Our Mission
The Black Women Playwrights’ Group (BWPG) is a service and advocacy group for African American women playwrights writing for the professional theater. The mission of BWPG is to support and promote the work of our members as well advocate on critical issues within the theater world. After 21 years in the Washington, DC metropolitan community, we are an institution that reflects and serves our community, gives voice and artistic haven to women who are writing their first play and those who have many honors and awards.

The group was founded in 1989 after a seminar at Arena Stage that focused on the African American woman playwright. Since then we have met regularly, on a monthly basis, to provide professional support to our members. In 1993 we incorporated and in 1999 we received 501©3 status. As the years progressed we co-produced and eventually produced our own work. We forged professional ties with the following groups: The New York Theatre Workshop, Young Playwrights Theater, Primary Stages, The Kennedy Center, The Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Studio Theatre, African Continuum Theatre Company, Manhattan Class Company, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The DC Black Theater Festival, The Dramatic Publishing Company and many more. BWPG serves as many women writers of color as larger institutions such as Chicago Dramatists, Lark Play Development Center, and New Dramatists.

For 21 years in the Washington, DC metropolitan community, we have been an institution that reflects and serves our community, gives voice and an artistic haven to women who are writing their first play and those who have many honors and awards. In 2008, BWPG turned its eyes to the national stage, holding the first national meeting of women of color writing drama in Chicago. In that setting, women playwrights identified three areas of interest: digital media, university residencies and productions, and the world of presenters. BWPG represent women playwrights of color at national theater convenings and in professional publications such as the Theater Journal, published by Johns Hopkins University.

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MEMBER SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Monthly writing workshops
• Year round networking opportunities with directors, producers, designers and actors
• Encouraging, fun and professional atmosphere

ESTABLISHED WRITERS AND EMERGING ARTISTS WELCOME!

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