The Playwrights Enrichment Series (PES) began in 2008 with a donation from an anonymous alumnus of Goddard’s MFA in Creative Writing program. The vision is to bring luminaries from the American theatre and film communities to Goddard to lead professional development workshops and discuss career opportunities with our dramatic writing students.
The PES features two visits of theatre and film professionals per year. Past visitors include Wendy C. Goldberg (Eugene O’Neill Theater), Philip Himberg (Sundance Theatre Lab), John Eisner (Lark Theatre), Marisa Smith (Smith & Kraus Publishers) and screenwriter/film director Jane Anderson.
The series is a shining example of playwrights helping playwrights. It is supported by dramatic writing alumni and is evidence of the tight-knit community that exists among the graduates of Goddard’s MFA in Creative Writing program.
Please join your fellow alumni to keep this series going by giving today!
“In a close and casual environment, we were able to speak with critically-acclaimed theatre artists who not only shared their struggles with us but provided great advice on how to build successful careers in the theatre. The guidance and information remains invaluable.” -Edward Pinkowski, MFAW ’14
“The professional workshops added an essential dimension to the residencies. They were not only an opportunity to discuss the nuts-and-bolts of the business with leaders in the field – literary managers, publishers, directors, creative directors and others – but were also the start of relationships that lasted beyond Goddard.” – Sheila Curran Bernard, MFAW ’10
“As a theater publisher it was very uplifting to spend the day with tomorrow’s playwrights! Goddard was extremely dynamic and creative. I was energized by the playwrights and their work.” -Marisa Smith, Smith & Kraus Publishers
“As a visiting playwright, I might have been there to inspire the students but I was deeply inspired in return. I had some remarkable exchanges with some of the young writers who fired me up to solve the next draft of a play of mine that was heading for Arena Stage.” -Jane Anderson, screenwriter/director
