Playwrights' Center

The Playwrights’ Center champions playwrights and new plays to build upon a living theater that demands new and innovative works.

Founded in 1971 by five writers seeking artistic and professional support, the Playwrights' Center today serves more playwrights in more ways than any other organization in the country.

For nearly 50 years, the Playwrights’ Center has been a singular force in supporting playwrights and the development of new plays. We are the only U.S. non-profit focused solely on sustaining the livelihood of playwrights through high-level financial support, developing their work through creative collaboration, and connecting them to artistic leaders whose theaters who can produce their material. The profound impact we’ve had on the lives of such playwrights as August Wilson, Lee Blessing, Suzan-Lori Parks, Carlyle Brown, Jeffrey Hatcher, Melanie Marnich, Kira Obolensky, Larissa FastHorse, Harrison David Rivers and Martyna Majok continues to reverberate across generations. Just as profound is the impact we’ve had on audiences across the country — and the world. Since 1972, over 1,000 new plays developed at the Playwrights’ Center have found their way onto stages.