The Writers Lab

The Ma-Yi Writers Lab accepts applications for membership year-round.

Founded in 2004 by Sung Rno in connection with the TCG/NEA residency program, the Ma-Yi Writers Lab is the largest resident company of Asian American playwrights ever assembled. Currently led by Co-Directors Michael Lew and Rehana Mirza, the Lab is a professional peer-based workshop in permanent residence with the OBIE Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company, designed to nurture and showcase Asian American playwrights in New York City.

Activities and institutional support of the Lab include:

• Weekly or bi-weekly meetings at which members are encouraged to present their works-in-progress for peer-based workshop, with developmental, dramaturgical and professional support;

• Periodic presentation of each member's brand new full-length plays in LabFest, a staged reading festival. In years past, LabFest has showcased the largest number of new plays by Asian American writers ever presented in one stand, anywhere, ever. These staged readings are designed as developmental showcase presentations, with a professional director and cast, open to industry professionals and the greater public;

• Periodic presentation of members' shorter (one-act or ten-minute) plays and excerpts at theatres throughout the city. Past presentations have been hosted by New Dramatists, Ensemble Studio Theatre (in partnership with Youngblood), the Ohio Theater, the Culture Project, La MaMa, and others;

• Formal submission of member work, when appropriate, to theater producers, publishers, agencies, contests and fellowship programs, towards production, publication, commissions, grants and/or foundation support;

• Group participation in partnership events with other theater companies and organizations towards the development and presentation of new work; and

• As appropriate, writer's retreats in conjunction and partnership with various organizations and events. Previous retreats include subsidized travel to the Lexington Center for the Arts in the Catskills, with Youngblood and Ensemble Studio Theatre, as well as subsidized travel to Nairobi, Kenya for the World Social Forum, and Atlanta, Georgia for the US Social Forum.

Submissions

The Ma-Yi Writers lab is generously supported by Time Warner, Inc. and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Their support is critical in making the Lab's artist-driven play development program more robust, and helps make sure new works are seen on the stage .