Resilience & Development Playwrighting Lab

The Resilience & Development (R&D) Lab is a playwright-centered artistic incubator, focusing not only on the development of new plays, but on cultivating playwrights as holistic and interdisciplinary artists.

The R&D lab was first envisioned by former Artistic Director Mina Morita and Resident Artist emerita Lisa Marie Rollins in 2017.

The 2024-2026 R&D Cohort is the fourth cohort since the programs inception in 2017. CFT is committed to supporting these four visionary writers, and bolstering the development of new and original pieces.

Over two years, CFT commits to supporting four visionary writers, and bolstering the development of new and original pieces.

CFT Leader of Artistic Producing Caro Asercion, shares:

“Crowded Fire is excited to continue supporting the work of local Bay Area playwrights through our fourth Resilience & Development lab cohort. These daring writers are exploring questions of narrative form and structure; of intimacy, legacy, and personal histories; and of what it means to search for deeply human connections in our rapidly transforming social landscape.”

Co-Executive Director, Nailah Harper-Malveaux shares,

“The chemistry of this group is bursting with possibility, a flair for the epic, and a desire to create their own mythology! Each playwright has deep local roots, whether through performance, working behind-the-scenes in production, or creating space for other writers to develop their craft. We cannot wait to see what new works are created through their unique lenses and writing styles.”

The playwrights selected for the 2024-26 cohort are Aidaa Peerzada, Anthony Doan, Ashley Smiley, and Leigh M. Marshall.