in partnership with
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center & The 24 Hour Plays
About the Project
Welcome to The Artist Incubator, a initiative by Surillo Productions LLC Founder & LAGCC Alumni, Patrick Anthony Surillo.
We are selecting 20 emerging artist from LAGCC to step out of the classroom and into the fire of creation.
Held during the 2026 Rough Draft Festival, this is your chance to collaborate with LAGCC alumni mentors and industry professionals. Whether you are a first-semester student or about to graduate, this lab is designed to expand your network and test your creative limits.
The Experience
01. The Prep (Virtual)
Before we hit the stage, we build the foundation. Selected artists will participate in asynchronous Zoom workshops leading up to the festival. These sessions are flexible, scheduled around your availability, ensuring you are ready to hit the ground running.
During the Rough Draft Festival, you aren't just a student—you are a VIP.
Hands-on Production: Gain real-world experience behind the scenes.
All-Access Pass: Participants receive FREE tickets to all events throughout the Rough Draft Festival.
March 20–22, 2026, The main event.
Over three days, you will enter a fast-paced, ensemble-based learning experience that culminates into a 24 Hour Plays production. Working in guided "pods," you will write, rehearse, and mount a brand new piece of theatre in record time.
The Tracks
No Experience Required. Just Guts.
You do not need to be an expert. You need curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to collaborate.
Choose your track:
The Actor
Dive into character and performance in a high-stakes environment.
Designed to support actors in trusting their initial instincts for the stage, empowering them to make strong and bold choices quickly. This cohort will be join by 8 professional actors within the industry specifically for the 24 Hour Plays Production.
The playwright
Generate new pages and see your work on its feet immediately.
Designed to help students develop playwriting skills in preparation for the 24 Hour Plays. Playwrights will have 8 hours to create a brand-new short play.
The Director
Guide the vision and lead your ensemble to the finish line.
Focused on storytelling and leadership from a director’s perspective. Directors will have approximately 10 hours to rehearse and stage a brand-new play.
The producer
Learn the art of making it happen, managing time, assets, and people.
Designed for students interested in the producing side of theatre. Participants will learn the fundamentals of producing while actively supporting all plays in the 24 Hour Plays process and helping curate the overall production.
All participants will also receive:
Mentorship from alumni and professionals
Production photos
Free tickets to all Rough Draft Festival events
Instant experience for artistic resume
As the inaugural group of students, your experience and feedback of the festival will help us develop this event even further. This is not just an opportunity to be part of, this is an opportunity to develop a brand new event to be better for future generations.
Applications Close: Sunday, January 25 at 11:59 PM
Acceptance Notifications: Sunday, February 1
Asynchronous Virtual Workshops: March 1 – March 19 (based on availability)
In-Person Incubator: Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22
The 24 Hour Plays Performance: Sunday, March 22 at 7:00 PM
Detailed schedules will be shared at the same time acceptance notifications are sent.
Email us at patrick@pas-productions.com