The Bridge holds regular weekly readings of new plays here at Shetler Studios with members of the artistic and literary staffs, featuring professional actors from inside and outside the company.  All plays considered for development will receive a reading during this series.  These readings will be closed to the public.  In most cases, the writer will be given the opportunity to provide background and direction to the actors prior to the reading, but we believe it best that the work be seen relatively unrehearsed.  The purpose of these readings is to introduce the larger company to the work.  Plays are meant to be performed, after all, and the playwright’s work is best assessed when taken off the page and given life. 

Following these readings, should the writer desire it, the literary and artistic staff will provide constructive feedback to the writer.  Should the writer not be able to join us, the artistic and literary staff will provide detailed written feedback for the writer.

WORKSHOPS 

After the introduction of new work during the Reading Series, those plays we are interested in developing further will receive a Workshop performance.  A director will be assigned, roles cast, and after a short rehearsal process, the Bridge will stage the play with minimal tech and the actors on-book.  This will provide the writer the opportunity to work closer with our actors and directors to explore the theatricality of their play, and provide the Bridge the opportunity to see what a full production of the play may look like.  These small workshops will be open to the public.

This development process will allow the Bridge to construct their season of fully-staged productions. 

Please consider the following before submitting your work: 

We are looking for plays with casts of 9 people or less with manageable technical requirements for production.  Worthy plays, however, with larger casts or very complicated technical or casting requirements will be considered, and may be developed through the Workshop phase.  If it is impossible for us to pursue a production of the play based on these factors, in some cases we may pass along the work to affiliated companies that may be more capable of producing the work.

The Bridge does not accept unsolicited scripts.  If you would like us to read your work, please send us a query package with the following materials: 

1.) Query letter

2.) Short, one-paragraph synopsis of the play

3.) Character breakdown, with relevant casting information (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.)

4.) Playwriting resume, including production/development history (if any) of the play submitted

5.) 10-page dialogue sample of the play 

Please submit your materials to the attention of Matthew K. Johnson, Head of New Play Development.  You may submit via mail to 

The Bridge Theatre Company
c/o Shetler Studios
244 West 54^th Street, 12^th Floor
New York, NY 10019

Or via e-mail to matt@thebridgetheatrecompany.com  If you e-mail your submission, please make sure you attach your materials in either PDF or Word file formats.  Unfortunately, we are unable to return query materials at this time. 

If we are interested in your material, we will contact you via e-mail to request the full script. 

We look forward to reading your work.