In 2010, the Guild’s Council voted to revise the categories of membership to more accurately reflect the landscape of American theatre today. There are now two levels of membership, Member, and Associate.
To qualify for the new Member level, a writer needs to either have their work professionally produced or published by an established publisher. Professional production is no longer defined by the size of the theatre, but simply by whether tickets were sold to the public.
All playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists interested in Guild membership, but who do not meet one of the above criteria, may join at the Associate level.
There is no longer a Student level of membership. However, students enrolled in any program that results in a certificate or degree are eligible for a 50% discount on either the Associate or the Member level memberships, depending on their experience.
Most of the benefits of Guild membership are enjoyed by all members regardless of membership level, save for a select few which are reserved exclusively for those at the Member level. They are:
1. The right to vote for and run to serve on the Guild’s governing Council. Elections are held each January.
2. A fully-editable online Dramatists Guild Profile on the Guild’s website where one can post a bio, picture, and a list of works including synopses.
3. Discounted membership to NPX.
4. Discounted advertisement rates.
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