ColLABo
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-related challenges on a project they intend to have produced. Produced in partnership with CMU’s Center for New Work Development, 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.
Applications for ColLABo 2026 are
due January 15, 2026.
Questions? Email collabo@andrew.cmu.edu
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
HOW COLLABO WORKS
Creative teams made up of four artists (which must include at least one director and one designer) who are working together on a theatrical project join us in Pittsburgh for two weeks at the end of May/early June. ColLABo 2026 will take place June 6–20, 2026. Out-of-town artists are provided on-campus housing, airfare (within the U.S.) or gas reimbursement to travel to and from Pittsburgh. Each participating artist receives a $1,000 honararium. Teams work out of the Purnell Center of the Arts – home to Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama – and have access to School of Drama resources and artists, as well as local Pittsburgh theater practitioners. Throughout this two-week process, teams explore and create solutions for specific production-related challenges within their theatrical projects.
WHO IS RIGHT FOR COLLABO?
We are seeking cohorts of American theater artists who are dedicated to developing new stories that elevate unheard voices, or to reimagining established plays in ways that broaden the range of perspectives explored. 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.
HOW TO APPLY.
Download and fill out the application. Email it as a PDF, along with a 10-15 page script sample to collabo@andrew.cmu.edu by January 15, 2026.
Past ColLABo Projects
PLASTIC NEST – 2024
“Plastic Nest” by Tracy Held was part of ColLABo 2024. The team explored different ways to depict the bird characters in the play through movement, puppetry, and design.
DR. REES ZITI’S PAGEANT FOR A BETTER FUTURE – 2024
“Dr. Rees Ziti’s Pageant for a Better Future” was a project workshopped during ColLABo 2024 by The Bellwether Project. Their team explored how to use live camera media in concert with a live action play.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
“The Mourners,” a new play by Rivka Rivera, was workshopped during ColLABo 2023. Here, sound designer Tate Abdullah creates a live soundscape for an on-stage hurricane.
39 REVOLUTIONS – 2023
“39 Revolutions” by Alex Lin was workshopped during ColLABo 2023 and explored how lighting design could help tell the story.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
“The Mourners” by Rivka Rivera has a hurricane happen on stage. During ColLABo 2023, their team created it by dropping rice from the grid in the Rauh Theater.
DR. REES ZITI’S PAGEANT FOR A BETTER FUTURE – 2024
Kolton Cotton worked as a media consultant with The Bellwether Project‘s “Dr. Rees Ziti’s Pageant for a Better Future.” Their team explored how to use live camera media in concert with a live action play during ColLABo 2024.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
Scenic designer Michael Ruiz-del-Vizo and playwright Rivka Rivera work through the logistics of an on-stage hurricane during ColLABo 2023.
PLASTIC NEST – 2024
“Plastic Nest” by Tracy Held was part of ColLABo 2024. The team explored different ways to depict the bird characters in the play through movement, puppetry, and design.
DR. REES ZITI’S PAGEANT FOR A BETTER FUTURE – 2024
“Dr. Rees Ziti’s Pageant for a Better Future” was a project workshopped during ColLABo 2024 by The Bellwether Project. Their team explored how to use live camera media in concert with a live action play.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
“The Mourners,” a new play by Rivka Rivera, was workshopped during ColLABo 2023. Here, sound designer Tate Abdullah creates a live soundscape for an on-stage hurricane.
39 REVOLUTIONS – 2023
“39 Revolutions” by Alex Lin was workshopped during ColLABo 2023 and explored how lighting design could help tell the story.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
“The Mourners” by Rivka Rivera has a hurricane happen on stage. During ColLABo 2023, their team created it by dropping rice from the grid in the Rauh Theater.
DR. REES ZITI’S PAGEANT FOR A BETTER FUTURE – 2024
Kolton Cotton worked as a media consultant with The Bellwether Project‘s “Dr. Rees Ziti’s Pageant for a Better Future.” Their team explored how to use live camera media in concert with a live action play during ColLABo 2024.
THE MOURNERS – 2023
Scenic designer Michael Ruiz-del-Vizo and playwright Rivka Rivera work through the logistics of an on-stage hurricane during ColLABo 2023.
ColLABo Producers
