A local launchpad for new theatrical works that spark community conversation.
Schedule of Events at a Glance
SUN MARCH 1, 7:30 The Workroom PIC PIPS “Harry Truman & the Volcano” by Sean Barry
SUN APRIL 12, 7:30 The Workroom PIC PIPS "Iris" by Olivia Clement Finch
SUN MAY 3, 7:30 The Workroom PIC PIPS "Trying" by Morgan Tabb
SUN SEPT 6, 7:30 The Workroom PIC PIPS "The Voyage of the August" by Wynn MacKenzie
SUN OCT 4, 7:30pm The Workroom Development Workshop "Lucky Strike"
by foster finch schrader
SUN NOV 15, 7:30 The Workroom Incubation Residency “The Opheliet Project”
by Maizy Broderick Scarpa
PIC PIPS
What is PIC PIPS?
PIPS stands for Plays In Progress Series. These are readings of new work in front of an audience. PIC casts full length plays from our roster of artists who come together for one worksession followed by a live reading of the script in front of an audience. The playwright and an assigned dramaturg work together to develop questions to share with the audience after the reading, and in this way the audience serves as a sounding board for further development of the piece. This is reserved for scripts in a variety of developmental stages. PIPS casts and logistics are organized by Program Coordinators Nikki Beck and Madison VanDeurzen
In 2026, PIC will host four PIC PIPS at the Workroom (33 Hawley St, Northampton). All PIPS begin at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 7:15. They are free to attend, and no registration is required. However, we will create a Facebook event for each PIP, and marking yourself as "interested" or "attending" there if you are thinking of or planning to come is very helpful for our planning.
When attending, please use the downstairs doors, nearest to the courtyard. Outside doors will be open at 7:15 and will be locked at 7:45 so please arrive promptly.
PIC PIPS 1: Harry Truman & the Volcano by Sean Barry
Sunday, March 1, 7:30pm
Synopsis: May, 1980. Mount St. Helens. Everyone has evacuated the mountain, fleeing the impending eruption. Everyone, that is, but WWI veteran, lodge owner, and whisky-swilling raconteur Harry Truman. Francis Yamomoto, a local tv journalist, arrives to interview Harry one last time and uncover the secret passion behind Harry’s fateful choice. HARRY TRUMAN & THE VOLCANO is both a parable of our current climate crisis and a rollicking exploration of what it means to discover something worth living—or dying—for.
PIC PIPS 2: Iris, by Olivia Clement Finch
Sunday, April 12, 7:30pm
Synopsis: In the weeks and months after her miscarriage, Iris feels as if her world has been turned inside out. Iris is a play about creation, grief, and transformation.
PIC PIPS 3: Trying, a screenplay by Morgan Tabb
Sunday, May 3, 7:30pm
Synopsis: Mallory, a high school senior on the brink of a big decision, must navigate her confusion about the future, all while having to handle her seemingly depressed dad and his eccentric step-sister, June, who shows up unannounced for a surprise visit.
PIC PIPS 4: The Voyage of the August by Wynn MacKenzie
Sunday, Sept 6, 7:30pm
Synopsis: A tale of queer love and mutiny on the high seas! The Voyage of the August chronicles the final voyage of a merchant ship bound for England in the 1700s, whose crew takes their fate into their own hands. This account of the good ship August is a work of historical fantasy, queer joy, soapy salty drama, and an homage to romanticized nautical stories from this century and centuries past.
How are PIPS pieces selected?
PIPS are chosen through an open call for submissions which are reviewed by the PIC Literary team, which includes nearly 100 reviewers. This team is comprised of actors, playwrights, and other theater makers from a variety of cultural backgrounds and professional experience. Each play is read and reviewed by at least two different people, often more. Reviewers are scanning for whether the PIPS program will meet the playwright's needs, what stage of the development process the script is in, and whether or not it serves PIC's mission of a play that has potential to spark community conversation. Our Literary Coordinators then go over the reviews of each play, read the script a final time, and consult with the PIC Advisory Committee (our collective Artistic Director Team) if needed, before making the final selection based on reviewer recommendations.
Development Workshop
What is a Development Workshop?
Development Workshops are reserved for pieces that have a first full draft and could use an intensive period of writing and hearing the work out loud with actors. This opportunity provides up to 4 developmental worksessions with actors and other support artists over a few months, culminating in a reading and developmental discussion with an audience.
In 2026, PIC will host one Development Workshop at the Workroom (33 Hawley St, Northampton). Tickets are offered at a low cost, and registration is encouraged but not required.
When attending, please use the downstairs doors, nearest to the courtyard. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the reading and will be locked 15 minutes after the reading begins. No entry will be allowed after that time.
Development Workshop: Lucky Strike, by Foster Finch Fchrader
Sun Oct 4, 7:30pm
Synopsis: In elementary school, Noah, Cal, and Drew are best friends forever; by the end of senior year they’re not on speaking terms. Cal comes out as nonbinary, Drew enters the manosphere, and Noah… well, Noah’s stuck in the middle. Lucky Strike is about in betweens: childhood and adolescence, the left and the alt-right. It’s about gaps, and trying to bridge them, and failing.
How are Development Workshop pieces selected?
Development Workshop pieces are chosen through an open call for submissions which are reviewed by the PIC Literary team. This team includes nearly 100 reviewers, and is comprised of actors, playwrights, and other theater makers from a variety of cultural backgrounds and professional experience. Each play is read and reviewed by at least two different people, often more. Reviewers are scanning for whether the Development Workshop program will meet the playwright's needs, if the developmental stage of the script is appropriate for the program, and whether or not the play meets PIC's mission of having the potential to spark community conversation. Our Literary Coordinators then go over the reviews of each play, read the script a final time, and consult with the PIC Advisory Committee (our collective Artistic Director Team) if needed, before making the final selection based on reviewer recommendations.
Incubation Residency
What is the Incubation Residency?
What is the PIC Incubation Residency?
The Incubation Residency is an opportunity for a playwright to develop a brand new script over the course of 9 months with a hands-on creative support team that may include actors, dramaturg, director, theatrical artistic advisors, fellow playwrights, and more. The 9 months culminate in a public presentation (reading) of the work in process and may include a dramaturgically-led discussion with the audience to further aid in the development of the play. All artists involved, including the playwright are paid for their time and artistic expertise.
A sample schedule and design of an Incubation Residency:
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January: initial meeting with PIC co-directors and playwright to set goals and brainstorm the team to be assembled
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Feb-April: Writing time and dramaturgical feedback
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May: Actors can be brought into the process
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June-August: Writing time and dramaturgical feedback
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September-October: Actors return to the process
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November: Public presentation of work in progress
Some examples of past Incubation Residencies :
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Darcy Parker Bruce’s 4-play Cycle, The Piedmont Plays. Over the course of the 9-month residency Darcy completely re-wrote and restructured one of the plays, further developed 2 of the plays, and wrote a final play in full. Darcy’s residency team included a crew of actor/dramaturgs, stage manager, director, and artistic advisory team. The project culminated in excerpts of all 4 plays being presented to an audience
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Aria Lune Acevedo’s Return to Abya Yala. Aria began the residency with a few scenes, an extensive outline, and a clear vision and goal for the fully-realized piece. Over the course of the 9-months, Aria worked with a team of actor/dramaturgs, Artistic Advisors, director, and stage manager to complete a first full draft. The process culminated in a final presentation of the draft to a public audience.
In 2026, PIC will host one Incubation Residency, Jan-Nov at the Workroom (33 Hawley St, Northampton). Tickets for the public reading are offered at a low cost, and registration is encouraged but not required.
When attending, please use the downstairs doors, nearest to the courtyard. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the reading and will be locked 15 minutes after the reading begins. No entry will be allowed after that time.
Incubation Residency: The Opheliet Project by Maizy Broderick Scarpa
Sun Nov 15, 7:30pm
Synopsis: Decades after a formative summer training together in the youth troupe of a prestigious Shakespeare festival, a trio of friends reunite to perform a pared-down version of Hamlet. But after deciding on a whim to reassign Hamlet’s soliloquies to Ophelia, the compulsion to question the status quo overflows past rehearsals, challenging not just how they view Shakespeare's masterpiece, but also their friendship and the theater company that brought them all together.
How are Incubation Residency pieces selected?
Who qualifies for an Incubation Residency? -A playwright who has previously worked with PIC through the Development Workshop, PIC PIPS, or has served on the Artistic Advisory Team, and who currently resides within an 1 hour radius of Hampshire County, MA. -An individual with a proven record as a playwright -A writer who would benefit from being given and held accountable for writing deadlines -A playwright who understands that this opportunity is not about production or performance, but instead is about developing the text, and would benefit from that experience Submissions are requested from individuals who meet these criteria and are reviewed by the PIC Artistic Advisory team.
All Ages Salon and Social
An open-mic style public showcase of brand new works-in-progres where anyone is welcome to present original works. Adult performers are invited to share 5-7 minutes of original work, while youth performers can share 3-5 minutes. Pieces can be something new and in progress or something you've performed before. The performances will be followed by social time for the artists and audience to get to know each other. These gatherings are a great opportunity to engage in conversation with artists and serve as the first audience for new works.
Check back in late summer/early fall 2026 for more info on this year's All Ages Salon!
If you have any questions about the salon, please reach out to rachel@playincubation.org.
Foehrenwald
Play Incubation Collective
P.O. Box 1435
Easthampton, MA 01027