Adding a single position isn't usually a significant change for a business. But plans to hire a literary manager at Denver Center Theatre Company indicates both its expansion and its commitment to new-play development.

When Kent Thompson came aboard in 2005, he created positions for Associate Artistic Director Bruce K. Sevy and literary associate Chad Henry. The two have led the push for new work, resulting in a reincarnated new script festival, the New Play Summit, and multiple world premieres, including Jason Grote's 1001, now bound for an Off Broadway production. (Commercial producers are considering Grote's play; DCTC has a few weeks left in which to exercise its option for a commercial production.)

But Thompson isn't catching his breath, and neither is anyone else at Denver Center. With this week's announcement of the 2007-2008 season, Thompson laid out the most world premieres at Denver Center since 1999-2000. He also included two musicals: the first, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Thompson will direct. It will be a co-production with Denver Center Attractions and will hold auditions in both New York and Denver.

Thompson is directing White Christmas with an eye toward future collaborations with Attractions.

"We will be partnering a lot more often with Denver Center Attractions, so I think it's good for me to direct in the Buell so we can see how the spaces work," he says.

The second musical has yet to be announced, but Thompson is hoping to make it a world premiere.

In addition, three plays will make their premieres next season, all DCTC commissions. The plays will also be produced at the same time, so that attendees at next winter's New Play Summit can see three full productions, encouraging further life for the scripts.

All this play development led to that new position, the literary manager, whom Thompson plans to hire by the season's start. That person will lead the charge of seeing new work around the country, developing playwright relationships and guiding scripts through the development process. The theater company receives 1,000 new scripts a year to consider.

"The concept of having a new-play department that's Bruce and Chad, it's too much," Thompson said.

All that new work may be a tough sell. The world premiere of Plainsong comes with a built-in audience from Kent Haruf's best-selling novel and the Colorado connection. But Octavio Solis' Chicano-themed Lydia and Nancy Rebeck's satire Our House are unknown properties, requiring a much harder marketing push.

"That's why I picked in the rest of the Stage (Theatre) a relatively strong season," Thompson says.

By strong, he may mean familiar - look for an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the classic comedy You Can't Take It With You and Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Musicals are expensive. New plays are expensive. New musicals are really expensive. To that end, after years of budget cuts, Denver Center Theatre Company will receive a budget increase of 8 to 10 percent from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, its parent organization. The DCPA's fundraising goal for next year is $5 million; an additional goal of $250,000 has been set to support the DCTC's expanded reach. Thompson acknowledged the challenge.

"It's going to require some heavy lifting."

Lisa Bornstein is the theater critic. bornsteinl@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5101