New Works Lab

The New Works Lab is the play development program of The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP), a support and service organization for Southern California playwrights. A call for the submission of appropriate, unproduced works by ALAP members will go out when ALAP and a theater partner join together to produce a reading of the new work.

** Do not send works to ALAP until such a call for submission goes out. **

OVERVIEW

The Lab is intended to help playwrights by providing initial readings of new plays which have reached that stage of development where hearing them out loud, with professional actors reading the roles, is the most logical, helpful next step. A moderated post-reading discussion helps the playwright focus on what works, what doesn't, and where the play needs to go from that point.

Since the New Works Lab is for the playwright's benefit, many Labs are not open to the public; in those cases, only theatre professionals from the participating theatre and selected guests of the playwright (as well as a small number of ALAP members) may attend.

However, if the theatre and playwright agree, certain readings may be open to the public. Likewise, at the playwright's request, certain readings may be closed to all outsiders. During the pandemic, between 2020 and the present, Infinite Jest Theatre and The Victory Theatre both agreed to do Zoom readings of new works.

ALAP partners with local theatres to present the readings, and by so doing also helps foster relationships between Los Angeles-area playwrights and theatres. These relationships have led to further collaborations. If you have a relationship with a local theater that may be interested in co-producing a New Works Lab, please let ALAP know.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. The Lab accepts submissions of plays that match the criteria of the co-producing theater, i.e., full-length, one-acts longer than 30 pages or 10-minute plays. These criteria may vary; read the specific submission requirements carefully. Submissions must be UNPRODUCED.

A play is considered produced if it has been performed in front of a paying audience with the performers off book. Please wait for ALAP to announce a specific upcoming New Works Lab and follow the instructions carefully. You may submit one play at a time. If your play is not selected, you may submit the same play again up to three times within one calendar year.

2. Electronic submissions are required, and must be received by the deadline announced for each Lab. Please subscribe to the ALAP email list for notification. Submissions should be e-mailed to NewWorks@LAPlaywrights.org. Please submit your play as a PDF only: ALAP assumes no responsibility for plays not received by the deadline, or which cannot be read due to technical defects in the file. Receipt of your submission will be acknowledged by an email from the Lab Coordinator.

3. Only current members of ALAP are eligible to submit to the New Works Lab. If your play is the work of more than one author, all authors must be ALAP members. Membership must be valid through the date of the Lab for your play to be considered. If you are not a current member, a payment online or by check for one year's membership (currently $45, but subject to change, or $20 for current full-time students), or $500 for Lifetime Membership, must be received by ALAP by the deadline. If you are unsure of your membership status, please write current ALAP President Mona Deutsch Miller at monadm@laplaywrights.org or write to info@laplaywrights.org.

4. Playwrights whose plays are selected must agree to attend the New Works Lab reading and participate in the post-play discussion.

5. Play selections are made by the host theatres, not by ALAP. If your play is selected, you will be notified within approximately two months after the submission deadline. The scheduling of the reading is determined by the participating theater and the playwright.

HISTORY OF THE NEW WORKS LAB

The Lab and its partner theatres have produced readings of new plays since 2002. Among the theatre companies that have hosted the Lab are Alliance Repertory Company, Company of Angels, the Coop Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre - LA, Greenway Arts Alliance, Infinite Jest Theatre, Met Theatre, Moving Arts, Pacific Resident Theatre, Powerhouse Theatre, Rogue Machine Theatre, Secret Rose Theatre, Theatre 40, Theater Unleashed, Three Roses Players, Theatre Neo, The Victory Theatre, Vox Humana Theatre Company, and WriteAct Repertory Theatre.

The New Works Lab was founded, coordinated, and moderated by Isabel Storey from 2002 to 2009. In 2010, Teri Graves took on the role of New Works Lab Coordinator, and turned the reins over to Alison Hills in 2012. Jonathan Munoz-Proulx was Lab Coordinator from January 2013 to December 2017, followed by Ariana Burrell and David Meyers. They were succeeded by Mona Deutsch Miller and Leigh Kennicott. Our new Lab Coordinator as of July 2023 is Gavin Glynn.