Bloomington Playwrights Project facts for kids

The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) is a special arts group in Bloomington, Indiana. It is a not-for-profit organization, which means it uses any money it earns to support its goals. The BPP's main goal is to help create and show new, original plays and theater. They only put on shows that have never been seen before. The BPP also holds contests for writers and offers classes in writing plays and acting.

History of the BPP

How the BPP Started

The Bloomington Playwrights Project was started in 1979 by Tom Moseman and Jim Leonard. They wanted to create a place for local writers to show their new plays. This new theater would be different from what was offered at Indiana University.

The first shows, like Jim Leonard's And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson, were made with a small budget. They also had to be put together very quickly. Over time, the BPP became known as the only theater in Indiana that focused only on new plays. It was also one of the few theaters like this in the whole country.

Playwriting Contests and Awards

In 1993, a supporter named Reva Shiner helped start an annual playwriting contest. It was called the Reva Shiner Full Length Play Contest. This contest invited new plays from all over the country. Both well-known and new writers sent in their work.

The winner of this contest receives money and gets their play fully produced on stage. The first winner was Glenn Alterman with his play Nobody’s Flood. Other winning plays have included Sister Calling My Name by Buzz McLaughlin and Alice in Ireland by Judy Sheehan. Many of these winning plays have gone on to win more awards and be performed in other theaters.

In 2010, a new award for serious plays was created. This was the Woodward/Newman Drama Award. It is a special honor given by the BPP. The award is supported by the Newman's Own Foundation. It remembers the many great plays that actors Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman performed in together. The winner of this award receives $3,000 and their play is fully produced as part of the BPP's main season.

Other Talented Playwrights

Many other talented playwrights have had their work shown at the BPP. These include famous writers like Israel Horovitz and Wendy MacLeod. Other writers include Craig Wright, Toni Press-Coffman, and Michael Healey. The BPP has been a stage for many different voices in theater.

Theater Spaces and Programs

The BPP first performed in a simple "black box" space. This is a type of theater that is usually a plain room with black walls. Now, the BPP has two theater spaces. These are the Timothy J. Wiles mainstage and the Lora Shiner Studio.

The BPP puts on a full season of shows for people who buy tickets for the whole year. In the past, it has also offered a drama school for students. It has hosted a children's play festival and groups that perform improv comedy. The BPP has also had late-night theater shows and cabaret performances. In 2006, the BPP received a large grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This money helped them put on a festival of plays written by Latino and Latina writers.