In 2002, PlayGround launched its first full-length play commissioning programs, the June Anne Baker Prize and the PlayGround Fellowship. The June Anne Baker Prize, established by PlayGround supporter John H. Gilman in memory of his late wife, honors the top female playwright each year, representing a gifted new comedic or political voice for the stage, and includes a full-length play commission. The PlayGround Fellowship honors a distinguished PlayGround alumnus and also includes a full-length play commission. PlayGround additionally awards three Alumni Commissions per year to previously commissioned PlayGround playwrights. The resulting new works are presented as public staged readings as part of The Best of PlayGround Festival.
In 2006, PlayGround launched its Commissioning Initiative, through which PlayGround will commission and develop ten new full-length plays by PlayGround alumni over the next two years as well as create strategic partnerships to support full production of at least two of these works.
2007-08 Commissions
All 2007-08 commissions will be presented to the public as staged readings during the 2008 Best of PlayGround Festival at Thick House ($10 suggested donation at door; no reservations required).
Saturday, May 17, 3pm: The Singularity of We by Molly
Rhodes
Sunday, May 18, 3pm: The Secrets of the World by Evelyn
Pine
Monday, May 19, 7pm: A Seminar! by Tom Swift
Saturday, May 24, 3pm: The Year to Live by Geetha Reddy
Sunday, May 25, 3pm: The Serving Class by Garret Jon Groenveld
For complete play descriptions, click here. To sign up for updates on these readings and other festival activities through PlayGround's monthly email newsletter, click here.
For more information on these or other PlayGround-commissioned plays, contact PlayGround Artistic Director Jim Kleinmann.
June Anne Baker Prize
2007: Evelyn Pine
2006: Brady Lea
2005: Geetha Reddy
2004: Maria Rokas
2003: Martha Soukup
2002: Kristina Goodnight
PlayGround Fellowship
2007: Molly Rhodes
2006: Tom Swift
2005: Aaron Loeb
2004: Kenn Rabin
2003: Trevor Allen 2002: Garret Jon Groenveld
Alumni Commissions
2007: Garret Jon Groenveld, Geetha Reddy, Martha Soukup2006: Garret Jon Groenveld, Aaron Loeb, Geetha Reddy