Metamorphoses is a reading series and new work development program for playwrights and adaptive artists who have work in various stages of development.

Plays for the 2025-2026 Metamorphoses program will be offered editorial feedback, have two staged readings of different drafts produced throughout the season, and be considered for future workshopping opportunities as they arise.

This program is meant for in-progress or recently drafted adaptive works that have not been produced or workshopped.

We are looking for projects that fall under these guidelines:

Works of Adaptation

This could mean a wide range of projects based on many different source texts:

• Classical plays by playwrights such as Shakespeare, Euripides, Marlowe, Chekov, Ibsen, Shaw, etc.
• Mythology, religion, folk lore, urban legends from any different culture or diaspora
• Public domain films, art, and literature (As of January 1st, 2025 anything published 1929 and prior is considered public domain)
• Anything you can justify as adaptive storytelling

The amount your work reflects its source texts is up to you, adaptation comes in many genre, shape, and form.

Exploration of Genre and Medium

We have a particular interest in work that blurs the lines of performance genres and mediums. Our audiences are sparked by works that combine dance, theatre, film, art, poetry, and performance in new and compelling ways.

Progressive Stories and Artists

Our mission is to reclaim classical storytelling through a progressive and modern lens. We look for work that highlights the stories of marginalized communities and seek to support the artists that are a part of those communities.

Submissions for Metamorphoses 2025-2025 Are Closed Stay Tuned for Our Finalists!

Project Submission

Artists will submit their project concepts and most recent version of their script. Scripts that are incomplete and “In-Progress” will be considered alongside a treatment that projects the unfinished aspects of the piece.

Artist Interview

As part of the selection process, the Next Life artistic team will meet with the submitting artist to further discuss your project and decide if your project is a right fit for the lab.

Selection and Initial Feedback

After selection for the development program, the artist will meet once again with the artistic team to discuss notes on initial submission with a look towards a revised and completed first draft.

Draft Review

The artist and artistic team throughout the drafting process in a schedule set by the artist and team at time of selection, with the goal of preparing a draft for their first reading.

First Reading

Next Life will produce an invite-only reading of the first draft of your script and hold a feedback session immediately following the reading.

Second Draft Review

The artist and artistic team throughout the second drafting process in a schedule set by the artist and team following the first reading, with the goal of preparing a draft for their second reading.

Second Reading

Next Life will produce an invite-only reading of the second draft of your script and hold a feedback session immediately following the reading.

Future of the Project

After going through our development process, projects may be considered for staged workshopping or production as part of a future season.

Next Life will reserve first rights on continuing the development and production of the script, but there is no guarantee of further development or production following the lab process.