As part of its inaugural efforts, the Foundation has launched the fully funded Terrence McNally New Works Incubator at Rattlestick Theater. McNally was a strong supporter of early-career playwrights and often attended shows at small Off Broadway venues across New York City. As a Village resident, McNally had a particular love for the neighborhood’s Rattlestick and its mission of supporting playwrights. <\/p>\n
The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator is designed to support three emerging playwrights by awarding each of them critical financial support, personalized mentorship, and a one-week developmental workshop culminating in a presentation of their work. The submission process is free and open to the public and the selection panel for the inaugural cohort of McNally fellows includes Sheila Callaghan, Stephen Karam, MJ Kaufman, Donja R. Love, Taylor Mac, Lynn Nottage, Paula Vogel and Chey Yew.<\/p>\n
“The aesthetic range of Terrence’s work – from dynamic Broadway musicals to intense intimate plays – is truly singular in the pantheon of great American playwrights,” said Daniella Topol, Artistic Director of Rattlestick Theater. “For over 60 years, Terrence was a fundamental part of New York’s playwriting scene, and he played an important role in the founding of Rattlestick in 1994. This incubator honors his contribution and enables his innovative body of work and powerful spirit to be an inspiring force for emerging playwrights now and in the future,” <\/p>\n
In addition to support for playwrights, the Foundation mission includes the furtherance of LGBTQ+ rights. McNally’s LGBTQ+ activism was central to both his life and career, with gay characters in his earliest Broadway plays (his And Things That Go Bump In The Night<\/em> ran on Broadway in 1965, four years before Stonewall). He chronicled the AIDS pandemic with plays like Lips Together, Teeth Apart <\/em>and Love! Valour! Compassion!<\/em>, and endured death threats and condemnation from Catholic Church leaders over the 1998 New York staging of his play Corpus Christi<\/em>. McNally also wrote the first Broadway play to include a gay married couple (2014’s Mothers and Sons<\/em>).<\/p>\n McNally’s 1994 musical, A Man of No Importance<\/em>, written with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, recently opened at Classic Stage Company with Jim Parsons starring as a gay bus conductor and amateur actor in 1964 Dublin. The new production has been extended through December 18.<\/p>\n The Foundation also has made a $25,000 donation to Equality Florida to help fight discriminatory legislation in the state – McNally was born and died in the state, and kept a home there with his husband for many years. Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization, posthumously awarded McNally with its highest honor, The Voice of Equality Award, in 2021.<\/p>\n “We are so grateful to the Terrence McNally Foundation for this generous gift that directly supports efforts to end Florida’s hateful and discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ legislation,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “We were proud to recognize Terrence McNally with our highest honor and this targeted contribution to support our legal team continues his amazing legacy.” <\/p>\n In addition to a board of directors that includes Kirdahy, the Foundation is managed by McNally’s former assistant Santino DeAngelo, who oversees his legacy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMust Read Stories<\/h2>\n
‘Precious’ Writer To Pen Pic About Henry Aaron’s Home Run Record Pursuit Amid Racist Threats<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/henry-aaron.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNetflix Renews Neil Gaiman’s DC Comics-Based Drama \u2018The Sandman\u2019 For Season 2<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/TheSandman_Unit_03646RC.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWWE Closes Book On Vince McMahon Probe; Special Committee Disbanded<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Vince-McMahon.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEx-Assistant Sues Randall Emmett, Alleging Racial Bias, Hostile Workplace, Scams & More<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Randall-Emmett.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRead More About:<\/h2>\n