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.
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!
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
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!
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!
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 Milo Cramer
directed by Laura Dupper
with Brittany Bradford, Laura Scott Cary, Annie McNamara and Mary Wiseman
sets Emmie Finckel
costumes Avery Reed
lights Emily Clarkson
sound Caroline Eng
stage manager Andie Burns
I’m just trying to brainstorm actionable steps toward changing my life for the better, and LinkedIn was one of the only actionable steps I could brainstorm.
MAY 14 – MAY 27
PART OF SUMMERWORKS 2025
at the Wild Project
by Mara Nelson-Greenberg
directed by Joan Sergay
with Jordan Bellow, Dee Pelletier, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Sue Jean Kim, Susannah Perkins and Sam Breslin Wright
sets Corey Umlauf
costumes Mel Ng
lights Marika Kent
sound Johnny Gasper
stage manager Heather Englander
The sacrifices, the compromises, the city bus crashed straight through your home. It’s just the cost of having something that’s your own – right?
JUNE 2 – JUNE 13
PART OF SUMMERWORKS 2025
at the Wild Project
a play with music by Ro Reddick
directed by Knud Adams
music directed by Ellen Winter
with Alana Raquel Bowers, Will Cobbs, Nina Grollman, Andy Lucien, Grace McLean, Lizan Mitchell, Mallory Portnoy, Suzzy Roche and Ellen Winter
sets Afsoon Pajoufar
costumes Brenda Abbandandolo
lights Masha Tsimring
sound Kathy Ruvuna
movement Baye & Asa
stage manager Christina M. Woolard
Dear Santa, for Christmas this year I want a Pound Puppy, a Speak + Spell, and a nuclear radiation detector.
JUNE 19 – JULY 1
PART OF SUMMERWORKS 2025
at the Wild Project
Reflections on Cold War Choir Practice
by Lynn Rusten
Just Beneath the Brightness: Thoughts on Cold War Choir Practice
by Mara Nelson-Greenberg
There Once was a Child
by Bailey Williams
3Views, Issue 7, Part 3: Cold War Choir Practice
essays by Ashley M. Thomas, Ekemini Ekpo and Lexie Waddy
Review: When the President Made a Deal (Critic’s Pick!)
by Laura Collins-Hughes, NY Times
The culmination of our New Play Directing Fellowship – featuring:
Iris McCloughan directing
IL BUNKERINI
by Sam Bell
with Tina Benko, Ugo Chukwu, Tony Jenkins, Emma Kikue & Julia Sirna-Frest
designer Krit Robinson
stage manager Eva Shannon-Dabek
NJ Agwuna directing
ORIGEN STORY
by Nina Ki
with Sonnie Brown, Zöe Kim, Ashil Lee, Estelle Lee, Diana Oh, Phoenix Ra & Sarah Shin
designer Jean Kim
stage manager Rebecca Conaway
Laura Dupper directing
A NECESSARY KILLING
by Jeana Scotti
with Janice Amaya, Gibson Frazier, Noah Keyishian, Kelly McAndrew & Frankie Placidi
choreographer Sunny Min-Sook Hitt
stage manager Cara Kienitz
JANUARY 16 – 19, 2025
at Plawrights Downtown
featuring plays-in-progress from the 24/25 Early-Career Writers’ Group.
Wed May 21st:
Hide by Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke
Thurs May 22nd:
Lloyd/Llwyd by Seayoung Yum
Mon June 9th:
Lihona by Anike Sonuga
Tues June 10th:
Numbers by Chad Kaydo
Wed June 11th:
I want to hold onto something beautiful and empty by Hillary Gao
Wed June 25th:
Fashion by Amanda Horowitz
Thurs June 26th:
Angels Just Like You by Eliana Theologides Rodriguez
Fri June 27th:
Three Assemblies by Bradley Cherna
by Abe Koogler
directed by Arin Arbus
with: Arnie Burton, Crystal Finn, Jan Leslie Harding, Mia Katigbak, Ryan King, Maryann Plunkett, Armando Riesco, Miriam Silverman and Carmen Zilles
Scenic Designer dots
Costume Designer Emily Rebholz
Lighting Designer Isabella Byrd
Sound Designer Mikaal Sulaiman
Prop Designer Lauren Page Russell
Production Stage Manager Kristy Bodall
A return of Summerworks 2023’s hit production
FEBRUARY 25 – APRIL 5, 2025
at The Public’s Shiva Theater
Digital Program
Click to Download
Make It Feel Real
by Bailey Williams
Abe Koogler, Arin Arbus and a Trove of a Cast
by Billy McEntree
Read the script of Deep Blue Sound
Click here to purchase from DPS
Surrender
by Brittany K. Allen
Review: Whale-Loving Islanders Drown In Fathomless Loss in ‘Deep Blue Sound’
David Cote, The Observer
Theatre in Review: Deep Blue Sound (Clubbed Thumb at the Public Theater)
David Barbour, Lighting and Sound America
