Emerging Playwright Competition

Peter Langman
“Hebrew Holy Man”

Peter Langman’s plays have received recognition in twelve national competitions in nine states, with readings and productions in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina. Seven monologues from his plays have appeared in anthologies published by Meriwether and Smith & Kraus. Langman is also a poet and a psychologist whose research on school shooters has received international recognition. He is most excited, however, about having recently composed his first symphony.

Patricia Lynn
“An Honest Lesson in Self-Defense”

Patricia Lynn (she/her) fancies herself to be a gothic feminist playwright; she writes vivid, witty plays inspired by themes and tropes associated with gothic literature. Her most recent full-length play, “The Maid & the Mesmerizer,” will perform off-off-Broadway at the A.R.T./N.Y. Theatre Spaces in Manhattan in March 2024. Her other plays have been developed at Triad Stage, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, The Parsnip Ship, Hunger & Thirst Theatre, the COVID-19 Theatrical Response Team, and Elephant Room Productions. Patricia recently earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. She also has an MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Repertory.

Jennifer O'Grady
“We Were Happy”

Jennifer O’Grady is an award-winning playwright whose work has been performed nationally and internationally, and published in “The Best Ten-Minute Plays,” “Best New Ten-Minute Plays,” “Best Women’s Stage Monologues” and other anthologies. Also an award-winning and widely published poet and the author of two poetry books, she holds an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and a BA from Vassar. Jennifer lives with her family near New York City. (www.jenniferogrady.net)

Photo by Deborah Lowery

Adam Richter
“Clips”

Adam Richter is a playwright from Wyomissing, Pa. He has written more than 50 plays, ranging in length from one minute to 100 pages. He tried writing novels but prefers dialogue to descriptions. He has not yet learned if stage managers love him for that or hate him for it. His play “Eye Contact” won the Philips’ Mill Emerging Playwright Award in 2021, and his one-act play “Everybody Hates This Place” has been produced by Barley Sheaf Players and the Reading Theater Project. Adam is the literary manager of Reading Theater Project and a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Playwrights Thriving writers group. His website is adam-richter.com. He will discuss theater, writing and Irish history/music with anyone who’s interested. Sometimes, but not always, this includes his dog.

Domenick Scudera
“Broken Vessel”

Domenick Scudera is Professor of Theater at Ursinus College, where he has been teaching acting, directing and theater history since 1997. He has directed 40+ plays at the college. Professionally, he has directed at theaters such as the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, Delaware Theater Company, the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, and Historic Philadelphia Inc. New Hope audiences may recognize Domenick by his drag alter ego, Summer Clearance. As a playwright, he recently finished work on an original full-length play, “The Half of It,” inspired by the life of vaudeville drag pioneer Bert Savoy. Domenick and his two-legged dogs are pet therapy volunteers at area hospitals, including Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. The dogs can be followed on social media @2legdogs.

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Julie Zaffarano
“France Is Bacon”

Julie Zaffarano is a Philadelphia-area playwright who believes everyone’s lives are made of a myriad of stories. Her work spans multiple genres and forms, and comes alive with varied characters. She especially loves creating strong roles for women. Julie is the founder of the Media Arts Council Play Reading Series.

She is a nationally produced playwright. Her recent recognitions include: Finalist, Terrence McNally Award; Two-Time Semi-Finalist, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference; Finalist, Veterans Repertory Theatre; Best Production, Pittsburgh New Work Festival; Winner, Best New Work, What If Productions.

Julie is a member of PlayPenn Foundry (alum), Dramatists Guild, Ghost Light Dramatists, Witherspoon Circle, Honor Roll, Indiana Playwrights Center, Minneapolis Playwrights Center, Director’s Gathering, and Philadelphia Dramatists Center. She holds two master’s degrees from Villanova University. Find her on her webpage, www.juliezaffarano.com, or new play exchange, https://newplayexchange.org/users/12137/julie-zaffarano.

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Jane M. Lee
“Trite and True” - Honorable Mention

Jane M. Lee lives and writes in New York City. Her work has been performed across the United States, as well as in Canada and Hong Kong. Her short play “Family Emergency” was praised for “fus[ing] the hostility of a Jerry Springer program with the warmth and irony of an O. Henry story.” Her play “Open House” was a winner in the Social Issues category in the Theatre in the Raw Biennial One-Act Playwriting Contest in Vancouver. Her full-length play “Closet Space” won the College of Charleston’s Todd McNerney National Playwriting Award; her play “Good Neighbors” was previously a finalist.