The National New Play Network (NNPN) is the United States' "alliance of nonprofit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays."[1] . It was founded in 1998 by David Goldman.[2]
NNPN's flagship program, the Rolling World Premiere program is a unique model of developing and producing new plays across the country. Each RWP supports three or more theaters that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period, allowing the playwright to develop a new work with multiple creative teams in multiple communities. The playwright is part of the process, working on the script and making adjustments based on what is learned from each production and from each city. To-date, NNPN has produced over 85 Rolling World Premieres, totaling over 275 productions.
The New Play Exchange is the world's largest database of plays by living writers. Launched in 2015,[3] the database has grown to include more than 24,000 scripts by more than 6,00 authors.
In 2011, NNPN established its Producers in Residence program to support season-long residencies at NNPN Core Member theaters for individuals who wish dedicate their careers (or the next phase of their careers) to the creation and production of new work. Selected producers are given a home within a professional theater in which they can supplement their skills, increase their knowledge of the day to day operations of a company focused on new work, and be introduced as theater-makers to a community.
Established in 2002, The National Showcase of New Plays is an annual 3-day event that showcases unproduced plays from across the country. Artistic leaders, literary managers, and other staff from Member Theaters, as well as literary agents, publishers, and independent producers are invited to attend.
NNPN annually gives two major commissions.
The Annual Commission is a $10,000 award given to at least one proposal each year. Core Members nominate proposals for consideration, and the winning Member Theater is responsible for the administration and development of the commissioned play.
The NNPN Smith Prize for American Theatre is a $5,000 award nominated by a Member Theater and given to an early-career playwright who has been a participant in other NNPN programs to write a play examining the American body politic. The Member Theater who submits the nomination earns up to $2,500 for a developmental workshop of the play. Additionally, the first theater to full produce the commissioned play is awarded an additional $2,500.
| Core Members[4] | Associate Members | |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Street Theater | ||
| Actor’s Express | A Contemporary Theatre | |
| Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte | Amphibian Stage Productions | |
| B Street Theatre | Artists Repertory Theatre | |
| City Theatre Company | Azuka Theatre | |
| Baltimore Center Stage | ||
| Company One Theatre | Bloomington Playwrights Project | |
| BLUEBARN Theatre | ||
| Boston Court Pasadena | ||
| Capital Stage Company | ||
| Horizon Theatre Company | Centenary Stage Company | |
| CenterStage at the JCC | ||
| Kitchen Dog Theater | Central Works Theater Company | |
| Children's Theatre Company | ||
| City Theatre | ||
| Creede Repertory Theatre | ||
| Cumberland County Playhouse | ||
| DCPA Theatre Company | ||
| Diversionary Theatre | ||
| Florida Repertory Theatre | ||
| Flying V Theatre | ||
| PROP Thtr | Geva Theatre Center | |
| Greenway Court Theatre | ||
| Salt Lake Acting Company | Gulfshore Playhouse | |
| San Diego REPertory Theatre | Halcyon Theatre | |
| Silk Road Rising | History Theatre | |
| IAMA Theatre Company | ||
| Unicorn Theatre | Island City Stage | |
| Know Theatre of Cincinnati | ||
| Writers Theatre of New Jersey | LOCAL Theater Company | |
| Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble | ||
| Milwaukee Repertory Theater | ||
| Minnesota Jewish Theater Company | ||
| Montana Repertory Theatre | ||
| Moving Arts | ||
| Moxie Theatre | ||
| Native Voices at the Autry | ||
| New Conservatory Theatre Center | ||
| New Light Theater Project | ||
| NewYorkRep | ||
| Olney Theatre Center | ||
| Oregon Contemporary Theatre | ||
| Out of Hand Theater | ||
| Pacific Resident Theatre | ||
| Palm Beach Dramaworks | ||
| People's Light | ||
| Phoenix Arts Association Theatre | ||
| Plan-B Theatre Company | ||
| PlayGround | ||
| PlayMakers Repertory Company | ||
| Portland Center Stage | ||
| PYGmalion Theatre Company | ||
| Redtwist Theatre | ||
| Renaissance Theaterworks | ||
| Rep Stage | ||
| Rivendell Theater Ensemble | ||
| Road Less Traveled Productions | ||
| Rogue Machine Theatre | ||
| Rorschach Theatre | ||
| Round House Theatre | ||
| San Francisco Playhouse | ||
| Shadowland Stages | ||
| Shrewd Productions | ||
| Simpatico Theatre | ||
| Skylight Theatre Company | ||
| South Coast Repertory | ||
| Stageworks | ||
| Su Teatro | ||
| Taproot Theatre Company | ||
| Teatro Vista | ||
| The Custom Made Theatre Company | ||
| The NOLA Project | ||
| The Wilbury Theatre Group | ||
| Theater Alliance | ||
| Theater J | ||
| Theatre 3 | ||
| Theatre Exile | ||
| Theatre NOVA | ||
| Thrown Stone Theatre Company | ||
| Trinity Rep | ||
| Vermont Stage Company | ||
| Virginia Repertory Theatre | ||
| Vortex Repertory Company | ||
| Weston Playhouse Theatre Company | ||
| Williamston Theatre | ||
| Zoetic Stage |