@dramatistsguild @robflorence_rob @PlayhouseOTS

Established in 1969 by actor Jackie Nichols, Playhouse on the Square is Memphis’ only professional resident theatre. Their mission is to produce a challenging and diverse repertoire of theatrical work that speaks to the intelligence, the soul, and the imagination of the Memphis community; to provide a nurturing artistic home for actors, directors, designers, and staff in which they can practice their craft and share their talent; and to make all productions available through access, outreach, and educational activities to everyone in the community regardless of financial circumstances.

Playhouse on the Square’s competition “NewWorks@TheWorks” is the brainchild of resident company member Jordan Nichols, son of the company’s founder Jackie Nichols. Jordan Nichols graduated from N.Y.U.’s Tisch School of the Arts where he studied musical theatre. He lived in New York City for the next three years and in 2009 played the role of Jordy Jr. in the world premiere of the Signature Theatre’s Giant, which rehearsed in N.Y.C. While working on this original production, Jordan experienced the magic of creating new work. Driven by his new-found passion for developing original work, Jordan returned to Memphis in 2010 with a plan to get unproduced plays off the page and onto the stage.

Although Playhouse on the Square had held readings in the past, they had not previously mounted a full production of a new play. The company’s property is comprised of three venues: their main stage; the Circuit Playhouse; and TheatreWorks, where they had previously been producing provocative plays such as Quills and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Jordan convinced his father that the TheatreWorks space should host two original works per season and “NewWorks@TheWorks” was born.

The competition’s script readers are all volunteer theatre artists from the community. Every play is read at least twice and the entries are initially narrowed down to twenty, from which six receive staged readings. After the six readings have been presented, their panel of local directors, actors, and designers selects two plays that will receive full productions and a prize of $500.

Jordan explains that although they are looking for plays of any nature and receive work from all over the country, the competition winners tend to be Southern-themed. He’s not sure if that is by chance or because the readers themselves are Southern. Jordan is encouraged to see playwrights continue to submit to the program even when not selected in the past. He encourages writers to re-enter plays which were not chosen is significant revisions have been made.

There is a $15 entry fee for the competition but Dramatists Guild receive a $5 discount. For complete information, visit: http://playhouseonthesquare.org/shows/new-worksthe-works-competition.html

rflorence@dramatistsguild.com

Photo (above): NewWorks@TheWorks reading series