NEW YORK—Middle East America: A National New Plays Initiative, created by Golden Thread Productions in San Francisco, the Lark Play Development Center in New York, and Silk Road Theatre Project in Chicago, is gearing up for the second round of the program which represents the first national effort to actively cultivate and support the development of Middle Eastern-American playwrights and their plays.

In each two-year cycle, Middle East America provides a playwright of Middle Eastern descent with a $10,000 commission, intensive developmental support from the Lark Play Development Center, possible productions at Golden Thread Productions and Silk Road Theatre Project, and travel funds to be present at all stages of the process. During the commissioned play’s development and production arc, representatives of each partner organization travel to each city—Chicago, New York, and San Francisco—to observe the process and to engage in conversations and panel events about Middle Eastern voices.

The inaugural MEA prize was awarded in 2008 to playwright/performer Adriana Sevahn Nichols to develop her play Night Over Erzinga. Additionally, Special Jury Prizes were given to playwrights Leila Buck and Sinan Ünel. About her experience over the past two years Nichols says, “This support of my play goes far beyond developing a ‘product.’ While visiting the three theatres, I saw how passionately they rally their hearts behind the urgency of a voice and a story that must be told. They are committed to birthing new plays, while giving writers creative homes to take risks in, bringing their audiences bold new work that challenges and expands them.” Adriana's commission is scheduled for productions in fall 2011 and spring 2012.

Applications will be accepted March 1 – June 15, 2010. The selected writer will be announced in December 2010. For more information and application guidelines, visit: www.middleeastamerica.org .

For more info on Golden Thread Productions please visit www.goldenthread.org .

For more info on the Lark Play Development Center please visit www.larktheatre.org .

For more info on the Silk Road Theatre Project please visit www.srtp.org .

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