A one-of-a-kind laboratory for theater makers

ColLABo is a production development incubator–housed on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus–where theater makers from multiple disciplines come together to wrestle with production challenges on a project they intend to have produced. ColLABo is designed to be a director-centered and design-led process, giving creative teams valuable time, space, and resources to explore their projects and problem-solve before they dive into the production pressure cooker.

HOW COLLABO WORKS

Two creative teams made up of between 4–6 artists (which must include at least one director and one designer) join us in Pittsburgh for two weeks at the end of May/early June. We provide on-campus housing, airfare or gas reimbursement to travel to and from Pittsburgh, and a $500/week stipend for all participants. Teams will work out of the Purnell Center of the Arts – home to Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama – and will have access to School of Drama resources and artists, as well as local Pittsburgh theater practitioners.

WHO IS RIGHT FOR COLLABO?

We are seeking diverse cohorts of American theater artists who are working with a particular focus on developing new stories that center marginalized voices OR reinterpretations of established plays to explore diverse perspectives. We are looking for teams that have very specific production-related challenges to explore. As a director- and designer-led process, ColLABo is meant to support production development more so than script development.

Applications for ColLABo 2025 will open this fall. Stay tuned for more information.