SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Playhouse has launched a new 5-year commissioning program dedicated to creating 20 new plays over the next 5 years. Each year, the playwrights selected will include an established playwright, two mid-career playwrights, and one emerging playwright.

“We believe that playwrights are the prophets of our time, blessed with sensitive antennae that, from the tumultuous roar of our culture, are able to pull down essential insights that can show us who we are and how we can cope with the times in which we live,” said artistic director Bill English in a statement. “Our commissions will be aimed at boldly addressing and posing insights on the social challenges of today.”

The initiative will build on the company’s New Play Program, which has commissioned plays including Seared by Theresa Rebeck, Bauer by Lauren Gunderson, Pluto by Steve Yockey, and You Mean to Do Me Harm by Christopher Chen.

“The magnitude and duration of our new commitment will help us accommodate highly accomplished and busy playwrights who require long development lead times while also allowing us to foster emerging playwrights who can benefit from a well-established company’s nurturing guidance,” said board president Andrew Teufel in a statement.