Mission and Values
Our Mission
PlayCo supports and collaborates with artists to generate a dynamic, uniquely international program of adventurous plays that celebrate the power of live theatre.
We commission, develop and produce new plays from the U.S. and around the globe, to create contemporary theatre experiences that reflect and respond to our NYC home and today's interconnected world. We encourage ambition and experimentation in both form and content, championing new and marginalized voices to advance an inclusive and innovative American theatre ecosystem. We commit to inclusive, affordable access and collaborative community partnerships to make our work available and welcoming to all.
PlayCo received a 2007 Obie Award for our “unique contribution to the Off Broadway community”. Our organization, artists and shows have been honored with Obie, Lucille Lortel, American Theatre Wing, Drama Desk, Drama League awards and nominations.
Our Values
These are the Organizational Values, proposed by the leadership and mutually agreed upon by the staff and board, that center The Play Company and guide all of our work. All artists, production staff and contractors must also practice and uphold these values.
Inclusion – Theatre can only thrive from multiplicity of creative perspectives that spring from different lived experiences and artistic disciplines. PlayCo can only achieve our goal to share joy, learning, understanding and empathy through art if that art includes and embraces the diversity of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity and expression, age, ability, socio-economic status, communication style, work style, and other defining characteristics within the New York City population we belong to.
Artist Vision – PlayCo elevates adventurous, forward-thinking creativity. Artists drive the trajectory of their creative process and lead us in identifying the goals of each project. As producers, we support each project to achieve the full potential of these goals.
Collaboration – PlayCo commits to maintaining an equitable, safe workplace that upholds mutual respect and the open exchange of ideas. Our organization’s leadership centers the agency and creativity of artists, production team and staff members as we work together to make each project and fulfill our mission.
Access – Theatre is an act of gathering to make and share stories. We commit to removing barriers to participating in our work by combating racism and oppression; accommodating all abilities; maintaining affordable admission; building authentic, reciprocal partnerships with educational, cultural, social service and social justice organizations in our community, and creating welcoming space for all to engage with one another.
Hospitality & Community Building – PlayCo approaches each gathering as an opportunity to build trust and good will, bring comfort, and find joy in sharing stories, ideas, food, and other cultural expressions with one another. As theatremakers, we mindfully foster “collective effervescence” – the heightened sense of belonging and well-being that comes from participating in shared rituals – at every performance, in the rehearsal room, around the office conference table, and wherever people come together under the PlayCo umbrella.
Sustainability – A healthy, just workplace and fair compensation support the well-being and creativity of theatremakers which, along with fiscal stability, enables the future creation of ambitious, singular works of art.
Our Anti-Racism Work
We understand that PlayCo, as a historically and predominantly white organization, has been complicit in, and benefitted from, the white supremacist culture and systems that harm our BIPOC colleagues and friends. Change is necessary and long overdue. We must do better. We will do better.
Using the list of Demands published by We See You White American Theater in June 2020 as our guide, we are committed to sharing the steps we are taking as an organization to dismantle practices that cause harm and become a more equitable arts organization. We will publish semi-annual reports for at least the next 3 years that publicly demonstrate our commitments, and hold us accountable, to support the well-being and needs – both artistic and human – of artists, production staff, administrative staff, audiences, community partners, and all who interact with PlayCo. Please read our reports by clicking below.
Our Commitment to Financial Transparency
PlayCo is committed to budget transparency to hold ourselves accountable to our mission and organizational values. To that end, we will publish a budget report of each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) on our website on an annual basis, after the completion of an independent audit.
