USE OUR SPACE

When we are not producing our own plays, we continue BPT’s mission through our Play Space rental program, which makes our space(s) available at deeply subsidized rates to other New England theatre companies and playwrights for new-play related events including readings, classes, auditions, rehearsals, conferences, and full productions. Additionally, we offer access to the space to groups of playwrights who have formed specifically to share their work in community through regular meetings. Read the details below, and when you are ready to submit a space request, please do so through this Google form. Note: rentals are not our primary focus, so please allow two weeks for a response.

RENTAL DETAILS

Boston Playwrights’ Theatre is a home for new works for the stage. As such, we prioritize the use of our space for the rehearsal, reading and production of new plays. When available, we rent our spaces out for these purposes under the following guidelines:

BASIC RATES

  • Private meetings and readings: based on schedule

  • Public readings: starting at $200, based on schedule

  • Auditions: $20/hour – 3 hour minimum, when the building is already scheduled to be open; $50/hour – 3 hour minimum, when building coverage must be provided

  • Classes: $30/hour – 3 hour minimum, when the building is already scheduled to be open; $50/hour – 3 hour minimum, when building coverage must be provided

  • Productions: $1,000/week + hourly personnel, based on schedule

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Private Readings
If a playwright needs to hear their work amongst trusted dramaturgs, artistic friends and theatre artists in order to develop the work, this is what we refer to as a Private Reading. It is a private event (neither advertised nor posted publicly on social media) and no more than 20 people outside of the organizer and actors on stage are present. Work lights alone are used and no changes are made to the space.

Public Readings
We recognize that playwrights need to see a play early in its development before an audience. Public Readings are what they sound like—public events that are advertised with the expectation that more than 20 people beyond the organizers and actors will be present. There are no tickets sold, but tickets may be reserved through any third party ticketing source and suggested donations may be solicited at the event. Basic stage lights may be used from a rep plot provided by BPT (at additional cost), but there may be no changes made to the space. Additional personnel costs may be required, depending on the schedule.

Auditions
Both theatres are available for auditions, both Equity and non-Equity. Work lights alone are used and no changes are made to the space. There is one electric piano available for musical auditions.

Classes/Workshops
Both theatres and the Green Room are available for theatre classes and workshops. Work lights alone are used and no changes are made to the space.

Third Party Productions
BPT occasionally offers the Walcott Stage and Snodgrass Stage to local theatre productions, prioritized for productions of plays in their first presentations or Boston University-connected work. All third party programming is determined on a case-by-case basis.

For these productions, BPT offers weekly rentals that begin on Mondays and end on Sundays. Performances schedules are negotiated on a case by case basis, but are never more than six shows per week. Producers may have access to BPT from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on weekdays and a weekend schedule that is negotiated on a case by case basis. All access is supervised by BPT—there is no 24-hour access, and additional building coverage costs may be required above and beyond the rental rate.

Production rental access includes:
Either the Walcott Stage or the Snodgrass Stage and all equipment therein:

  • Sound system

  • Lighting system

  • Seating risers

  • Audience chairs

  • Black curtains

  • Two separate dressing rooms

  • A shared green room (sometimes used for other events)

  • Access to the box office (note: BPT does not run your box office; you must provide your own box office services and staff)

Production rental access DOES NOT include:

  • 24-hour access to the space

  • Tools and building supplies

  • Furniture

  • BPT staff labor (we are not able to build/paint your set or hang/focus your lights, etc.)

  • Box office management or staffing

Additional information about insurance, box office, payments, and marketing will be provided if we are able to consider your production request.

To inquire about space availability for your project, please fill out this Google form.

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