The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator, hosted by Rattlestick Theater in partnership with the Terrence McNally Foundation and Tom Kirdahy Productions, is now accepting applications for its second cycle of development. The program nurtures new works through financial support, mentorship, and workshopping to honor the late McNally's legacy of mentorship and activism.
McNally, a five-time Tony Award recipient whose plays often featured explorations of contemporary gay life and a reverence for classical music, died March 24, 2020. He is survived by his husband, producer Tom Kirdahy, who also plays a large role in the New Works Incubator fellowship.
The incubator program offers McNally Fellows a one-time stipend of $7,500 to be used by the playwright towards their goals, however they see fit. Each McNally Fellow will also be closely mentored. In consultation with Rattlestick Theater and Tom Kirdahy Productions, the McNally Fellow will be paired with one veteran playwright, who will read a minimum of two drafts by the Fellow and offer one-on-one feedback, in addition to attending a workshop rehearsal and or/final presentation of the Fellow's work. After their initial mentor meetings, the McNally Fellows will embark on a three-week incubation journey to develop and revise their plays. During this time, they will meet with the literary teams at both Rattlestick Theater and Tom Kirdahy Productions. McNally Fellows will also be invited to a series of Rattlestick Theater events to become acquainted with the team at Rattlestick, as well as other industry professionals.
The program will culminate in a presentation of the Fellows' works at Rattlestick Theater. The creative team for the Fellows' presentations—such as the director, dramaturg, and actors—will be selected by the playwright in consultation with Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions.
Each application for the fellowship will be reviewed by a broad pool of industry professionals. Semi-finalists and finalists will be selected through two rounds of consideration, and finalists will be granted an interview with a panel comprised of representatives from Rattlestick Theater and Tom Kirdahy Productions. Three playwrights will ultimately be awarded the fellowship in April 2024. The Playwrights Advisory Council will include Sheila Callaghan, Halley Feiffer, Madeleine George, Mike Lew, donja r. love, Rehana Mirza, and Lynn Nottage.
Applications for the second cycle will close January 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET, or when 500 applications have been received. Visit here to submit an application.
