tyo
before the witching hour / pandemic blues
Written by Dael Orlandersmith
Directed by Jade King Carroll
Starring Daphne Rubin-Vega
THE VISITATIONS
Written by Jen Silverman
Directed by Mike Donahue
Starring Dana Delaney
LOOK AT THE WALLS
Written by Charley Evon Simpson
Directed by Colette Robert
Starring Erin Roché
GOODNIGHT NOBODY
Written by Alena Smith
Directed by Susanna Gellert
Starring Michael Braun
ZOOM INTERVENTION
Written by Noelle Viñas
Directed by Estefanía Fadul
Starring Liza Colón-Zayas
MIRROR GAME
Written by Else Went
Directed by Emma Rosa Went
Starring Juliana Canfield
RITA
Written by Josh Wilder
Directed by Reginald L. Douglas
Starring Jakeem Powell
TO DO
Written by Kit Yan
Directed by Peter J. Kuo
Starring Poppy Liu

One Room explores the events of [2020] by looking at our homes as spaces of possibility and creativity. We commissioned 14 of America’s leading playwrights to create short, one person plays that respond to the present moment and explore the questions, “What makes a home? What stories might be hiding in its ordinary rooms?”

Please Note:
This production is no longer available for streaming.

A Room of Nobody Else’s
by Will Eno starring Alfre Woodard

To Do
by Kit Yan starring Poppy Liu

Songs for Today invited Weston’s family of musical theater writers to talk to us in song about the stories they want to tell today. Composers who have previously been with us in Weston have created and recorded original songs that capture this unprecedented moment when we are all invited to care and connect in new, unique ways.

Writers received a postcard of a rural American image and were asked to respond with a play that fits within the card’s 4x6” structure. The postcards feature photography by Skye Chalmers from his collection, Sending Milk.

Visit postcardplays.com to explore the full collection.