Behind The Scenes: La Jolla Playhouses DNA New Works Series

Above: KPBS art reporter Beth Accomando checks in on the progress of plays in the La Jolla Playhouse's DNA New Works Series.

The La Jolla Playhouse launched its inaugural DNA New Works Series last week with two performances of "Chasing the Song" and the first performances of "The Tall Girls."

Developing new plays is in the DNA of the La Jolla Playhouse. Its Page to Stage program has been enticing audiences with new works for more than a decade. But when Christopher Ashley took over as artistic director in 2007, he wanted more.

"So the DNA series is seeing plays in an early stage of development. Often its the first time that the words have ever been said. Its the first time an audience has ever taken a peek."

So a play doesnt have to be finished it just has to be promising. And theres a lot to choose from. Literary director Gabriel Greene says about 500 plays are submitted to the Playhouse each year.

"What we are looking for when we are choosing plays for the DNA New Works Series are plays that are far enough along in their process that they are ready to be seen by a ticket buying audience and yet still early enough in their developmental stage that they will find this opportunity useful."

Playwright Meg Miroshnik is finding it very useful. Her play was inspired by a photograph she found of her grandfather from 1934.

"Hes 26-years-old and coaching a high school girls basketball team in rural Minnesota. Its a really striking image, hes standing in a suit surrounded by teenage girls in these starched white uniforms."

For Miroshnik, its a sad story about how womens basketball disappears for a few decades: "Im curious to see if audience members invest emotionally in the journey."

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Behind The Scenes: La Jolla Playhouses DNA New Works Series