Jennifer Pierro and Laura Shoop
DARRYL REILLY OF THEATRESCENE.ORG
“Wiry and jittery Jennifer Pierro has several hilarious bits as the scheming company psychologist.”
“Director Ken Wolf’s sharp staging realizes the play’s comedic and dramatic momentum through zesty straightforwardness, visual élan and his cast’s strong performances.”
“With its five characters and one set, Powerhouse is in the tradtion of well-made plays.”
Jennifer Pierro
“The best acting accolade goes to Jennifer Pierro as the HR psychologist second banana.” -Mari S. Gold, T and B On The Aisle
Jennifer Pierro and Laura Shoop
RAWSHOCK by Rita Lewis is on THEATERSCENE.ORG’s
A 2024 10 Best List
by Darryl Reilly
(shared with Off-Broadway and Broadway Plays)
Since 2017, we have produced over 80 plays with playwrights, actors, and producers from around the world. Each project begins with an idea on the page and grows into a fully realized production on stage.
We are now accepting full-length plays and musicals (60 to 150 minutes) for production through 2026. Whether your goal is an Off-Broadway run, or a fully staged premiere, we can help you bring your work to life in New York City.
Production costs for a full-length play typically range from $25,000 to $200,000 and beyond, depending on the scope of your production, scenic and technical elements, cast size, and number of performances. We work with both Equity and Non-Union projects.
This program is for playwrights and producers who are serious about building a professional production in New York, or anywhere in the world—with the guidance and experience of Manhattan Rep’s team.
Your script deserves more than a reading. It deserves a stage, an audience, and a full production that brings your vision to life.
If you are serious about self-producing your play in New York City, or anywhere in the world, click on the button below!
THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
DARRYL REILLY OF THEATERSCENE. ORG:
“exquisite command of dramatic writing”
“exhilarating physical staging”
“Dressed all in black with flowing black hair, the thin, animated and alluring Jennifer Pierro is haunting as a disturbed artist off her meds; she is riveting enacting several harrowing breakdowns.”
“Chelsea Clark conveys tremendous pathos as a troubled young woman on the verge of a new start in life!”
“The authoritative, yet approachable Camber Carpenter is serene as the heroic therapist.”
“Nathan Cusson is ferocious as a combative hothead patient.”
“Christian Libonati beautifully combines intensity and weariness as a forlorn substance addicted male prostitute.”
“Each actor offers and sustains fearless characterizations”
"Rawshock intelligently explores its painful subject matter through blazing theatricality."
DEB MILLER OF DCTHEATERARTS. ORG:
“Rawshock is an important example of theater in the service of society”
"explosive segments of psychological and emotional breakdowns"
SCOTTY BENNETT OF THEATERSCENE. NET PROCLAIMED:
“It is beautifully written by Rita Lewis and superbly directed by Ken Wolf.”
"The ensemble that plays the patients is outstanding. They fully embody their characters and give several emotionally compelling performances."
"Jennifer Pierro is so in tune with the character that watching her feels like eavesdropping on a real patient."
"Chelsea Clark gives a beautifully integrated performance of Tina, fully realizing the moments of anxiety and calm."
"Nathan Cusson is solid in his characterization of Alex, a young man who is an outpatient and has an explosive temper."
"Theresa Della Valle's performance adds to the powerhouse that this ensemble represents. She is totally believable as the grandmotherly member of the group. From the moment she enters the stage and speaks her first lines, there is no doubt that it is not an actor playing a role but a real person."
"Christian Libonati gives an emotionally powerful, heart-breaking tour de force performance, the impact of which is not fully realized until the end of the play."
Jennifer Pierro, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Cusson, Theresa Della Valle, Christian Libonati, and Camber Carpenter in Rawshock by Rita Lewis
Christian Libonati, Jennifer Pierro, Camber Carpenter, Nathan Cusson, Theresa Della Valle, and Chelsea Clark
Jennifer Pierro, Christian Libonati, Nathan Cusson, and Theresa Della Valle
Jennifer Pierro and Chelsea Clark
Produce a small workshop production of your play in NYC, developed and presented by Manhattan Rep.
The Play Production Workshop is for playwrights ready to step from the page to the stage.
This program is designed as an affordable, lower-end production path, stripped of unnecessary expense but rich in the essentials of great theatre.
No elaborate sets. Just the heartbeat of live performance: talented actors, lights, sound, and the play you’ve crafted brought to life.
For more information about this program, click on the button below:
FREE GIVEAWAY
Join the List by filling in your email address in the form below. You will be emailed a confirmation email. Confirm that email.
Another email will then arrive with a button link to a page to download the pdf of these two books.
Thank you!
Let’s Transform the Playwriting World!
And Now for Something NEW!
JOIN OUR ARTIST WORK DATABASE
We are always seeking production staff: Actors, Directors, Design Team, Technicians and House Staff, so we are building an Artist Work Database to use for the various productions we build. Click on the button below. Fill out the form or forms which work for what you do, and we will reach out first to this database when building a Production Team.
BRING YOUR BEST PLAY TO LIFE IN NYC IN A PROFESSIONAL READING!
Every playwright dreams of that moment, when the words on the page lift into air, when characters breathe, when their story lives in real time.
At Manhattan Repertory Theatre, we make that dream come true.
This is not a cold read.
This is not a table reading over Zoom.
This is a live professional rehearsal process, culminating in a powerful reading presentation of your play before an audience right in the heart of New York City.
THE COMPLETE FANTASTIC PLAY SERIES
THE COMPLETE FANTASTIC PLAY SERIES by Ken Wolf is an unparalleled journey into the art and craft of playwriting and production, now available in one comprehensive volume. Whether you're an aspiring playwright taking your first steps or a seasoned professional looking to re-invent your writing process, this collection is your ultimate guide to writing better plays and getting your plays produced.
Written by Ken Wolf, Playwright, Off-Broadway Director and Producer, the Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Playwriting Coach and host of The Playwriting Podcast whose unique insights from over 35 years of experience writing, directing and producing plays in New York City,
Ken will transform the often daunting task of writing a play into a fascinating and exciting adventure, with simple strategies and techniques you can incorporate immediately into your playwriting workflow.
Ken makes the process of writing a play fun!
This series includes four indispensable books:
HOW TO WRITE A FANTASTIC PLAY IN 28 DAYS!
Discover a revolutionary new approach to writing a full-length play in just four weeks. Learn how to develop compelling characters, write specific and captivating dialogue, and harness the power of Ken's Emotional Event Map so that you can write better and faster than ever before, and complete a fully realized and compelling play in only 28 days.
So many playwrights take months, even years to complete a play, but this book will teach you a unique writing workflow, and give you a writing schedule, that will make it easy for you to write a fantastic full-length play (70 - 120 pages) in only 28 days. Yes, 28 days! You will learn a new way of writing a play that will transform your playwriting and your playwriting career!
THE 10 PRINCIPLES OF PLAYWRITING!
Unlock the secrets of successful playwriting with these 10 essential Principles of Playwriting. Ken's expert guidance will reshape your understanding of the craft of Playwriting and you will write better and faster than ever before!
Learning these Principles of Playwriting, these production based distinctions of play creation, will transform your playwriting and your playwriting career forever. You will see and understand playwriting in an entirely different way, and if you put these 10 Principles of Playwriting into action, you will take your playwriting to the next level, whether you are novice or a seasoned pro!
HOW TO WRITE A FANTASTIC 10 MINUTE PLAY IN 2 HOURS!
Perfect for the fast-paced world of theatre festivals, this book teaches you how to create compelling and unique 10 minute plays in 2 hours or less. You will learn a new way of writing a Fantastic 10 minute play that will increase your 10 minute playwriting productivity 10 fold! And it's fun too!
HOW TO GET YOUR FANTASTIC PLAY PRODUCED!
Learn a brand new and proven strategy to get your play read and produced. Ken offers the 8 Principles of HOW TO GET YOUR FANTASTIC PLAY PRODUCED, which outline best practices for play submissions, follow up emails and phone calls, connecting personally to theatres and producers, and so much more! Learn the best practices to connect with theatres and producers, to bring your plays to the stage!
THE COMPLETE FANTASTIC PLAY SERIES
Infused with personal anecdotes and real-world experiences, THE COMPLETE FANTASTIC PLAY SERIES is more than just a guide. It's an invitation to transform your playwriting and your playwriting career.
Learn from one of the industry's best play creators and see your plays come to life on stage. Whether you aim to write your first play or your fiftieth, this series will inspire, challenge, and support you every step of the way.
Embark on your new playwriting journey today with THE COMPLETE FANTASTIC PLAY SERIES by Ken Wolf.