Each year, The Black List is a touchstone for Hollywood-types as it brings the best and deserving unproduced scripts to the spotlight, leveling the playing ground for writers. Some of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated films were birthed from this list including Jojo Rabbit, Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, The Half of It, and 2022 award season contender King Richard (read the 2021 list which was released about a month ago). Now, the the coveted list founded by Franklin Leonard is expanding to the theater space.
The Black List helps bolster careers of untapped talent and writers who do not have as much access as veteran writers. The New York Times reports that after 17 years, the list will invite playwrights and musical theater writers to share their work with gatekeepers and decision makers in theater, film and TV.
The list, which started accepted submissions from theater writers today, helps writers get representation, get constructive feedback from professionals and land production deals. In other word, The Black List is a very good list to be on.
“Our fundamental belief is that there’s a lot of amazing playwrights whose opportunities don’t befit their talents,” Leonard told the New York Times. “If we can rectify that, that’s something we should do.”
Leonard is working with alongside Black List exec Megan Halpern who is leading the charge for the inclusion of theater writers have been consulting with theater industry leaders in regards to the initative. “What we’ve heard is that people want to find new playwrights, but the reality of wading through the slush pile is insurmountable,” Leonard said.
The non-profit theaters Miami New Drama in Florida, the Movement Theater Company in New York, Victory Gardens in Chicago and Woolly Mammoth in Washington are set to commission $10,000 each to a new play or musical from a writer whose work surfaces through the Black List theater initiative.
For more info visit blcklst.com.
