Clear guidance for taking your play to the next level!
Every play is at a different stage.
The right support depends on where the script actually is, not where you hope it is.
The Production Path is designed to help you identify where your play is right now and choose the next step that makes sense.
STAGE 1
“I am still developing the play.”
Your play is in the writing and revision phase. You are exploring structure, characters, and dramatic action, and production is not yet imminent. This stage is about developing your craft, clarity, and confidence without the pressure of production decisions.
Best Next Steps:
Playwriting Coaching for ongoing development and guidance.
Script Consultation for a focused, one time diagnostic read to learn what is working and what isn’t!
Click on the + for more information!
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With over 35 years of experience in the theatre world, including 20 years as a dedicated Playwriting Coach, Off-Broadway director, producer, and playwright with over 20 produced plays, I’m here to guide you through the process and help you complete your play.
As the Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, I bring an insider’s perspective on what it takes to succeed in the industry.
In our weekly coaching sessions (via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone,) I’ll give you the tools, structure, and support to push through the obstacles holding you back, and most importantly, I will help you finish your play.
With my unique production-based feedback, you’ll not only craft a compelling script but also understand how it translates to the stage. This is the same insight I use in my work as a producer and director.
I bring proven strategies, actionable advice, and a deep passion for the craft of playwriting to each session. Whether you’re a seasoned playwright looking to break through a creative block or a newcomer eager to get your first draft on the page, I offer the personal attention, accountability, and professional experience you need to take your work to the next level.
For more info on Playwriting Coaching with Ken Wolf, click on the link below:
www.manhattanrep.com/playwriting-coaching.
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Taking a play from draft to the stage requires craft, clarity, and courage.
That is where a script consultation can transform your work.
With over 35 years of experience as a playwright, director, producer, and Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Ken Wolf has helped hundreds of playwrights write compelling and producible plays.
When you book a script consultation, you will receive:
Detailed and constructive notes on your play, scene by scene, moment by moment.
Clarity on what is working and what is not, grounded in real world theatre production experience.
Final Comments and Next Steps: Clear and actionable guidance on what to rewrite, refine, or reimagine in order to bring your play to life.
The goal is always the same.
Ken wants to help you create a play that actors are excited to perform in, directors are eager to work on, which audiences cannot forget.
A script consultation is the fastest way to get clear answers and the tools to move your play forward.
Whether you are just starting out or polishing your tenth script, you do not have to do it alone.
With the right guidance and professional insight, you can take your play from promising to utterly fantastic.
To book a Script Consultation with Ken Wolf, click on the link below:
STAGE 2
“The play draft is written, but something is not working.”
You know the play has potential, but clarity, structure, or dramatic action are getting in the way.
Scenes may feel long, unfocused, or emotionally unclear, and revisions have not solved the deeper issues.
BEST NEXT STEP:
Dramaturgy focused specifically on identifying the challenges of the play in this form and guiding the play toward greater clarity and impact for potential production!
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Dramaturgy for production is a different animal than general script consulting. This is hands on, practical work focused on getting a script ready to live and breathe in the rehearsal room.
My role is to help the playwright refine the story, sharpen the dramatic action, and prepare the script so directors and actors, have everything they need to build a strong and successful production.
This work is not “theoretical.”
It is grounded in what actually happens on stage in front of a live audience.
I work privately and closely with the playwright or writing team to identify what is working, what is unclear, and what needs to be strengthened or trimmed before you step into rehearsals.
We look at creating compelling action and events in every scene, a clear dramatic arc for your play, and logic and congruency in the world you have imagined.
The goal is a script that flows, escalates scene by scene, and supports the director and the actors. Production dramaturgy dives into the small but important details that can make or break a rehearsal process.
The final result of this dramaturgy process is a script that is not only polished on the page but fully prepared to succeed on stage. You walk into production with a blueprint that supports your team, and allows everyone to do their best work.
This is focused, professional development for a script that is about to come to life.
To book Dramaturgy, click on the link below:
STAGE 3
“I want to move toward production, but I am not sure the play is ready.”
You are committed to production or seriously considering it. You want to be responsible with your time, money, and reputation and need to know whether the script can truly carry a live audience before moving forward.
BEST NEXT STEP:
Production Readiness Consulting, focused dramaturgical work designed to determine whether the play is ready for production and to address production level challenges before resources are committed.
And then, Play Production Reading. Having a full reading of your play presented in New York City for feedback and more!
Click on the + for more information!
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When a playwright has decided to move toward production, or is on the verge of making that decision, the question is no longer how to write better. The question becomes whether the script is truly ready to carry the weight of a live production.
Production is costly. Time, money, energy, and reputation are all on the line.
My role at this stage is not to teach playwriting techniques. My role is to tell the truth and help shape the script into a live emotional experience that can stand up in front of an audience and critics.
Production Readiness Consulting is focused, production driven dramaturgy designed specifically for playwrights who want their play produced and want it to be successful.
This work is for playwrights and producers who are in production, entering rehearsal, or actively preparing to move into production within the next three to twelve months. It is not designed for early drafts or writers seeking general feedback. It is designed for playwrights and producers who understand that production is a significant investment and want to protect it.
For more info on Production Readiness Consulting, click on the link below:
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Every playwright dreams of that moment, when the words on the page lift into air, when characters breathe, when their story lives in real time.
At Manhattan Repertory Theatre, we make that dream come true.
This is not a cold read.
This is not a table reading over Zoom.
This is a live professional rehearsal process, culminating in a powerful reading presentation of your play before an audience right in the heart of New York City.
For more information on our Play Production Reading, click on the link below:
STAGE 4
“The play or musical is ready and we are preparing to produce it.”
The play works. The musical rocks. Now the real world decisions begin. Rehearsal space, venues, schedules, budgets, ticketing, insurance, staffing, and timing all come into play, and early choices will shape the entire production process.
BEST NEXT STEP:
Production Consulting, hands on guidance through the practical and financial decisions of mounting a production, with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and cost saving strategies.
Click on the + for more information!
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Once a script is production ready, a different set of challenges begins.
Production is not just about creative vision. It is about choices. Rehearsal space, venues, schedules, budgets, ticketing, insurance, marketing, staffing, and timing, all shape whether a project thrives or struggles.
Smart decisions early can save significant money, time, and stress later.
Production Consulting is hands on support for playwrights and producers who are moving forward with production and want experienced guidance through the many decisions that shape a successful run.
This work is practical, strategic, and grounded in real world producing experience. I help you see options clearly, avoid common mistakes, and make choices that support both the artistic and financial health of the project.
For more info on Production Coaching, click on the link below:
STAGE 5
I want someone to build the production for me, and manage everything.
You want end to end support to bring your play or musical fully to life. This includes producing expertise, coordination, and execution, not just guidance, so the play or musical can be realized at the highest possible level.
BEST NEXT STEP:
Our Play Production Programs, offering full productions and workshop productions.
Click on the + for more information!
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Whether your goal is an Off-Broadway run, a festival showcase, or a fully staged premiere, we can help you bring your work to life in New York City.
Production costs for a full-length play typically range from $25,000 to $200,000 and beyond, depending on the scope of your production, scenic and technical elements, cast size, and number of performances.
We work with both Equity and Non-Union projects.
This program is for playwrights and producers who are serious about building a professional production in New York, or anywhere in the world, with the guidance and experience of Manhattan Rep’s team.
Your script deserves more than a reading. It deserves a stage, an audience, and a full production that brings your vision to life.
For more info, click on the link below:
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The Play Production Workshop is for playwrights ready to step from the page to the stage.
This program is designed as an affordable, lower-end production path, stripped of unnecessary expense but rich in the essentials of great theatre. No elaborate sets. Just the heartbeat of live performance: talented actors, great direction, lights, sound, and the play you’ve crafted brought to life.
At Manhattan Rep, we know a script isn’t truly complete until it meets an audience. A play is a live emotional event. It breathes only when spoken aloud, when characters struggle in real time, when an audience leans in and feels like they are actually on stage with your characters.
A workshop production gives you the chance to learn how your play moves an audience when staged, directed, and embodied by actors.
It’s a game-changer.
For more information, click on the link below:
If you have any questions about any of our Production Path programs, please email us at: