Paywrights’ Round Table develops original theatrical works year-round through monthly workshops, staged readings, and productions of select plays. These activities support the development and artistic growth of area playwrights and introduce local audiences to new voices of the American stage.
In 1997, PRT launched as a playwriting support group focused on growing and developing local writers. In its first year, PRT established a monthly playwriting workshop where actors read works from both established and emerging playwrights. Many of these plays went on to be produced by PRT and/or submitted nationally. In its existence, PRT has presented over 500 new plays by over 100 different playwrights, and remains the only theater in Central Florida producing new work year-round.
Today, PRT produces three ten-minute play festivals and one full-length play every year, bringing emerging talent to the Central Florida region while also celebrating and developing our local playwrights. We also issue a fifth script call for five-minute plays produced in cooperation with Valencia Community College. Through these endeavors, we have built a reputation among playwrights as a theatrical organization willing to take the risks and accept the challenges of creating and presenting new works for the American stage. We also provide an opportunity for local actors, directors, and students to engage with new works in a welcoming, accessible setting. Special opportunities, such as the Black History Month showcase encourage underrepresented writers to submit their work for performance.