Red Tape Theatre Announces New Playwright in Residence

Red Tape Theatre has announced that starting in January 2013, Brooke Allen will become their first playwright in residence as part of the newly revised Fresh Eyes Project. Formed in 2005, the Fresh Eyes Project has been a bold, new workshop process designed to create and develop plays that are innovative in form and subject. Over the years, it has assisted in the development of such projects as Caitlin Parish's A Twist of Water, Aaron Weissman's Egg & Alfie, Martin Zimmerman's Making of a Modern Folk Hero and Martyna Majok's Mouse in a Jar, which went on to be a Jeff Award winning production for Red Tape Theatre in 2009.

The new Fresh Eyes Project Playwrights Residency will allow emerging Chicago playwrights to work closely alongside Red Tape Theatre's directors, actors, dramaturgs and designers as they develop their work. Over their six month residency, the playwrights will receive three workshops or readings of their play and work with Red Tape Theatre's Associate Artistic Director John Rooney and Literary Manager Molly Mullen to get their work into the hands of potential producers.

"We are thrilled to have Brooke Allen as our very first playwright in residence. Her work is haunting, poignant and sharp. She is exactly the sort of writer Red Tape Theatre craves," said John Rooney. "Many of our ensemble members have had the pleasure of working with Brooke on Tympanic Theatre's production of Ruby Wilder this past fall and in our workshop of her play The Deer directed by Eric Hoff. The experience of working with Brooke has been astounding and we can't wait to help launch her next project."