NATIONAL SHOWCASE OF NEW PLAYS

The National Showcase of New Plays (NSNP) is a rotating festival, or trade show, that showcases new plays, new playwrights and theatres from across the country in a staged reading format. NSNP creates a unique and invaluable opportunity for dozens of production-ready new plays to be viewed by artistic directors, literary managers, literary agents, publishers, and independent producers from around the country. To date, nearly 80 plays have been showcased, of which more than 40 have been subsequently produced at professional theatres inside and outside NNPN.

In December 2009, NNPN's National Showcase of New Plays was hosted by Horizon Theatre Company and Actor's Express in Atlanta, GA. This three-day event featured the reading of six new plays:

• ATLASING SODOM
  Written by Sam Hunter
  Submitted by Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN)
• DANNY CASOLARO DIED FOR YOU
  Written by Dominic Orlando
  Submitted by Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas, TX)
• CHARM
  Written by Kathleen Cahill
  Submitted by Orlando Shakespeare Theatre (Orlando, FL)
• LOST BOY FOUND AT WHOLE FOODS
  Written by Tammy Ryan
  Submitted by Playwrights Theatre of NJ (Madison, NJ)
• SO IT GOES
  Written by Andrew Rosendorf
  Submitted by Florida Stage (West Palm Beach, FL)
• WITH A BANG
  Written by Pete McElligott
  Submitted by Southern Rep (New Orleans, LA)

 

In December 2008, NNPN's National Showcase of New Plays was hosted by new member Orlando Shakespeare Theatre in Orlando, FL. In addition to readings of six new plays produced in partnership with the University of Central Florida, NNPN hosted a field-wide assessment of the Continued Life of new Plays Fund, which brought together writers and producers from across the country. The plays read were:

• THE BRIDEGROOM OF BLOWING ROCK
  Written by Catherine Trieschmann
  Submitted by Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL)
• IT CAME FROM MARS
  Written by Joseph Zettelmaier
  Submitted by Performance Network Theatre (Ann Arbor, MI)
• MISSING CELIA ROSE
  Written by Ian August
  Submitted by Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando, FL)
• SUNLIGHT
  Written by Sharr White
  Submitted by Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley, CA)
• THE TOYMAKER’S WAR
  Written by Jennifer Fawcett
  Submitted by Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CA)
• YANKEE TAVERN
  Written by Steven Dietz
  Submitted by Florida Stage (West Palm Beach, FL)

 

In November 2007, the National New Play Network presented the National Showcase of New Plays in conjunction with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington D.C. The three-day event featured readings of six new plays:

• WARD 57
  Written by Jessica Goldberg
  Submitted by Florida Stage (West Palm Beach, FL)
• THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
  Written by Billy Aronson
  Submitted by Magic Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• OUR DAD IS IN ATLANTISL
  Written by Javier Malpica, translated by Jorge Ignacio Continas
  Submitted by Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ)
• THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE
  Written by Mark Schultz
  Submitted by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, DC)
• SICK
  Written by Zayd Dohrn
  Submitted by Kitchen Dog Theatre (Dallas, TX)
• HARM'S WAY
  Written by Shem Bitterman
  Finalist for NNPN's 2007 Smith Prize

 

 In December 2006, NNPN presented the National Showcase of New Plays in conjunction with New Jersery Repertory Company (Long Branch, NJ). The three-day event featured readings of six new plays:

• BLACK GOLD
  Written by Seth Rozin
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
• GREEN MAN
  Written by Jim Knable
  Submitted by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ)
• LOVE PERSON
  Written by Aditi Brennan Kapil
  Submitted by Mixed Blood Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
• OCTOBER 1962
  Written byD.W. Gregory
  Submitted by New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch, NJ)
• RISING WATER
  Written by John Biguenet
  Submitted by Southern Rep (New Orleans, LA)
  Recipient of NNPN's 2006 New Play Commission
• SIN FULL HEAVEN
  Written by Ricky J. Martinez
  Submitted by New Theatre (Miami, FL)
• TOPSY TURVY MOUSE
  Written by Peter Gil-Sheridan
  Winner of NNPN's 2006 Smith Prize

 

In June 2005, the National New Play Network co-presented the National Showcase of New Plays in conjunction with The National Center for New Plays at Stanford University; NNPN member, Magic Theatre; and the Bay Area League of New Play Theaters. The week long festival, held on the campus at Stanford University, featured 36 readings of 18 new plays submitted by 16 theatres across the country.

Plays included:

• AUTO DELETE
  Written by Honour Kane
  Submitted by Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CO)
  Produced by Bay Area Playwrights Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
• BIG DEATH, LITTLE DEATH
  Written by Mickey Birnbaum
  Submitted by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.)
  Produced by Crowded Fire (San Francisco, CA)
• THE CATARACT
  Written by Lisa D'amour
  Submitted by Perishable Theatre (Providence, RI)
  Produced by Encore Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• EXITS AND ENTRANCES
  Written by Athol Fugard
  Submitted and produced by Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
• NEXT OF KIN
  Written by Ron Simonian
  Submitted by Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO)
  Produced by Crowded Fire (San Francisco, CA)
• SEXSTING
  Written by Doris Baizley
  Submitted and produced by Magic Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• DUST EATERS
  Written by Julie Jensen
  Submitted by Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CO)
  Produced by Bay Area Playwrights Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
• NEW HOUSE, NEW DOG
  Written byToni Press-Coffman
  Submitted by Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN))
  Produced by Z Space Collaborative (San Francisco, CA)
• ST. BARBARA
  Written by Mark Glinski
  Submitted by Borderlands Theatre (Tucson, AZ)
  Produced by Fool's Fury (San Francisco, CA)
• ECHOES OF ANOTHER MAN
  Written by Mia McCullough
  Submitted by Actor's Express (Atlanta, GA)
  Produced by Encore Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• REINVENTING EDEN
  Written by Seth Rozin
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
  Produced by Encore Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• RESIGNATION DAY
  Written by Charles Pike
  Submitted by PROP Thtr (Chicago, IL)
  Produced by Fool's Fury (San Francisco, CA)
• BRAISING
  Written by Idris Goodwin
  Submitted by PROP Thtr (Chicago, IL)
  Produced by Z Space Collaborative (San Francisco, CA)
• MAHIDA'S EXTRA KEY TO HEAVEN
  Written by Russell Davis
  Submitted by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ)
  Produced by Shotgun Players (San Francisco, CA)
• TOUCH OF RAPTURE
  Written by Mary Fengar Gail
  Submitted by New Jersey Rep (Long Branch, NJ)
  Produced by Bay Area Playwrights Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
• HANGING FIRE
  Written by Claudia Allen
  Submitted by Florida Stage (West Palm Beach, FL)
  Produced by Shotgun Players (San Francisco, CA)
• RUST
  Written by Kirsten Greenridge
  Submitted and produced by Magic Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
• THE STILLNESS BETWEEN BREATHS
  Written by JJoseph Zettelmaier
  Submitted by Performance Network (Ann Arbor, MI)
  Produced by Shotgun Players (San Francisco, CA)

 

In July 2004, Prop Thtr Group, Phoenix Theatre, Performance Network and Chicago Dramatists co-presented the second bi-annual National Showcase of New Plays in cooperation with NNPN. The one-week festival featured 36 readings of 18 new and noteworthy plays presented by 17 theatres from across the country.

Plays included:

• ROCK SHORE
  Written by Lisa Dillman
  Submitted by Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL)
• PATTY RED PANTS
  Written by Trista Baldwin
  Submitted by Bloomington Playwrights Project (Bloomington, IL)
• WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE
  Written by Deborah Brevoort
  Submitted by ShenanArts (Staunton, VA)
• DEVIL DOG SIX
  Written by Mary Fengar Gail
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
• THE KATYDID
  Written by Michael Davis Sutton
  Submitted by Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN)
• RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
  Written by Michael McKeever
  Submitted by Florida Stage (West Palm Beach, FL)
• WAIT!
  Written by Julie Jensen
  Submitted by Salt Lake Acting Company (Salt Lake City, UT)
• FLAGS
  Written by Jane Martin
  Submitted by Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
• JUMP/CUT
  Written by Neena Beber
  Submitted by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington D.C.)
• (W)HOLE
  Written by Tracy Shaffer Witherspoon
  Submitted by Curious Theatre (Denver, CO)
• THE HOME TEAM
  Written by Kim Carney
  Submitted by Performance Network (Ann Arbor, MI)
• THE AGE OF CYNICISM OR KARAOKE NIGHT AT THE HOG
  Written by Keith Huff
  Submitted by Chicago Dramatists (Chicago, IL)
• HAZARD COUNTY
  Written by Allison Moore
  Submitted by Kitchen Dog Theatre (Dallas, TX)
• MEN ON THE VERGE 2
  Written by Guillermo Reyes
  Submitted by Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ)
• ICE GLEN
  Written by Joan Ackerman
  Submitted by Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
• DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW: THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
  Written by Mark Stein
  Submitted by Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
• THE PLAYGOER
  Written by Christopher Bomba
  Submitted by Prop Thtr (Chicago, IL)
• THE ADJUSTMENT
  Written by Michael Folie
  Submitted by New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch, NJ)

 

In June, 2002, InterAct Theatre Company presented the first National Showcase of New Plays in cooperation with NNPN. The two-week festival featured 36 staged and concert readings of 18 new and noteworthy plays presented by 14 theatres from across the country.

Plays included:

• FOREIGN EXCHANGE
  Written by Peter Hays
  Submitted by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (Madison NJ)
• THE WHY
  Written by Victor Kaufold
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
• DEATH OF THE SUN
  Written by Sonya Aronowitz
  Submitted by Passage Theatre Company (Trenton, NJ)
• MOURNING DOVE
  Written by Emil Sher
  Submitted by Necessary Angel Theatre Company (Toronto, Canada)
• A MEMORY OF RESISTANCE
  Written by Lou Lippa
  Submitted by The People's Light and Theatre Company (Malvern, PA)
• THE QUEEN'S 2 BODIES
  Written by Jeanne Murray Walker
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
• MAYHEM
  Written by Kelly Stuart
  Submitted by Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
• A STRONGER FAITH
  Written by Ken Prestininzi
  Submitted by ShenanArts (Staunton, VA)
• THE BALLAD OF JOHN WESLEY REED
  Written by Larry Loebell
  Submitted by InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA)
• EIGHTEEN
  Written by Allison Moore
  Submitted by Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas, TX)
• SLIGHT DEFECT -- A DESERT HOLIDAY
  Written by Ron Simonian
  Submitted by Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO)
• CENTRAL AVENUE
  Written by Stephen Sachs
  Submitted by The Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
• HAPPY NEW CENTURY, DR. FREUD
  Written by Sabina Berman
  Submitted by The Lark Theatre Company (New York, NY) and Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ)
• PHIDIAS8
  Written by Michael Whistler
  Presented by InterAct Theatre company (Philadelphia, PA)
• SPAIN
  Written by Jim Knable
  Submitted by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.)
• ESSANAY
  Written by Paul Peditto
  Submitted by Prop Thtr Group (Chicago, IL)
• ROSEMARY
  Written by Jim O'Connor
  Submitted by Prop Thtr Group (Chicago, IL)
• HOW HIS BRIDE CAME TO ABRAHAM
  Written by Karen Sunde
  Submitted by Playwrights Theatre in New Jersey (Madison, NJ)