work with us
Learn more about The Strides Collective below and Click on each Open Position header to learn more about our opportunities!
+ More about The Strides Collective
Founded in 2020, The Strides Collective produces and develops theatrical work by emerging playwrights that embraces the queer experience through authentic, modern, and innovative storytelling. Our work prioritizes the goal of normalizing the conversation about queer identity, creating a safe haven in which emerging artists can tell their stories and have the ability to express themselves without fear of judgment.
Our first two seasons of programming took place online. Ignite and The Diamond Peak Studio Sessions - completely original, queer audio plays - streamed in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and reached audience members in over 20 states and in 10 countries.
In 2022, we resumed in-person programming with the World Premiere of the pigeon. at The Christ Church Neighborhood House. Our 2023 Season featured a reading of bogfriends by jose sebastian alberdi at the Maas Building and the World Premiere of Sister of Mine by Kate McGunagle at The Community Education Center in University City.
In addition to our mainstage productions, we support the development of new queer plays by emerging queer playwrights through our Emerging Playwrights Program and New Strides Play Fest. Alumni of our development programs have gone on to work with The National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Dramatist Guild Foundation, Primary Stages, The Tank NYC, and more.
Call for Directors!
2025 New Strides Play Fest
The Strides Collective is looking for directors to take part in our 2025 New Strides Play Fest!
The deadline to submit is 11:59pm on Sunday July 20th, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
Frequently asked questions
+ Who is eligible to submit?
We are only accepting applications from queer directors local to the Greater Philadelphia Area at this time. Directors will need to be available starting around the beginning of November for Zoom meetings, rehearsals, and the culminating performances. Directors MUST be available to attend the in-person events on the evenings of Thursday December 4th AND Friday December 5th in Philadelphia. Please be mindful of your schedule and other commitments during that time frame before applying!
+ Can you explain more about the process of being involved as a Director?
Sure! Three playwrights and three directors will be chosen by the middle of August. On September 1st, the playwrights will be given their assigned elements and begin writing. A draft of their one act will be due by mid-October, at which point the Strides Artistic Team will pair each play with a Director and actors. The teams will meet via Zoom to do mini-workshops of each play in November. The process culminates in in-person staged readings of each play on Thursday December 4th and Friday December 5th!
+ What are these “assigned elements"?
Think of these like “ingredients” in a Paula Vogel style Bake-Off (see here). They will be fun, creative parameters to inspire and guide playwrights. Some examples of elements the play must include: the opening of a new coffee shop, a visit from an old friend, a shattered mirror.
+ What’s the time-commitment like?
We want this to be a fun and low-key developmental process. Directors won't get involved until November at which point they’ll have a Zoom meeting with the playwright and one or two Zoom rehearsals with actors before the in-person event. Everything is very flexible!
+ Is this a competition? Is there a prize? What about a stipend?
This is NOT a competition and there is no prize - this is meant to be a small-scale developmental opportunity and community celebration. To compensate artists for their time, we are able to offer a stipend of $50 to each actor and director at the completion of the process.