Southern Rep Partners with University of New Orleans' Creative Writing Workshop for 6X6 and More in 2013-14

Southern Rep will partner with the University of New Orleans (UNO) English Department's Creative Writing Workshop for the '13-'14 school year by inviting students to participate in its Lagniappe Series play slam, 6x6, and other New Play Development activities.

"This partnership speaks to the heart of what 6x6 has always been about --- developing new talent and showcasing fresh, exciting work. I can't wait to see what the UNO students come up with!" - Aimee Hayes, Producing Artistic Director, Southern Rep

"Partnering with Southern Rep and 6x6 is a unique opportunity for our students to move beyond the classroom environment, get their work in front of an impartial audience, and experience the real life of playwrights. 6x6 is the kind of hard-earned thrill that turns writers into playwrights!" - Justin Maxwell, Assistant Professor of English, the University of New Orleans

Building on Southern Rep's long tradition of providing support for emerging playwrights, the partnership between Southern Rep and UNO will allow graduate and undergraduate students currently under the tutelage of UNO Assistant English Professor Justin Maxwell, to write for Southern Rep's 6x6; a play slam in which 6 emerging playwrights each present a ten-minute play around a specific theme. Southern Rep will also provide the students with year-round workshops, opportunities for mentorships, and exposure to established playwrights and other local theatre professionals in an effort to guide and promote their professional development.

Southern Rep and UNO agreed to officially partner after a trial-period with UNO students and 6x6 proved highly successful last spring. It marks another meaningful step forward for Southern Rep's "School-to-Stage" commitment to foster new and diverse voices in New Orleans' theatre by providing educational resources, public platforms, and other advancement opportunities for emerging theatre professionals of every age and stage of their career.

ABOUT 6X6:

Six passionate playwrights, six unpredictable plays, one wild hour. Back by popular demand, Southern Rep presents a new season of 6x6, the play slam of inventive proportions. Given only ten minutes of stage time, can each of the six featured playwrights taken on their theme and win us over in the process? Every event, a new theme and new answer!

Location: Mid-City Theatre (3520 Toulouse Street)

Time: 7:30 pm

Upcoming Dates: November 13, January 22, February 19, April 23, May 21

ABOUT THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS: The Creative Writing Workshop (CWW) at the University of New Orleans offers an MFA in every literary genre, including the only advanced degree in playwriting in Louisiana. The CWW is listed in the top 25 MFA programs by the Huffington Post, and its alums have gone on to be successful writers in their disciplines. Current students benefit from small class sizes, a cooperative environment, low tuition, and the opportunity to work at the literary journal Bayou. Along with a traditional MFA, the CWW offers a low-residency program for students around the country and the opportunity to study abroad every summer in Cork, Ireland. Playwriting students working with Professor Justin Maxwell also have the opportunity to participate in Southern Rep's 6x6 program.

ABOUT SOUTHERN REP: Southern Rep Theatre enters its 27th Season as the regions premiere professional theatre, producing bold world and regional premieres under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Aimée Hayes. In addition to Southern Rep's ongoing commitment to new play development with exciting Lagniappe programs like DEBAUCHERY!, 6X6 and 3X3 Playlabs and Pints and Plays, the company's Mainstage Season work includes the best of Broadway, off-Broadway and classic plays. The company has also instituted The Ruby Prize, a new play award named in honor of civil rights veteran Ruby Bridges that is awarded every year to one women of color playwright at Southern Rep's THE NEW PLAY BACCHANAL. The Mainstage Season includes 33 VARIATIONS, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of THE TOTALITARIANS, and THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA.