Beyond production, Epic commissions and nurtures new socially-minded work by pre-professional, early-career, and well-established writers. Through a comprehensive script development process that includes readings, workshops, and retreats, Epic supports playwrights exploring timeless social, political, and ethical issues within their work. We provide these writers extensive artistic resources while cultivating a diverse and responsive audience eager to discuss the key themes and questions within each play.
The BLUEPRINT SERIES (formerly known as the SUNSHINE SERIES) is our flagship new play festival presented each spring and sponsored annually by Bill and Kumi Martin. The Series shines a light on important new political writing and plants the seed for future productions by Epic and other likeminded companies. Past Sunshine projects include: Nilaja Sun’s No Child…, Beauty on the Vine by Zak Berkman, Palace of the End by Judith Thompson, Home Front by Warren Leight, Fast Blood by Judy Tate, Shakespeare’s Will by Vern Thiessen, Ariel Sharon Hovers Between Life and Death and Dreams of Theodor Herzl by David Zellnik, On the Levee by Marcus Gardley with Todd Almond and Lear deBessonet, Dear Mr. President by Daniel Voll, A Night In Seville by James Wallert, East of Berlin by Hannah Moscovitch, and Last Best Place by Bathsheba Doran.
Beyond the Blueprint Series, Epic has nurtured and developed the work of many outstanding socially-minded writers including presenting staged readings of plays by Patricia Wettig, Julian Sheppard, Alexandra Gersten Vassilaros, and Ari Roth among others.
In addition, every season Epic Off-Broadway presents SPECIAL EVENTS such as our contribution to the nationwide Suzan-Lori Parks 365 Plays/365 Days festival and our annual Celebration of First Time Voters where writers such as Eve Ensler, Warren Leight, Tony Kushner, Christopher Durang, Emily Mann, Neil Labute, Craig Lucas, and Ariel Dorfman contribute irreverent, provocative, and emotional plays and essays to toast Epic Student Alumnae voting in their first election.
Click here for a look at our 2012 BLUEPRINT SERIES lineup!