CURTAIN RISING
Two of New York’s most dedicated non-profit theater companies, NewYorkRep (Gayle Waxenberg, Founder, Executive Director) and Sea Dog Theater (Christopher Domig, Co-Founder, Artistic Director; Dan Swern, Managing Director) join forces to launch Curtain Rising, a play development initiative committed to fostering bold new voices in playwriting. Recipients of the Curtain Rising grant are given a creative team, a financial stipend, and an opportunity to develop and present their work before an audience at the Curtain Rising Festival on Saturday, April 26 at 3PM at Sea Dog Theater at St. George's Episcopal Church (209 E. 16th Street, NYC). An award reception will follow the presentation. For reservations and information, click here!
The recipients of the inaugural Curtain Rising grant are Laura Darrell for her play Oregon, and PJ O’Neal for his play Stinger. Laura Darrell’s Oregon follows three generations of women as they navigate end-of-life care for their 88-year-old matriarch, confronting the emotional and ethical complexities of medically assisted death. Guided by a compassionate hospice nurse, they find strength through reflection, humor, and love in the face of impending loss. PJ O’Neal’s Stinger tells the story of a formerly incarcerated and renowned chef who sets out to coach high school dropouts in his restaurant. He must navigate newfound fame, family, childhood trauma, and the horrors of mass incarceration, all the while posing as a formidable mentor.
Presented by NewYorkRep and Sea Dog Theater
With a deep commitment to developing socially urgent, thought-provoking and perspective-challenging works, NewYorkRep and Sea Dog Theater created the Curtain Rising grant and play reading festival to provide early-stage playwrights with critical artistic and financial support. Recipients of the Curtain Rising grant receive a 29-hour AEA development workshop, with a creative team carefully chosen to bring their work to life; an opportunity to develop and ultimately present their work before an audience of industry leaders; and a financial stipend of $1500.
“It has long been the goal of NewYorkRep to develop and champion original plays that address urgent social issues, and produce new works with real-world impact” says Gayle Waxenberg, Founding Executive Director of NewYorkRep. “We are excited to partner with our friends at Sea Dog Theater in our shared mission to ensure that powerful new voices in theater are heard, nurtured, and celebrated. Laura Darrell and PJ O’Neal are extraordinary playwrights who you will, no doubt, be hearing more from in theater seasons to come. We could not be more excited about our two inaugural Curtain Rising Grant recipients.”
“At Sea Dog Theater, we believe in the power of intimate, site-specific storytelling to ignite conversation and bring urgent social issues to light,” says Chris Domig, Artistic Director of Sea Dog Theater. “Partnering with NewYorkRep allows us to further our commitment to amplifying new voices that challenge, inspire, and provoke meaningful dialogue. Laura Darrell and PJ O’Neal and are remarkable playwrights with stories that deserve to be heard, and we are honored to support their work. This collaboration is a reflection of our shared dedication to theater that not only entertains but also makes a lasting impact.”