The Writers' Room

A group for Los Angeles-based playwrights, The Writers’ Room is a product of the Geffen’s deep commitment to supporting new plays and specifically to fostering bold, relevant work by the vibrant artistic community of this city.

A cohort of six selected playwrights/writing teams will attend in-person meetings at the Geffen as they generate the first draft of a new play or musical. Playwrights receive feedback from their cohort in a forum facilitated by the Geffen’s Literary Manager & Dramaturg. At the conclusion of their writing residency, each playwright will have the opportunity to further develop their completed draft in a culminating reading produced by the Geffen.

Applicant Eligibility & Program Overview

The Writers’ Room is intended to support the generation of a first draft. Project proposals should be for a play or musical that you have not yet written.

Applications are open to all playwrights who currently reside in Los Angeles. You do not need to be represented by a literary agent to apply.

Please note: the cadence and structure of The Writers’ Room has changed:

• The program will now run biannually, with playwrights selected every other year.
• The total playwright compensation for participation has increased, from $3,000 to $6,000.
• The meeting and reading structure has changed:
  • From September 2026 through August 2027, playwrights will participate in monthly meetings (plus one additional introductory meeting). Meetings will be held on Monday evenings at Geffen Playhouse, and two writers will share at each meeting.
  • From September 2027 – December 2027, playwrights will participate in a robust period of meetings and shares at the Geffen, including full-draft cold reads, a tool share with Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney, a week of rehearsals for their own reading, and open rehearsals and presentations of their peers’ readings.
  • Additionally, playwrights will be invited to participate in optional studio hours at the Geffen on a quarterly basis. Studio hours (quiet writing time in the Geffen building) are open to all current and past Writers’ Room members.

Applicants must be available to attend all meetings, shares, and readings in person at the Geffen. Please see the anticipated program structure below for a general outline of commitment/expectations. Additional details will be shared during Finalist interviews. Please note that exceptions to the in-person attendance policy will be made for emergencies only.

If a cohort member fails to meet the in-person attendance requirements or other expectations of the program, their engagement with The Writers’ Room may be terminated.

Writers’ Room playwrights receive a $5,000 stipend for their participation in the program, as well as a $1,000 fee during their reading week. A meal and parking are provided at each meeting. Playwrights will also receive complimentary tickets to all Gil Cates Theater shows (and to Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater shows, subject to availability) at the Geffen during their Writers’ Room tenure.

The anticipated program structure for 2026/2027:

• Sept 2026 — 2 Writers Share + Introductory Meeting
• Oct 2026 — 2 Writers Share
• Nov 2026 — 2 Writers Share + Studio Hours
• Dec 2026 — 2 Writers Share
• Jan 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• Feb 2027 — 2 Writers Share + Studio Hours
• Mar 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• Apr 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• May 2027 — 2 Writers Share + Studio Hours
• June 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• July 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• Aug 2027 — 2 Writers Share
• Sept 2027 — Full-Draft Cold Reads + Studio Hours
• Oct 2027 — Tool Share + Studio Hours, Reading #1 and #2
• Nov 2027 — Reading #3 and #4, Reading #5 and #6
• Dec 2027 — Wrap-Up Meeting

Application Timeline

• Friday, May 8, 2026: Applications Open
• Friday, May 22, 2026: Applications Close @ 12 NOON Pacific
• July/August 2026: Finalist Interviews
• August/September 2026: Writers’ Room Cohort Announced

Please note: ALL applicants will receive an application status update in July 2026.

Materials Required

You will submit your application via THIS FORM. Please review the requirements below before beginning your application to ensure that your materials are formatted to meet the submission guidelines. Please note the AFTERNOON deadline for applications: 12 NOON (Pacific) on Friday, May 22.

• Name
• Pronouns
• Email
• Phone Number
• Permanent Los Angeles Address
• Confirmation of Applicant Eligibility:
  • I will live in Los Angeles for the duration of the 2026/2027 Writers’ Room.
  • I am proposing a project that has not yet been written.
  • I will be available to attend all Writers' Room meetings and programming in person.
• Confirmation of Submission Attestation:
  • By submitting to The Writers' Room at Geffen Playhouse, I confirm and agree to the following:
    • I am voluntarily submitting my project proposal and any related materials for Geffen Playhouse to review.
    • I understand that Geffen Playhouse will evaluate my project proposal only based on what I have written in this submission.
    • I confirm that I am submitting an original project proposal and writing sample that were solely generated and written by me and/or my collaborators, without the assistance of a Large Language Model (AI).
    • If material was co-written or a project proposal co-generated with human collaborators, I have full permission from anyone who helped create it to submit it. All collaborators and/or co-writers also agree to these terms.
    • I confirm that submitting this project proposal does not violate any law or infringe on anyone else’s rights.
    • Geffen Playhouse respects the intellectual property rights of artists and creators and engages in independent creative development. I understand that Geffen Playhouse may have already received, may already be working on, and/or may later receive and/or develop ideas that may be similar to mine. I agree that any similarities between my submitted proposal and any Geffen Playhouse-produced work and/or idea, in the past, present, or future, are purely coincidental.
    • I understand that Geffen Playhouse is not promising confidentiality, payment, or future collaboration by reviewing my submission.
    • I agree that I will not make any claims against Geffen Playhouse related to my submission, including claims of copyright infringement, idea theft, or unfair competition.
    • I agree to take responsibility for any claims made by others related to my submission and to protect Geffen Playhouse if such claims arise.
    • I confirm that I have read this attestation, understand it, and agree to it freely.
• Bio (700 characters / approx. 100 words max).
• Answers to the following questions, which will serve as the proposal for the project you would like to work on in the Writers’ Room. If you are applying with a collaborator (co-written play or musical), you should work together on your answers. Please note that you are not required to hit the maximum word count; brevity is appreciated.
  • What is the kernel of the project you would like to work on in the Writers’ Room: the image/idea/ambition that is driving you to write this piece? (700 characters / approx. 100 words max)
  • To the best of your ability, outline the story, plot, or experience of your piece. (1400 characters / approx. 200 words max)
  • Why do you want to write this particular project in The Writers' Room? (700 characters / approx 100 words max)
  • Is there anything else you’d like us to know? This is a great place to note any access needs, if you’d like to share them. (350 characters / approx. 50 words max)
• Please provide a 15-page writing sample of original material. Please note that ALL listed material does count towards your 15-page total; your PDF should not exceed 15 pages.
  • We recommend providing an excerpt from a full-length play (or musical).
  • Please note that we do not accept screenplays as writing samples.
  • Please include the piece’s title, character list, and setting at the top of the excerpt.
  • The excerpt may begin at any point in the script. Please choose the pages that you feel are the best representation of your writing.
  • Though it is not required, you may also choose to provide a brief synopsis, a recap of the action leading up to the sample pages, and any other relevant material.
  • If you are applying to write a musical, please include at least two complete sets of song lyrics in your 15-page sample. These lyrics may be included within the scene(s) of your writing sample or may be self-contained.
  • If you are applying to write your first play, you may provide a sample (up to 15 pages max) of poetry, essays, and/or fiction. Poetry, essays, and fiction should be double-spaced and in 12-point font, with one-inch margins.
  • If you are applying with a collaborator (co-written play or musical), you may split the 15 pages between individual projects or may submit co-written material. Please provide attribution, where applicable.
• For teams submitting a musical pitch: in addition to the writing sample above, please provide two demo recordings that correspond to the two sets of lyrics in your writing sample. Demo recordings should be submitted via one accessible link.

FAQs

• What/who are you looking for?

  When considering applications, the Geffen staff considers the strength of each applicant’s writing sample and project proposal as well as the fundamental importance of having a dynamic range of identities, creative approaches, and lived experiences represented within the Writers’ Room cohort. Playwrights of all writing styles, races, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, abilities, ages, and career levels are encouraged to apply.

• When will I hear back?

  ALL applicants will receive an update on their application status in July. If you have not yet heard from us, your application is still in process.

• I’ve never written a play before. Can I submit?

  Yes, the Writers’ Room is open to first-time playwrights. However, please note that the Writers’ Room is not an educational workshop and does not provide instruction on playwriting. All writing time is self-directed. If you are a first-time playwright, we encourage you to think carefully about whether the program will provide the support you need to write your first play.

  Additionally: please note that we do NOT accept screenplays as writing samples. If you are applying as a first-time playwright, you may submit a writing sample (15 pages max) of poetry, essays, and/or fiction. Poetry, essays, and fiction should be double-spaced and in 12-point font, with one-inch margins.

• I’m writing a piece of musical theater. Can I submit?

  If you are working on a piece of theater that involves music—be it a traditional musical, a play with music, or a song cycle—you are welcome to apply. However, please keep in mind that you will be receiving feedback from peers who may not share your musical expertise/vocabulary.

  Culminating Writers’ Room readings are produced under the LORT Staged Reading Guidelines, which allow for up to 35 hours of rehearsal. We recognize that it can take 35 hours just to learn a score, and so we encourage musical-writing teams to use rehearsal time in whatever way is most useful to the show’s development within those parameters – presenting an excerpt of the piece, presenting a read with recorded demos, or something else.

• I have a writing partner, and we want to work on a piece together—can we send in one application for the two of us?

  Yes. We are open to writing teams of up to three people.

• Can I submit more than one project?

  No. You may submit one project only, and may submit only once (ie, if you are submitting a co-written piece, you may not submit a second project as a solo writer).

• Will the Geffen produce my play?

  The Writers’ Room is intended to catalyze and support the writing of a new play and to foster a sense of community among LA writers. The program is not a competition or audition for inclusion in a Geffen season.

  While past projects from the Writers’ Room have occasionally gone on to additional development and production at the Geffen, we consider any future path of development a success, including at other theaters. The Geffen does not hold any option (or expectation) to produce work created in the Writers’ Room after its completion.

  With all of this in mind, we encourage playwrights to let go of “producibility” or “fit” for an upcoming Geffen season as guiding principles for their project proposal. Instead, we encourage you to write the proposal that scares you – the play that you might not finish without a supportive community and a deadline.

• When and where are the meetings and readings?

  From September 2026 through August 2027, playwrights will participate in monthly meetings (plus one additional introductory meeting). Meetings will be held on Monday evenings at Geffen Playhouse. The Geffen’s address is 10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

  From September 2027 – December 2027, playwrights will participate in a robust period of meetings and shares at the Geffen, including full-draft cold reads, a tool share with Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney, a week of rehearsals for their own reading, and open rehearsals and presentations of their peers’ readings.

  Additionally, playwrights will be invited to participate in optional studio hours at the Geffen on a quarterly basis. Studio hours (quiet writing time in the Geffen building) are open to all current and past Writers’ Room members.

  Additional details on scheduling will be shared during Finalist interviews.

• I might be out of town for a few months next year. Can I zoom in for meetings?

  No. Writers are expected to attend every meeting and event in person. Exceptions to the in-person attendance policy will be made for emergencies only.

  We consult with The Writers’ Room cohort to create the annual meeting schedule and make best efforts to work around existing conflicts. Please note that if you have extended plans to be away from Los Angeles for work or leisure during the program dates, you will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to return for in-person meetings.

  If a cohort member fails to meet the in-person attendance requirements or other expectations of the program, their engagement with The Writers’ Room may be terminated.

• I have a different question; who should I talk to?

  Please email all questions regarding the Writers’ Room to Literary Manager & Dramaturg Olivia O’Connor at .