Theater News

Heidi Schreck, Lynn Nottage, and More Will Write Short Plays for Women+ On The Edge Of Democracy

The initiative has commissioned 36 short plays on the state of democracy in America.

| Vermont |

July 22, 2026

The Flynn Center in Vermont will partner with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize to present Women+ on the Edge of Democracy.

Initiated by the Flynn, an artistic catalyst in Burlington, this cultural and civic initiative commissions 36 women+ playwrights, and counting, from around the world to write ten-minute plays or monologues in response to these questions: What is the current state of democracy in America? What can history, global context, or futurism offer us in this pivotal moment?

The 36 commissioned playwrights currently include Jane Anderson, Leslie Ayvazian, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Moira Buffini, Lucy Caldwell, Bridget Carpenter, Paula Cizmar, Migdalia Cruz, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, Elizabeth Diggs, Hannah Doran, Stella Feehily, Lauren M. Gunderson, Zinnie Harris, Justice Hehir, Beth Henley, Elizabeth Kuti, Haruna Lee, Kimber Lee, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Lisa Loomer, Sarah Mantell, Deb Margolin, Ellen McLaughlin, Susan Miller, Rona Munro, Lynn Nottage, Ife Olujobi, Dael Orlandersmith, a.k. payne, Heather Raffo, Sarah Ruhl, Heidi Schreck, Jenny Schwartz, Judith Thompson, and Else Went.

Dramaturgs for the project include Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Sarah Mantell, Amrita Ramanan, Zeina Salame, and Jenny Worton.

The marathon world premiere of all the commissioned plays will take place in a live performance at the Flynn in October, with date, timing, and ticket information to be announced at a later date.

The Flynn will also publish the complete collection of plays as an anthology, free to perform. Artists, community groups, and citizens across the country are invited to stage readings and performances October 23-November 3, ahead of the US midterm elections.

The anthology will be available for purchase in September, with rights waived for individuals and non-profit organizations who would like to present the plays free of charge to the public.