Commitment to New Work

Since its founding, the Theatre Arts Department has been committed to new work.  Early in its history many plays transferred directly to Broadway, and in recent years numerous plays have gone on to be produced in New York and in regional theatres.

Faculty, staff and students are deeply engaged in play development. Each year at least fifteen new works by graduate and undergraduate students are produced and another twenty-five new plays are presented as readings. The undergraduate writing program includes four courses (some of which students may choose to repeat). The MFA Playwrights Workshop provides an intensive three year study of the craft.

MFA Playwrights Workshop
Undergraduate Writing Program

Cradle for New Work
Partnership in the Arts
Iowa New Play Festival

Cradle for New Work

Hundreds of writers have had their start at Iowa, as have thousands of actors, directors, and other artists who still work in new play development. Among the best known writers are:

• Tennessee Williams
• Lee Blessing (A Walk in the Woods)
• Naomi Wallace (One Flea Spare)
• Rebecca Gilman (Spinning into Butter)
• Darrah Cloud
• Sherry Kramer
• David Hancock
• Phil Bosakowski
• David Adjmi
• Allison Moore
• Kirsten Greenidge
• Tory Stewart
• Robert Alexander
• Andrew Barrett
• Peter Gil-Sheridan

Hollywood writer-producers include:

• Barry Kemp (Coach, The Newheart Show)
• Norman Felton (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
• Mark Johnson (Rainman, Chronicles of Narnia).  

Partnership in the Arts

Each year the department brings together a team of America’s finest experimental writers and directors to create a new work that is presented on the main stage season. The artists are in residence for 6-8 weeks and work with students on an ambitious project that may well go on to professional productions elsewhere. Among the artists who have led projects are:

• Anne Bogart
• Theodora Skipitares
• Erik Ehn
• Maria Irene Fornes
• Rinde Eckart
• Migdalia Cruz
• Karen Coonrod
• Belgrad’s Dah Theatre
• The Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre
• James Hatch
• Will Power
• David Hancock
• David Schweitzer