Small Stage, Big Impact

Announcing SGT’s Inaugural Global Playwright Series Cohort!

The Global Playwright Series (GPS) is Shattered Globe’s new play development program, specifically aimed at BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Neurodiverse, and Disabled writers, and those who fall at the intersections of these identities. The goal of the program is to connect SGT with new playwrights who want to collaborate, lead the development of their play, and then have it fully produced by Shattered Globe.

Equal and Terrifying by Kimberly Dixon-Mays (she/her/hers)

Andrea, a reclusive middle-aged visual artist, has her work and life interrupted when Sophie, a late friend’s twenty-something daughter, comes looking for answers about her mother’s past. The two get stuck in Andrea’s studio in a supernatural vicious circle, fighting to define what connection they owe each other as acquaintances, artists and Black women, and what escape looks like.

Black Girl Joy by Phanésia Pharel (she/her/hers)

At the Black Girl Joy Center for Vulnerable Youth in Miami, Trina, JT, Squeaks and Donna come together to share their story. Shifting between memory, choreo poems and a juicy plot, Black Girl Joy is a ritual play for black girls/women to heal from intimate partner violence, a loss of girlhood and the death of their friends.

Radial Gradient by Jasmine Sharma (she/her/hers)

Three women enter a research study in an effort to create positive change after a hate crime takes place at their university. Radial Gradient challenges what complicity looks like, and asks what will we do when it looks like us?

From the first conversation with each of these playwrights, their unique view of the world and the passion behind creating each play was immediately apparent. SGT could not be more excited to begin a long-term artistic relationship with Jasmine, Kimberly and Phanésia. I cannot wait to introduce their new plays to Chicago audiences. SGT plans to reopen applications for this festival in future seasons. GPS will help SGT chart our future.

Sandy ShinnerProducing Artistic Director

Working on GPS this year was such a fulfilling experience after a year and a half away from collaborating with artists during the pandemic. Focusing in on playwrights from BIPOC and Queer backgrounds, we read so many important, nuanced stories and made relationships that typically would have taken much longer to cultivate. We are so grateful to everyone who submitted and especially to our finalists who we are currently in process of further supporting their work. We can’t wait to share their work with our theater community in Chicago.

AmBer MontgomeryAssociate Artistic Director

Global Playwrights Series Semi-finalists:

Twenty-six by Angela Bey
Fucking Ajax! by Ella Boureau
Brawl! by Connor Emir Bradshaw
The Light Post by India Burton
Dumb Bitch Juice by Annalise Cain
I’m going to go back there someday by Asher de Forest
Stuff (and nonsense) by Charlotte Jung
At the Battlefront by Gursimrat Kaur
Redemption Game by Lisa Konoplisky
The Gift of BS by Dave Osmundsen
Egg Tooth by J.C. Pankratz
Zack Peercy, who submitted a new play concept along with a work sample from Essential Starlite

The Global Playwright Series applications are currently closed. Please check back or subscribe to our newsletter for updates about this program!

Shattered Globe Theatre is partially supported and funded by generous grants from The Bayless Family Foundation, The Shulman-Rochambeau Charitable Foundation, Brenda and James Grusecki, Carol P. Eastin, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Daniel Cyganowski, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and The Saints.