Beyond the Stage
Arlene and Robert Kogod New Play Development Program
Theater J produces thought-provoking, publicly engaged, personal, passionate and entertaining plays and musicals that celebrate the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy. Acclaimed as one of the nation's premiere playwrights theaters, Theater J is a nurturing home for the development and production of new work by both major writers and emerging artists; works that explore many of the pressing moral and political issues of our time.
Many prominent playwrights have premiered their work at Theater J, including Richard Greenberg, Thomas Keneally, Robert Brustein, Joyce Carol Oates, and Ariel Dorfman. The late Wendy Wasserstein’s play Third, which began as an evening of one-acts at Theater J, received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center Theatre and Neena Beber received an OBIE for the New York production of Jump/Cut—originally a Theater J co-production with Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Hailed by The New York Times as “the premier theater for premieres,” Theater J collaborates with extraordinary artists to create exceptional new works. Our Arlene and Robert Kogod New Play Development Program supports the commissioning, development and careful nurturing of new plays through a series of monthly Tea @ 2 readings and Incubator Series workshop presentations.
Script Submission Policy
Theater J is always on the lookout for new works that speak to our mission of reclaiming the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy.
In order to have your play considered for Theater J please send a letter of interest, resume, brief synopsis, ten-page dialogue sample, and SASE. Please do not send unsolicited full length scripts. We do accept agent submissions of full-length plays.
Send submissions to:
Shirley Serotsky
Literary Associate
Theater J
1529 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Volunteer Opportunities
Join our team of readers helping to keep Theater J what The New York Times called “The Premier Theater for Premiers.” We are looking for smart, quick and loyal readers able to analyze the merits of plays and find shows that stick with Theater J’s mission. For every five scripts read Theater J’s readers will receive two complementary tickets to our current show.
We are also on the lookout for part time interns to help with our busy literary department. Work with the Literary Associate to organize scripts and correspondence with playwrights and agents, help with the dramaturgy for Theater J’s season of plays, assist in the production of study guides, and help with the PASSPORTS educational program.
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