Playwrights Foundation
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"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
field. "Down" is the number of experts who disagree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in field.
Headquarters Location: San Francisco, CA
Founded: 1979
Mission: Playwrights Foundation is dedicated to discovering and supporting local and national American playwrights across a broad spectrum of artistic and career positions, in the inception and development of new plays that speak to and from an increasingly diverse society. Founded on a deeply held belief that the relevance and vitality of American theater depends upon a continual infusion of new work, Playwrights Foundation sustains a commitment to the playwright, who we regard as the creative wellspring of theater.
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Amy Mueller.
Amy Mueller is an award-winning director. Since taking the helm of Playwrights Foundation ten years ago she has transformed the scope of the organization into a year-round center for new plays and playwrights. Recent credits include: ...and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi by Marcus Gardley, One Big Lie by Liz Duffy Adams (dramaturg), Mr. Fujiyama's Electric Beach by Kevin Oakes (dramaturg),…
See full bio.
Financial Data
Overhead Ratio:
n/a
Total Revenue:
$248,131
From the Nonprofit
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Contact Info
E-Mail:
amy AT playwrightsfoundation.org
Phone:
415-626-2176
Facebook:
Address:
1616 16th Street, Suite 350
San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
Twitter:
Story:
Read about how Playwrights Foundation changed and supported a client to become a playwright:
If it wasn't for the Playwrights Foundation's encouragement and nurturing, I would have never considered playwriting as a writing path. Their support and services have been invaluable to me as a playwright.
Annually they produce the Bay Area Playwrights Festival (for more than 30 years now) which features readings of new plays by contemporary playwrights. The festival provides a playwright the opportunity to workshop and develop their play with a director, actors, and a dramaturg. Each play receives 2 public readings which allow a playwright opportunity to see the play in front of an audience and solicit audience feedback.
Along with providing playwriting class opportunities to aspiring playwrights, the Playwrights Foundation now has a residency program for local playwrights. As a Resident Playwright, I've had the chance to write new plays and workshop them with fellow playwrights. The sense of community this program has developed is priceless.
(Read about other reviews on: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/playwrights-foundation-inc)
Expert Reviews of Playwrights Foundation
Evidence of Impact Summary:
Experts praise Playwrights Foundation for their long track record of finding great playwrights, developing them, and bringing them into the national dialogue. They have a wide variety of programs and serve artists at every level.See expert comments.
Organization Strengths Summary:
Playwrights Foundation has great leadership, strong programming, and incredible support for playwrights.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
Experts agree that Playwrights Foundation is stretched thin at the staff level. They could also use more funding and stronger marketing.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Evidence of Impact
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Impact |
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The Playwrights Foundation has consistently worked with emerging playwrights to develop them and their work. From Sam Shepard and Nilo Cruz (both Pulitzer Prize winners) to Aaron Loeb (resident playwright and currently having a play produced Off-Broadway) and Annie Baker (Off-Broadway produced). Other well known playwrights are Philip Kan Gotanda, Amy Freed, Anne Galjour, Octavio Solis, John O’Keefe, Mac Wellman, Brighde Mullins, Bill Irwin, Migdalia Cruz, Anna Deaveare Smith, Paula Vogel, Maria Irene Fornes, David Henry Hwang, Naomi Iizuka, Brian Thorstenson, Claire Chafee, Prince Gomolvilas, Liz Duffy Adams, Christine Evans, Marcus Gardley and Sheila Callaghan. These playwrights have very few places to go to get the attention that Playwrights Foundation will give them. Nationally, Playwrights Foundation is one of 5 playwright development organizations invited by Sundance to confer on the future of play development. | ||
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Playwrights Foundation is an incredibly impactful organization for local (and national) playwrights in an area that is nationally known for new work. Their joint producing ventures offer companies and playwrights a unique model for the development and eventual production of work. | ||
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They have a long track record of finding great playwrights, developing them, and bringing them into the national dialogue. They have a wide variety of programs and serve artists at every level. | ||
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Playwrights Foundation introduces dozens of new playwrights to the Bay Area theater community each year, and gives voice to emerging, undiscovered talent. | ||
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The Playwrights Foundation is an important force behind the development of new plays. | ||
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
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Impact |
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You get a lot of bang for the buck with Playwrights Foundation. They have over 30 years of experience presenting at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival. They are one of the top 5 or 6 playwright development groups in the country. This organization truly gives voice to a diverse line up of playwrights each year, many of whom have gone on to win national awards. The Artistic Director has strengthened and expanded the programming on a tiny budget. This organization deserves more attention as it is a jewel in the Bay Area. If someone want to make the most national impact with their money by investing locally this is the place to invest. | ||
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The organization has been around for 33 years. The staff has the ability to get a lot of bang for their buck. Playwrights Foundation created and continues to present the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, a nationally recognized festival for up and coming work and playwrights. The staff consistently works with unknown playwrights nurturing them to success and moving them to a higher level of recognition. | ||
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The Bay Area Playwrights Foundation has the organizational structure in place to make a significant impact on the exposure of new playwrights and the established reputation and marketing in place to effectively bring these voices to the community. | ||
National Connection |
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What sets Playwrights Foundation apart from other local playwrights service non profits is its connections to the national scene through hot playwrights, other playwright service organizations in the country, and national producers. | ||
Leadership |
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Amy Mueller has grown the organization tremendously during her tenure. She is a great leader with excellent taste. | ||
Programming |
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It also has a fellows program that cultivates the talents of the next generation of playwrights. It helps make the production of new plays each year. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
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Fundraising |
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This organization could be more effective in fundraising. They currently operate on a $250,000 budget which is so small considering how long they have been in existence. Though they are quite effective with such little money, their impact would be exponential with more funding. The organization sometimes stretches itself thin with the resources it has. More and more programming has been added without more revenue. This speaks to their commitment but also can be overwhelming for the staff. | ||
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The Playwrights Foundation is very much of a lean operation. It could benefit from stronger fundraising capacity. | ||
Staffing |
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Playwrights Foundation needs to improve its staffing. They are woefully understaffed for the scope and nature of the programs they deliver and often rely on interns/volunteers/board members for duties better performed by experienced and qualified staff. | ||
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PF has a staff of two and they are often over-extended. They maintain a clear presence in the community throughout the year but that presence could deepen a great deal with more staff. | ||
Marketing |
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Playwrights Foundation would benefit from a more streamlined public image. They could do this by turning a more deliberate and focused eye on the experience of visiting artists. | ||
Leadership
Amy Mueller
Artistic Director
Artistic Director
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
feedback@myphilanthropedia.org
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