Conceived more than 20 years ago, the Long Beach Playhouse’s (LBP) New Works Festival invites novice and experienced playwrights from all over the world to submit their unproduced plays to the LBP’s New Works Literary Committee. Members of the committee read the 100-plus scripts that are submitted.
Four winners are selected, and each receives a staged reading. The playwrights hear their words brought to life by actors, receive feedback from the audience and get detailed written critiques by professional theatre critics.
“We receive so many really good plays, it’s hard to choose just four,” said Lisa Morrison, chair of the New Works committee. “And while we didn’t start out with the intention to choose works set in historical moments in time, this year’s plays do have that in common. The topics range from racism, to the gay experience in Nazi Germany to the assassination of JFK.”
Andrew Vonderschmitt, executive and artistic director for the Playhouse, views the festival as a significant event. “In my mind, this is one of our most important programs,” he said. “It nurtures the artist who writes the play. It gives the Playhouse a chance to showcase the talents of the actors and directors with whom we regularly work. And it gives the audience a chance to discuss what they’ve seen with the director, actors and sometimes with the playwright.”
The winning plays will be presented during the last week in August, beginning on Thursday, Aug. 28 and concluding Sunday, Aug. 31. Admission is a suggested $10 donation.
Submissions for this year’s festival are currently being read by the committee. Playwrights interested in submitting a script for next year’s New Works Festival should check out the New Works page on the Playhouse’s website, located on the “Shows” tab dropdown menu under “Special Events.”
For more information, visit lbplayhouse.org .
