If it wasn't for the Playwrights Foundation's encouragement and nurturing, I would have never considered playwriting as a writing path. Their support and services have been invaluable to me as a playwright. Annually they produce the Bay Area Playwrights Festival (for more than 30 years now) which features readings of new plays by contemporary playwrights. The festival provides a playwright the opportunity to workshop and develop their play with a director, actors, and a dramaturg. Each play receives 2 public readings which allow a playwright opportunity to see the play in front of an audience and solicit audience feedback. Along with providing playwriting class opportunities to aspiring playwrights, the Playwrights Foundation now has a residency program for local playwrights. As a Resident Playwright, I've had the chance to write new plays and workshop them with fellow playwrights. The sense of community this program has developed is priceless.