Clubbed Thumb

Every year we produce Summerworks, a seven-week mini-season of new plays. It is the most dynamic, creative and efficient means we've found of serving the dual goals of our mission: to create new work and to foster an ever-growing artistic community. Summerworks features three fully-produced premieres, chosen to form an aesthetically diverse constellation of new plays and readings of works-in-progress from our Early-Career Writers Group. Many now well-established playwrights, including Sarah Ruhl, Gina Gionfriddo, Tanya Saracho, Jordan Harrison and Lisa DAmour made their New York and in some cases professional debut in Summerworks. Clubbed Thumb has returned to producing outside of Summerworks, on various scales, both independently and in collaboration with other institutions.Commissioning and Development work includes:- The Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission: Every two years, we offer an open-application commission; the chosen playwright is awarded $15,000, and two years of development support. Previous awardees & finalists include Greg Moss, Agnes Borinsky, Angela Hanks and Clare Barron. - Other Commissioning Activities: Through various programs and funding sources (including NYSCA, the Toulmin Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and others), Clubbed Thumb has also commissioned plays from Erin Courtney, Ann Marie Healy, Jason Grote, Ethan Lipton, Jordan Harrison, Carson Kreitzer and others. In 2023, we were awarded a NYSCA commission for Birgit Huppuch and a Venturous Theater Fund Finishing Commission for Liza Birkenmeiers Grief Hotel.- Brown University MFA Playwright Showcase: a new partnership, we present NYC readings of graduating MFA writers thesis plays. We hosted two readings in 2023.- The Clubbed Thumb Writers Retreat, a week-long retreat at Two River Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey. This program was on hiatus in 2023.- New Play Development Workshops:10-12 plays a year (commissions, work by members of our writers group, and work by other writers) are developed within various programs. Development activities in 2023 included workshops of all Summerworks plays, plus plays by Migdalia Cruz, Johnny Lloyd, and many readings of other plays in development.Our Early-Career Incubator programs include: - Early-Career Writers Group:Started in 2013, eight playwrights, nominated by our mid-career alumni, meet throughout the year to read and discuss their work. They are paired with mentor playwrights, meet industry professionals and peer artists, and have a public reading of their work during Summerworks. - Early-Career Directing Fellowship:Launched in 2015 to address the scarcity of development opportunities for directors, this program provides a training intensive for 3 Early-Career directors working on commissioned plays under the guidance and mentorship of Anne Kauffman and others, as well as Clubbed Thumb staff, culminating in our annual Winterworks showcase.- Producing Fellowship:Started in 2016, this season-long practicum for 1 to 2 creative producers inhabits a range of interests and experience, culminating in hands-on roles in Summerworks. We had one producing fellow Jan. - Sept. 2023, who then transitioned roles to our deputy script wrangler.