Desert Playwrights’ Retreat

A Safe, Creative Space for LGBTQ Artists

Write your play in Palm Springs, CA

Welcome to the Desert Playwrights’ Retreat, an LGBTQIA writer’s retreat located in the Palm Springs area of California.

The goal of the Desert Playwrights’ Retreat is to promote artistic fellowship while giving writers from underserved communities much needed time and space to create.

CONTACT US

Desert Playwrights’ Retreat was created by playwright and dramaturg Sean Abley for playwrights who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community. The retreat is a quiet (not silent) gathering that takes place twice yearly (April and October) for seven (7) days in the Palm Springs area of California. The mission of the retreat is threefold:

  • To bring playwrights together for quiet writing time in a queer space.
  • To encourage fellowship among theater-makers in identity-based breakout cohorts.
  • To share work and give feedback in a supportive, non-competitive environment.

Each retreat week will typically involve one or more cohorts curated by identity, housed separately to encourage a safe space for creation and discussion. Socializing and sharing of work will be encouraged and facilitated.

The Desert Playwrights’ Retreat has light structure, but is also a bit DIY. In general, the expectation is:

  • MONDAY – Arrival day. Get settled in, traditional family dinner out at Sherman’s Deli that evening (the Retreat’s treat).
  • TUESDAY – 10 Minute Play Bake-off. Modeled on Paula Vogel’s “Bake Off” playwriting marathons. To prime the pump for, and inject some accountability into, the week, all cohort members will write a 10-minute play (due at 2pm) to be shared with the group. The rest of the day is quiet (not silent) writing. Evening is free.
  • WEDNESDAY thru FRIDAY – Quiet (not silent) writing during the day. Although this is not a silent retreat, we’ll keep distractions to a minimum by spending most of the day quietly writing. But we’re playwrights, and playwrights love to talk, so just find a spot away from the group for those lengthy convos! In the evenings, communal dinners, and endless conversations about anything and everything.
  • FRIDAY EVENING – Sharing work (first round). For those that wish to share, we’ll read work aloud and offer feedback.
  • SATURDAY AFTERNOON – Sharing work (second round).

There is also the general expectation participants will be working on theater pieces (not screenplays or novels).

The Desert Playwrights’ Retreat offers LGBTQIA playwrights artistic fellowship, personal and creative safety, and the time and space needed to create, while removing the barrier of money to do so.