NEXT RUNG PRODUCTIONS
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A PLAY.
Knoxville playwright Harrison Young wants to help you.
Since 2020, Next Rung Productions is a year-long program where Harrison mentors local playwrights as they develop their ideas into full-length plays.
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Here's what you can expect, if selected:
*a meeting about your creative playwriting goals for the year
*monthly meetings to read your play's newest content
*monthly meetings to read the current entirety of your play
*access between meetings for questions and concerns
*special guests for support during your play development
*guidance on submitting your completed play to theatres
*a public reading
*and ultimately, a program tailored toward you creating your best art.
ABOUT ME:
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Harrison Young (he/him) supported his first annual playwright with Next Rung Productions in 2020. His service for new plays and local playwrights includes seven years as the Knoxville Ambassador and Tennessee Regional Rep for the Dramatists Guild of America. He’s worked with the Tennessee Stage Company’s New Play Festival every year since 2009, including four plays as a playwright and three years as their Literary Manager during the pandemic. Blank News named him "Knoxville's Finest Dramatist" in their 2024 readers' poll, and he currently interviews playwrights for them in his monthly column THE WRITER’S WAY.
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When away from theatre, Harrison likes to catch up on video games and play with his cat Brighton. He believes all nachos should be layered instead of topped.
"I truly cannot recommend the Next Rung Productions playwright mentorship program enough. It is the sole reason I consider myself a playwright. Before working with Harrison Young, I lacked structure and a system to rely on to actually complete a play. With his help, I have now completed a full length play and have started several others! I am so grateful I was able to work with Harrison and I look forward to seeing what stories come through this program!"
Helena Jordan (NRP's 2025 playwright and creator of A ROOM FULL OF MEGAN FOXES)
