Emerging playwrights Kathryn de la Rosa, Ty Greenwood, Heesun Hwang, Jasmine Sharma, and Carlos-Zenen Trujillo cover a lot of ground as they dish on their experiences taking part in Ashland New Plays Festival’s first New Voices virtual retreat, August 1 – 7, where they worked directly with mentors and met with other theatre professionals as they developed a new play. The vibrancy and camaraderie of this group of fantastic playwrights is felt throughout their talk. They introduce you to the plays they’re working on–with topics ranging from mental health, racial reckoning, art and diaspora, and LGBTQI+ experiences. They then delve into reflections on theatre today, the classics, Taylor Swift, Bertholdt Brecht, and also reveal their north stars–the advice that guides them through their work–and some surprising facts, like Carlos being an ordained minister! All of the playwrights share their appreciation for the retreat bringing them together, having a space to work with fellow young playwrights. “We all get the vibe,” says Heesun, “Unspoken truths among us that we don’t have to explain. The safety in that is really really incredible.” We are grateful to have had a chance to welcome these rising artists into the ANPF community, and as Jasmine says, this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later! Big big love to these five. Support our playwrights with their upcoming events: Ty Greenwood: DEATH DREAM, a choreopoem, will be presented at Kelly-Strayhorn Theater on October 1 and 2, 2021. Link: https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/freshworks-death-dream/ Kathryn de la Rosa: NON SO PIÙ COSA SON, which they developed during the New Voices retreat, is having a live-streamed reading with Artists at Play on October 9, 2021. Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artists-at-play-readings-2021-registration-169688026455?fbclid=IwAR1jKEgnRbOFRZcEPJa85WG7rohs0WTTfRKuYek85JI6UxBE1kwCK_LhKcE Jasmine Sharma: RADIAL GRADIENT will be presented as part of The Avalanche New Play Summit in Chicago from October 29 to November 6, 2021. Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35386/production/1078215 Carlos-Zenen Trujillo: World-premiere of CHRISTMAS, CONTIGO at Oregon Cabaret Theatre from November 18 to December 31, 2021. Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35080/production/1033921?_ga=2.255914051.933869179.1631321906-271560353.1631321906