Sixteen theatre productions at companies in the U.S. and U.K. have been awarded Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards in the second round of the 2021-22 awards from Theatre Communications Group (TCG). The financial grants, totaling $731,000 in this round, allow the productions extra time for development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, with an aim to extend the shows past their first world premiere runs.
“As our theatre field emerges from the impacts of the Omicron variant, the Edgerton Foundation’s transformational investment in new plays continues to provide inspiration and badly needed material support,” says TCG Executive Director Teresa Eyring. “The Foundation's support of longer rehearsal processes has always been valuable, but now, as our field reopens with a focus on safety and inclusion, that support is truly life-giving. Theatre artists will have a chance to breathe, and to take the time they need after the losses of last year as they make the plays that will knit our country back together.”
The second round of the 2021 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards were presented to:
- Darlin' Cory, book by Phillip DePoy, music by Kristian Bush, lyrics by DePoy and Bush (Alliance Theatre)
- WILD: A Musical Becoming, book by V (formerly Eve Ensler), music by Justin Tranter and Caroline Pennell with contributions by Eren Cannata, lyrics by Tranter, Pennell, and V with contributions by Idina Menzel (American Repertory Theater)
- Change Agent by Craig Lucas (Arena Stage)
- American Prophet by Charles Randolph-Wright and Marcus Hummon (Arena Stage)
- English by Sanaz Toossi (Atlantic Theater Company and Roundabout Theatre Company)
- Goddess, conceived by Saheem Ali, music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, book by Jocelyn Bioh, additional material by Mkhululi Z. Mabija
- In the Upper Room by Beaufield Berry (Denver Center for the Performing Arts)
- Georgina and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon (Marin Theatre Company)
- Manor by Moira Buffini (National Theatre)
- Middle by David Eldridge (National Theatre)
- The Father and the Assassin by Anupama Chandrasekhar (National Theatre)
- Camp Siegfried by Bess Wohl (The Old Vic)
- The Mirror and The Light adapted by Hilary Mantel and Ben Miles (Gielgud Theatre, London's West End, co-produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Playful Productions)
- In Every Generation by Ali Viterbi (Victory Gardens Theater)
Since the launch of the New Plays Program in 2007, the Edgerton Foundation has awarded over $15,116,000 to 474 productions at more than 50 theatres across the U.S. Thirty of the supported works have gone on to Broadway productions. The program is directed by Brad and Louise Edgerton. See the previous half of the season's winners here.