![]() ![]() Within just a few decades, the population had been wiped out by seemingly mysterious forces. Around 900 AD, the Maya civilization experienced a drastic decline. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Between massive pyramids and terraced farms, the Maya civilization achieved some impressive feats. This lost civilization contained large cities, monuments, and roads, as well as technologies that helped advance their growing communities. At the time, the Maya were one of the most advanced civilizations on Earth, known for their mathematical, architectural, and engineering abilities. The Maya Empire was once located in modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. So what have we learned about some of these lost civilizations, and what does it all mean? What downfalls did these civilizations experience, and why did they disappear entirely? Below, we’ll talk about nine civilizations that seemingly disappeared, with little evidence of the true cause. There have been many cases in which an entire civilization has simply disappeared without a trace, leaving few belongings behind to determine what happened to them. While in some cases we have an understanding of the evolution and downfall of these civilizations, the fate of others is not so clear. I truly believe that an investment in Playwrights Horizons is an investment in the health of the theater itself.One of the most fascinating subjects to study throughout history is the rise and fall of various civilizations. Ticket prices cover less than half of the theater’s operating costs, so community support is crucial. If you’re able to support Playwrights Horizons this year, I can’t think of an organization where your dollar would be more shrewdly, gratefully, and impactfully spent. ![]() Now it occurs to me that the question, “Why aren’t there more theaters like Playwrights Horizons,” answers itself: The uniquely progressive, gutsy vision of this theater can’t be replicated. There are many non-profits dedicated to new plays and playwrights, but few that enact change in the most immediate way – with the work they put on stage. And the artistic staff understands that to love something might not preclude being flummoxed by it, or shaken up by it, or a little scared of it. What’s so unique about Playwrights Horizons? It’s simple: They produce the plays that they love. But this increasingly influential organization stills feels human in scale it’s still the same place where, as an intern, I was amazed to see Tim Sanford agonize for days over a single rejection letter, because he felt his response should match the play in precision. In the last year alone, the theater has launched an armada of game-changing programs, including providing smaller theaters with free office and rehearsal space and providing writers with health insurance and higher salaries. Playwrights Horizons has stayed true to itself over the years, paradoxically, by changing and evolving. But more importantly, I can now name a whole generation of Favorite Rising Playwrights – I’m proud to call it my generation – who have been launched there: from Anne Washburn to Annie Baker, from Sam Hunter to Lisa D’Amour. Asked to name my favorite rising playwright, I struggled for a name: “Um…Is Tony Kushner rising?” I’m thirty-seven now, and looking forward to my third Playwrights Horizons production in the fall. It was a millennium ago (1999, to be precise) when I first walked through the door of Playwrights Horizons to interview for a literary internship. I don’t have an answer, so I order the next round. ![]() “ Why can’t there be, like, ten Playwrights Horizonses?” they say. Theaters with a taste for exciting new work, but also the means to support the writer with something approaching a living wage. And they’re trying to think of theaters where it might find a home. They’ve been working on it a long time their sweat and tears are in it. Playwright X has just finished their new play. I want to let you in on a whiskey-tinged conversation I’ve had frequently with my fellow playwrights. A Word from Our Artists A Letter From Jordan Harrison ![]()
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