Introducing a nine-month developmental program under the direction of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Annie Baker, designed to support emerging NYC playwrights.
INFORMATION
INFORMATION
INFORMATION
Overview
Overview
Overview
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective is a nine-month developmental program under the direction of playwright Annie Baker, designed to support rising playwrights through community and a rigorous structure without the barriers of formal graduate programs. A cohort of six selected playwrights will meet over ten Sunday evenings, every three weeks, at Cherry Lane Theatre from September 2026 through June 2027 to share work, read pages aloud, and develop brand-new plays over the course of the year.
The program culminates in a public reading series presented over six Monday nights in late May - June 2027, featuring professional actors and directors for text-focused presentations, each with one day of rehearsal. While the reading series provides a platform to hear the work with an audience, the primary mission is to create new work, and only playwrights who have shown up for the Sunday meetings will have public readings. The program will embrace Cherry Lane’s downtown history of incubating bold new writing, offering playwrights a supportive, artist-first community.
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective will operate under Cherry Lane Development Group, a new non-profit with a mission “to foster bold, innovative voices in the theatrical arts by cultivating a dynamic space where artists can take risks, deepen their craft, and shape new worlds for the stage."
A24 will not own any work created through this program. Writers retain full ownership of their material.
The ideal applicants are emerging playwrights who crave rigorous feedback, consistency, accountability, and a collaborative environment. The program is built for writers who might have day jobs, who need structure, and who would benefit from a sustained, intimate cohort committed to taking risks and developing new full-length plays over nine months.
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective is a nine-month developmental program under the direction of playwright Annie Baker, designed to support rising playwrights through community and a rigorous structure without the barriers of formal graduate programs. A cohort of six selected playwrights will meet over ten Sunday evenings, every three weeks, at Cherry Lane Theatre from September 2026 through June 2027 to share work, read pages aloud, and develop brand-new plays over the course of the year.
The program culminates in a public reading series presented over six Monday nights in late May - June 2027, featuring professional actors and directors for text-focused presentations, each with one day of rehearsal. While the reading series provides a platform to hear the work with an audience, the primary mission is to create new work, and only playwrights who have shown up for the Sunday meetings will have public readings. The program will embrace Cherry Lane’s downtown history of incubating bold new writing, offering playwrights a supportive, artist-first community.
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective will operate under Cherry Lane Development Group, a new non-profit with a mission “to foster bold, innovative voices in the theatrical arts by cultivating a dynamic space where artists can take risks, deepen their craft, and shape new worlds for the stage."
A24 will not own any work created through this program. Writers retain full ownership of their material.
The ideal applicants are emerging playwrights who crave rigorous feedback, consistency, accountability, and a collaborative environment. The program is built for writers who might have day jobs, who need structure, and who would benefit from a sustained, intimate cohort committed to taking risks and developing new full-length plays over nine months.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Eligibility
Applications are free, open to the public. Applicants will submit a full length play and brief materials (see below).
Writers must be able to attend all Collective meetings in person.
(Please note, no travel stipends or living stipends will be provided).Writers who have not had a Broadway or Off-Broadway production in NYC and who will not be in an undergraduate or graduate program in the 26/27 academic year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to writers who are not in other incubator programs that meet weekly/monthly.
Submissions portal will open February 2, 2026 at 10am ET and close March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications are free, open to the public. Applicants will submit a full length play and brief materials (see below).
Writers must be able to attend all Collective meetings in person.
(Please note, no travel stipends or living stipends will be provided).Writers who have not had a Broadway or Off-Broadway production in NYC and who will not be in an undergraduate or graduate program in the 26/27 academic year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to writers who are not in other incubator programs that meet weekly/monthly.
Submissions portal will open February 2, 2026 at 10am ET and close March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.
What To Submit
What To Submit
What To Submit
One Full Length Play
Minimum 45 pages, maximum 150 pages, as a single PDF file (please do not submit Final Draft files or links to other platforms). A play written only by you. Please note once chosen, you will work on a new play in this collective, not the one you submitted.A Brief Statement
Describing why you would like to be part of this program, max one single-spaced page. You don't have to tell us why you're a great writer or what your writing is about or your personal history, unless that interests you. Just tell us some of the things you're thinking about and/or reading and/or writing and/or seeing these days and why you'd like to be part of this.Resume
Professional and/or artistic.References
Phone numbers and emails of two professional references.Eligibility Confirmations
No full- time students; no qualifying professional NYC productions; in-person availability on Sunday evenings Sept - June.
One Full Length Play
Minimum 45 pages, maximum 150 pages, as a single PDF file (please do not submit Final Draft files or links to other platforms). A play written only by you. Please note once chosen, you will work on a new play in this collective, not the one you submitted.A Brief Statement
Describing why you would like to be part of this program, max one single-spaced page. You don't have to tell us why you're a great writer or what your writing is about or your personal history, unless that interests you. Just tell us some of the things you're thinking about and/or reading and/or writing and/or seeing these days and why you'd like to be part of this.Resume
Professional and/or artistic.References
Phone numbers and emails of two professional references.Eligibility Confirmations
No full- time students; no qualifying professional NYC productions; in-person availability on Sunday evenings Sept - June.
What Happens If You’re Accepted
What Happens If You’re Accepted
What Happens If You’re Accepted
Accepted playwrights join a small cohort of six writers who meet for ten Sundays over nine months (exact dates to be confirmed) at Cherry Lane to read new pages aloud and workshop their developing plays. Over the year, they receive structured support, accountability, and a creative home.
At the end of the cycle, each writer receives a reading on one of six consecutive Monday nights, with professional actors and directors and a single day-of rehearsal. The readings are seated, on-book presentations designed to give the public the opportunity to hear the new work.
Accepted playwrights join a small cohort of six writers who meet for ten Sundays over nine months (exact dates to be confirmed) at Cherry Lane to read new pages aloud and workshop their developing plays. Over the year, they receive structured support, accountability, and a creative home.
At the end of the cycle, each writer receives a reading on one of six consecutive Monday nights, with professional actors and directors and a single day-of rehearsal. The readings are seated, on-book presentations designed to give the public the opportunity to hear the new work.
Questions
Questions
Questions
Should you have any questions, please email questions@cherrylanetheatre.org and we will respond in a timely manner.
Should you have any questions, please email questions@cherrylanetheatre.org and we will respond in a timely manner.
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
2/2
2/2
FEB
FEB
Applications Open
Applications
Open
Applications
Open
3/2
3/2
MAR
MAR
Applications Closed
Applications
Closed
Applications
Closed
6/1
6/1
JUN
JUN
Finalists Notified
Finalist
Notified
Finalist
Notified
7/1
7/1
Jul
Jul
Final Decisions
Final
Decisions
Final
Decisions
9/13
9/13
SEP
SEP
Program Begins
Program
Begins
Program
Begins
Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions
Submission and Selection Process
Submission and Selection Process
Submission and Selection Process
Submissions are only accepted through electronic submission via the Program website.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays in English, solely authored by you.
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective reserves the sole and absolute discretion to select program participants, as well as the right to disqualify any applicant or submission that does not comply with submission guidelines.
Submissions are only accepted through electronic submission via the Program website.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays in English, solely authored by you.
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective reserves the sole and absolute discretion to select program participants, as well as the right to disqualify any applicant or submission that does not comply with submission guidelines.
Intellectual Property Ownership
Intellectual Property Ownership
Intellectual Property Ownership
Applicants will retain all rights, title, and interest in their submitted plays and any new works developed during the program
Applicants will retain all rights, title, and interest in their submitted plays and any new works developed during the program
© 2025
© 2025
Cherry Lane Theatre
Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce St,
New York, NY 10014
boxoffice@cherrylanetheatre.org
38 Commerce St,
New York, NY 10014
boxoffice@cherrylanetheatre.org