Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

New Play Development

New plays developed and premiered at Woolly Mammoth have been produced from Utah to Helsinki, in more than 200 theatres in 39 states and 12 countries. Woolly plays have gone on to extended runs Off-Broadway and productions at a wide variety of regional theatres (both large and very small), and have been produced at colleges and universities across the country. Seventeen plays premiered at Woolly Mammoth have been commercially published, including six in Plays from Woolly Mammoth (Broadway Play Publishing, 1999). Woolly Mammoth is also the national pilot theatre for First Look Press (a division of Playscripts, Inc.), which makes printed scripts available to audiences from the first preview.

World Premieres & Commissions

World premieres make up nearly half of the plays produced by Woolly Mammoth, and the remainder generally consists of plays receiving their second or third productions, giving playwrights a further opportunity to hone their scripts. Plays commissioned by Woolly Mammoth have included Jump/Cut by Neena Beber (produced in 2002), The Radiant Abyss by Angus MacLachlan (produced in 2004), and Grace by Craig Wright (produced in 2005) – all of which were supported by a grant from ASK Theatre Projects in Los Angeles. Our current commission is The Curious Walk of the Salamander by Kirsten Greenidge, supported by the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights.

Collaborations

Woolly often collaborates with other theatres and organizations on the development of new work. Previous collaborators include Playwrights Horizons, New Dramatists, Manhattan Theatre Club, American Conservatory Theater, Hartford Stage, and New York Theatre Workshop – each of which has provided developmental support for a play receiving its premiere at Woolly Mammoth. Under Woolly’s leadership, Horse Opera, a new musical written by Quincy Long and Chris Jeffries, was co-commissioned by Woolly Mammoth along with Illusion Theater (Minneapolis) and The Empty Space (Seattle), through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

National New Play Network

Woolly Mammoth’s charter membership in the National New Play Network highlights its national role in new play development. The mission of this vibrant group of 20 theatres is to extend the production lives of original works created by smaller theatres across the country. With the NNPN, Woolly Mammoth commissioned David Bucci to write Possum Carcass. This year, Woolly Mammoth will host NNPN's 5th Annual National Showcase of New Plays November 9 – 11. Click here for more details about the Showcase.

Submissions

Woolly Mammoth’s literary department does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. If you would like your play to be considered for production, please send an inquiry letter as well as a synopsis and ten-page sample to the address below. Materials will not be returned. We are grateful for your interest in our company.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Attn: Literary Department
641 D Street NW
Washington, DC 20004