New memoirs from playwright Martin Sherman and producer Jeffrey Seller recount their bumpy but determined journeys to lives in the theatre. In these book reviews, Thomas Keith finds the commonalities in these creators' dramatically different lives. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/25/f...

Rattlestick Theater, the Terrence McNally Foundation, and Tom Kirdahy Productions today opened submissions for the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator Cycle 4, which offers development, mentorship, and community for early-career playwrights. Apply by November 21: www.rattlestick.org/terrence-mcn...

Springboard to Design, a tuition-free theatrical design mentorship and weeklong intensive education program for students from underrepresented communities, is accepting applications for its 2026 program through December 15. Learn more and apply here: springboardtodesign.com

For publisher Kelundra Smith, like many, she found a home for her imagination and best self to bloom on school stages. In her fall 2025 publisher's letter, she wonders: Are those same chances still open to new generations? www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/26/t...

New issue just dropped

Caught opening night of Makram Ayache's gorgeous play THE GREEN LINE last night. I've heard it's selling out, and for good reason – some remarkable writing and atmosphere on display here. Here's my profile of Makram: www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre...

In this week’s awards roundup, Pregones/PRTT co-founder Rosalba Rolón is the first Puerto Rican artist to receive the Gish Prize, Stephen Karam is the 2025-26 Sun Valley Resident Playwright, and Jack D. Coen wins the 2025 Relentless Musical Award in honor of Adam Schlesinger.

Just announced: a new Off-Broadway production of Rajiv Joseph's GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, starring Kara Young and Nicholas Braun. Here's our April 2011 Q&A with Joseph when we published the full playscript. (Pictured: Pablo Schreiber & Jennifer Carpenter.) www.americantheatre.org/2011/04/01/s...

Though he personally left behind stage work early in his career, through his Sundance Institute, Robert Redford championed and empowered generations of theatremakers in the U.S. and the world, writes former artistic director Philip Himberg.

After 4 arts organizations challenged the NEA policy, the U.S. District Court struck down unconstitutional restrictions disfavoring grants for projects promoting ‘gender ideology.’ National Queer Theater, The Theater Offensive, Rhode Island Latino Arts, TCG, and more celebrate the victory.

As his popular two-hander makes the rounds of U.S. theatres in the coming season, playwright Lloyd Suh reminisces on the play's development and continued resonance in an anti-immigrant climate in the fall 2025 issue. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/22/h...

Last week, editor-in-chief Rob Weinert-Kendt and digital editor Gabriela Furtado Coutinho unveiled AT’s Top 10 Most Produced Plays and Top 20 Most Produced Playwrights lists and chatted with Irene Sankoff, David Hein, and the ubiquitous Lauren Gunderson: www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/22/t...

The numbers in this story stun me. And i have seen a lot of theater is dying moments. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/t...

As we look forward to this year’s theatre season across the U.S., our Fall issue also takes stock of lessons from history. Editor-in-chief Rob Weinert-Kendt gives a sneak peek at the issue, which should hit bookstores and mailboxes early this week.

After sampling sardine-eating clowns, durational video games, and all manner of participatory theatre over nearly a week at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, critic Pria Dahiya reports, she may have trouble returning to run-of-the-mill theatregoing. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/19/n...

Ahead of a fall tour of the new concert musical DEAR EVERYTHING, in association with A.R.T., V (formerly Eve Ensler) reflects on the climate change crisis, the ‘vagina that could,’ and her vision for collective action through theatre. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/18/f...

today's unrandom theater photo: Luther Adler and birthday girl Frances Farmer in Clifford Odets's Golden Boy (1937)

I look forward to @americantheatre.org's roundup of the most-produced work in the U.S. every year. WOW, is it ever cool to see a Canadian musical at the top of the list – especially at this moment in history. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/18/t...

The 2025-26 top 10 most-produced plays and top 20 most-produced playwrights have officially been announced! Congratulations to every writer who made the list! For analysis from our editors, visit these links:

TODAY! We announce the most-produced plays and playwrights of the season! Make sure you tune in on Facebook at 4pm ET!

In Josefina López’s AN ENEMY OF THE PUEBLO, even a flawed woman can tell the truth. We revisit David John Chávez's summer 2024 piece as the play makes its way to Western Stage this fall. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/16/c...

Tomorrow at 4 pm ET we'll be announcing the coming season's Top 10 Most Produced-Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights, then talking live with a few of these most-produced writers. Tune in to find out what and who you'll be seeing all over U.S. stages in 2025-26 www.facebook.com/events/13312...

In this month's education newsletter, Allison checks in with Luis Alfaro about the end of USC’s MFA in Dramatic Writing, plus she gives other fall education updates. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/16/f...

The People Vs. Project 2025, a new nationwide movement, aims to connect artists in opposition to the Trump administration’s cultural policies and to reclaim the nation’s institutions and narratives. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/17/u...

Though many have regained pre-pandemic attendance levels, theatres remain behind other cultural organizations, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance found. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/12/c...

In our fall 2025 issue’s cover story, Dezi Tibbs sought advice from the great gender nonconforming and trans performers who paved the way, despite the odds set against them by the industry and broader culture that deny their legitimacy. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/16/r...

A season-long August Wilson celebration led by Long Wharf Theatre will honor the playwright’s 80th birthday with community partnerships throughout New Haven, Connecticut, where six of his plays premiered. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/12/l...

Our latest roundup of awards, citations, and residencies includes the Hewes Design Awards, Rattlestick Theater's resident artists, Geffen Playhouse's writers room, and more. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/12/h...

Adam Wassilchalk shares his learnings from National Black Theatre’s “Black Theatre Advance” weekend gathering of makers, leaders, and thinkers at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/12/p...

5 TGNC artists have been commissioned by Baltimore Center Stage, Breaking the Binary Theatre, and TGNC theatremaker Bo Frazier to spend the next 2 years developing new works about the history of gender nonconformity with the Trans History Project. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/15/t...

They continue each others’ thoughts, they write musicals: Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe are embarking on their first major effort as a musical-writing couple since LEGALLY BLONDE with HUZZAH! at The Old Globe, a Renaissance Faire-set musical. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/11/t...

Pre-show dinner and discussions at Round House Theatre are using Matthew López’s two-part epic THE INHERITANCE to gather queer folks of various ages to reflect on community, care, and culture. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/11/a...

New episode of The Subtext! The prolific playwright Migdalia Cruz talks Fornés, trauma-informed writing, and parenthood as a writer. To listen in, visit the link or your fave podcast streaming service. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/12/m...

On the Podcast: Nina Ruscio discusses her journey from designing @austintichenor.bsky.social's college musical to designing the biggest (in every way) show on television. HEAR HERE (or wherever you get your podcasts)! @americantheatre.org www.reducedshakespeare.com/2025/09/desi...

I started a new monthly column at AT. Enjoy!

Have U.S. theatres regressed on gender parity among playwrights? In the first edition of a new monthly column by editor-in-chief Rob Weinert-Kendt, we dig into the data. Plus: a listing of world premieres all across the country. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/11/g...

Pre-show dinner and discussions at Round House Theatre are using Matthew López’s two-part epic THE INHERITANCE to gather queer folks of various ages to reflect on community, care, and culture. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/11/a...

They continue each others’ thoughts, they write musicals: Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe are embarking on their first major effort as a musical-writing couple since LEGALLY BLONDE with HUZZAH! at The Old Globe, a Renaissance Faire-set musical. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/11/t...

In an excerpt from his biography LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA: THE EDUCATION OF AN ARTIST, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner dives into Miranda’s last 2 years at Hunter College High School, where where he worked with his then-girlfriend on shows and realized his aspirations. He also met Sondheim for the first time 👀

The Joan, a new two-theatre complex in San Diego, is the culmination of a partnership between Cygnet Theatre and the historic preservation group Arts District Liberty Station.

HERO Theatre founder Elisa Bocanegra reflects on mentor-mentee relationships, becoming an ancestor, and healing through the arts. Rooted between the Los Angeles Latine community and Bogotá, Colombia, Elisa’s theatre work is full of hope and trust in the disorder.⁠ howlround.com/hope-vehicle...

14 new Kilroys have been named to carry forward the group’s advocacy for gender parity in the theatre, including more trans and nonbinary people and members from different cities, theatrical disciplines, and generations. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/09/t...

Theatre teachers: What productions are you planning for this fall?

Teachers, what dramatic texts or plays are you teaching this semester?

Applications are open for Eugene O’Neill Theater Center's 2026 National Playwrights Conference. Deadline: 9/18, 11:59 p.m. “If you are considering submitting...please do...Every voice matters...This is a place where your creativity can truly thrive.” -Melia Bensussen

Teachers: How are you feeling about the closure of MFA drama programs and the impact on your students' futures?

Calling queer and trans artists between 13-18! Applications are open for Staging Pride, National Queer Theater's free, after-school program for young artist-activists to build queer community, learn from professional theatremakers and create a show.

LDK Productions has announced the LDK Writers’ Residency at CAM Studios for Playwrights and Composers, a new initiative that will develop original plays and musicals with 3 annual residencies. 

A proposed merger of Pittsburgh Public Theater, City Theatre, and Pittsburgh CLO could serve as a model for other regional theatres in a time of financial crisis. www.americantheatre.org/2025/09/02/3...