the history of LAUNCH PAD

Featured in American Theatre magazine as a new model of play development in the US, LAUNCH PAD continues a rich tradition of innovation and collaboration. LAUNCH PAD was founded in 2005 at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

At first it didn’t have a name, I just started bringing professional writers to campus to work on their new plays. The name was birthed about five years later…when it was time to get serious about funding.

The program was a direct response to hearing my playwright friends talk about the challenges of the development process in the American theatre. They often find themselves stuck in a cycle of readings and workshops. Sometimes a play might have as many as 10 readings, which are, for the most part, actors standing at music stands and reading the play to a live audience. If the writer is lucky enough to land a professional world premiere, there is an incredible amount of pressure on that production to be successful. That pressure may curtail the play’s full development from a writing standpoint. And then, landing a second production after the world premiere title was taken is very difficult.

So, I wondered what I could do as a new professor at UC Santa Barbara, a research university with a robust theater program, to fill that developmental gap between readings/workshops and world premieres. Out of that question came the concept of a “preview production:” the play is professionally directed and designed with all the bells and whistles (scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, music, projections), features a combination of BFA acting students and professional actors, but it stays in previews throughout the run of the show. There is no opening night, there are no reviews. The writer continues revising as the piece evolves through performances.

I’m so proud to be embarking on our 20th year of developing these dynamic plays by these gifted playwrights. The program has grown over the years from one annual Preview Production as our centerpiece, while developing works at all stages through our Summer Reading Series, Amplify Reading Series and Pop-Up Series, and most recently becoming a partner in Four Seasons. We are proud to have supported so many great playwrights and plays on their journey from incubation to professional world premieres.

Looking forward, we hope to share this concept with other universities so more and more writers have the chance to see their work in 3-D before the New York Times comes to review it!

Since its inception in 2005, LAUNCH PAD has produced 19 preview productions by distinguished playwrights. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary.