PlayGround’s Investment in the Next 25 Years!

As PlayGround marks the conclusion of its 25^th anniversary season, we’re proud to announce the launch of the 25^th Anniversary Campaign. Through the 25^th Anniversary Campaign, we seek to raise $250,000 in new and increased funding to support three timely initiatives designed to help secure PlayGround’s future and build a more equitable theatre for all: the Artistic Compensation Fund, increasing our investment in the core artists who make our work possible; the Artistic Initiative Fund, helping to create new artistic opportunities for the artists of PlayGround and the greater community, through programs such as the Innovator Incubator, Solo Fest, and Producing Fellowships; and the Facilities Fund, providing the resources to secure PlayGround’s current facilities and help develop future ones as well.

Founded in 1994 by Jim Kleinmann, Brighde Mullins and Denise Shama, PlayGround has grown into a leading playwright incubator and theatre community hub. Our mission: to support the development of significant new local voices for the theatre, helping to launch these writers onto the national scene. Since its founding in 1994, PlayGround has supported more than 200 early-career playwrights, developing and staging over 850 of their original short plays through PlayGround’s signature programs, Monday Night PlayGround and PlayGround Festival of New Works. PlayGround has also commissioned 83 new full-length plays by 54 of these writers through its Commissioning Initiative and has directly facilitated the premiere of 30 of those works through its innovative New Play Production Fund and through intentional partnerships with other producers. Each PlayGround program directly supports PlayGround’s mission and combine to offer a robust and varied new play ecosystem, where writers can develop their ideas from concept to full production and build the relationships that will ensure long-term success. Among those now-nationally-recognized writers who had their start through PlayGround are Lauren Yee, Aaron Loeb, Geetha Reddy, and Jonathan Spector, among others. In 2015, PlayGround added Thick House to its suite of resources in support of new plays and playwrights. PlayGround renovated and reopened the renamed Potrero Stage in February 2017 as a leading center for new plays under PlayGround’s leadership and home to some of the Bay Area’s most important new play developers and producers. The venue has also become home for some of PlayGround’s latest creative initiatives – the Solo Fest and Innovator Incubator, creating a platform for the launch of bold new solo works and new innovative theatre companies. In addition, PlayGround is fostering next generation artistic and administrative leadership through its Directing Apprenticeship Program and Producing Fellowships.

Over the next several years and through the success of the 25^th Anniversary Campaign, PlayGround will further expand its services to the new plays community through: further improvements to its existing venue, Potrero Stage, including expanded broadcast capabilities, and the development of a new pop-up performance venue within the neighborhood; launch and expansion of artistic initiatives to create additional opportunities for artistic development and creation of new works, as well as fostering next-gen theatre leadership; and increased compensation for participating artists as part of PlayGround’s continuing #FairWage efforts and recognition of the Bay Area’s increasingly high cost of living.

PlayGround is seeking individuals willing and able to commit to multi-year pledges of $750-$25,000 in support of the 25^th Anniversary Campaign and the related funds. Multi-year pledges must be paid in full by July 31, 2022. Select naming opportunities are available for annual donors of $5,000 or more. To date, PlayGround has secured pledges and gifts totaling $117,500 or 47% of our goal. We hope you’ll join us with a multi-year pledge of your own to help us reach our $250,000 goal and ensure PlayGround’s future! We’ll officially conclude the 25^th Anniversary Campaign at this year’s PlayGround Virtual Gala, taking place online via Zoom live stream on Monday, September 21, 2020.

To make your pledge, complete the 25th Anniversary Campaign pledge form, email us, or call (415) 992-6677. To donate online, click here.