Thank you to the hundreds of people who joined as at Playwrights Downtown for the 10th annual Winterworks. We were so proud of the work these amazing artists made — and we managed to cram everyone in to share it. Congratulations especially to Directing Fellows Iris McCloughan, NJ Agwuna and Laura Dupper – read more HERE
This year we lost one of our great comic dramatists: Christopher Durang. We’ve been reflecting on how powerful and much-needed savage humor like his is in a world like ours today. So, for the 10th Biennial Commission, please consider his work, especially from the 1980’s. Applications are due March 20th, 2025. Read more and submit yours HERE
We are thrilled to announce that Deep Blue Sound – which ran to sold-out houses at Summerworks 2023 – will return for five weeks this winter. After a wildly successful run of Grief Hotel earlier this season, we are excited to return to The Public Theater with another Summerworks hit. CLICK FOR TICKETS & INFO
Monday night’s Gala, celebrating our dear friends and collaborators dots, was beautiful, moving and very fun. Thank you to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, donated and otherwise supported this very special night.
See photos from the event on our Instagram (and tag @clubbedthumb if you’re posting your own)!
At the event, we raised funds in honor of dots to help us better support the designers in our community – and we happily exceeded our goal. But there’s no such thing as a late donation! If you’d like to contribute to the fund, click HERE
The last six months were the busiest in our history. We started with Winterworks at Houghton Hall in January, followed by six weeks of Grief Hotel at the Public in the spring, and we rounded it all out with Summerworks at the Wild Project, where we managed to cram in 47 performances over seven weeks.
Some of you saw it all, some just a piece, and some met our work for the first time. We were thrilled to share it with all of you.
Here are some photos and essays from the season, to tide you over until we have work to share again in the fall (or when we see you at our gala honoring dots!)
Lastly: We had our most successful season at the box office ever. If you were there, you know it was full to overflowing. And you might remember that your ticket was pretty affordable—maybe even free. That’s important to us.
But what that means is, even when we sell out all the time, tickets only cover a fraction (about 1/7th) of what it all costs, especially considering we pay people better every year (That’s important to us too!)
Throughout the year, we support hundreds of artists, mostly early in their careers, whether in our writers or directors groups, readings, workshops, commissions, retreats, or in production. So, if you can, make a donation today and be a part of our effort to pay artists, to make beautiful, affordable work, and to do it even better next year!
We’ll be back at the Wild Project May 16th through June 29th with the 27th iteration of SUMMERWORKS, featuring: Usus by T. Adamson, directed by Emma Miller; Coach Coach by Bailey Williams, directed by Sarah Blush; and Find Me Here by Crystal Finn, directed by Caitlin Sullivan. Tickets on sale now! Learn more & get yours here
We were thrilled to bring Summerworks 2023’s Obie-winning hit production Grief Hotel back for a six-week run at The Public Theater, in partnership with our friends New Georges. It was very special to dig back into the play and production with the exceptional group of artists who made it, and such a joy to share it with so many more people. We had a tremendous run – sold out, extended and beloved by critics and audiences – thank you to all who attended and to all who made it possible. CLICK HERE TO READ ESSAYS AND MORE ABOUT THE SHOW
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
by Kate E. Ryan
directed by Anne Kauffman
original music by Mike Iveson
With David Brooks, Kate Hopkins, Birgit Huppuch, Ed Jewett, Lynne McCollough, and Mary Shultz
Sets by Jason Simms
Lights by Garin Marschall
Costumes by Olivera Gajic
Sound by Jessica Paz
In which old Dot and the weird kid from the neighborhood become friends. Set in that kind of Florida town that makes you wonder: is this tv, a book, or maybe even a cabaret?
June 6 – 12, 2010
by Samuel D. Hunter
directed by Davis McCallum
With Charlotte Booker, Crystal Finn, Barret O’Brien, Carmen M. Herlihy, and Edward James Hyland
Sets by Dane Laffrey
Lights by Russell H. Champa
Costumes by Jessica Trejos
Sound by Jill BC Du Boff
In which Katie is determined to finish writing that book – even though she didn’t start it. Lucky she’s got a new friend at the Fashion Bug to help since her in-laws are deluded, drunk and dog-obsessed.
June 13 – 19, 2010
by Anne Washburn
directed by Les Waters
original music by Dave Malloy
With Gideon Banner, Maria Dizzia, Matthew Maher, Dave Malloy, and Susie Pourfar
Sets by Louisa Thompson
Associate Set Designer Chris Morris
Lights by Jane Cox
Costumes by Kirche Leigh Zeile
Sound by Bray Poor
In which a man struggles to assemble a reality from his dreams, the dog very much wants to be taken for a walk, and the Natural Food store isn’t.
June 20 – 26, 2010
by Sheila Callaghan
directed by Kip Fagan
With Danny Mastrogiorgio, Rebecca Henderson, Gregory McFadden, Polly Lee and Alex Anfanger
Sets by Peter Ksander
Costumes by Jessica Pabst
Lights by Jeanette Oi-suk Yew
Sound by Bart Fasbender
Video by Shaun Irons & Lauren Petty
Sculpture Design by Jessica Scott
Props by Miranda King
A possibly rogue g-man stalks a stalled-out artist with a suspicious affinity for accident victims. Traps are set, traps are sprung, and everyone gets caught.
September 7 – 27, 2010
With Hoi Polloi, The Mad Ones, Polybe + Seats, Vampire Cowboys and The Woodshed Collective
We threw ingredients from this year’s plays at groups of artists and let them loose on the pillars.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010