Experimental Theatre Collective
NYC | Twin Cities | Online

Who We Are and What We Do

Founded by playwrights Tom Block and Kevin Kautzman in New York City in 2020, Cut Edge opens a space for non-traditional theater — theater which departs from and challenges historical conventions and contemporary aesthetics in some manner.

We are a yearly collective of experimental theatre writers in New York City, chosen from a growing number of interested writers looking for a home to work on and present their non-traditional work. Our writers create work that pushes at the boundaries of normative theater in some way.

We meet twice monthly: once in person to workshop freshly-minted plays, and once via Zoom for a salon on subjects pertaining to experimental writing for performance. Subject matter for salons has included the fungibility of time; what is “cutting edge” in an era which seems to offer no creative boundaries; mysticism in the theater; novel gender roles onstage; non-linear narrative structure; building theater without any narrative at all and many other issues of concern to the non-traditional playwright.

MEET SOME OF THE PLAYWRIGHTS AND ACTORS HERE

Poetry for Playwrights, 2026 workshop

Oct. 6-Nov. 3, 2026

Cut Edge Collective is holding a “Poetry for Playwrights” workshop, led by poet Carlie Hoffman. The workshop is designed specifically for playwrights, and will follow this schedule:

• First class: Introduction to poetry
• Second and Third class: Narrative poetry
• Fourth and Fifth class: Dialogic poetry

There will be readings, writing, workshopping and homework.

Dates are five consecutive Tuesdays, October 6 – November 3, 6-8 pm., at ART-NY (520 8th Ave., near Penn Station).

As playwright Janet Neipris said: “Words are the enemy of theater.” This workshop offers a manner of combatting that!

Current Poets:

• Tom Block
• Grace Wang
• Chelyn Cousar
• Sam Walsh
• Leif Larson

From Our Writers

“Quick question – is this the best group ever? 🙂 Thanks, again, for yesterday’s reading. Actors, you are all fantastic and brought so much life and humor to my words. And everyone, you gave me so many notes and ideas to consider. My producer friend [producer of Sweeney Todd on Broadway] wrote me the nicest email. She’s going to make some introductions. Eee :)”

– Sarah Feingold

“Being a part of a group interested in stretching the fabric of theater to the near breaking point has helped me grow as an artist as well as introduce me to new theories and approaches to playwriting.”

– Libby Heily

“Our cohort of writers leaves me continually inspired to think critically about the many containers available to tell stories. The work we do at Cut/Edge brings together artists with wildly different goals and lived experiences, but always brings me back to the joys and practicalities of experimental performance work.”

– Sophia Valera Heinecke

“I thank you for your hard work. I woke this morning thinking that’s one of the best cold readings I have ever had for any of my plays. A key reason for my satisfaction was that, after you settled into the language, I forgot that it was my play and I just traveled with it.”

– Al Lefcowitz