What We Want Our pilot Bechdel Residency comes from our desire to more deeply support playwrights, specifically those whose work supports our overall mission and efforts to impact the American theatre landscape. We want to contribute to the uplifting and amplification of the playwrights and the stories that have been historically overlooked or relegated to the margins. We are looking for stories we should be seeing but are not seeing or not seeing enough. Are you in need of support for a project you’re embarking upon? Have the seeds of something you plan to plant this upcoming year? We want to be part of that journey.
How it Works The Bechdel Residency is designed to support a specific project by providing ongoing in-house and community support over the course of a year. Our Bechdel Resident will receive a series of table and workshop reads and dramaturgical feedback over the course of 12 months. The fellowship will culminate with a full staged reading in New York City.
Timeline*: July: Prospective Residents submit project proposals. August: Bechdel Resident is announced! October: Initial Table Read A Zoom reading with Bechdel actors, followed by a dramaturg-led table discussion. December: Dramaturgical Read and Feedback A one-on-one (written or in person) conversation. February: Second Table Read An in-person or Zoom full reading with a different group of Bechdel actors and selected audience members, followed by a dramaturg-led table discussion. March/April: Dramaturgical Read and Feedback May: Workshop Read A partial reading and community discussion, as part of the regular Bechdel season. August: Staged Reading A full rehearsed, directed staged reading. This reading will be open to the public, as well to invited members of the NYC theatre community. All logistics for readings and events will be organized by The Bechdel Group. We are also open to discuss what other learning experiences our Resident might be interested in that our company might be in a position to provide (eg. learning more about or potentially working with literary management, dramaturgy, casting, producing, non-profit management, etc.)
* Over the course of the program, we will be in touch with our Resident to ensure the timeline above continues to meet their needs.
Eligibility While all playwrights and screenwriters, emerging and professional, are welcome to submit proposals, we are specifically interested in and encourage proposals from women, BIPOC, nonbinary, trans, and LGBTQIA+ writers. We are happy to consider playwrights from anywhere in the world, but we do ask that Residents be present at their Workshop and Staged readings in NYC.
Proposals that do not follow formatting guidelines will not be considered.
Your proposal should consider and/or address the following:
What do you want to work on over the course of the year?
We’re happy to consider both plays and screenplays.
This can be an outline, a summary, or just the beginnings of an idea. Tell us what you’re thinking in whatever way works best for you.
If this project is not in its infancy (or toddlerhood), please also address how a year of work will support your overall goals.
How do you feel this work supports (and potentially expands) The Bechdel Group’s mission?
What’s your experience with The Bechdel Group? Why are we the right fit for each other?
Writer Information Guidelines Formatting
12pt, double-spaced.
PDF, doc, and docx accepted.
Please limit your information to 750 words.
Please title your document "[LastName]Writer"
Proposals that do not follow formatting guidelines will not be considered.
Details
Give us a brief bio and/or introduction. We want to know who you are.
Please include any relevant writing or social media sites you’d like us to peruse.
Writing Sample Guidelines Formatting
PDF, doc, and docx accepted.
Please limit your sample to 2 - 3 pages
Please title your document "[LastName]Sample"
Proposals that do not follow formatting guidelines will not be considered.
Details
Please provide a writing sample of any of your theatrical work. Published, unpublished, previously staged, or languishing in a drawer, we’re flexible! Ultimately, we just want an idea of your style.
Questions we have failed to address? Please email us.