The Artist Incubator

A three-day intensive Creative Lab for LaGuardia Community College Students. 

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.

02. The Festival (Immersion)

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.

03. The Incubator (Creation)

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 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.

Mark Your Calendar- Mandatory Program Dates: Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22, 2026. Selected students must be able to attend the full program.

Artist Incubator Timeline

• 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.

Location - LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) Rough Draft Festival: Little Theater

Create. Collaborate. Launch.

Email us at patrick@pas-productions.com