
The I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Overview
The I Am SOUL Playwright Residency Program 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 the course of 18 months. Launched in 2014, 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. Through this program NBT also provides micro-development opportunities to up to 23 black playwrights that are awarded to finalist and selected applicants to help them develop new work. This series is called the SOUL Reading Series.
THE SOUL SERIES LAB (Liberating Artistic Bravery) is a contemporary laboratory for accelerating and creating innovative new work by cutting-edge artists rooted in NBT’s pedagogy.
Apply
Application Process Postponed for 2025
For questions or inquiries contact Belynda M’Baye, [email protected]
Current Residency

Anthony T. Goss
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Ashley M. Thomas
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
a.k.payne – 2023 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Jeremy O’Brian – 2023 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Zola Dee – 2023 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Calley N. Anderson – 2022 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Brian Egland – 2022 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright Residency
Nathan Yungerberg – 2020 Cohort
I Am SOUL Playwright ResidencyPast Residency

Fedna Jacquet – 2020 Cohort
Black Mother Lost Daughter
Kristen Adele Calhoun – 2020 Cohort
Bloodwork
SXR OM DXTCHXSS-DAVIS – 2019 Cohort
Packages O’ The Things We Deliver
TyLie Shider – 2019 Cohort
The Gospel Woman
Tracey Conyer Lee – 2018 Cohort
Retreat
Darrel Alejandro Holnes – 2018 Cohort
Bayano
Eric Micha Holmes – 2017 Cohort
Mondo Tragic
Lee Edward Colston II – 2017 Cohort
The First Deep Breath
Derek Lee McPhatter – 2016 Cohort
Serious Adverse Effects
Angelica Chéri – 2016 Cohort
Crowndation: I Will Not Lie To David
Nambi E. Kelley – 2015 Cohort
Blood
Dennis A. Allen II – 2015 Cohort
Manhood
Aurin Squire -2014 Cohort
Zoohouse
Mfoniso Udofia – 2013 Cohort
Her Portmanteau