What's Happening!

  • OUR NEXT OPEN APPLICATION COMMISSION IS NOW LIVE!

    Every year Clubbed Thumb invites playwrights to propose plays inspired by a particular prompt. The application is free and open to all; the anonymous proposals are read by a panel of theater artists. The winning proposal(s) receive (or split) a $15,000 award and development support. (Read more about our new approach to play submissions HERE.)

    This year, thanks to the gift of an anonymous sponsor, we are pleased to announce our next submission opportunity: Anthropology of the Workplace – a Margaret Mead Commission.

    READ MORE & SUBMIT HERE

  • THE FAMILY DOG WILL RETURN IN 2027!

    Summerworks 2026’s sold-out, hit production of THE FAMILY DOG by Bailey Williams, directed by Tara Ahmadinejad and starring the original cast will return for FOUR WEEKS ONLY, February 9 – March 6, 2027 at New York Theatre Workshop. Tickets will go on sale in a few weeks – sign up for our EBLAST to get updates, early access and special ticket deals!

  • THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR GALA A GREAT SUCCESS

    Thanks to everyone who joined us to honor Josh Silverman, and to everyone who contributed to make it a truly special night.

    It’s not too late to contribute to the Josh Silverman Fund! DONATE HERE

  • MEET OUR 26/27 GROUP COHORTS!

    A very warm welcome to the incoming writers and directors taking part in Clubbed Thumb’s Early-Career Writers’ Group and New Play Fellowship!

    Directors Cricket Brown, Marissa Joyce Stamps and Jillian Jetton will work on plays by Daniel Holzman, Aaron Ricciardi and Nikhil Mahapatra respectively – stay tuned for a Winterworks announcement.

    And we’re looking forward to getting to know Agyeiwaa Asante, Ida Cutler, Carlin Feck, Fiona Gorry-Hines, Salwa Meghjee, Derick Edgren Otero, Jacob K. Robinson and Amy B. Tiong in this year’s writers’ group!

  • THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SUMMERWORKS 2026

    Whether it was your first Summerworks or your 29th, we are so pleased you could join us. CLICK HERE for photos, essays and press from this season.

    We’ll be spending the summer incubating and planning for the fall, but we have lot of news to share, so watch this space!

  • OUR NEW ANTHOLOGY - ON SALE NOW

    We’ve been eager to put out a second anthology since Funny, Strange, Provocative was published in 2007, and the last year finally provided us with the time to take on this long-awaited project. We are thrilled to announce that Unusual Stories, Unusually Told, published by Bloomsbury/Methuen, is now available!

    In it you’ll find seven Clubbed Thumb plays that span 18 years of our history, as well as essays and interviews about the work, and the often atypical processes that led to their productions.

    Read more about the book and get your discounted copy (and our first anthology) HERE


• Maria Striar (Artistic Director) is a veteran performer and director who co-founded Clubbed Thumb in 1996. Interviews with her can be found in The New York Times, The Brooklyn Rail, The Interval, American Theatre and more. She is an adjunct at Hunter College and a frequent respondent at UTAustin, Brown, NYU, and others. In 2010 her Artistic Directorship was honored at the inaugural Lily Awards, citing her work as a “fierce champion of new works and new writers…who has helped launch and/or develop the careers” of scores of playwrights, especially women.

• Michael Bulger (Producing Director) has worked in theater, film and television in New York and Los Angeles, including projects at St. Ann’s Warehouse, The Public Theater, The Cherry Lane Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Vice Media, NBCUniversal and Focus Features. He taught Creative Producing for four years at NYU/Playwrights Horizons Theater School, and is regularly a guest lecturer at a number of other colleges and universities. He co-edited the book Unusual Stories, Unusually Told published by Methuen/Bloomsbury in 2021. He has a B.A. in Visual Media Arts from Emerson College and a Masters in Arts Administration from Columbia University/Teacher’s College.

• Rachel Mueller (Associate Director of Development) has worked in development and event planning regionally at Dorset Theatre Festival, Pablo Center, Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, and Des Moines Metro Opera. She has a BA in theater with minors in creative writing and arts administration from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

• Emma Richmond (Programs Manager) has made theater with/at HERE, The Tank, Columbia University, Colt Coeur, and Audible, amongst others. She was The Tank’s 2022-23 Producing Fellow, and she holds a BFA from The New School of Drama with a minor in Interdisciplinary Science. She also co-founded and currently leads Trove, a theatre and live arts collective (troveirl.com).

• Amina Khelif (Development & Producing Associate) is a director and producer of new work who has made theater at/with JACK, The Tank, New York Theater Festival, GreenRoom42, The Vino Theater, and The East Village Basement. She was Clubbed Thumb’s 2025 Producing Fellow, and holds a BFA in Theater & Performance from Emerson College.