1994 : 1995 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 : 2001 : 2002 : 2003 : 2007

WORDBRIDGE evolved from Eckerd College Theatre Department's commitment to the development of new plays and emerging playwrights, and to providing its students a comprehensive theatre education and training, including the opportunity to work with theatre professionals. The college's Winter Term program, an innovative student/professor developed one-month study program on a specific project or topic, provided an ideal opportunity to create an intensive educational and professional theatre experience for students. Conceived by Dr. Richard A. Rice, WORDBRIDGE is modeled after the Playwrights Laboratory at Sundance Institute established by Robert Redford and David Kranes at Sundance, Utah, where Dr. Rice participated for many years as director, actor and dramaturg.

During 1992-93, a distinguished Advisory Board of nationally recognized theatre artists, writers and educators was enlisted and letters requesting script submissions were sent to every American collegiate theatre department. The Eckerd College faculty then developed the criteria for script acceptance and sent grant proposals to national and regional arts foundations; additional support was solicited from the community.

Founded in 1994 by Dr. Richard A. Rice, WordBRIDGE was hosted through 2003 at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida.  Modeled after the Playwrights Laboratory at the Sundance Institute established by Robert Redford and David Kranes at Sundance, Utah, WordBRIDGE provides a “bridge” for gifted collegiate playwrights between the private, theoretical, and academic aspects of playwriting and the real world of theatre.  In ten years, WordBRIDGE served sixty playwrights and hosted hundreds of artists.