Group shot of 9 people smiling at the camera in front of a red curtain.jpg

Scratchpad
Series

Scratchpad Series opens The Realm’s doors to early-career playwrights from across the country, deepening our ability to do what we do best: listening to what playwrights need, and giving it to them. Whether it’s a place to hear a rough draft aloud for the first time, space to fine tune a more mature work, or time to focus in on a particular aspect of a piece, The Realm aims to provide playwrights with what they need to thrive. Scratchpad is a chance for The Realm to engage with an entirely new group of playwrights each year, erasing limitations of geography or access by identifying and inviting playwrights from across the country to participate.

Applications for our 2024-25 Scratchpad Series are now closed. Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom to get notified when they open again!

Banner Photo: Cast and creative team of Darren Canady's Reparations.

Group shot of 9 people smiling at the camera in a rehearsal studio — Cast and creative team of Benjamin Benne’s *q u e r e n c i a*

Program Details

A paid developmental process of up to one week culminating in a reading (internal or public, at the writer’s discretion) of the Play.
Professional collaborators, such as a director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff. The Realm will facilitate introductions to directors and will work with a casting director to help you find a cast as needed.
Dramaturgical development and discussion with the Realm’s artistic staff prior to and following your reading.
Professional development guidance and industry introductions.
Scratchpad is planned as an in-person process, for which the Realm will provide support for the Playwright’s travel and housing.

Who We're Looking For

We love plays with evocative language, plays that contemplate big, unanswerable questions, that are intellectually curious, embrace the complexity of life, and demonstrate an understanding of the possibilities of dramatic storytelling. And of course, plays that are inherently theatrical—that could never be anything other than a play!

As a playwright-centric company hoping to help create the next generation of successful playwrights, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the playwrights and the stories we support fully reflect the diversity of the society we live in. As such, we encourage writers and stories with unique cultural perspectives, experiences and backgrounds. With Scratchpad in particular, we aim to help artists break through any barriers that may exist—geographical, economic or otherwise—bringing voices and stories as diverse as our country to work with us and hopefully one day be seen on stages far and wide.

With regards to Scratchpad, preference will be given to projects that can’t be served by the Realm’s Writing Fellowship (i.e. musical projects, playwrights who do not live in the greater NYC area etc.)