Our Mission

The Black Sun Theatre Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which presents an annual New Works Series, from which one play each year is selected to receive The Harry Crosby Outsider Award in Theatre and Dramatic Arts.

How It Works

Submissions of new plays are accepted year round from playwrights who have not yet had their work professionally staged. 

From these submissions, twelve plays are chosen for workshop and staged readings, and one is selected to receive the Harry Crosby Award. The winning play is then given a full professional theatrical run, beginning in Los Angeles and, subsequently, in partner cities.

How Plays are Selected

The twelve finalists are selected by a panel of representatives from twelve participating Los Angeles theatre companies.  Each participating company reviews the submissions and selects the work to sponsor for the year. The company will then workshop and present the work as a part of the staged reading series.

At the end of the year a panel of Artistic Directors, Playwrights, and Literary Agents will select one work from the twelve staged readings to receive the Harry Crosby Award. That work will then be produced by the Foundation.

Participating Theatre Companies

You choose a representative of your company to evaluate submissions and select your sponsored play. Your company will then workshop and stage the final reading.   When a company sponsors a work, however, no member can be appointed to the final judges panel that year.

To Submit A Play

You cannot have had a scripted dramatic work performed professionally in the last five years.  School work, workshops and amateur performances should be fully disclosed upon submission so they may be evaluated to ensure no conflict exists.

How is the Winning Play Produced

The Foundation will finance and produce the final play in Los Angeles with a professional four to six week run. The production will then be optioned for a tour or exchange to San Francisco, New York, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Foundation wishes to give the work maximum exposure within the international theatre community.