Residency Programs: SOUL Series LAB

Every year, NBT selects a new cohort of early-career artists to participate in our residency programs. Dedicated to the pursuit of nurturing playwrights, launching directors, and guiding producers, we provide a creative home that accelerates the careers of these innovative storytellers.

Through the SOUL Series LAB (Liberating Artistic Bravery), NBT forges the artistic relationship between historically Black theatrical institutions and emerging artists. And since 2012, the program’s goal has been to diversify the narratives, points of access, and possibilities being developed and produced around the Black experience in American theatre.

The I Am SOUL Playwright Residency

serves the best and brightest early-career Black writers from around the country, with a commitment to producing a public presentation of a newly commissioned play over 18 months. We provide a stipend, development resources, and a production team for up to three playwrights per cycle, with an unprecedented commitment to produce the new work within a future season.

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THE SOUL Directing Residency

offers a demanding yet stimulating environment for a Black director to build exposure, establish New York City credentials, and, above all, refine technical and creative skills. Each cycle is at least 18 months.

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THE SOUL Producing Residency

is a 10-month program designed to provide hands-on experience in the administrative requirements of producing a theatrical season in New York City. The resident is given the opportunity to take the lead on producing a project within that season to widen their professional training, skill sets, and confidence.

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