2025 Lee Playwright in Residence | Call for Applicants

The University of Alberta’s Department of Drama is seeking an experienced Playwright in Residence for a 12-month term, dedicated to both creative development and supporting Edmonton’s playwriting community.

We are looking for a playwright with a proven record of professional productions who can offer dramaturgical guidance to playwrights at all stages of their careers while advancing their own creative work. This residency is a unique opportunity to develop new work while fostering the next generation of Canadian playwrights in a dynamic, creative environment.

Position Details:

• Duration: 12 months (July 2025 to June 2026)
• Compensation: $60,000 (CAD) per year + benefits
• Eligibility: Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada
• Teaching: This is not a teaching position

Residency Structure and Conditions:

The residency will be divided between:

• 50% Personal creative development – Time dedicated to advancing the playwright’s own projects.
• 50% Community and university engagement – Providing dramaturgical support, mentoring emerging playwrights, and engaging with the Department of Drama.

The Playwright in Residence will receive office space on the North Campus and is expected to be actively involved with faculty and students. Opportunities include collaborating on new works, engaging with students, and contributing to the department’s New Works Festival largely by providing dramaturgical support.

Additional funding and support may be available to cover workshop expenses, based on the playwright’s needs. The level of support will vary each year.

As part of the residency, the playwright will serve on the jury for the Lee Playwriting Prize, which recognizes outstanding new Canadian plays.

Any work created during the residency must acknowledge the University of Alberta Department of Drama and the Lee Playwright in Residence program in all credits.

The residency offer includes one round-trip airfare between Edmonton and the playwright’s home (within Canada).

Please note: Accommodation in Edmonton is the responsibility of the playwright.

Application deadline: April 18, 2025, at 23h59 Mountain Standard Time

Interested playwrights can apply via this Google Form.

Requirements:

1. Statement of Intent (1000 words maximum)
   
   Applicants must submit a statement of intent outlining their interest in the two key aspects of the residency: new play development and community outreach. This statement should detail the project(s) the playwright intends to work on during the residency, along with their creative and professional goals. Additionally, applicants should describe how they plan to use this opportunity to achieve those goals.
   
   The statement should also highlight the playwright’s approach to new play development and community engagement, including the specific communities they envision collaborating with. If a playwright is particularly interested in working with youth, seniors, individuals in addiction recovery, veterans, or the LGBTQ2S+ community, they are encouraged to specify this in their application. These examples are not prescriptive and do not indicate any preference by the selection jury.
   
   
2. Writing sample of new work (20 pages max.)
   
   
3. Curriculum vitae
   
   
4. Contact information for two referees

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FOIP Statement:

The personal information requested on this form is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), and will be protected under Part 2 of that Act. It will be used for the purpose of adjudicating the Lee Playwright in Residence program. The FOIP Act requires under section 35(b) that any personal information used to make decisions is required to be retained for a minimum of one year from the time the decision is made.

For further inquiries please contact Tonya Rae Chrystian at tchrysti@ualberta.ca

Rights and Responsibilities of the contributor:

By submitting a digital file, contributors consent that they have read, understood, and accepted the preceding Description, Eligibility, and Selection Criteria for the Lee Playwright in Residence at the time of submission.

The contributor is warranting that (a) the content of the submission is their original work, and its content is not plagiarized, and does not infringe copyright or any other intellectual property protections, nor contravene the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP); or, where the submission is not entirely the contributor's original work, the contributor has obtained all necessary permissions in writing to grant the rights outlined herein; and (b) where the contributor shares co-ownership of copyright in the submission, they have obtained the co-owners written consent.

All submissions will be reproduced and distributed among the jurors for the sole purpose of conducting the review and adjudication process. Applicants retain all rights to their original work.

For further inquiries please contact Tonya Rae Chrystian at tchrysti@ualberta.ca

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Please Note:

1. Decisions of the selection committee are final
2. Depending on the number of applications, a decision will be made by May 16, 2025 at the latest
3. Feedback will not be provided for unsuccessful applications

We thank you for your interest in the Lee Playwright in Residence and wish you all the best with your candidacy!

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