The Audio Lab is an idea, pitch, and early development focused lab created for the exploration of an audio idea and the expansion of its writing through group and professional feedback. The selected fellows are individuals who are excited about fostering community with a group of  diverse and passionate peers and committed to the development of their ideas with an appetite for feedback. The fellows are individuals who are curious and committed to understanding and developing their own writing and world-building with the goal of innovative “audio first” dramatic writing. 

This lab looks to engage with new forms of audio storytelling that move beyond the traditional “radio play,” encouraging storytellers to experiment with “audio first” storytelling and utilize other unique storytelling opportunities the format provides. 

The selected fellows are individuals who are chosen through a rigorous outreach and selection process, open to the public. As with all the Orchard Project labs, participants will join with varying degrees of professional experience, but will likely have some history of manifesting their creative work in public before joining the Orchard Project community. (In or out of the Audio sphere) Anyone can apply, there is no age requirement, and applicants can be either represented by an agent or not. To honor the history of the Orchard Project and the constituency it serves, the program will aim to include at least some with a live performance interest or background.

The Orchard Project Audio Lab is only possible because of the advocacy and participation of guests who come in and help provide context and guidance to the program and its participants.

• Caroline McGraw
• Jennifer Chang
• Justin Asher
• Ashley Warren (Stitcher)
• Kate Navin (Audible)
• Jill BC Duboff (Marvel)
• Adam Greenfield (Playwrights Horizons)
• Alison Koch (Playwrights Horizons)

The Audio Lab remain primarily virtual, allowing for participants to join from across the country and world. It meets once a week for six weeks and generally runs from late June – August each summer. Group lab meetings are normally 2 hours. Before the start of the program, all OP labs will share a few orientation sessions in OP Creative Vocabulary. Exact dates to be confirmed at a later time.

All Orchard Project Lab participants begin their labs with a group orientation in Orchard Project Creative Vocabulary, outlining both the process and facilitation vocabulary that serves as a foundation for artists and work during their Orchard Project experience. 

Lab participants will also be able to sign up for individual office hours with OP staff and facilitators as desired.

• The Orchard Project Audio Lab is free for invited artists to participate in. There is also no fee to apply.
• The Orchard Project’s 2024 Audio Lab will require each artist to agree to both the Orchard Project’s general participation policies (LINK), and an agreement that, while not providing any royalty or compensation to the Orchard Project, allows projects developed through the program to credit their participation in it. 
• The focus of our labs is on the creation of self directed progress, peer and industry community. The Orchard Project, however, does have particular resources that it allocates to work after labs through our new OP Forward Program. We know that these resources/options are not an ideal match for all participants, but in certain circumstances, the Orchard Project and artist may continue to work together on the development and advocacy of their work after the program, in which case other arrangements will be made on a case by case basis.

All artists and participants in OP Labs will be invited to participate in annual Community Learning events, a series of weekly panels and conversations with leading artists, practitioners, and industry working in all the various forms. From discussions about television writing rooms, case studies in digital performance, best practices for collaboration (both in the room and in a contract), to pitching workshops, these events will provide all OP artists – across all our labs – to join in a community wide conversation about where storytelling will be heading in the future.

To apply to the 2023 Audio Lab, CLICK HERE.

Full information about how the application process for the 2023 Orchard Project works is available here.

In addition to project description and biographical information asked for in our new common application, we are asking applicants to provide:

• Your idea for a narrative audio project. This can take the form of a project description, an outline, or treatment, or simply a paragraph describing your idea.