Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Accepting Applications for Summer 2017

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced that applications are open to all musical theatre writers for this summer's retreats. Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will host 9 musical theatre writing teams for 9 consecutive weeklong residencies in the Hudson Valley, New York. The retreats will take place between July 2 and September 3. Established and early career writers are eligible, and the submitted musical can be at any stage of development, as long as it has not been published or licensed. Selected writers pay nothing to participate and receive a $500 stipend. All the writers' costs are covered, including travel costs up to $750 per writer. Writers with children are welcome to apply and, if they are selected, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will accommodate their housing needs. Applications are due February 17 and the application fee is $20. All information, guidelines, and online application can be found at www.rhinebeckwriters.org.

Past Rhinebeck writers and musicals include Kirsten Childs, Bella: An American Tall Tale, opening at Playwrights Horizons in May; Max Vernon, The View UpStairs opening at The Culture Project in February; Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin, and Jason "SweetTooth" Williams, Broadway BounTy Hunter which had a world premiere last year at Barrington Stage; Stew and Heidi Rodewald, Family Album; Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow, Noir; Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, Love's Labour's Lost, seen at The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park.

Created in 2011, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat provides a sanctuary for writers to develop their new musicals in the heart of the Hudson Valley. All costs for the retreats are covered by contributions, including major support from New York State Council on the Arts, The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund; The Dramatists Guild Fund, The Frederick Loewe Foundation, The Noël Coward Foundation, Liz Armstrong; Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga; Stacey Mindich Productions; Peter Risafi and Steven Wheeler; and Alec Stais and Elissa Burke. www.rhinebeckwriters.org.