Running through Dec. 16, the summit will unite play development institutions that provide developmental support to emerging and established playwrights. The summit is offered at no cost to the participating companies.

Among the participating organizations are the Playwrights' Center, the Lark Play Development Center, New Dramatists, the Playwrights Foundation, the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Sundance Institute Theatre Program.Arena Stage associate artistic director David Dower will also take part in the summit.

Director Roberta Levitow, co-founder of Theatre Without Borders, will chronicle the discussion that will allow the programs to "share peer experiences; explore visions for the future, identify core shared values and challenge one another on new initiatives," according to Sundance.

"New play development is critical to the future of American theatre, yet to date no forum has existed for leaders in this area to come together," said Sundance Institute Theatre Program artistic director Philip Himberg in a statement. "By recognizing the need for and importance of across-the-board collaboration and strategy, Sundance Institute hopes to inspire a creative way of thinking about new play development. With the crucial collaboration of our colleagues, we hope the convening will lead to identifying and addressing the ways in which we network, share resources and most importantly effectively make the work that we do influence our culture."

For further information, visit Sundance.org *

Through its developmental activities at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab, the Sundance Institute Playwrights Retreat at Ucross and the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak, the Sundance Institute Theatre Program identifies and assists emerging theatre artists, contributes to the creative growth of established artists, and encourages and supports the development of new work for the stage.