Lark Play Development Center

Founded in 1994, the Lark is a laboratory for new voices and new ideas, the Lark Play Development Center provides American and international playwrights with indispensable resources to develop their work, nurturing artists at all stages in their careers, and inviting them to freely express themselves in a supportive and rigorous environment. By reaching across international boundaries, the Lark seeks out and embraces new and diverse perspectives from writers in all corners of the world. With the aim to integrate audiences into the creative process from its initial stages, the Lark brings together actors, directors and playwrights to allow writers to learn about their own work by seeing it—and by receiving feedback from a dedicated and supportive community.

WHAT KIND OF PLAYS?

Works that are ambitious, fresh, playful, engaging, energizing,
provocative, powerful and theatrical.
Works that reveal unheard and vital perspectives.
Authors with clear goals about their writing who are open to the Lark's developmental process.

The Lark's Mission is defined by our responses to these three challenges

...writers had the freedom and the resources to write whatever they chose, without political or commercial pressures?
When writers are free to write what they choose, in the ways that they choose, they’re able to convey unique visions of the world. The Lark brings together the best actors, directors and playwrights available to allow writers to learn about their own work by seeing it—and by receiving feedback from a community of committed artists.

... more diverse voices were included in the mainstream?
By reaching across international boundaries, the Lark seeks out and embraces new and diverse perspectives from writers in all corners of the world—and different cultures in our own backyard. Society is enriched by the inclusion of these voices and they can be powerful agents for global exchange and social betterment.

...everyone in America was part of a creative community?
Without an audience, there is no theater. The Lark is unique in its efforts to integrate audiences into the creative process from its initial stages. We recognize the kinetic energy that is shared by those who create plays and those who receive them, so the Lark encourages a diverse community to observe and participate in our work. We engage students of all ages in the process of making theatre because we see it as a model for community cooperation and problem solving.