COVID-19 Programming Update

Playwrights Program

Like most in the theater world, DVRF has been forced to make difficult decisions regarding its regular programming.

We had initially planned to hold our 29 hour reading of “In Sisters We Trust: Or, My Fucked Up American Girl Doll Play” by Justine Gelfman in late April 2020. This timeline became impossible given the necessity of social distancing and bans on indoor gatherings.

However, we have continued to work remotely on the development of this piece with Justine and the creative team over the past nearly 2 years. Despite further complications from the emergent Delta and Omicron variant—both of which disrupted scheduled plans for the 29 hour reading—we hope to be able to present the play in Spring of 2022.

Submissions for the next cycle of the Playwrights Program remain closed. This is regrettable, but we feel it is the best way we can ensure that our development cycles do not fall further behind or become subject to indefinite (and unknowable) delays. You can follow our website for more updates, or subscribe to our mailing list for an automatic notification of when submissions will reopen.

Hitchens Prize

DVRF decided not to award a Hitchens Prize in 2020 or 2021. While virtual options were debated, we felt it would be an inadequate format for the ceremony and accompanying lecture. With that said, the Prize is set to resume in 2022.

We thank you for all your patience, support, and interest in our programming. Updates will continue to be posted to our website in the coming months.