When audiences go to the theatre, they are typically used to seeing a finished product. But those finished plays have to come from somewhere. BLT's Playwright-in-Residence program offers local audiences the chance to get an inside glimpse at just where that "somewhere" is by allowing audiences to take part in the play development process.

At a certain point in the playwriting process, a writer can go no further until his/her play is read aloud. After all, plays are meant to be spoken. So it becomes necessary for the writer to hear the words--not just read them on paper--in order to continue work on the script.

It is at that point where BLT invites audiences to take part in that play development process.

Each season, BLT hosts a writer for a two-day residency built around the staged reading of a new play. The play is as close to "finished" as the playwright can get it without having heard it aloud. BLT presents a reheared, public reading, followed by an audience talkback session where the audience and playwright engage in a two-way conversation about the script. The conversation lets audience members learn more about the script development process by being a part of it. They are invited to comment and critique the play (always remaining constructive and/or curious in their comments).

For the playwright, it's a chance to hear the play. It's also a chance to explore people's reactions to the play. The playwright can then take valuable feedback back into the revision process to strengthen the script.

During the playwright's residency, he/she visits with local high school and college students, does media appearances, and sits in on part of the rehearsal process, and attends a special meet-the-author wine-and-cheese reception with BLT patrons. Because of the many different events associated with the residency, BLT is able to serve a wide number of constituencies through the program.

(In the photo: Playwright Katt Lissard and BLT board member Chris Mackowski participate in a talk-back session with the aduience following the staged reading of Excavation in Season 2000.Photo by Glenn Melvin)