The Playwrights' Round Table

about us

mission

Playwrights’ Round Table develops original theatrical works year-round through monthly workshops, staged readings, and productions of select plays. These activities support the development and artistic growth of area playwrights and introduce local audiences to new voices of the American stage.

history

In 1997, PRT launched as a playwriting support group focused on growing and developing local writers. In its first year, PRT established a monthly playwriting workshop where actors read works from both established and emerging playwrights. Many of these plays went on to be produced by PRT and/or submitted nationally. In its existence, PRT has presented over 500 new plays by over 100 different playwrights.

Today, PRT produces ten-minute and full-length festivals and one musical every year, bringing emerging talent to the Central Florida region while also celebrating and developing our local playwrights. Through these endeavors, we have built a reputation among playwrights as a theatrical organization willing to take the risks and accept the challenges of creating and presenting new works for the American stage. We also provide an opportunity for local actors, directors, and students to engage with new works in a welcoming, accessible setting.

who we are

our board of directors

Chuck Dent, Executive Artistic Director

Chuck Dent is a native son of West Virginia who has enjoyed exploring the country while pursuing his passion for theater. He has worked throughout the Midwest and Southeast and seen many a mile in between. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/Directing from Marshall U. (Go Herd!)

He has been involved with PRT since 2000, and became President in 2008. He has had a number of his own plays produced, including Love in Falling and Jésus Saves, and acted in and directed many of PRT's shows, including the award-winning Miss by William Newkirk.

Kat is a former NYC-based actress. Since moving to Orlando in 2016, she has been an active member of PRT. You may have seen her performing at Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Orlando Fringe and other Central Florida locations. She is also the resident Art Integration Specialist for UCP of Central Florida, where she is dedicated to making theatre accessible to children and young adults with disabilities.

Jeremy has been involved in theater for over forty years, and has been directing and producing stage productions professionally for over twenty years. He is a founding member of Orlando's Howler's Theatre, and is a 10-year veteran of the Orlando-based Phantasmagoria troupe. His productions include Jesus Caught The A Train, A Behanding in Spokane, Mr. Marmalade, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Hunter Gatherers. He most recently starred in PRT's hit production of Jigsaw at the Orlando Fringe Festival. Jeremy fervently and passionately believes that theater is one of the most beautiful ways that human beings have found to express ideas to each other.

Susan White, Secretary

Susan was introduced to PRT as an actor reading plays in the Second Sundays Workshops in 2014. She is a retired actor.

She loves historical fiction, guinea pigs, weight lifting and fashion. She could do without spam phone calls, mosquitos, bumper stickers and air potato vines.

Aaron Babcock, Technical Production

Aaron came to PRT via a cloak and dagger kidnapping and now suffers from Stockholm Syndrome. Nope. Actual former positions Aaron has held: Technical Entertainment Supervisor Universal Resort Orlando, President Board of Directors Theater Downtown, Technical Director Valencia College, Technical Director Theater Downtown, Technical Director/Building Infrastructure Bay Street Players, and Pyrotechnics/Special Effects Technician Universal Resort Orlando. Aaron truly enjoys helping PRT bring new works to the stage.