Playwright Sophia Naylor shares her experience
working with Broad Horizons
On June 19, 2023, the company presented a reading of Sophia Naylor's new play, For a Brighter Tomorrow. The play had been selected as the winner of the company's annual new play competition, called "New Voices, New Plays, New York." Below, she describes the experience of winning the competition and all that comes with it--an opportunity to develop the play with critical feedback and participate in casting the roles and rehearsing the play for a reading presented for a live audience in New York City.
"The Broad Horizons' reading of For a Brighter Tomorrow was wonderful. I've always said that the best part of playwriting is seeing what other artists bring to the work, and the good folks of New York delivered tenfold. The reading was everything I hoped it would be and more. Everyone involved gave my play a magnificent amount of attention and commitment, and their work made the play shine. Praise also to the audience, whose feedback during the talkback was remarkably insightful.
"The lead-up to the reading was also amazing. I felt supported the entire time, and the months between being selected and the reading itself were great. I received detailed and thoughtful feedback on multiple drafts and was given a fantastic set of actors to choose from. I was also surprised and delighted that the reading got as much rehearsal as it did; those hours with the actors and director were vital to the success of the night (I love talking in depth about any play, and it being my play adds to the enjoyment). And it must not be forgotten, the considerably large stipend was so helpful. I live in the Bay Area, California, and traveling to and staying in New York isn't cheap, and the stipend made it so much easier."
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--Sophia Naylor