MALVERN, PA.: People’s Light has announced the launch of Queerways, PA, a community engagement and new-play development initiative. The theatre will commission three queer BIPOC playwrights to commission new projects, and host the selected playwrights for an 18-month residency where they can engage with numerous LGBTQ+ and BIPOC organizations in Chester County. Playwrights will work on new plays inspired by conversations with community organizations through a series of one-on-one interviews, group gatherings, story circles, and public workshops. The playwrights will receive 25 onsite residency days, and their projects will eventually premiere on the People’s Light stage.
Queerways, PA will launch with the world premiere of associate artistic director Steve H. Broadnax III’s play Bones in September. Broadnax III will also direct the production.
The Queerways, PA program is supported by a grant from the William Penn Foundation, which will provide $250,000 over 25 months.
Founded in 1974, People’s Light is known for its resident company of artists, wide array of productions, and innovative work with young people. People’s Light is a civic and cultural center that invites and creates opportunities for diverse communities to celebrate our shared humanity. As of 2023, the theatre had a budget of approximately $7.2 million.
