Applications for the 2012-2014 Lab are now being accepted. Click here for details.

The heart of WP’s artistic programming is its free, two-year Lab for early to mid-career playwrights, directors, and producers. The Lab is a vibrant community providing opportunities to network, brainstorm, test ideas, make new connections, and build new work for the stage.

WP is deeply committed to its Lab artists and alumnae, who in recent seasons have written or directed more than 75% of WP’s mainstage and developmental productions, including work by Liz Duffy Adams, Lear deBessonet, Liz Diamond, Anne Kauffman, Carson Kreitzer, Pam MacKinnon, Wendy McClellan, Lynn Rosen, Saviana Stanescu, Daniella Topol, Kathryn Walat, and Meiyin Wang. Beyond WP, our Lab artists are making theater all over the world, and in 2011-2012, we have two alumnae on Broadway – Katori Hall’s play The Mountaintop and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? directed by Pam MacKinnon.

The 2008-2010 Lab playwrights recently published a two-volume anthology of their work, Out of Time & Place: An Anthology of Plays by Members of the
Women’s Project Playwrights Lab.

Applications for the 2012-2014 Lab are now being accepted. Click here for details.

Time Warner Foundation, Inc. provides leadership support of new play development at Women's Project.

PLAYWRIGHTS LAB
Founded in 1994, the Playwrights Lab helps members to develop new work in a productive environment. In addition to the full-Lab meetings, Lab Playwrights meet monthly under the direction of Megan Carter, Associate Artistic Director and Dramaturg, to hear their work read aloud and receive feedback.

“The Women's Project Lab is the single most empowering experience I have had as an emerging writer.  It is wisely organized, it cultivates cross-pollination amongst a brilliant group of theatre-makers and with WP's track record of producing past lab writers on their stages they are showing not telling that they are excited by our work and ready to help launch it into the world.” Kristen Palmer, Playwright, WP Lab 2010-2012

“The WP Lab has opened a window in my life and career: I feel that am being advocated for and supported in ways that are difficult to find along the autonomous and often lonely road of the playwright. The combination of wise advice, support and mentorship, the lively sparks of collaboration and the genuine sense of community all provide hope and inspiration that I should keep going; afterall, if the lab believes in me as a writer, how can I not believe in myself?” Alexandra Collier, Playwright, WP Lab 2010-2012

Click here for 2010-2012 Lab Playwrights
Click here for Playwright Lab Alumnae

DIRECTORS LAB
WP's Directors Lab is the oldest director group in New York City has served over 135 members since it was founded in 1983 as the Directors Forum. The Lab allows members to network and discuss directorial techniques and trends in the field, while creating collaborative relationships with members of the Playwrights and Producers Labs.

"It is a rare treasure to be a part of such a talented and vibrant community of women theatre artists.  The Women's Project not only cultivates community and artistic inspiration within the Lab, but embraces our artistic work as an integral component of their artistic programming. I am truly lucky to be a part of it." Jessi D. Hill, Director, WP Lab 2010-2012

"The WP Lab is an amazing resource for emerging artists! I can't think of another place where directors, playwrights AND producers have the opportunity to both network and collaborate regularly among a group of such diverse, intelligent, and savvy artists. Not to mention that all this happens in an inspiring, non-competitive environment that is truly an artistic home for each and every artist in the Lab. The Lab is a force to be reckoned with. It's like a cross between a creative think tank, a stimulating lecture series, a new works development Lab, and a ridiculously fun artists' retreat happening smack in the middle of NYC." Mia Rovegno, Director, WP Lab 2010-2012

Click here for 2010-2012 Lab Directors
Click here for Directors Lab Alumnae


PRODUCERS LAB
Established in September 2006, the Producers Lab members work to extend the influence of women theater artists. Armed with practical tools and powerful connections, Producer Lab members are empowered to advance specific theatrical projects and special events at WP and beyond. The Producers Lab is founded on a firm belief in the power of creative producing, and strives to make its members equally at home analyzing plays and financial statements.

"It is such a privilege to meet once a month with a group of vibrant, amazing women hungry to work. Everyone needs a posse of co-conspirators! From a producing perspective, it’s so beneficial to be included in the WP Lab (which is unique compared to a lot of similar labs in the city)–I so appreciate the ability to have candid conversations with playwright and director peers about how we approach and pursue this work together. I think we learn so much from the dialogue of our individual experiences–playwrights should know how to think like a producer about their plays, producers should be able to rally production teams like a director, etc. Being part of the Women’s Project community is really tremendous, and WP should be getting more credit for the contribution they’re making to the field through the Lab.” Manda Martin, Producer, WP Lab 2010-2012

"The WP Lab is a truly unique and remarkable experience.  I can think of no other performing arts organization that offers mentoring and support for early career theater producers; and really, if your goal is to effect change in the way that theater is created and how opportunities are made available to women artists, then producers are the place to start.  I have felt incredibly supported by the Lab – meeting and strategizing with other women theater artists and producers on how to navigate the New York theater world; having the opportunity of WP’s space grants for free rehearsal space to develop new work; and getting the professional experience of producing Off-Broadway as the Associate Producer of APPLE COVE.  A thousand thanks to WP!" Elizabeth R English, Producer, WP Lab 2010-2012

Click here for 2010-2012 Lab Producers
Click here for Producers Lab Alumnae

Out of Time & Place: An Anthology of Plays by Members of the
Women’s Project Playwrights Lab
In August 2010, WP proudly launched a brand new publication. Featuring a hilarious and biting preface by Theresa Rebeck that challenges the American theater to celebrate and produce its women playwrights, the anthology showcases the extraordinary work of eleven of them from the 2008-2010 Lab. The playwrights are as diverse in style, background and experience as they are talented. Collectively, they’ve been produced, published and heaped with swanky honors on four continents. For details, visit www.outoftimeandplace.com.

Time Warner Foundation, Inc. provides leadership support of new play development at Women's Project.