Thanks to a grant from AT&T, L.A.'s East West Players has established a new program to develop emerging playwrights and strengthen the company's literary department.

Called the "AT&T/EWP New Voices Project," the $25,000 grant will specifically go towards educational training for new and established Los Angeles-based playwrights, a national playwriting contest, commissioning new works, and two world premiere productions during the 1996-97 season. East West Players has been called "the first and foremost Asian Pacific America theatre."

EWP's playwriting contest, which seeks "new voices in Asian American theatre," offers a $1000 first prize and a $500 second prize, along with opportunities for a future production or workshop. Plays must be written in English and focus on "Asian Pacific American themes, content and characters."

Interested writers should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for guidelines to: East West Players, AT&T/EWP New Voices Project Playwriting Contest, 4424 Santa Monica Boulevard, LA, CA 90029.

-- By David Lefkowitz