New Play Dramaturgy
I have been deep entrenched in the world of new plays for the past 10+ years as an avid reader and a thoughts-giver. I currently offer dramaturgical support for pieces of theatre of all shapes and sizes.
So if you would like to hire me to read your work and share what questions I have about it, what my favorite lines and moments are and any advice I have for future development…..
My rate is a $100 for a 60 minute phone call and for an additional $30 we can have a 30 minute phone call (either right after the 60 minute call or at another time of your choosing) where we will strategize next steps for the development and you can pick my brain about which of the various development or potential production opportunities would best for your play.
If you want to work more together beyond that, let’s talk about the rates for that, too!!
To inquire about any of my services, shoot me an email at ShaunLeisher@gmail.com.
Testimonials from Past Clients
“Shaun’s deep enthusiasm and encouragement are so helpful. He gives generous feedback, is attentive to your goals, and has a talent for recognizing what’s special about your play.”- Nic Adams (NYC-based playwright, educator and Producing Director of Exponential Fest)
“Shaun is very skilled at tailoring his dramaturgy to your specific needs as a playwright/the parts of your project that you feel require the most attention. He approaches discussing your work with enthusiasm and a willingness to help shape the best possible next draft.”- Mollie Gordon (New Jersey-based playwright and member of the 2025 QueerSpeech Cohort with The Cult Collective)
“Shaun has a unique ability to understand a play exactly as it is and, in talking about his experience with the script, illuminate any weaknesses and underline all it’s strengths. He is endlessly supportive and willing to engage in a true conversation about any piece.”- Brooks Gillespie (NYC-based playwright and music journalist)
“Shaun’s passion for playwriting is electric and imbues the penetrative and compelling conversations he has with creatives. Not only is he a voracious reader with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things theatre, but he exercises the same passion and investment in following up with collaborators, caring for and supporting their journey.”- Anelga Hajjar (Chicago-based actor and playwright)
“Shaun Leisher’s great gifts as a dramaturg are the depth of his knowledge of new plays and his love of process. Because he is so immersed in contemporary work, from the traditional to the experimental, he comes into each new piece with an absolutely open mind and focuses on what each play is trying to be, rather than trying to fit it into a pre-existing box. Shaun understood my work and what I am trying to do with it immediately, in a way that I’ve rarely experienced except with long-time collaborators.
Talking with Shaun about my play was casual and fun- it felt more like talking to an old friend, although we’ve only met recently. During our conversation, I worked through one of my thorniest questions about my play-in-progress, without Shaun ever pushing me in one direction or the other. I would absolutely recommend that playwrights take advantage of the opportunity to work with Shaun, particularly if you are looking for an open-ended conversation that may take you in surprising directions.”- Savannah Reich (Philadelphia-based playwright and assistant professor at Drexel University)
“Shaun’s wide breadth of knowledge in multiple fields allows him to connect with the nuances in your plot and setting. He can always recognize what is present and voice what is missing. He’s always at the top of my list for a pair of eyes on a first draft.”- Alex Ledgewood (Chicago-based playwright and comedian)
“More than anything else, Shaun is someone who cares so very deeply about this art form— a quality that I have found disturbingly absent in a lot of theater makers these days. Shaun does what he does and does it well because he loves it. In every encounter, he has talked about my work with such respect and care, and I’ve been able to tell just how he loves plays in every interaction. He has an ability to make you feel championed in a way that is rare, and is always down to just talk things out with you if you’re having trouble with a component of a script. The world— and especially the theatre— needs more Shaun Leishers.”- Leo James Osborn (NYC-based playwright)
New Work Finding
This is basically what I do when I find actors at Drama Book Shop distressingly searching through an anthology of scenes and/or monologues for new material to work on.
You hop on a 30 minute call with me and we talk about your history with acting, what you love about it, the kind of theatre that excites you, what kind of things you want to work on, etc… AND IN REAL-TIME I will find 5 new plays for you to reignite or keep stoking the passion for your craft.
From now till end of summer (September 22nd) I’m only charging $25 for a session and after that the rate bumps up to $50 a session.
If this is something you might be interested, BOOK A SESSION WITH ME!!!
Shaun Leisher 