up and coming playwrights

[hlengsfield2]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 3:28pm

any recommendations for talented young playwrights who are just graduating or who haven't quite popped yet? ideally more narrative driven with a strong voice - think young beau willimon, sarah treem, matt charman, jez butterworth, aaron sorkin, john logan, jez butterworth etc.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 3:31pm

The playwrights you named are very diverse. Can you clarify? Are you looking for playwrights that haven't been produced? Or playwrights that have been produced and had their plays published that you can go buy and read?

[hlengsfield2]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 3:36pm

either, as silly as that may sound! just anyone you consider really special or showing tremendous promise. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 4:13pm

Your question is still extremely vague but OK here are some I like.

Stephen Karam (Sons of the Prophet)
Joshua Harmon (Significant Other)
Leslye Headland (Bachelorette, Assistance)
Branden Jacobs Jenkins (An Octoroon, Gloria)
Laura Eason (Sex with Strangers)
Halley Feiffer (I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard)
Melissa Ross (Nice Girl)
Lisa D’Amour (Airline Highway, Detroit)
Clare Barron (You Got Older)

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 4:56pm

Neon's list is a good one (I could nitpick but no need to), although all are known quantities that are still emerging only under some definitions. (Are you still emerging when you have had a broadway or high profile off-B show?) If you want the next wave, I would look at the major schools for playwriting and see who is getting attention. You could even write to a playwriting faculty member and ask for recommendations; they are all about supporting their students. 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 5:12pm

I'd also look at the major playwriting fellowship-type programs in the city, such as at the Public, Soho Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Realm, and others- they all have their playwrights listed online.

Also, look at the Flea's serials series.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 9:11pm

I listed those only because their work is easily readable, or if not in print, researchable. The OP wasn't clear. 

[JoeyEvans1206]

Posted: 7/23/15 at 9:36pm

Ken Urban. Last year, Ken's play A Future Perfect, received a full production in the Boston-area. Exploring the ambitions, values, and desires of the younger side of Generation X (a demographic with an under-represented voice in today's contemporary drama), A Future Perfect has been one of the highlights (to date) of my 2015 theater-going season.

He will have another play, Sense of an Ending, opening up at 59E59 this summer.