The Commission
Funding Bold New Work
The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission expands on the lineage of the Group Theatre, Lee Strasberg, and playwright Clifford Odets — whose plays for this storied ensemble transformed the American Theatre.
Through the commission, The Lee Strasberg Creative Center partners talented emerging playwrights, directors, and Method trained actors to develop new ensemble works. The program offers playwrights a unique opportunity to see their plays realized on a professional stage without the years of workshops and readings that drag typical developmental processes.
Meet The Playwrights
Our commission has supported more than fifteen emerging playwrights, generating a bold body of work for ensembles of young performers. Get to know the collective of playwrights whose voices have shaped — and been shaped by — this program.
The Impact of Your Support
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"The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission came at a critical point in my life and career. I had just become pregnant with my first child, and I was terrified that I’d never write again. Thanks to the support of The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission I was able to write The Place We Built—all before my baby turned six months old. The Place We Built went on to win the AR Gurney Prize. It was selected by the Playwrights Realm for their Writing Fellows program, opening an important door for me. And it was professionally produced by the Flea Theater—my off-Broadway debut, and the off-Broadway debut of director Danya Taymor. I am profoundly grateful to the original ensemble; I tailored the roles to them, and they profoundly impacted the tone and the message of the piece. [LSTFI] could not have been more organized, supportive, and dedicated to the quality of the work!”
— Sarah Gancher, playwright, The Place We Built, 2013
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"This sort of commission is the lifeblood of a playwright’s creative journey -- providing artists with an opportunity to learn by doing outside the restrictions, demands, and limitations of the commercial space, giving them the chance to collaborate on a project and see it through from beginning to end. I am so deeply grateful to have received the Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission. It is a truly empowering and enriching experience which I would wish for any playwright."
— Frank Winters, playwright, The School Play, 2014
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“The Odets Commission was the most exciting experience of my undergraduate career. It was the first time I rehearsed with a playwright in the room. The rehearsal process demanded creative rigor and a sense of inventiveness while filling me with confidence not only as a performer but also as a generative artist. I was lucky enough to come back and direct an original commission, that spawned professional relationships with the playwright, composer, choreographer, and designers. The commission gifted us with expansive possibilities and ample room to experiment and grow the script alongside the actors in the room. All of us became better artists because of this experience.”
— Olivia Songer, actor, Love Lab (2012) and director, We Are Not Well(2019)
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“Lee’s dedication to the American Theatre permeated all aspects of his life, and is at the very foundation of The Institute’s mission. Supporting emerging talents—not just the next generation of actors, but playwrights and directors—ensures a vibrant future for the American Theatre. The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission does just that as evidenced by the many plays, collaborations and careers incubated by this program. We look forward to another decade fostering young artists and watching Lee’s vision come alive.”
— Anna Strasberg, co-founder of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and founder of The Lee Strasberg Creative Center
The Plays
The commission is one of the Creative Center’s most successful programs. Over the course of its 12 year history, it has incubated over a dozen new plays from idea to full production, many of which have gone on to be further developed or performed by theatres in NYC and around the country. This collaboration has helped many students build lasting relationships with emerging directors and writers, and supported a robust list of playwrights that have continued to prove themselves as strong emerging talents in New York.
Applications
The Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission is announced annually each June. All submissions are received through agency representatives or direct recommendation. Please contact us for more information on how to submit.