About Us
Making the leap from page to stage…
It is in the youth of creative, collaborative theatre that the Telluride Playwrights Festival defines itself.
Mission Statement
The Telluride Playwright’s Festival (TPF) is a laboratory for playwrights, actors, and directors where dynamic, meaningful work is nurtured and refined. Our mission is to help playwrights fulfill their vision in an intimate, communal setting against the backdrop of the majestic San Juan Mountains.
“TPF is quickly becoming a vehicle to explore ideas, issues, and humanity through theatre. We germinates cutting edge, new plays that can enrich and inform us about not only the world we live in but also ourselves. This festival is not only about doing ‘good plays’ but doing thought provoking work that resonates and sparks discussion.”
-Jennie Franks, Creative Director
How We Work:
We accept submissions each fall. We charge a small submission fee that helps us cover the expenses of providing travel, most meals and lodging each year for playwrights. We are primarily interested in stories that provoke our attention and change us just a little. Challenging, funny, tragic, outrageous, well written and thoughtful, that’s what we’re looking for. Plays that are nearly there but could do with a little extra push with our help. In the past the plays we’ve worked on have gone on to be produced in larger cities such as Denver, New York and Chicago with the label ”MADE IN TELLURIDE”
Each spring we select a small group of playwright willing to work hard and we offer them the opportunity to develop their work with the collaboration of other professional writers,directors, actors,dramaturges from all over the country and abroad and some locals also. During an intensive, week-long workshop the group quickly bonds into a group whose sole purpose is to help the playwright. We aim to nurture, support and honestly critique the work.
The week is culminated by staged readings at the Sheridan Opera House Theatre, where the public are encouraged to participate in a feedback session.
However the work doesn’t end when the sun goes down over the mountains. Most evenings we gather for a communal meal in a private home where we eat, drink, discuss and perhaps occasionally argue, all in the name of the ‘passion of the theatre’. We also informally do late night readings and other events.
We provide housing either with SilverStar Vacation Properties, or in luxury private homes and guest house.
