InterAct Theatre Receives National New Play Network Grant

InterAct Theatre Company, a theatre devoted to producing new works, was recently named the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the National New Play Network (NNPN) to host playwright-in-residence, A. Zell Williams, during its upcoming 25th Anniversary season. InterAct is one of only three theatres in the country to receive the grant this year.

The Playwright Residency award, along with a $4,000 travel fund, enables each writer to participate actively in the life of a professional theatre and to engage with other playwrights and other NNPN theatres. NNPN’s residencies were established in 2007 to support playwrights graduating from qualified MFA programs for season-long residencies at member theatres. A. Zell Williams is a 2012 graduate of New York University.

InterAct Theatre producEd Williams’ play In A Daughter’s Eyes in June 2011. “We are so pleased to bring Zell back to InterAct and Philadelphia,” states InterAct Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin, who has been re-elected to serve on the NNPN Executive Committee as Vice President, “This grant gives us the opportunity to continue to further support his development as a playwright during our milestone year.” Williams’ play, inspired by the Philadelphia case of alleged cop killer and death row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal, tells the fictional story of Jamal’s and the police officer’s daughters, as they try to extricate themselves from their fathers’ legacy of bigotry and violence. It was awarded the 2011 Smith Prize for a new play on American political themes.

Along with the playwrights in residence grant, InterAct Theatre continues its relationship with the National New Play Network as it kicks off its 25th Anniversary season in October with the rolling world premiere of The Exit Interview by William Missouri Downs. For more information, visit InterAct’s website at www.interacttheatre.org or call 215-568-8079.

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