LOCAL LAB 11

Local Theater Company discovers and develops world-premiere plays, small-cast musicals and devised theater pieces through Local Lab. Week-long workshops culminate in publicly-presented staged readings where you, the audience, participate in conversations that move the material toward full productions. Local Lab projects have also gone on to be produced all across the country.

Local Lab 11 playwrights will be announced in October, 2021.

MEET LOCAL LAB 11 CO-DIRECTORS NICK CHASE AND BETTY HART

Nick Chase and Betty Hart will work in concert with Artistic Director Pesha Rudnick in leading Local Lab 11.

Local Lab 11 Reading Committee

Meet the dedicated team of skilled readers who review all Local Lab submissions. Over the course of four months, this team reviews all Lab submissions with care, helping determine selections for the Semi-Final and Final rounds.

Courtney Cauthon is a lead coach with ARTiculate Real&Clear. She draws on her theatre background as a dramaturg to assist others in finding and communicating their message clearly and succinctly. Courtney holds her PhD from the University of Toronto and her MA from New York University.

Eryc Eyl is a writer, coach, consultant, storyteller, and DJ who frequently performs as his alter/altar ego, DJ Savior Breath — the monsignor of mashups, the cardinal of crunk, the pontiff of pop, and the bishop of bootlegs. Occasionally, he shows up as DJSB’s ’80’s-loving cousin, DJ Parachute Pants. He has been Local Theater’s resident DJ since 2013. When he’s not behind the turntables, Eryc helps individuals and organizations integrate work with a meaningful, fulfilling and fun life so they can keep their heads and their hearts while keeping their jobs. You can find him at www.DJSaviorBreath.com and www.ErycEyl.com.

Rachel Fowler's (Founding Company Member) Colorado stage credits include Elijah with Local; All My Sons (Denver Post Ovation Award), The Miracle Worker and Well at the Denver Center; Rabbit Hole (Denver Post Ovation Award) and Becky Shaw at Curious Theatre; A Man for All Seasons, The Lion in Winter and Twelfth Night at the Arvada Center; Noises Off and Twelfth Night at Colorado Shakespeare Company; and Tomorrow in the Battle and The Mysterious Mr. Love at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion, which she also produced. New York credits include The Triangle Factory Fire Project, An Oak Tree, Treason, and The Sea. Rachel has worked at many other regional theaters including Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Rep, Playmakers Rep, Shakespeare Santa Cruz and The Old Globe.  She has produced two off-Broadway plays--Cloud 9 and The Pagans in New York City-- and co-founded The Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, NJ. Rachel received the 2012 Culture West "Best Season by An Actress" Award as well as the 2013 Culture West "Best Supporting Actress" Award.

Jordan Lichtenheld is Local’s Resident Dramaturg. In addition to being an artistic administrator at Local Theater Company, Jordan is an aspiring dramaturg, writer, and theater artist. Currently attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, Jordan will soon be graduating with a degree in English Literature, as well as two Minor degrees in Business and Theatre. Jordan has previously interned with Local Theater Company as an artistic researcher. Other internships include Administrative Education at the La Jolla Playhouse and Editorial Assistant for TheTheatreTimes. Since her Freshmen year, Jordan has been involved in CU Boulder’s Department of Theatre and Dance—from acting (credits include Hecuba and The Adding Machine) and run crew (Falstaff in Love), to dramaturgy (credits include The Laramie Project, CU Boulder world premiere of Play Therapy, and CU Boulder’s 2018 and 2019 New Play Festivals). Jordan has undertaken the role of dramaturg over much of her time in college, working primarily with staged readings and productions of new plays. Jordan is passionate about working with emerging playwrights and invigorating new works of theatre. The art form of theatre contains endless possibilities, and Jordan aspires to dedicate herself to giving a voice to those stories yet untold.

Sean Mallary a Denver-based theatrical lighting designer. He is also a podcast producer and founder of TheFullMedium. Sean has over 16 years of experience in the theater industry.

Rafael Plentywolf is an artist, grant writer, ghost writer, bead weaver and story teller. They are based in Olympia, Washington.

Heidi Schmidt is a director, dramaturg, and teacher. Dramaturgy: Denver Center Theatre Company (Tribes), Colorado Shakespeare Festival (The Inspector General, Richard III, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor). Directing: CU Boulder (Picnic, Melancholy Play), CSF Education (As You Like It), readings for Curious New Voices, Athena Project, and Paragon Theatre Ensemble. Administrative positions: Repertory Dance Theatre (Salt Lake City), Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Women and Theatre Program. As an all-around theatre maker, she had designed props for Curious Theatre, presented pre-show talks at the Arvada Center, and performed in a devised ensemble piece on the National Mall in Washington, DC. She also teaches regularly at CU Boulder, where she is finishing her PhD.

Jacob Welch has designed lighting for Local for Paper Cut and Wisdom from Everything.  Jacob is a Full Professor of Theatre in Lighting with Metropolitan State University of Denver.  Jacob is an award winning lighting designer working throughout North America.  Jacob received the 2013 Henry Award for Best Lighting Design for Kiss of the Spiderwoman with Lake Dillon.  Jacob has designed Off-Broadway with Conviction at the 59E59 Theatre.  Other favorite designs include August: Osage County and General Store with Creede Repertory Theatre, Angels in America with Bas Bleu, 9 Parts of Desire with Curious Theatre, The Syringa with Alliance Stage, MY NAME IS Rachel Corrie with Countdown to Zero, and The Night Heron with Paragon.  Jacob is a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA-829.

Aaron Sanders loves words, story telling, and the art of communication. You can tell because he's spent the last 25 years just trying not to be awful at it. He's written and produced several plays and books of poetry and his professional life includes running the City Arts Calendar for Austin, blogging for a decade for the multi-disciplinary Fusebox Festival, and assisting the management and production of the ArtSpark New Works Festival..

What do we accept?

Un-produced, full-length plays, small-cast musicals and proposals for devised work. Proposals for devised work should include a brief description of the project and how the creator would utilize workshop resources, ideal collaborators, inspiration/source material.

When is the submission deadline?

Local Theater Company began accepting plays for consideration for Local Lab 11 on May 1, 2021. All considered submissions were received no later than 11:59pm mountain time on August 15, 2021.

Who may submit?

If you are a resident of a western state (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah), you can submit without an invitation. If you are a literary agent or manager, you may also submit up to three (3) new American plays, small-cast musicals or proposals. Please do NOT submit new drafts of previously submitted plays.

Is there an entry fee?

No. This is a program for playwrights and an opportunity for our community to participate in the play creation process.

How many per-playwright-scripts can I submit?

Just one per playwright, please.

Whom do I send the script to?

Send scripts to LabSubmissions@localtheaterco.org with a subject line: "Local Lab 2022 - New Play Submission."

Then what happens?

Local Theater Company’s reader committee will review the submitted works. Semi-finalists will be notified by September 15, 2021. Finalists will be notified by October 15, 2021.

The Local Lab 2022 reader committee includes: Nick Chase, Eryc Eyl, Rachel Fowler, Betty Hart, Sean Mallary, Rafael PlentyWolf, Pesha Rudnick, Heidi Schmidt and Jacob Welch.

Do you have a story to tell but have never written a play?

At Local, we celebrate Colorado storytellers and their stories. On Tuesdays, we hold open office hours from noon-1:30pm MT. If you have a story that you'd like to develop with us, this is the time to ask questions, seek feedback, and be in conversation with our team. Email nick@localtheaterco.org for more information or to schedule an appointment. 

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Statement

Local Theater Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons. All decisions regarding the terms, privileges, and/or conditions of employment, in cluding but not limited to hiring, classification, recruitment, discharge, compensation, placement, promotion, transfer, renewal of employment, tenure or terms, and benefits, will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, an cestry, age, order of protection status, marital status, disability, military status, unfavorable dis charge from the military, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, housing status, parental status, source of income, certain arrest or criminal history records, genetic information, protected activity (such as opposition to or reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment), or any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.

Local Theater Company will reasonably accommodate qualified employees with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. If you have any questions regarding discrimination or this policy, please contact Misha Zimmerman misha@LocalTheaterCo.org