NCTC At A Glance
NCTC At A Glance
This page is meant to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about New Circle Theatre Company. The information here is subject to change. It supplements information found throughout the website.
What is NCTC?
New Circle Theatre Company is a professional group of theatre artists who collaborate to develop new plays by company and associated writers.
We provide an environment that encourages risk-taking, experimentation, and exploration, with the goal of supporting the playwright in the growth of the play.
What is the governance structure of the company?
NCTC is incorporated in the State of New York as a not-for-profit company. We operate as part of Fractured Atlas, a fiscal sponsor, which allows us to receive tax-deductible contributions. We have three levels of governance: 1) the Board of Directors; 2) a Leadership Team (currently comprised of four people), supported by an Associate Leadership Team (currently comprised of four people); 3) an Advisory Committee, made up of all Committee chairpeople and other people who have taken active roles in the operations of the company. All governance positions are held by volunteers. The Company has no paid staff.
The Leadership Team was chosen by the the Advisory Committee with the consent of the Board of Directors. Changes in Leadership are made in the same manner: the Advisory Committee considers changes that are recommended to them or that they develop on their own, and those are approved by the Board of Directors.
What opportunities do you provide to writers to develop their work?
We provide several opportunities for play development through feedback and collaboration. These opportunities are normally sequential in this order, with the prior approval of the Leadership Team:
a.) A “Monday Reading” of the play at our Company Meeting, with at least one rehearsal beforehand, using company actors and director (with rare exceptions), followed by moderated feedback (see 5 below for how plays are chosen).
b.) A Developmental Workshop of the play to focus on specific goals for the play’s development. The Workshop is then presented to the Company. All participants are paid.
c.) An Equity Showcase production in The Sandbox (our “black box” theatre) or Zoom equivalent, for an invited audience, collaborating with a company director, actors, and designers, with the goal of exploring, deepening and improving the play.
d.) In addition to the above three opportunities, the company has a Writers Group that meets weekly to help develop work at any stage. The Writers Group is by invitation only. You may read more about it here: https://www.newcircletheatrecompany.org/writersgroup
How To Submit A Play
a. ) Only company members and associated artists, or writers introduced to the company by members or associated artists, may submit a play for consideration for the development process described above. We do NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED SCRIPTS.
b.) Writers who have been introduced to the company by a member or associated artist may send a brief cover letter telling us who you are, who introduced you to us, and if you have a director or actors attached to the project, along with a PDF of your play to our Literary Committee at: NCTCSubmissions@gmail.com. Any play sent to us in any format other than PDF will be returned to you unread.
c.) Your play will be read by at least two readers, and given a YES or NO to be read on a Monday meeting as described in 2(a) above. If a play receives one NO and one YES, it is sent to a third reader for final evaluation.
How long does the Literary Committee take to inform a writer about the status of their play?
We are a company of volunteers, so that depends on the volume of material we are receiving and what projects we are doing. We do our best to respond to writers as soon as we can, but it sometimes can take several months. The Literary Committee does not provide feedback to playwrights about their plays.
What happens when the Literary Committee says YES to my play? Or NO?
a.) If your play receives two “yes” votes from the Literary Committee, you will get a call to schedule it for a Monday reading and choose a director and cast. If you are not familiar with company directors/actors, we will assist you in selecting them.
b.) If your play receives two “no” votes from the Literary Committee, you may be invited to continue working on it in our Writers Group (see 2 d. above), or work on it on your own and resubmit at a later date.
How is a play chosen for a Developmental Workshop?
After a Monday night reading, the Leadership Team will contact you via phone or email to discuss what you would like to do next with your play. (We do not do this, however, with short plays written for one of our festivals that are read on a Monday night.) If you would like a Developmental Workshop, the Leadership Team will discuss that possibility and let you know if the company would like to pursue that option. Other options include working on the play on your own or in the Writers Group. A Monday night reading does not guarantee a play will be accepted for a Developmental Workshop.
How is a play chosen for an Equity Showcase (or Zoom equivalent) production?
After a successful Developmental Workshop, the Leadership Team may invite you to have your play produced for a two-weekend run in The Sandbox (our black box theatre) or Zoom equivalent. This decision is determined by the progress made on the play in the Workshop, the openness of the writer to feedback and changes, and the enthusiasm of the writer, director, and cast for the project.
How do directors, actors, designers, and stage managers become involved in readings, workshops, and productions?
Our directors and actors are available to collaborate with our playwrights to help develop a play. Playwrights may ask any member or associated artist to be considered for their play. Directors and actors can express their interest in a play directly to the writer (with some announced exceptions) and to the Leadership. Final decisions are made by the playwright with input from the Leadership Team.
Stage managers and designers become involved once a play has been chosen for an Equity Showcase production.
How does one become an Associated Artist or Member?
Artists are invited by the Leadership Team and Membership Committee to become Associated Artists based on participation in company meetings and events, enthusiasm and support of the work we do, and the “fit” in the company as an artist and person.
Associated artists are invited to become full members when they have participated in good standing and have shown themselves to be positive contributors to the culture of the company. Associated writers, directors, and actors, who are in good standing and have participated in two full productions in The Sandbox or other venues, are invited by the Leadership Team and the Membership Committee to become full members on an annual basis. You will receive a letter from the Membership Committee when these decisions are made.
Who can attend Company Meetings?
Any Member or Associated Artist may invite fellow artists to attend our meetings. Please introduce them when they attend the first time or have them identify who invited them to attend.
Who can attend the Writers Group?
Our Writers Group is for members and associated writers only. A guest writer can be invited to attend the Writers Group on a trial basis with an invitation from the Leadership Team. Our Writers Group is for WRITERS who are willing to follow the protocols the group has laid out for discussing plays. We ask that actors and directors only attend when asked to read or hear a specific piece of work.
What are the NCTC Committees and how do I volunteer for one?
Volunteering for a committee is part of being a member or associated artist in good standing in the company. You can find the list of our current committees on our website.
To volunteer for a committee, send an email to: leadership@newcircletheatrecompany.org. If you’re not sure where you fit in or have multiple talents you think we could use, please send us your skills and qualifications and the Leadership Team will determine where you fit in best.
How do I get my photo/resume on the website?
The Leadership Team or Membership Committee will invite a participating artist to submit via email a photo (jpeg) and a resume (PDF), indentifying their discipline(s) to be included on our website. Resumes MUST contain current telephone contact information. Resumes that only contain an agent’s telephone number are not useful. Those without a resume are asked to send a PDF of their contact information.
How do I get on the mailing list?
You may join our mailing list by clicking the “Subscription Form” button on our Contact page: https://www.newcircletheatrecompany.org/contact
How do I make a suggestion?
Write to leadership@newcircletheatrecompany.org. We are open to your suggestions and feedback and prefer to receive them in writing to be able to properly keep track of them and address them. If you wish to make a suggestion anonymously, go to our website and click “Suggestion Box.” This is a free service through our web host that logs your comments without identifying your name or email.