Director Submissions
Director Submissions
The Playwrights Horizons artistic staff is committed to expanding our roster of directors and assistant directors who live in New York City. In addition to our seasonal productions, we also embark on over 20 processes each year in our New Works Lab, where we support creative teams with the time and resources to develop material on their own terms.
Artistic projects at Playwrights Horizons typically include a director, and sometimes also an assistant director. Open opportunities may arise as creative teams are assembled throughout the season. These depend on the needs of each unique project and process. Oftentimes a writer will express a desire to connect with potential collaborators. Additionally, while some directors may opt to bring on assistants that they already know, others might request meetings with a handful of candidates, at our recommendation. Submitting your materials will put you into consideration for any open positions.
PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with Playwrights Horizons’ anti-racism efforts, and to develop more relationships with skilled directors from a wider range of racial identities, Assistant Director positions on full productions are exclusively available to BIPOC artists. These positions are filled by the director, in collaboration with Playwrights Horizons. The responsibilities of an Assistant Director vary from production to production: most often, the formal commitment of an Assistant Director begins shortly before the first rehearsal and concludes on Opening Night. There might be an opportunity to participate in a developmental reading prior to the start of the rehearsal period, and/or there might be responsibilities related to the maintenance of a production after opening. Note that Assistant Directors for our productions tend to be at least two years out of a professional training program.
If you are passionate about the mission of our theater, and have demonstrated a commitment to developing new plays and musicals alongside adventurous writers, we want to get to know you. We accept materials for review on a rolling basis – please submit for consideration no more than once per calendar year. We will reach out if we're looking for updated materials, so please don't feel any pressure to annually update your materials here, unless you prefer to do this. We will contact you if we are in a position to set up a general meeting or discuss a specific opportunity.
To submit your materials:
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Complete a brief digital form (link below) including contact information.
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Upload a cover letter (a PDF up to one page in length), noting relevant experience and speaking to why an opportunity to collaborate on a new play or musical at Playwrights Horizons is exciting to you.
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Upload your current professional resume (PDF).
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[OPTIONAL] List up to three references.
If you have any other skills or experience beyond directing, including any kind of creative or cultural consulting work, we welcome you to share that part of your artistic identity as well, in your cover letter and/or resume.
We look forward to getting to know you!