The Ignite Project is reigniting a core tenet of EST/LA and its membership – to develop original, bold, risk-taking theatre inspired by our, company our theatre space, or the surrounding community. Co-created by Makeda Declet, Jennie Webb and David Johann Kim, this project is open to all members of EST/LA, current and former members of New West Playwrights and the Playwrights Unit, as well as invited, recommended non-member artists.
Please check back in late summer 2024 for Cohort #6 deadlines and application information.
To apply, interested writers should send:
● A 1-page (500 word max) pitch, including:
-- A description of the idea for a new work (of any length or style) that’s specifically
written for or sparked by any aspect of EST/LA (space, company, history, energy, etc.)
-- Your individual goals (e.g., to start on a first draft of a full length, complete a short
play or two, to explore characters or story, etc.)
● A 5-10 page sample of your writing. (This can be from a play or any work that gives us a
sense of your voice as a writer.)
● A short bio (300 words) or resume.
● If you are not an EST/LA Company member or affiliated with one of our writing programs, please let us know who recommended you for the Ignite Project.
NOTE: Your pitch must be about a brand-new play only! We are not looking for plays that you have already begun writing or are editing. This opportunity is for starting new work in a group setting.
You do not need to have written a play in order to apply. We want to be intentional in building a group with a variety of different experiences and to include underrepresented voices.
The 5th Ignite Project Cohort will meet Wednesday evenings March 27 - May 22 (a combination of meetings in the theater and Zoom sessions). Facilitators are Jennie Webb, Rosie Narasaki and Jacob Surovsky.
After an initial session, writers will meet weekly for 8 weeks. Writers will attend every session, but bring in pages every other session.
In early June, we plan to hold our 5th First Flame presentation, a community-building culmination event, sharing the work created during the project and involving as many EST/LA company members as possible.
Submit application materials and questions to: theigniteproject@estlosangeles.org. The deadline to send application materials is Friday, March 1st.
