Organizer Information
What Will the Neighbors Say? (WWTNS?) is an agile, Brooklyn-based theatre company established in 2016 under the artistic leadership of James Clements and Sam Hood Adrain. Operating with a core mission to provoke critical public questions through untold stories, the company creates source-based theatre using historical archives, interviews, journalism, and primary documentation. Having premiered 12 original works across 6 cities in 4 countries, WWTNS? focuses on equity and representation—creating jobs for over 425 artists, with 75% identifying as non-cis-male and 50% belonging to the Global Majority or immigrant communities.
Title & Description
New to the Neighborhood 2026 Cohort: Call for Proposals
What Will the Neighbors Say? has launched the second cycle of its "New to the Neighborhood" residency program, built as an incubator for Brooklyn-based early-career playwrights. Specifically designed to address the systemic underrepresentation of female, trans, and non-binary writers of the Global Majority within the American theatre ecosystem, the program offers a pressure-free environment to workshop, develop, and present source-grounded theatrical projects. Two selected resident writers will receive direct stipends, production funding to hire collaborators, dedicated rehearsal space in Brooklyn, mentorship, and a public work-in-progress presentation.
Categories
The opportunity focuses on Playwriting, Contemporary Theatre, and Source-Based Scriptwriting (incorporating primary research, archives, interview transcripts, or document analysis).
Eligibility
- Geographic Scope: Must currently reside in Brooklyn, NY (holding a valid 112xx ZIP code documented on a lease, license, or utility bill).
- Demographic Priorities: Female, trans, or non-binary early-career writers belonging to Global Majority, BIPOC, Indigenous, or AAPI communities.
- Work Authorization: Applicants must be US citizens or hold valid US work authorization at the time of application.
- Career Level: Early-career creators demonstrating a sustained background in theatre without having received major industry breakthrough recognition.
- Teams: Writing teams are eligible (submitting a single joint application with shared stipends). Devising ensembles or large troupes are not eligible.
- Union Status: Members of artistic unions (e.g., Dramatists Guild) are eligible without restriction.
Program Benefits & Awards
Each of the two selected residents receives a comprehensive funding and production package:
- Unrestricted Artist Stipend: $1,500 USD
- Creative Team Collaborator Fund: $1,750 USD (allocated to hire directors, actors, stage managers, or creative collaborators)
- Production Materials Fund: $250 USD (for printing, scripts, and supplies)
- Spatial Support: 29 hours of dedicated rehearsal space in Brooklyn.
- Industry & Mentorship Support: Direct artistic mentorship from WWTNS? leadership and a public work-in-progress presentation on December 5, 2026.
Application Fee
This application process is 100% free of charge.
Application Requirements
- Application Cap: Strictly limited to the first 50 qualifying applications received.
- Round One Materials (Upload Options):
- Option 1: A 10-page script sample from your proposed project.
- Option 2: A 5-page outline of your proposed project alongside a 5-page sample from a separate completed play.
- Round Two Materials (Shortlist): Submission of a full-length script (60+ pages/minutes in length, either a working draft of the proposed project or a completed draft of another work) followed by a Zoom interview.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically via the official Airtable intake portal.
- Official Application Form: WWTNS? New to the Neighborhood Portal
Key Dates
- Round One Applications Opened: August 3, 2026
- Round One Closing Deadline: September 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST (or as soon as 50 qualifying entries are received)
- Round Two Notifications: October 5, 2026
- Full Scripts Due (Shortlist): October 7, 2026
- Round Two Interviews: Week of October 12, 2026
- Final Residents Announced: October 19, 2026
- Pre-Production Phase: Begins by November 1, 2026
- Residency & Rehearsal Window: November 30 – December 4, 2026
- Public Presentation Date: December 5, 2026
Location
Initial reviews and interviews take place Online. The physical rehearsal block, pre-production, and work-in-progress presentation take place live in:
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
Additional Details
This cycle is supported by funds from the Wyman-Potter Foundation, New York City Council Member C.M. Hudson, and New York State Senator Julia Salazar. For specific application inquiries or accessibility needs, contact organizers directly at neighbors@wwtns.org.