Playwrights around the world are receiving timely support from Newark, New Jersey based Audible Inc. The producer and disseminator of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment announced their first selection of theater commissions that will come from their recently established $5 million Emerging Playwrights Fund. Those chosen will create one and two-person audio plays that will be driven by language and voice and will be shared with the millions of Audible customers.
Along with financial support, Audible provides the playwrights with logistical and creative resources including workspace and access to creative experts in a variety of fields. This global initiative is undertaken to combat rising ticket prices for live theatre and lessen the reliance by playwrights on funding. It is being aided by the participation of accomplished and notable people in the theatre world who serve as advisors, including Leigh Silverman, Trip Cullman, Annette Bening, Oskar Eustis among others.
“What an incredibly impressive first class of exciting and diverse playwrights to receive commissions from Audible playwright fund! We look forward to developing and supporting the creation of these works and to bringing them to life both in audio and on stage,” said Kate Navin, Theater Artistic Director. “Offering these productions on Audible will bring these plays to millions of people as incomparable listening experiences.”
Award-winning poet, librettist, and playwright Bridgette A. Wimberly is a member of this first class, producing Off-Broadway across the U.S. in Opera Philadelphia, Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as abroad at Hackney Empire/English Royal Opera/London.
Additional members for the first Class include Aaron Mark, Aditi Brennan Kapil, Antoinette Nwandu, Chisa Hutchinson, David Rossmer, Gary McNair, James Anthony Tyler, James Fritz, Lauren Gunderson, Leah Nanako Winkler, Madhuri Shekar, Nassim Soleimanpour, Paola Lázaro, and Regina Taylor.
