Is Arena Stage Launching a New Business Model for Playwrighting?
Arena Stage, which will be introducing its rebuilt $125-million facility to the Washington public in October, may be putting an even more lasting change into effect by giving five playwrights a salary and benefits. Fueled by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, the plan, which Arena will administer through its American Voices New Play Initiative, will give each of the selected playwrights wages (described by Arena as a “living” wage and estimated elsewhere to be in the mid-five-figure range), health insurance, other benefits and a $15,000 annual budget for development. [Read more...]
