Script Consultation Services

The NJ Play Lab offers one-on-one script consultations for stage plays and screenplays, as well as other dramaturgical services.

There are no residency requirements for Script Consultation Services. They are available to writers residing anywhere in the United States.

Payments for script consultations can be made via check, payable to The NJ Play Lab, or through PayPal (5% surcharge to cover fees). Please address all inquiries regarding all script consultations to info@njplaylab.org

Responsive Consultation

This is most recommended either for an early draft of a play when the playwright is unsure about the direction in which to proceed, or for a play that has been through substantial development, and the playwright either is stuck on a few elements of the script, or wants a general assessment before submitting it to theatres and producers.

How It Works

The playwright provides the dramaturg with a list of questions and/or challenges in regard to the current draft of the play.
The dramaturg reads the script with these questions and/or challenges in mind.
The dramaturg and playwright engage in a one-hour session on Zoom or in-person.

Responsive Consultations range between $75 and $200, depending on the length and scope of the piece, and on the experience level of the dramaturg.

In-Depth Consultation

This is most recommended either for plays that are somewhere in the middle of their development process when the writer is in need of both some guiding feedback and a sounding board, or for playwrights who have not had a great deal of formal playwriting training and may need to become more familiar with the language and process of dramaturgy.

How It Works

The dramaturg does a preliminary read of the script.
The dramaturg and playwright engage in a one-hour session on Zoom or in-person. Questions, concepts, and ideas emerge that will inform the next review of the script.
The dramaturg does a more in-depth, targeted read.
The dramaturg and playwright engage in a 2nd one-hour session, addressing the questions, concepts, and ideas from the first session.

In-Depth Consultations range between $150 and $350, depending on the length and scope of the piece, and on the experience level of the dramaturg.

Facilitated Play Reading

Senior Dramaturg $500 (Plus $25/Actor)
Associate Dramaturg $300-$400 (Plus $25/Actor)*

A Facilitated Reading combines the one-on-one dramaturgical support of our In-Depth Consultation with the opportunity to hear the play read by professional actors that is afforded in our PlayGym forums. This option is recommended for a play that has been through multiple drafts and at least one organized developmental process (a class, a playwriting group, a workshop, other readings), and now the playwright needs to hear the play read aloud alongside a dramaturgical partner with whom to dive deeply into the play’s remaining questions. Together, they will assess how best to move ahead toward the final stages of the play’s development. Please note that our facilitated play readings are designed to be developmental in nature. These readings are not intended for the purpose of the presentation or promotion of the play.

How It Works

The dramaturg does a preliminary read of the script.
The dramaturg and playwright engage in a one-hour session on Zoom or in-person to discuss the major intentions of the play, and to jointly assess what questions still need to be answered and what elements of the play need to be further explored. At this time, the dramaturg may offer the playwright some additional feedback based on the dramaturg’s own assessment of the play.
Both the dramaturg and the playwright do a more in-depth, targeted read, based on this conversation.
The dramaturg and playwright engage in a 2nd one-hour session, addressing how the questions and new ideas informed their most recent read of the play. Collaboratively, they compile a list of questions to be answered or illuminated by the play reading. At this time, the dramaturg and the playwright also assess if revisions should be done prior to the reading of the play by actors. If it is decided that there will be revisions, a timeline and plan is put in place. (It is possible that the dramaturg and the playwright will engage in another short meeting or email exchange around those revisions prior to the reading).
The dramaturg (in consultation with the writer) casts and schedules a private reading of the play by professional actors.
The reading will be followed by a facilitated group feedback session. The actors and one or two guests (invited by the playwright or additional NJPL staff) act as responders. The dramaturg facilitates the discussion.
The process culminates with a final one-hour session on Zoom or in-person for the dramaturg and the playwright to digest, discuss and assess what was learned in the reading and what the next steps should be in the development of the play.

*Fees listed are for virtual readings. For live readings, there will be an additional cost of $100 to cover space rental.

Other Services

Fees negotiable.

Please contact info@njplaylab.org with inquiries regarding:

Long-Term Script Development
As an alternative route toward bringing a play to the state of production readiness, a playwright may engage our services to enter into a longer-term collaboration. This option is contingent upon our assessment that we will be a good fit for the play and the playwright’s needs. Thus, prior to embarking on this work, the playwright and dramaturg will engage in a process of evaluating goals, working styles, and timelines to determine whether to proceed. We are happy to provide referrals of other dramaturgs and organizations in those cases where we do not proceed.

Production Dramaturgy

Partnering with a theatre or other producing entity to guide a new play through an extended workshop or first production.
Research, actor packets, and audience engagement programming around new or published plays