The Dramatists Guild Foundation has named Melis Aker, Nolan Doran and Avi Amon, Kate Douglas, Elliah Heifetz and Jessica Kahkoska, Nikhil Mahapatra, Kyoung H. Park, Andrew Rincón, Andy Roninson, and Paulo Tiról its new 2019–2020 class of DGF Fellows.

These promising talents will spend the year developing full-length shows under the auspices of program chairs Migdalia Cruz and Lucy Thurber (playwriting), and Laurence O’Keefe and Michael Korie (musical theatre), culminating in an Off-Broadway presentation of their show. Cruz and Thurber join the Fellows as program chairs in playwriting, taking the place of Diana Son, who has served as a chair for the past seven years.

As part of the program, Fellows receive financial support, access to guest artists, and a chance to collaborate with one of DGF’s partners to continue to develop their original work. The Fellows include composers, lyricists, book writers, and playwrights.

“DGF is grateful to welcome Migdalia and Lucy into the position of Fellows Program Chairs. As artists whose work resonates with audiences across the country, they embody DGF's commitment to serving the national theatre community,” DGF Program Manager Tessa Raden Gregory said in a statement. “We are excited for them to continue Diana's legacy of education and artistic excellence.”

Former Fellows include Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), Antoinette Nwandu (Pass Over), Lauren Yee (King of the Yees), Max Vernon (K-Pop), and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen).

To learn more about DGF, visit DGF.org.