FESTIVAL OF NEW VOICES 2026
FESTIVAL OF NEW VOICES 2026
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” - Oscar Wilde
Following the overwhelming success of our inaugural new writing festival last year, we are delighted to welcome the return of Festival Of New Voices to celebrate new voices and diverse perspectives.
Writers were invited to submit new theatrical works which were read and assessed by a team of local arts professionals. The selected plays will be given public readings as part of the festival, providing playwrights with the invaluable opportunity to hear their words presented aloud, and invite audiences to share their feedback in a talkback following each reading.
The festival will offer the opportunity for playwrights to engage with industry professionals as well as having their work showcased on the Playhouse stage, a process which is instrumental to the development and growth of a new play.
PLAYS
Heart, Point, Four Fingers by DC Cathro
Stapleton by Sara Freedman
Meet The Maker by Dana Schwartz
Don’t Say That! A Comedy With Funerals by Arnold Johnston & Deborah Ann Percy
Ash Land by Nina Wright
Next To Nothing by John Riley
FESTIVAL TEAM
Luke Amundson - Co-Associate Director
Darryin B. Cunningham - Co-Associate Director
Eric Clausell
Gina D. Grosso
Ty Halton
Marty Mackenzie
Sage Stevens
Suzy Willhoft
HEART, POINT, FOUR FINGERS - Friday, July 17th, 7:00pm
By DC Cathro
Director - Eric Clausell
Cast - James Dover, Maureen Gulczynski, Megan Marshall, Michelle Patrick, Loryestine Buentipo Perez, Cora Silva
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Stephanie Huber
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
STAPLETON - Saturday, July 18th, 2:00pm
By Sara Freedman
Director - Ruby Locklear
Cast - Macy Byrd, Zack Fowler, John Pedro, Sam Price, Gary Zinter
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Brianna Rindlisbacher
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
MEET THE MAKER - Saturday, July 18th, 7:00pm
By Dana Schwartz
Director - Darryin B. Cunningham
Cast - Sonia Alexis, Grace Haeun Lee, Ron Manson
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Isaiah Huey, Melvin Rouse, Jr.
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
DON'T SAY THAT! A COMEDY WITH FUNERALS - Sunday, July 19th, 1:00pm
By Arnold Johnston & Deborah Ann Percy
Director - Ty Halton
Cast - Russell Dunmire, Josephine Hampton, Jerry Romasco, Carrie Sleeper-Bowers
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Russell Dunmire
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
ASH LAND - Sunday, July 19th, 4:00pm
By Nina Wright
Director - Suzy Willhoft
Cast - Kevin Bray, Evan Dyck, ShaVanety Jones, Kirstin Sellers, Andrea Weston-Smart
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Becca Jourden
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
NEXT TO NOTHING - Sunday, July 19th, 7:00pm
By John Riley
Director - Maria-Tania Bandes B. Weingarden
Cast - Sue Choi, Terence Mejos
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Molly Feider
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
Tickets: $10 per reading.
Admission is free for Season Ticket and Flex Pass holders - contact the Box Office to reserve seats.
Following the overwhelming success of our inaugural new writing festival last year, we are delighted to welcome the return of Festival Of New Voices to celebrate new voices and diverse perspectives.
Writers were invited to submit new theatrical works which were read and assessed by a team of local arts professionals. The selected plays will be given public readings as part of the festival, providing playwrights with the invaluable opportunity to hear their words presented aloud, and invite audiences to share their feedback in a talkback following each reading.
The festival will offer the opportunity for playwrights to engage with industry professionals as well as having their work showcased on the Playhouse stage, a process which is instrumental to the development and growth of a new play.
PLAYS
Heart, Point, Four Fingers by DC Cathro
Stapleton by Sara Freedman
Meet The Maker by Dana Schwartz
Don’t Say That! A Comedy With Funerals by Arnold Johnston & Deborah Ann Percy
Ash Land by Nina Wright
Next To Nothing by John Riley
FESTIVAL TEAM
Luke Amundson - Co-Associate Director
Darryin B. Cunningham - Co-Associate Director
Eric Clausell
Gina D. Grosso
Ty Halton
Marty Mackenzie
Sage Stevens
Suzy Willhoft
HEART, POINT, FOUR FINGERS - Friday, July 17th, 7:00pm
By DC Cathro
Director - Eric Clausell
Cast - James Dover, Maureen Gulczynski, Megan Marshall, Michelle Patrick, Loryestine Buentipo Perez, Cora Silva
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Stephanie Huber
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
STAPLETON - Saturday, July 18th, 2:00pm
By Sara Freedman
Director - Ruby Locklear
Cast - Macy Byrd, Zack Fowler, John Pedro, Sam Price, Gary Zinter
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Brianna Rindlisbacher
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
MEET THE MAKER - Saturday, July 18th, 7:00pm
By Dana Schwartz
Director - Darryin B. Cunningham
Cast - Sonia Alexis, Grace Haeun Lee, Ron Manson
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Isaiah Huey, Melvin Rouse, Jr.
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
DON'T SAY THAT! A COMEDY WITH FUNERALS - Sunday, July 19th, 1:00pm
By Arnold Johnston & Deborah Ann Percy
Director - Ty Halton
Cast - Russell Dunmire, Josephine Hampton, Jerry Romasco, Carrie Sleeper-Bowers
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Russell Dunmire
Stage Manager - Maisha Rice
ASH LAND - Sunday, July 19th, 4:00pm
By Nina Wright
Director - Suzy Willhoft
Cast - Kevin Bray, Evan Dyck, ShaVanety Jones, Kirstin Sellers, Andrea Weston-Smart
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Becca Jourden
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
NEXT TO NOTHING - Sunday, July 19th, 7:00pm
By John Riley
Director - Maria-Tania Bandes B. Weingarden
Cast - Sue Choi, Terence Mejos
Assistant Director/Stage Directions Reader - Molly Feider
Stage Manager - Stephanie Huber
Tickets: $10 per reading.
Admission is free for Season Ticket and Flex Pass holders - contact the Box Office to reserve seats.
