Photo: Roger Q. Mason

National Queer Theater and the Dramatist Guild are now accepting applications for a yearlong residency for Black trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) playwrights.

Applications for the New Visions Fellowship are being accepted until March 5^th at 6 pm EST and the two playwrights selected will receive mentorship to develop a play, musical, or performance experience, $5,000, a three-year membership to the Dramatists Guild, and a professional reading of their play.

In a statement on National Queer Theater’s website they state, “We believe the New Visions Fellowship is essential because of its opportunity to create space for the Black and queer imagination, a perspective long and consistently forced to take a backseat to “safer” LGBT stories in American culture, and even American queer culture.”

Playwright Roger Q. Mason has signed on as a primary mentor to the fellows. In addition, there will be masterclasses lead by Tony Award-winning writer Lisa Kron and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright.

National Queer Theater is committed to celebrating LGBTQ artists and providing a home for unheard storytellers and activists.

The Guild was established for the purpose of aiding dramatists in protecting both the artistic and economic integrity of their work.

Don’t ask if you’re good enough. Don’t compare yourself to others who may apply. Just know this program is specifically for Black playwrights who identify as trans or gender nonconforming and if that’s you, don’t hesitate, don’t overthink, simply apply.

The post New Fellowship For Black Trans And Gender-Nonconforming Playwrights appeared first on Broadway Black.

The album is scheduled to be released in 2021 and the deadline for submissions is March 31, 2021. Black Writers Amplified will feature an estimated 24 songs and will include work from both established and up-and-coming artists.

Now hear this, write it down, take a screenshot: The production of the album will offer opportunities for Black engineers, arrangers, orchestrators, musical directors, copyists, musical contractors, and musicians.

As you can see, the purpose of this project is to show that we are gifted, capable, and talented on and off stage. Black Writers Amplified is designed to immediately take steps towards increasing representation of Black writers in musical theatre and hold the American Theatre accountable through the creation of a resource for artistic directors, producers, and other theatre creators to find and support new voices and emerging Black talent.

Black Writers Amplified will be produced by Broadway Records and Black Theatre Coalition in association with Jacquelyn Bell (Emojiland) and Jarrett Murray.

BTC’s mission is to remove the “illusion of inclusion” in the American Theatre, by building a sustainable ethical roadmap that will increase employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals.

Broadway Records is a Grammy® Award-winning record label and its mission is to preserve musical theatre and theatre vocalists. Some of their recent releases include The Color Purple (2015 revival) and NBC’s television event, “The Wiz Live!”

Established and emerging Black musical theatre writers are encouraged to submit their new work for consideration. For more information and to upload materials, visit their website.

The post Lift Every Black Voice And Every Pen: Black Writers Amplified appeared first on Broadway Black.