We at A Different Myth are overwhelmed and grateful for all of the exciting submissions thus far. In order to give each applicant our full attention, we have decided to pause the application process and focus on choosing this first round of playwrights. As funding and time provides, we intend on opening the process back up in the future to give more playwrights this opportunity. Please keep an eye on this space for more details.

A Different Myth aims to foster emerging black playwrights in the development and production of powerful new plays that entertain, inform, and enlighten audiences, and deepen their awareness of black joy. A Different Myth offers playwrights a chance to develop their work with experienced mentors, directors, actors and eventually an audience. With this particular project our goal is to support writers in a nurturing environment that understands the context of their work so that writers don’t feel like guests in someone else’s house but feel at home throughout the birthing process of their work.

We define emerging playwrights as anyone whose goal it is to write a play, whether they have before or not.  The simple application will require an idea for a story and a sample of their work.  Selected applicants will be invited to a conversation in an effort to decide whether or not A Different Myth is a good fit for them. 

If the partnership moves forward, the developmental process will be tailored specifically to the individual playwright. This may include dramaturgical or analytical mentorship, access to directors and actors, and any combination of private and public readings. Payment for all artists is included in the program. The process will last as long as it takes for the play to be finished.

Once the play is finished, the playwright will be awarded a $1,000 commission and the play will be scheduled for professional production by Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective.

Funded in part by the Asheville Area Arts Council

Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective is a non-profit performing arts organization committed to making theatre, building community, facilitating awareness, and changing the world one play at a time. Different Strokes! appreciates the value of empathetic and thought-provoking theatre as a profound and effective means to social change and transformation. Stephanie Hickling Beckman has been active in theatre for most of her life, as an Actor, Stage Manager, and Director. As the Founder and Managing Artistic Director for Different Strokes!, Stephanie is committed to directing and producing theatre that expresses the diversity we encounter in our everyday lives and finding ways to recognize and honor our differences in a safe and positive environment.

The American Myth Center is a non-profit performing arts organization whose mission is to curate stories that spark necessary conversation within our community.  Aaron Snook is a Co-founder and Curator.  The creation of new theatrical pieces is a passion of Aaron’s and one in which he has a deep background of experience.  Aaron holds an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University and has been adapting his own scripts for many years now.  Prior to moving to Asheville, he worked in Chicago for 14 years where he was an Artistic Associate at Chicago Dramatists for a decade, as well as an ensemble member at Signal Ensemble Theatre, where he directed, acted in, and dramaturged countless productions of new works.  He currently teaches Directing, Adaptation, Acting, and Playscript Analysis at UNC-Asheville.