The Playwrights’ Playground

Show your work!

For aspiring playwrights: accountability+feedback=progress!

Members of the Playground meet monthly to share selections from their works-in-progress. Pages are read aloud by the group. The writer can choose to hear the work without feedback or request a group discussion.

When:  Second Thursday of every month beginning February 12, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where:  Fleming Island United Methodist Church, 7170 Fleming Island, FL 32003
Cost:  $10 per session payable in advance annually ($120 for the year)

Please note: If we have more than 2 events available for reservations at one time, you may not see all of them when you first click the red “Reservations” toggle. Just click in the white space between two events to force the widget to expand and display all available events.

For questions or assistance, please email boxoffice@clamourtheatre.org (and please tell us which play you are asking about or trying to reserve).

ACCESSIBILITY

FIUMC is wheelchair-accessible.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In general, in 2026, we will meet on the second Thursday evening of each month from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. There may be a few exceptions. Members will be notified by email of any changes.

We meet in the Admin West building of the Fleming Island United Methodist Church. Address is 7170 US Highway 17, Fleming Island, FL 32068.

The location is the west side of 17, a little south of Pat’s Nursery and a little north of Corky Bell’s restaurant.

Look for the Clamour yard sign to find the entrance you should use.

This is open to Playwrights’ Playground members only.

Writers may sign up to present work-in-progress in a given month. Each presenting writer must bring enough copies on the night they are presenting for the work to be read aloud by the group. There will be a moderated group discussion after the reading unless the writer has chosen not to have a discussion.

Elaine Smith

  • Founder and Artistic Director of Clamour Theatre Company.
  • Over 25 years in New York City as an actor, director, audition coach, and playwright.
  • Member of Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, the Dramatists Guild, former member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, and a former member of Theatre Resources Unlimited’s producing mentorship program.
  • Director at Abingdon Theatre Company, Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble, New Dramatists, Lincoln Center Institute, the Women’s Project, and Clamour Theatre Company, among others.
  • Acted on stage regionally and in NYC as well as in film and television.
  • Studied with Anne Bogart, Julia Carey, John Basil, Kevin Kuhlke, Ginger Howard, Alan Miller among others.
  • Award-winning playwright with productions in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
  • Undergraduate degree in Acting from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Theatre from the University of Denver.

Playwrights’ groups are effective, in large part, because they introduce accountability to an endeavor that can be solitary and unstructured. We believe that having a little skin in the game (a small fee) encourages people to make use of the opportunity.

If the fee is a hardship, please reach out to us at info@clamourtheatre.org. We have work-study opportunities and may be able to raise scholarship funds.

Please email us at info@clamourtheatre.org to indicate your interest.  Elaine Smith will arrange a phone or Zoom interview with you to discuss your writing experience (it’s okay if you have none!), your goals for joining the Playwrights’ Playground, and the next steps.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

The Retreat playwrights visited a class at the Green Cove Springs Junior High School. The beautiful thank you notes below came from the students. We removed their names to protect their privacy and scanned them so we could share them with you.

THE DRAMATURGS

Lindsey Barr
LINDSEY R.
BARR
Suzi Elnaggar
SUZI
ELNAGGAR
Fiona Kyle
FIONA
KYLE
Linda Lombardi
LINDA
LOMBARDI
Kae Milne Twichell
KAE MILNE
TWICHELL

PARTNERS & SPONSORS

Penney Farms Retirement Community
Green Insurance
Bemer Group
Goode's Cleaning Service
House of Dazzle

And thank you to the restaurants and many other contributors to our “No Starving Artists” Fund who are helping to feed our guests while they are here!

And, THANK YOU to the anonymous donor who has fully funded our “No Starving Artists” Fund for Clay & Water 2026 and is helping to feed our guests while they are here!

And thank you to the restaurants and many other contributors to our “No Starving Artists” Fund who are helping to feed our guests while they are here!

And thank you to the restaurants and many other contributors to our “No Starving Artists” Fund who are helping to feed our guests while they are here!

20 N Orange Ave, GCS

14 N Magnolia Ave, GCS

328 Ferris St, GCS

232 Walnut St, GCS

  • Janet Peterson, dōTERRA Essential Oils, mydoterra.com/janet4oils
  • Jason Scoggins, Orkin Commercial
  • Something Special, 425 Walnut St, GCS
  • Two Chic's Eclectic Mix, 408 Walnut St, GCS
  • No H2O Mobile Waterless Car Wash & Wax, 904-923-8884
  • Patricia and Joey Evans
  • The Guitar Station, 421 Walnut St, GCS
  • Curt Coenen, Bemer Group, 904-891-3838
  • Lisa Stern, Embrace Your Journey Health and Wellness Coaching LLC, 301-633-2000
  • Renae Aiple, Financial Advisor-Edward Jones, 904-337-9298

MORE

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