Welcome to the News Archive: Ohio University MFA Playwriting
For the latest news and information on current events, recent and upcoming performances, and awards and honors received by Ohio University MFA playwrights, use the links to your left. For specific program information other than news related items about the graduate playwriting program (such as curriculum), please visit the Ohio University School of Theater page or call the Ohio University School of Theater at 740-593-4818.
To apply, email us for application instructions at ohioplaywriting@gmail.com — we begin reviewing application materials in January. NOTE: Applications are due no later than March 1st each year.
— Gregg Henry, Artistic Director, Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (The Post, 4/13/10)
Awards
OU graduate playwrights have been awarded many honors such as: the Kendeda Prize (2010), Kendeda Top Five (2007, 2009), the Wasserstein Prize (2008), New Dramatists' Joe Callaway Award, The Gilman/New Dramatists Playwriting Fellowship, Whitfield Cook Award, Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, New York Innovative Theatre Awards, Kennedy Center's Fund for New American Plays' Roger Stevens Award, Drama-Logue Awards, commissions from the Jerome Foundation and Théâtre du Soleil Levant in Switzerland, a Hugo Award nomination and numerous Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Awards.Publishing
Works published by current and recent MFA playwriting students are available from Smith and Kraus, Dramatists Play Service, Heinemann, Northwestern University Press, Samuel French, and Playscripts, Inc.Film & Television
Alums in the last five years have also gone on to write for film and television, including such shows as the Emmy Award-winning 24, the Emmy Award-nominated Battlestar Galactica, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, NBC's spy dramedy Chuck, and HBO's In Treatment with Gabriel Byrne.Commissions & Funding
In addition, since 2005 current Ohio University MFA playwrights have earned more than $82,000 in commissions, grants and fellowships to research and write their new plays.
Pictured: 2011-2012 Playwrights. (L-R) Mark Chrisler, Jeremy Sony, Rebecca Abaffy, Leean Kim Torske, Andrew Black, Bianca Sams, Anthony Ellison, Chanel Glover, Greg Aldrich, Ira Gamerman, Jacob Juntunen, and Sarah Bowden. Photo by: Hannah Van Brunt.
High Profile Productions
OU MFA playwrights consistently sustain a high level of achievement. Tony Award-winning theatres that have developed or are slated to produce former and current OU graduate playwriting program students include: Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf, The Mark Taper Forum, The Goodman, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Alliance Theater and New Dramatists. Other major theatres developing OU MFA plays recently include Ensemble Studio Theatre, Magic Theatre, The New Group, Pan Asian Rep, Foundry Theatre Works, Theatre J, Collaboraction, Perishable Theatre, Edge Theatre, Prop Theatre, MPAACT, Chicago Dramatists, Contemporary American Theater Festival, the O'Neill Center and The Playwright's Center in Minneapolis, to name a few.
Recent Headlines
She Kills Monsters from Qui Nguyen (MFA '02) opens at Flea Theatre in New York. Nguyen and Monsters director (MFA Directing '02) are returning to OU in the Spring of 2012 to create a brand new work here in Athens in May.More headlines...