PDC's Programs

Anonymous Theatre

A play is written by a group of playwrights... secretly. Auditions are held. The play is cast... secretly. The identity of the cast is kept secret. Cast members do not know the identity of their fellow actors and do not reveal their participation in the project to anyone. The actors rehearse one-on-one with the director. Then, on the night of the performance, the cast arrives in street clothes and enters the theatre as members of the audience. The house lights dim and the play begins, with each actor delivering his or her first line from the audience. All the cast members discover one another's identity for the first time on stage, in front of a live audience. After the play, the playwrights who wrote the play will be revealed.

RinR

Readings in Restaurants is for playwrights who have further developed their work and are now ready for audience reaction. Readings In Restaurants is free and open to public. There is a moderated talkback after the reading.

The Gym

Athletes workout to keep themselves fit and ready for their sport. We think it's important for playwrights to do the same thing, but our gym works a little differently. Participants meet for four hours: the first half is devoted to reading a play or reading about a theory of the theatre; the second half is devoted to writing a play based on the lessons you observed through the first part. We think this is an innovative way to keep sharp and learn more about the craft of playwriting.

The Lab

An 8-week development process which pairs a playwright and script with directors and actors for an intensive workshop of a play in progress. For each session of The Lab, three writers will be selected to participate.

The Marathon

A day long event in which playwrights bring in short plays written for the occasion. Every play gets read-even if it means staying late.

Writers Circle

Circle affords playwrights the opportunity to hear their works-in-progress read aloud and critiqued by their peers. Playwrights bring in excerpts of usually not more than twenty pages of material.

Writers Table

Writer's Table gives playwrights a chance to hear cold readings of longer material than can be accommodated in Writers Circle. Sitting at a table, playwrights and actors read entire full-length or one-act plays or possibly acts and scenes from full-length plays. These readings are developmental and attendance is by invitation only. They are followed by a question and answer session with those gathered around the table.