Following an intensive selection process, The New Harmony Project is thrilled to welcome writers and artists to our 2026 Annual Writers’ Residency. This year’s residency will feature an intimate community of 14 Artists In Residence, supported by a team of professional artists in theatre, film, and television. The residency, held in New Harmony, Indiana from May 21-31, will offer a creative and transformative community where artists can work, receive support from dramaturgs, mentors, and wellness providers, and build the relationships that will bolster their future artistic journeys.
“When we want to understand a deep truth about our existence, we look to the writers among us for guidance, hope, and a vision for the future,” said Jenni Werner, Executive Artistic Director. “NHP was founded to nurture stories in film, television, and theatre, and we’re returning to those roots with an intentional focus on projects for film and television, crafted by our alumni writers. The residents of New Harmony have always believed that we can work together to create a better world, and that is a kind of magic that this year’s exceptional writers will draw on for inspiration, rejuvenation, and creativity.”
The Writers
Production in Residence
The People v. Marion Barry
By 24K (Psalmayene 24 and KOKAYI)
Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
Dramaturgy by Chelsea Radigan
Public presentation of the work-in-progress on May 30th.
The People v. Marion Barry is a new musical by 24K (Helen Hayes Award winning theater artist Psalmayene 24 and Grammy-nominated artist KOKAYI). The project is a docu-musical based on interviews with Washingtonians who knew Marion Barry, the late mayor of Washington, DC. Exploring this complex and polarizing figure through the stories and insights of those most familiar with him, this unconventional musical will center the cultural, racial, and sociopolitical landscape Barry navigated while giving shape to the soulful and rhythmic way he moved through the world.
A partnership with Mosaic Theater, Washington, D.C. (Reginald Douglas, Artistic Director)
Partnerships
Partnerships are central to NHP’s vision for a healthy arts ecosystem, and in 2026, the organization will continue its partnership with the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards, a recognition for select writers through the American College Theatre Festival. This year the awards will support three MFA playwrights participating in the residency. Additionally, NHP is proud to launch a new programming partnership with Humanitas, a Los Angeles-based organization that honors and empowers television and film writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way.
A special thank you
The 2026 New Harmony Project writers were selected by a panel of paid readers, including: Carla Ching, Monet Hurst-Mendoza, and Harrison David Rivers.