Dramatists Guild Foundation Announces 10 Recipients Of New Grant Program

The Dramatists Guild Foundation announces 10 writers and 10 nonprofit theaters as the inaugural recipients of the DGF Writers Alliance Grants.

These Grants provide $5,000 to a theater's production of a new work, and another $5,000 directly to the writer(s) being produced.

Each writer is one whose work pushes boundaries and shows tremendous promise. Each of the producing theaters demonstrated superlative ethical standards in supporting the livelihoods and careers of writers.

Writers Alliance Grants are an innovation on DGF's previous theater program, which has supported theaters for 50 years. Writers Alliance Grants are awarded in celebration of working relationships that align deeply with DGF core values. These grants reflect DGF's commitment to ensuring writers' contributions to theater are respected and to changing the national conversation about how writers are treated by the institutions that produce their work.

Applicants were selected via committee on the strength of their contracts, the artistic merit of the project for which they are requesting funding, and the organization's commitment to the production of new works and voices.

Statement from DGF: "After 55 years of giving to nonprofit theaters, our Board has restructured our former Theater Grant program into the Writers Alliance Grants. These awards honor our commitment to nonprofit theaters and give direct funds to the writers enriching their communities across the country. We believe that by honoring theaters with outstanding commitment to both the writers' work and livelihood, we are doing our part to highlight the writers' essential role in the creation of theater." - Rachel Routh, Executive Director of DGF

The full list of recipients:

Writer: Meridith Friedman writer of Your Best One Theater: Curious Theatre Company in Denver, Colorado

Writers: Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald, writers of The Loneliest Girl in the World Theater: Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, CA

Writers: Cameron Cobb, Michael Federico and Max Hartman, writers of Pompeii!! Theater: Kitchen Dog Theater Company in Dallas, Texas

Writer: Jenifer Nii, writer of The Weird Play Theater: Plan-B Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, UT

Writer: Kristiana Rae Colon, writer of Tilikum Theater: Sideshow Theatre Company in Chicago, IL

Writer: Bekah Brunstetter, who is writing an original commission for the theater Theater: Theater Breaking Through Barriers in New York, NY

Writer: Jennifer Barclay, writer of Ripe Frenzy Theater: Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, GA

Writer: Eleanor Burgess, writer of The Niceties Theater: Portland Stage in Portland, ME

Writer: Harrison David Rivers, writer of The Bitter Earth Theater: Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, MN

Writer: Tom Horan, writer of The Pill Theater: Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, IN

Dramatists Guild Foundation programs are designed to meet writers where they are, and help bridge them to their full potential. Programs include the DGF Fellows which nurtures ten emerging writers as they develop full - length plays and musicals; Traveling Masters which brings award-winning writers into communities across the nation for free events and master classes on writing; Emergency Grants provide financial aid to writers in serious need, and are available to playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters at all stages of their careers; the Legacy Project documentary series which brings America's most exciting and esteemed writers together in conversation and preserves their insights for future generation; and the Music Hall which is a luxurious space, complete with piano, music stands, A/V equipment, and much more, available for any writer to reserve as a rehearsal or workroom free of charge. dgf.org