WRITERS ROOM

Life Jacket has selected six playwrights for our inaugural cohort of WRITERS ROOM, a new dramaturgical home dedicated to supporting and uplifting emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights based in the New York City area who are committed to creating new investigative works based on — or inspired by — real people and events. These playwrights were chosen from an impressive pool of over 200 applicants, reflecting a growing demand for dedicated spaces that nurture LGBTQ+ voices in theater.

2025 COHORT

MISSION

“The mission is simple but vital: to provide a creative home for emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights to hone their craft and amplify their voices. Particularly now—as we experience yet another unprecedented era of current events—LGBTQ+ playwrights must feel empowered to use story as a way to foster community, diversity, and meaningful conversation. WRITERS ROOM is about much more than just developing plays—it's about gathering artists who are committed to investigating the untold stories that our LGBTQ+ community needs, now more than ever, to survive and thrive.” — Gianfranco Lentini, Program Director

STRUCTURE

Throughout the program, playwrights will meet twice monthly for six writing studio sessions, where they will workshop full-length plays in development, exchange feedback, and collaborate in a dynamic, artist-led environment. The program will culminate in May 2025 with an invited reading, showcasing excerpts of the playwrights' works.

SUPPORT

This commission is supported by the John Golden Fund, annual giving commitments from our Board of Directors, and through a generous gift from an anonymous donor.