The?PlayGround Innovator Incubator?is a multi-year intensive incubation program to support new theatrical production companies and their pursuit of theatrical innovation. In July, PlayGround will present the?Innovators Showcase, a multi-week new works showcase, featuring world premiere productions, workshops, and staged readings highlighting the work of Innovator Incubator participants.?To date, 16?companies have been launched through the Innovator Incubator, helping to employ more than 400 local theatre artists and fostering the development of more than 30 new works for the stage.?
Program details and application link: https://playground-sf.org/incubator/
2025-26 INNOVATOR INCUBATOR APPLICATION
Last year¡¯s initiative supported four production companies and provided more than $50,000 in tools and resources including fiscal sponsorship, one-on-one mentoring, free and discounted performance and rehearsal space, and co-marketing.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must:
¨C Be a rising theatre company with 0-3 years of producing history with a Leadership Team consisting of at least three members. Leadership team need not be full-time nor paid, just committed to the success of the company.
¨C In the?San Francisco Bay Area?and?Greater Los Angeles Area,?all?rising theatre companies are invited to apply.
¨C In?New York City?and the?Greater Chicago Area, theatre companies must have at least one PlayGround-affiliated artist (Company Member, Writers Pool Member, Writers Pool Alum, Monday Night PlayGround Actor/Director, Board Member) on their leadership team in order to apply.
¨C Have at least one theatrical project in mind to produce or develop as a part of the July 2026 Innovator Incubator Showcase at Potrero Stage in San Francisco OR at another venue of the applicant¡¯s choice. If not taking place at Potrero Stage, the applicant will be responsible for securing their own presentation venue. This performance can be a reading, workshop, development production or other sort of public presentation as determined by the individual Incubator company.
¨C Commitment to taking full advantage of the opportunities for peer learning and 1-on-1 mentorship to advance the development and growth of your new company, including monthly subject-specific workshops (marketing, public relations, financial management, production management, crowd-funding and grant writing, etc.), access to PlayGround professional staff, etc. (August, 2025-July, 2026).
Program details and application link: https://playground-sf.org/incubator/
