History of The Alchemists’ Workshop

T.A.W. originally was named Heartland Plays and began life in rural Minnesota working with playwrights and communities in commissioning, touring and publishing works.  Plays they were involved with included Tom Dunn’s The Women’s Team, Gunplay and The Great Powerline Rebellion, Kirk Ristau’s Blues and John Olive’s Minnesota Moon.  During this time we helped start Staples Opera House and Silver Threads theatre groups.

In 1999 the Company moved to New Hampshire where it was incorporated and became a non-profit 501c3 organization under the name, The Alchemists’ Workshop.  (Heartland Plays was taken…)  A founders’ board was organized that included Tad Mosel, August Wilson, Susan Schulman, Robert Anderson and New Hampshire community leaders.  The first project launched by T.A.W. was the N.H. Young Playwrights’ Program modeled after the NYC organization founded by Stephen Sondheim.  We developed a number of other programs and the founders’ board became a board of directors composed of central New Hampshire parents, teachers and young people.          

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