When discussing the genre of straight plays — staged performances relying solely on speech rather than on song or dance — the names of long-dead playwrights, like Arthur Miller or William Shakespeare, pop up time and time again. Without question, these and other classic playwrights have played a role in shaping the genre into what it is today; however, the genre is far from reaching its final form.
To some, manufacturing a new play means stepping into a fascinating world of opportunities, creativity and collaboration. The creative drive for developing new plays persists at full strength in the University’s Department of Theatre.
“I have always been curious about how actors, as well as directors, can best serve the creative process,” said Kim McKean, professor in FAA. “My research began with making new work from the beginning stages to the end and exploring how to give students agency in creating their own work (and) how to encourage actors to find their voice in making their own work.”
McKean is writing a book that compiles best practices in new play development. She has been interviewing theater-makers of all kinds nationwide about their experiences producing new plays.
“(McKean and her co-writer are) hoping to publish something that other universities can go to as a guide, like, ‘I want to make something new with a professional playwright; how do I do that?’” McKean said. “(The university environment) is a fertile ground for developing new work because of the resources of space and time to really generate an idea and sit with an idea.”
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McKean is not currently focused on creating new plays herself, but her research permeates her experience as an instructor. She often brings new ideas from her research to class, guiding students as they learn to follow their instincts and make strong choices when working with new material.
McKean’s research focuses on the process of creating new works; the research of Nisi Sturgis, professor in FAA, focuses more on new material. Sturgis spoke at length about her ongoing interest in adapting classical works into innovative pieces.
The revamping of Shakespeare plays has fascinated Sturgis for years. She mentioned an original play based on “The Taming of the Shrew” that incorporated student-actors’ opinions and feelings about the strictly Shakespearean version into the final performance. Integrating the cast’s opinions on the centuries-old play made room for modern interpretations of old themes, allowing the material to shine in a new light.
“(It’s) always thrilling to me when students are a part of the process,” Sturgis said. “It reveals more about the text and a contemporary mindset … Students are going to have the questions that we’re really interested in right now.”
McKean and Sturgis both highlighted the Daniel J. Sullivan Playwright-in-Residence Program as an exciting, hands-on opportunity for students from the theater department to interact with the process of creating new works.
The program invites a playwright to develop a new play to include in that season’s performances. Throughout the process, from brainstorming to performance, the playwright workshops and revises their concept and script in real time with students.
The 2025-26 season brought a slight alteration to the typical form of this program: The theater department invited Third Rail Projects to the University as Artists-in-Residence.
The professional theater company, known for its original collaborative works, began a series of visits to the University in Fall 2025. For a few weeks, Third Rail rehearsed with students to experiment and explore concepts for a new work.
After developing these ideas back home in New York City, Third Rail will return in the spring for another round of exploration and collaboration while developing this new piece with students.
“I think there’s a great deal of risk in new play development,” Sturgis said. “It is a process of real vulnerability for the artists who engage in it. (That’s) why I think (the development of new work) really deserves as much support and attention as we’re trying to give it here at Illinois theater.”
