Playwrights Foundation

Founded in 1978 by Robert Woodruff to address the needs of emerging Bay Area playwrights, Playwrights Foundation is today widely recognized as one of the top organizations in the U.S. dedicated to the creative development and career acceleration of contemporary playwrights.

Our longest running program, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF), was created for vanguard playwrights to experiment with new ideas, to develop and nurture creative collaborative relationships, and push the boundaries of the form. As one of the first new play festivals in the US, sustained for over 47 years by passionate members of the Bay Area theater community. BAPF is a hothouse of new work, with creative development opportunities offered to nearly 550 contemporary playwrights to date.

Since 2004, PF has offered year-round programs including the Resident Playwrights Program, a multi year residency offering an artistic home to Bay Area mid career playwrights and the Producing Partnership Initiative/Commissioning Program with local and national theaters.

Our award-winning alumni include Sam Shepard, David Henry Hwang, Paula Vogel, Maria Irene Fornes, Lauren Gunderson, Liz Duffy Adams, Peter Nachtrieb, Abi Basch, Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz, recent Tony winner Jonathan Spector among many others.