4 Seasons
Residency
In the winter of 2018, surrounded by snow and the Rocky Mountains, the leaders of five play development organizations retreated in Creede, Colorado: National Winter Playwrights Retreat of Colorado, Ignition Arts of Oklahoma, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference of Idaho, Tofte Lake Center of Minnesota, and the National New Play Network. Each organization is committed to the development of the American Playwright. Each organization has a distinctive approach to how it supports the playwright – and each of them quickly realized that together, their organizations could offer something substantial to a playwright. After much talk, tequila and laughter the 4 Seasons Residency was born. Our goal is to open a new path and lead the way to a new process for the development of new plays for the American Theatre.
There are no stories without writers.
You are the chronicler of our times and society.
We want to hear your voice.
The 4 Seasons Residency is a year-long development opportunity with The National Winter Playwrights Retreat (CO), Ignition Arts (PA), Seven Devils Playwrights Conference (ID), and Tofte Lake Center (MN), in collaboration with the National New Play Network (NNPN).
“ There are few things more exciting than the opportunity to develop work in the nurturing environments crafted by these arts organizations – be they virtual or on-site. Thank you 4S for vanquishing the loneliness and welcoming me into your stories.”
Franky Gonzalez, 4 Seasons Playwright 2021
Winter
From the mountains, lakes and forests, the residency moves to the rolling hills and open sky of Pennsylvania. Ignition kicks off the 4 Seasons Residency with a Brennan Check-In sequence tailored to the playwright…
Spring
The Northwoods of Minnesota provide the background for Tofte Lake Center’s residencies, where artists and organizations find a place to re-energize and focus on the creativity that drives their work…
Summer
The residency moves to the lake shore of McCall, Idaho, home of the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. For almost 20 years, Seven Devils has given birth to some of the most important plays…
Fall
The residency moves to the home of its birth, The National Winter Playwrights Retreat. Ensconced in the mountains of Colorado and the heartland of Missouri…
FOUR SEASONS TO WRITE, DREAM AND WORKSHOP FOLLOWED BY A NATIONAL GATHERING AT NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK
Comprised of four intensive, seasonal retreats, followed by an immersive networking experience with new play producers around the country, the 4 Seasons Residency takes a holistic, artist-centered, and long-term approach to new play development, employing an innovative model of deep collaboration between institutions toward the professional and creative growth of an individual artist. The power of this residency is the Network. As the playwright moves from season to season and from organization to organization, they will connect with collaborators and organizations that can impact and support their work. Culminating as an invited VIP guest of the National New Play Network’s New Play Showcase, the residency provides the playwright an opportunity to network with NNPN’s active community-at-large.
Do it a different way
Nine American Playwrights have been nominated.
Composed of playwrights from all over the United States, these are some of the most vibrant and unique voices in American Theatre today. The 4 Seasons Residency cultivates early to mid-career playwrights over the course of a calendar year in four distinct locales giving time and space to playwrights who will add to the canon meaningful roles for women and artist of color.
Playwrights are the R&D of the American Theatre.
We need playwrights to innovate. When we look back in history, we talk about the leaders and cultural achievements of a society. People speak of Shakespeare, Sophocles, Moliere and Chekhov but how many women and playwrights of color have been lost to history. It’s time to change that. We need our storytellers to challenge and question who we are.
Become a part of the 4 Seasons and help us support new American stories.
Change how things are done.