NEW YORK CITY: Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the recipients for its second round of the 2019 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $583,000, will grant 15 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team. The goal of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards is to extend the life of a new play beyond its first run.

“The second round of 2019 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards manifests the diverse vitality of new play development in the U.S. and beyond,” said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG, in a statement. “With the longer rehearsal processes made possible by the Foundation’s support, these world premiere productions are more likely to reach their full potential and go on to many subsequent productions.”

This round of recipients comprises:

• Right to Be Forgotten, Sharyn Rothstein, Arena Stage
• You Lost Me, Bonnie Metzgar, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• Greater Clements, Samuel D. Hunter, Lincoln Center Theater
• On the Grounds of Belonging, Ricardo Pérez González, Long Wharf Theatre
• The Perplexed, Richard Greenberg, Manhattan Theatre Club
• The Best We Could (a family tragedy), Emily Feldman, Manhattan Theatre Club
• The Welkin, Lucy Kirkwood, National Theatre
• A Very Expensive Poison, Lucy Prebble, the Old Vic
• Confederates, Dominique Morisseau, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
• Coal Country, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the Public Theater
• Cullud Wattah, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, the Public Theater
• Rare Earth Mettle, Al Smith, Royal Court Theatre
• The Underlying Chris, Will Eno, Second Stage Theater
• Gun & Powder, book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri and music by Ross Baum, Signature Theatre (Va.)
• The Hot Wing King, Katori Hall, Signature Theatre (N.Y.)

“The Edgerton New Play Award allows for two weeks of preview performances and daytime rehearsals for Right to Be Forgotten, rather than Arena Stage’s usual one week,” said Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage, in a statement. “For new plays, these additional previews and rehearsals are critically important, allowing the creative team to make adjustments in response to audiences. By more than doubling this working time, all elements – script, design, performance, etc.– are ultimately so much more refined, allowing the production to be the best version of itself.”

The Edgerton Foundation New Plays Program, directed by Brad and Louise Edgerton, was piloted in 2006 with Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles by offering two musicals in development an extended rehearsal period for the entire creative team, including the playwrights. The Edgertons launched the program nationally in 2007 and have supported 421 productions, 36 of which went on to have Broadway productions.