Producing Partnerships Initiatives
Through our Producing Partners Initiative, we provide both material and artistic resources to Bay Area theaters in order to help plays we develop reach full production and support the development of new work.
current Producing Partnerships
In partnership with Just Theater (www.justtheater.org):
The West Coast Premiere of I HAVE LOVED STRANGERS
By Anne Washburn
May 3rd and 4 Pay-What-You-Can previews
May 5 - May 26
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
All shows @ 8pm
Inspired by the book of Jeremiah and the exploits of the Weather Underground, I Have Loved Strangers is a story of true prophets, false prophets and non-prophets battling for the salvation of Ancient New York City. Straddling the fantastical and the mundane, it explores the divisions between those who speak the truth, those who act on it, and those who are too busy to notice it.
Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
Tickets: $12 - $25 sliding scale
Call 510 421 1458 or http://www.brownpapertickets.org/event/13530
About the playwright:
Anne Washburn's The Internationalist was produced Off Broadway at the Vineyard Theater in 2006, and was published in the April issue of American Theater magazine. Apparition, directed by Les Waters (Berkeley Rep Associate Artistic Director), was produced Off Broadway in 2005. A previous production of Apparition was named one the top ten plays of 2004 by Time Out New York. Her other plays, including The Ladies, The Communist Dracula Pageant, and a translation of Euripides' Orestes have been produced or developed by 13P, Actors Theater of Louisville, Cherry Lane Theater, The Civilians, Dixon Place, New York Theater Workshop, The Public, Soho Rep, and the Williamstown Theater Festival, as well as internationally in Germany, Hungary, and Australia. Apparition is published in New Downtown Now (University of Minnesota Press, edited by Young Jean Lee and Mac Wellman). I Have Loved Strangers will be published in the upcoming edition of New York Theater Review, edited by Brook Stowe. She is a member of New Dramatists, 13P, The Civilians, an associated artist with New Georges, and founded the Pataphysics Playwriting Workshops at the Flea Theater.
upcoming PRODUCING PARTNERSHIPS
In Collaboration with AWAIT & FIND, a youth wellness program:
A commission of a new play from Prince Gomolvilas that will tour schools and community centers.
ONGOING PRODUCING PARTNERSHIPS
COMMISSIONING PROJECT: WORK IN PROGRESS
Mr. Fujiyama's Electric Beach, by KEVIN OAKES
Saturday, April 7 at 3pm
Traveling Jewish Theater
In this futuristic mystery set in San Francisco, a detective searches for a missing girl. Following a string of murders, his investigation leads deep into the underground dens and sex clubs of a utopian counter-culture where people interact in various stages of human to animal transformation.
Co-comissioned by The Cutting Ball, Playwrights Foundation,
and the Z
space/Magic New Play Initiative.
Info and reservations: www.cuttingball.com
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
KEVIN OAKES' plays include The Vomit Talk of Ghosts, The High Priest of Bad Math , and All Spoken By A Shining Creature: a hypertext punk tragedy. The Vomit Talk of Ghosts was developed as part of Soho Rep's Writer/Director Lab (Soho Repertory Theatre, NYC) and was produced by The Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco for a successful six week run in the summer of 2003 and subsequently by the Flea Theater in New York City in June-July 2004. His play The High Priest of Bad Math was produced by Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theatre and All Spoken By A Shining Creature: a hypertext punk tragedy, was produced by The Perishable Theatre of Providence, RI and by Todo Con Nada in New York City. Oakes' productions also include text for The World part IV: a game in 26 parts produced by GAle GAtes et al. at the Whitney Museum of American Art as well as text for GAle GAtes' So Long Ago I Can't Remember: a divine comedy, a thirteen scene performance installation based on Dante's Inferno. Oakes' text for So Long Ago was published in TheatreForum Magazine Summer/Fall 2002 issue. The Vomit Talk of Ghosts will be published in the upcoming issue of Theater Magazine 35:2 as well as in an anthology of new plays published by the University of Minnesota Press and edited by playwright Mac Wellman. A Jerome Finalist, Kevin teaches dramatic literature and playwriting at SUNY Binghamton and is currently at work on a new play entitled the evolutionist's club.
Playwrights Foundation, Z Space Development Program, The Cutting Ball Theater and the San Francisco arts community present:
365 PLAYS/365 DAYS
a play a day by Suzan-Lori Parks
November 13, 2006 - November 12, 2007
appearing all over the San Francisco Bay Area
for complete schedule click here
**APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! Please see application details for more information.**
About the project | About the Playwright | Guidelines | Application | FAQ
Tickets: vary by venue
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Playwrights Foundation Presented Week 3 PLAYWRIGHTS PERFORMED 365! MOAD- Museum Of the African Diaspora Bay Area playwrights performed staged readings of Week 3 plays, with lots fabulous props by Erin Schultz. We had a raucous afternoon of unlikely love, beauty, history, ghost talkers, ghost walkers, pilgrims and thanksgiving. MOAD is a new museum dedicated to the contemporary and traditional art and culture of African people across the globe. It is a GORGEOUS place, filled with a rich and exciting visual art and craft. The playwrights who performed were: A Project of the National 365 Days/365 Plays Festival |
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ABOUT THE PROJECT
In November 2002, the Pulitzer prize-winning Suzan-Lori Parks sat down and committed to writing a play a day for the next 365 days. The world premiere of this play cycle will be performed as a yearlong national festival simultaneously in major cities and communities around the country. From November 13, 2006 to November 12, 2007, over 600 theaters in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin, Washington D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis, the Carolinas, Mississippi River towns, and university campuses will create the largest theater collaboration in U.S. History.
The Z Space Studio, in conjunction with the Bay Area Playwrights Foundation and Cutting Ball Theater, will spearhead the San Francisco component 365 Days/365 Plays by gathering together a widely diverse cross-section of city's theater companies to participate in this project. Throughout the year, the selected theaters - curated by the Z Space Studio and the 365 Days/365 Plays Project - will perform these brief, brilliant snapshots from the imagination of one of America's leading playwrights in numerous locations throughout the city.
To capture the rich theatrical and cultural landscape of San Francisco, the Z Space Studio and the 365 Days/365 Plays Project are now seeking applications from eligible theater partners throughout the five boroughs to participate in the staging of 365 Days/365 Plays. In order to apply, applicants must be based in the greater Bay Area (including San Jose) from the following groups: producing organizations, presenting organizations, theater companies and independent artists with a track record for self-producing. Each of the 52 participants will be responsible for producing one week (seven plays) in the 365 Days/365 Plays cycle. Participants can produce their work in traditional theater spaces or site-specific locations. They can be staged readings or fully produced - but all must be in the spirit of celebrating the vibrancy of San Francisco's theater tradition with audiences and artists from every corner of the city.
"365 Days / 365 Plays is something that could only have sprung from the imagination of Suzan-Lori Parks, one of America's greatest dramatists. Suzan-Lori Parks wrote a play every day for a year, and the results bear testimony to the devotional discipline of her work. Each of the plays is a tiny, brilliant jewel, written with imaginative joy and theatrical invention."
-- Oskar Eustis
"One day Bonnie Metzgar asked me 'What's up with those 365 plays?' 'I've done them,' I said. 'Yeah, but now you've got to do them,' Bonnie said. And together we created a production model which would speak to the spirit of my plays: a simultaneous and shared world premiere involving hundreds of theatres around the country."
-- Suzan-Lori Parks
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ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
About Suzan-Lori Parks
In Suzan-Lori Parks's writing, the dead and the past are ever-present; bodies are unearthed, family secrets revealed, and historical deceits examined. She has said, "One of my tasks as a playwright is to locate the ancestral burial ground -- dig for bones, find bones, hear the bones sing, write it down." Her writing raises historical questions about social and political issues. Suzan-Lori Parks's works all involve a certain continuity of subject: marginalized men and women struggling with racial and class prejudice. In her talks, with her unique sense of humor, she discusses the process of becoming a writer, following one's creative voice, and current politics and the American theater, many times offering a performance with guitar and voice.
Parks's creative writing teacher and mentor, James Baldwin, was among the first to recognize Parks's dramatic skills and declared that she "may become one of the most valuable artists of our time." After writing several well-received off Broadway plays including In the Blood and The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, Parks emerged onto the theatrical forefront with the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog -- she is the first African-American woman to be awarded the Pulitzer in Theatre. The two-man play is a darkly comic tale, thick with cultural allusions and electric dialogue, featuring two brothers with the adversarial names of Lincoln and Booth. Topdog/Underdog has been performed to great acclaim on Broadway, in theatres throughout the United States and Europe. Her other plays include Fucking A, The Sinners Place, Devotees in the Garden of Love, Betting on the Dust Commander, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom (1990 Obie Award for Best New American Play), The America Play, Venus (1996 Obie Award), and 365 Plays/365 Days.
Set in the west Texas of her youth, Suzan-Lori Parks's highly acclaimed first novel, Getting Mother's Body, follows the survivors of Willa Mae Beade who is rumored to be buried with a fortune in jewels. In a series of first person narratives, Willa Mae's scrappy relatives embark on a riotous road trip with the hope of recovering the treasure and transcending their meager circumstances.
Suzan-Lori Parks has taught at several institutions including the Yale School of Drama, and the Dramatic Writing Program at CalArts. Her first feature film screenplay was Spike Lee's Girl 6 and she was commissioned by Oprah Winfrey to write the film version of Zora Neale Hurston's classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God (ABC television, 2005). She is at work on screenplays for Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt.
"Her dislocating stage devices, stark but poetic language and fiercely idiosyncratic images transform her work into something haunting and marvelous."
--TIME Magazine
Information taken from the Stephen Barclay Agency.
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GUIDELINES
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Beginning November 13, 2002, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks committed herself to writing one play per day for an entire year. These plays comprise the play cycle 365 Days/365 Plays - one short play for each day of an entire year: November 13, 2002- November 12, 2003
November 13, 2006 through November 12, 2007, along with thirteen other networks across the nation, San Francisco will be a part of the World premiere of this cycle. In an unprecedented national collaboration, each of the cities will produce all 365 plays as a joint project between 52 theatres in that area. With the Z Space Studio, Playwright's Foundation and Cutting Ball taking on the task of coordinating the Bay Area Hub for this national festival, we will invite at least - 52 different performing arts, community organizations and individual artists throughout the Greater Bay to present seven plays, representing one week of the cycle. Each participant will present their seven pieces however they wish, bringing their own aesthetic and mission to the work, thereby creating a unified but incredibly diverse play cycle.
Theatres will be chosen by invitation and open application. We invite you to apply, be a part of this unique theatrical experience and to bring your voice to 365 Days/365 Plays Project.
APPLICATION INFORMATION (see application)
Applicants will apply to produce one week's worth of short plays during the time corresponding to the week they were written. Plays may be full presentations, readings, pre-show lobby events, street theatre etc. The form is up to you and we encourage creative thinking. Please follow the application guidelines below. You must complete Part One and Part Two.
WHO CAN APPLY
Applicants based in the Bay Area from the following groups may apply:
- Theatre Companies
- Other arts/community organizations
- University groups with a faculty advisor
- Individuals with a track record of producing/creating performances
Applicants must have successfully produced at least one show in the past three years. If you have questions about your eligibility, please call or email Katy Hilton at 415-626-0453 ext.100 or 365sf@zspace.org
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Notification: September 25, 2006
SELECTION CRITERIA
We will select companies that most boldly demonstrate the artistic diversity of the Bay Area's performing arts community. Selection will be based on applicant's body of work and the strength and vision of the application.
RESPONSIBILITIES
If you are selected to participate in 365 Days/365 Plays, you will be assigned dates to perform your week's worth of plays. REMEMBER: We are not producing your show. You will be responsible for all aspects of the production for your week including but not limited to: all costs related to your presentation, all physical elements, staffing and casting, ticketing, production, etc.
Each theatre will be an equal partner in the 365 Plays Project, and therefore must contribute an minimal participation fee, commensurate with organization size. Of this fee, $1 per day represents licensing fees ($7 per company). The rest will be used for marketing, administration and fundraising costs.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Participants can create the performance schedule within their given week. For example, you may choose to perform all seven plays Friday-Sunday or one play a day, etc. The possibilities are limitless; the only requirement is that each play is performed at least once within its week, and that they are premiered in the order they were written.
VIDEO COMPONENT
There is a strong video component to this project which will serve as a gathering place for the national community of participating theatres. Towards that end, each participating theatre is being asked to videotape one performance of each of the plays. The videos will then be uploaded and archived on the 365 national website. This will allow theatres in all of the networks to connect to each others' work. Theatres around the country will be able to discuss production issues with their weekly "sister" companies and also see each other's productions.
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APPLICATION
Applicants will apply to produce one week's worth of short plays during the time corresponding to the week they were written. Plays may be full presentations, readings, pre-show lobby events, street theatre etc. The form is up to you and we encourage creative thinking. Please follow the application guidelines below. You must complete Part One and Part Two, go to www.zpace.org for the application.
Who can apply:
Applicants based in the Bay Area from the following groups may apply:
- Theatre Companies
- Other arts/community organizations
- University groups with a faculty advisor
- Individuals with a track record of producing/creating performances
Applicants must have successfully produced at least one show in the past three years. If you have questions about your eligibility, please call or email Katy Hilton at 415-626-0453 ext.100 or 365sf@zspace.org.
Application Timeline:
Notification: September 25, 2006
Selection Criteria:
We will select companies that most boldly demonstrate the artistic diversity of the Bay Area's performing arts community. Selection will be based on applicant's body of work and the strength and vision of the application.
The Application: Part One:
Please send an email to 365sf@zspace.org
The email must contain the following information:
- Name of organization/applicant
- Contact Person/Title
- Contact information - email, phone (day and evening)
- THREE (3) choices of weeks. Weeks run Monday-Sunday
The first week (Nov. 13-19, 2006) will be produced by The Z Space Stuio.
Note: Seven plays of the cycle constitute approximately 30-45 minutes of material. They may be performed in conjunction with scheduled productions, and do not require their own separate slot in your season. Sample plays may be read at www.publictheater.org/365
You may also mail the above information to:
365 Days/365 Plays
The Z Space Studio
131 10th Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
**Once you have completed Part One, you will be emailed the specific plays for the three weeks you have indicated (please submit ONLY three weeks).
**As you complete Part Two, keep in mind that the Project Coordinators will create the final schedule. If accepted, you may be given any of the three weeks you have submitted. Complete your application with all three sets of scripts in mind.
The Application: Part Two (not to exceed three pages!)
Part A: Contact information
Name of Applicant/Organization
Name/Title of Contact Person
Address
Day Phone
Evening Phone
Email
Website (if applicable)
Part B: Applicant/Organization Information
Independent Artists - please provide a bio of no more than 100 words and a history of performances created/produced
Organizations - Please provide the following: A mission statement or producing philosophy and a production history of the last three years
Why do you want to participate in 365 Days/365 Plays? How do you see it fitting in with your mission?
Please describe how you or your company will present your seven plays. Please include your total vision, including participating artists as known and production scope. We encourage innovative producing ideas!
What audience do you currently serve? What audience do you intend to attract for your 365 Days/365 Plays presentation?
What are your preferred weeks? (Please list the same three weeks submitted in Part One)
What will be your performance schedule for your week?
What venue will you present your seven plays in? Do you have your own space?
- If yes, please list venue name and location. What is the seating capacity?
- If no, please indicate if you would like us to help you partner with a venue.
Please note that it is not necessary for the plays to be presented inside a venue. We encourage creative site-specific ideas. (street-theatre, guerilla theatre, etc.)
Submit Part Two via email, drop-off /mail:
365sf@zspace.org
365 Days/365 Plays
The Z Space Studio
131 10th Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
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FAQ
Is Suzan-Lori Parks available to consult on the script if we have any questions?
Unfortunately, no. As this project is occuring simultaneously in 7 cities with 52 theater companies in each city, the demands on Suzan-Lori's time as co-producer of 365 Days/365 Plays are quite high. The Z Space and the 365 Project are interested in YOUR interpretation and YOUR vision of this work.
What if our application is successful but we don't have performance space?
We do not want lack of performing space to be a limitation in the application process. We will do our best to match you with a theater venue, if that is what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more site-specific location, it is your responsibility to secure that space.
Can I change my proposed weeks at any time?
Once you fill out Step One (see application), you will not be able to change your performance week choices in your application. In order to coordinate the schedules of all San Francisco participants we are requesting availability for THREE different weeks, at the top of the application process. You will only perform ONE WEEK. By requesting three possible weeks, it gives us greater flexibility to manage schedules and make best efforts to accommodate your proposed dates, especially if unforeseeable circumstances makes one of those proposed weeks impossible.
What if our schedule changes between application and notification dates?
If unforseeable circumstances make changes in your application absolutely necessary, after you complete Step Two (see application), please e-mail 365sf@zspace.org as soon as possible. We will address each conflict on a case by case basis.
Can I send additional application material (visuals, reviews etc)?
We are more interested in your application than in additional materials about your company. However, if you have additional materials that you feel MUST be included with your application, please send them to:
365 Days/365 Plays
The Z Space Studio
131 10th Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Do not send material that you would like returned.
If I'm choosing a site-specific location, do I have to show the Z Space any permits by the time the application is due on August 1st or ever?
You are responsible for producing your week's worth of plays, including securing appropriate permits/permission if you are performing in a site-specific public or private location.
Will participation in 365 Days/365 Plays cost us anything?
You are financially responsible for producing your week's worth of plays - should that include design elements, actor fees, etc. There are no stipulations on the size of budget necessary to perform this work. It can be as little or as much as you can manage.
Can the Z Space or its co-producers help with fundraising for our week?
Unfortunately, the Z Space Studio and its co-producers cannot help with fundraising for each individual company's performance week.
Who's handling tickets/reservations for the year?
Every 365 participant will be handling the box office for their own specific performance week.
Are there any restrictions to how we stage and produce our week?
The only restrictions on how you stage and produce your week's worth of plays are those you place on yourself. Production values can be as simple or elaborate as fits with your vision of your week's worth of plays.
Can students apply?
Students should NOT apply directly to the Z Space Studio as there is a college network for 365 Days/365 Plays in the process of being created. E-mail 365sf@zspace.org for more information.
Can different theatre companies or artists make a joint application to 365?
Yes. Different theatre companies or artists can make a joint application to 365 to produce one week's worth of plays. Both theatre companies/ artists must meet the eligibility requirements, specifically that all applicants must have professionally produced at least one show in San Francisco in the last three years. Please choose one theatre company as the primary contact for the application.
If our application is unsuccessful, how else can we get involved?
Volunteers will be needed throughout the year to help with 365 Days/365 Plays! Please e-mail 365sf@zspace.org if you are interested, anytime!
Where can I find out more about the 365 Days/365 Plays National Project?
To find out more, please email 365sf@zspace.org.
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