Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Theater Program
Grants supporting playwrights and theater companies developing new plays in which science, technology, or mathematics is a central dramatic subject.
Overview
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Theater Program supports the development and production of new plays in which science, technology, or mathematics is central to the drama. Operating through partnerships with major theater organizations -- including the Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Goodman Theatre, and others -- the program has supported the development of dozens of new plays since the early 2000s, helping establish science-themed theater as a viable and commercially successful genre.
The program reflects the Foundation's belief that theater is a uniquely powerful medium for exploring the human dimensions of scientific and technological work -- bringing scientists, engineers, and researchers to life as dramatic characters in ways that connect general audiences to the scientific enterprise. Several Sloan-supported plays have moved from development into major productions and critical recognition, including work that has transferred to Broadway and off-Broadway runs.
What It Funds
The Theater Program funds the development and production of new plays through its network of partner theater companies. Development support covers readings, workshops, and dramaturgical feedback for plays in progress. Production grants support full productions of completed plays by partner theaters.
The program also provides access to science advisors for playwrights working with complex scientific material, which is a distinctive benefit that helps ensure the accuracy of scientific content without compromising dramatic effectiveness.
Eligibility
Eligibility is determined by individual partner organizations rather than by the Sloan Foundation directly. Playwrights and theater companies seeking Sloan Theater support should identify the relevant partner organizations and apply through their programs. Most partner programs focus on US-based playwrights and theater companies, particularly those working in the nonprofit regional and off-Broadway theater spaces.
Plays must have a science, technology, or mathematics subject that is central to the drama and characters -- not incidental or metaphorical. Historical plays about scientists, near-future speculative works, and contemporary plays about scientific research are all within scope.
Who Should Apply
Playwrights and theater companies developing new work in which scientific or technological subjects are central to the characters and story. The Sloan Theater Program is particularly relevant for playwrights who want development support and access to scientific expertise for ambitious new science-themed plays, and for theater companies seeking to produce such work with institutional backing.
See Also
For understanding how theater and stage work intersects with film and media development, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway. For an overview of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's broader science in storytelling mission, see the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Program directory entry.
