2026 NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
The New Works Festival celebrates the voices of today and the legends of tomorrow. Featuring original plays from emerging and established writers, this festival is a platform where daring stories, fresh perspectives, and innovative artistry meet the stage for the very first time. Each piece carries the potential to spark dialogue, inspire connection, and carve out a lasting place in theatrical history.
All submissions need to be two contrasting monologues in a self tape emailed to hollyleveque@gmail.com and richard@theplayfulstage.com by 4/19!
HOLD ON
By: Robert Weibezahl
Directed by Cameron Kauffman
The dates for performances will be: 5/15 8 PM and 5/17 1 PM
Blurb: As a 25th high school reunion goes on in the gym down the hall, HEATHER WREN wanders into what she thinks is an empty classroom to sneak a smoke. There, she finds GREG ALDERSEN, a math teacher, at work. Heather finds it odd that Greg, a teacher who clearly has also ducked out of the reunion, is working. Greg immediately recognizes Heather, who is a minor rock star, returning to her hometown for the first time. At first, she does not recognize him at her former friend and confidante from high school. As the action of the play unfolds through the night, the complicated past relationship between these two damaged characters comes to light, and long kept secrets and repressed truths begin to surface. Beneath the sharp- tongued humor of these erstwhile friends lies a poignant sense of emotional need and unfulfilled destiny
Characters:
Greg Aldersen, male, 43, a high school math teacher—somewhat
diffident, a bit “square”
Heather Wren, female, 43, a singer—flamboyant, a fading renegade
LUDLOW MASSACRE
By: Darren Andrew Nash
Directed by Benjamin Pohlmeier
The dates for performances will be: 5/16 8 PM and 5/17 4 PM
Blurb: A tenacious reporter imbeds with the striking miners and becomes more and involved in a dangerous and bloody clash with powerful entities including one of the riches men in the world— John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Characters:
EMMA -- Female. Reporter. Born into a wealthy family.
LOUIS -- Male. Greek. Union Rep.
CHARLES -- Male. Mining crew boss.
MAGGIE -- Female. Nurse. Married to Charles.
FRANNY -- Female. Miner.
LIEUTENANT -- Male. Commander of one of the National Guard companies.
STEVE -- Male. Chinese or open. Miner.
MOTHER JONES -- Female. Renowned union activist.
WILLY -- Male. Miner.
FRANKIE -- Male. To portray twelve years old. Son to Willy.
DOC -- Male. Physician.
PEARL- Female. Saloon and store proprietor.
SERGEANT -- Male. Soldier.
CHAIRMAN WALSH -- Male. Chairman of Congressional hearings.
COMMISSIONER WEINSTOCK -- Male. Commissioner of hearings.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR. -- Male. One of the richest men in America.
ROCKEFELLER LAWYER -- Male or Female.
LANZA -- Male. Mexican miner.
JUAN -- Male. Mexican miner.
RENADO -- Male. Mexican miner.
NATHANIEL EVERHARDT -- Male. Newspaper magnate. Emma's father.
A WIRE IN MIND
By Michael J.M. Canas
Directed by Rose Kim
The dates of the show will be on 5/16 2 PM and 5/17 8 PM
CHARACTERS
ALEXIS BACALL ---A CARETAKER 29 FEMALE
ANDREW BACALL ---A FORMER SURGEON 60's MALE
WENDELL BACALL--- A PIANIST 50's FEMALE
HOMER (HOME-R UNIT) A HOME SECURITY APP -- "MALE"
Blurb: The Bacall family take care of their patriarch of the house, a once lauded surgeon now in the stages of Alzheimer. Their daughter, Alexis, uses a home security app which records the various activities that occur throughout the house. Alexis begins altering the app in order to preserve her Father’s memories, which slowly convince her to implant false memories to build an idealized version of her father.
REFLECTIONS IN A D'BACK'S EYE
By: Deanne Stillman
Directed by Dana Schwartz
The dates for performances will be: 6/6 4:30 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: "Reflections in a D'Back's Eye" by Deanne Stillman is a mashup of ad slogans, ancient myth, police reports, the Grand Canyon, and imagined dialogue, exploring gun violence in America against its fall from the sacred via the mass shooting in which Representative Gabrielle Giffords was wounded and a nine-year-old girl who loved baseball was killed. How did a young man who once played Coltrane on the sax decide to place a little girl in his rifle sights? What is the way out of our predicament? The "d'back" in the title refers to the diamondback rattlesnake, a creature of transformation.
Characters:
Various narrators, #1 – 3, age 20 – 60 and any gender. narrator 3 is Native American woman
Narrator #4 sometimes slips into the persona of Jared Lee Loughner, although the actual character of Loughner appears separately, played by a different actor.
Narrator #3 is Native American.
Narrators 1-3 can be doubled for other characters.
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN: 9 years old; white victim of killer
WAL-MART GREETER: The Wal-Mart Greeter, who is male, broken down in some way, 40s to 70s, just trying to hold on by encouraging others to have a nice day.
JARED LEE LOUGHNER: Early 20s, white, ranges from agitated to lost to determined; the killer
JARED LEE LOUGHNER'S MOTHER: 40s, white, finds comfort in nature
JOE : 20s, tormented and well-intentioned, defender of rights
NEIGHBOR: 50s – 70s, white, those in her geographic orbit comprise her family, especially Christina Taylor Green
A MESQUITE TREE: This should not be a cartoon tree or any version of a tree; it should be a person who is old but that should not draw attention to itself; what is said is paramount; has female voice
LIFE AND DEATH IN COWBOY COUNTRY
By: Andrew Tyrell-Smith
Directed by Bonnie Dolan
The dates for performances will be: 6/5 8 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: Dos, a bounty hunter, shoots his quarry, Uno. Dos reflects upon the nature of killing and the "toll on the soul" it may or may not take. He thinks about the other men he's killed. Then, he realizes that Uno isn't quite dead yet. The two share a polite conversation, given the circumstances, until Dos takes the opportunity to ask the killed-but-not-dead Uno about what dying is like. Uno responds, after some prompting, that he's thinking about his daughters, and his horse, and how he wanted a better life for himself and his girls. He realizes that they probably didn't want all that though: they'd give it all up if he just came back. Uno dies. Dos searches for something to say for a long time; he never finds it.
Characters:
Uno: Any age, any gender. A cowboy turned bad. Speaks with a hurried country accent.
Dos: Any age, any gender. A bounty hunter turned thoughtful. Speaks with a deliberate, plodding western twang.
The Deed
By: Jessica Wienecke
Directed by Bonnie Dolan
The dates for performances will be: 6/5 8 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: Julie has always wanted to die. Mack has always wanted to kill
someone. Over the course of an evening, they discuss a mutually agreeable solution to their problems. Despite their differences, they come to enjoy each other’s company, but they’re both stuck to their courses. Eventually, Mack goes to kill Julie only to discover she doesn’t have it in her. Julie, however, discovers she does have a survival instinct and kills Mack in self-defense.
Characters:
Julie (F, 20s+) – wants to die
Mack (F, 20s+) – wants to kill her
2026 NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
The New Works Festival celebrates the voices of today and the legends of tomorrow. Featuring original plays from emerging and established writers, this festival is a platform where daring stories, fresh perspectives, and innovative artistry meet the stage for the very first time. Each piece carries the potential to spark dialogue, inspire connection, and carve out a lasting place in theatrical history.
All submissions need to be two contrasting monologues in a self tape emailed to hollyleveque@gmail.com and richard@theplayfulstage.com by 4/19!
HOLD ON
By: Robert Weibezahl
Directed by Cameron Kauffman
The dates for performances will be: 5/15 8 PM and 5/17 1 PM
Blurb: As a 25th high school reunion goes on in the gym down the hall, HEATHER WREN wanders into what she thinks is an empty classroom to sneak a smoke. There, she finds GREG ALDERSEN, a math teacher, at work. Heather finds it odd that Greg, a teacher who clearly has also ducked out of the reunion, is working. Greg immediately recognizes Heather, who is a minor rock star, returning to her hometown for the first time. At first, she does not recognize him at her former friend and confidante from high school. As the action of the play unfolds through the night, the complicated past relationship between these two damaged characters comes to light, and long kept secrets and repressed truths begin to surface. Beneath the sharp- tongued humor of these erstwhile friends lies a poignant sense of emotional need and unfulfilled destiny
Characters:
Greg Aldersen, male, 43, a high school math teacher—somewhat
diffident, a bit “square”
Heather Wren, female, 43, a singer—flamboyant, a fading renegade
LUDLOW MASSACRE
By: Darren Andrew Nash
Directed by Benjamin Pohlmeier
The dates for performances will be: 5/16 8 PM and 5/17 4 PM
Blurb: A tenacious reporter imbeds with the striking miners and becomes more and involved in a dangerous and bloody clash with powerful entities including one of the riches men in the world— John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Characters:
EMMA -- Female. Reporter. Born into a wealthy family.
LOUIS -- Male. Greek. Union Rep.
CHARLES -- Male. Mining crew boss.
MAGGIE -- Female. Nurse. Married to Charles.
FRANNY -- Female. Miner.
LIEUTENANT -- Male. Commander of one of the National Guard companies.
STEVE -- Male. Chinese or open. Miner.
MOTHER JONES -- Female. Renowned union activist.
WILLY -- Male. Miner.
FRANKIE -- Male. To portray twelve years old. Son to Willy.
DOC -- Male. Physician.
PEARL- Female. Saloon and store proprietor.
SERGEANT -- Male. Soldier.
CHAIRMAN WALSH -- Male. Chairman of Congressional hearings.
COMMISSIONER WEINSTOCK -- Male. Commissioner of hearings.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR. -- Male. One of the richest men in America.
ROCKEFELLER LAWYER -- Male or Female.
LANZA -- Male. Mexican miner.
JUAN -- Male. Mexican miner.
RENADO -- Male. Mexican miner.
NATHANIEL EVERHARDT -- Male. Newspaper magnate. Emma's father.
A WIRE IN MIND
By Michael J.M. Canas
Directed by Rose Kim
The dates of the show will be on 5/16 2 PM and 5/17 8 PM
CHARACTERS
ALEXIS BACALL ---A CARETAKER 29 FEMALE
ANDREW BACALL ---A FORMER SURGEON 60's MALE
WENDELL BACALL--- A PIANIST 50's FEMALE
HOMER (HOME-R UNIT) A HOME SECURITY APP -- "MALE"
Blurb: The Bacall family take care of their patriarch of the house, a once lauded surgeon now in the stages of Alzheimer. Their daughter, Alexis, uses a home security app which records the various activities that occur throughout the house. Alexis begins altering the app in order to preserve her Father’s memories, which slowly convince her to implant false memories to build an idealized version of her father.
REFLECTIONS IN A D'BACK'S EYE
By: Deanne Stillman
Directed by Dana Schwartz
The dates for performances will be: 6/6 4:30 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: "Reflections in a D'Back's Eye" by Deanne Stillman is a mashup of ad slogans, ancient myth, police reports, the Grand Canyon, and imagined dialogue, exploring gun violence in America against its fall from the sacred via the mass shooting in which Representative Gabrielle Giffords was wounded and a nine-year-old girl who loved baseball was killed. How did a young man who once played Coltrane on the sax decide to place a little girl in his rifle sights? What is the way out of our predicament? The "d'back" in the title refers to the diamondback rattlesnake, a creature of transformation.
Characters:
Various narrators, #1 – 3, age 20 – 60 and any gender. narrator 3 is Native American woman
Narrator #4 sometimes slips into the persona of Jared Lee Loughner, although the actual character of Loughner appears separately, played by a different actor.
Narrator #3 is Native American.
Narrators 1-3 can be doubled for other characters.
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN: 9 years old; white victim of killer
WAL-MART GREETER: The Wal-Mart Greeter, who is male, broken down in some way, 40s to 70s, just trying to hold on by encouraging others to have a nice day.
JARED LEE LOUGHNER: Early 20s, white, ranges from agitated to lost to determined; the killer
JARED LEE LOUGHNER'S MOTHER: 40s, white, finds comfort in nature
JOE : 20s, tormented and well-intentioned, defender of rights
NEIGHBOR: 50s – 70s, white, those in her geographic orbit comprise her family, especially Christina Taylor Green
A MESQUITE TREE: This should not be a cartoon tree or any version of a tree; it should be a person who is old but that should not draw attention to itself; what is said is paramount; has female voice
LIFE AND DEATH IN COWBOY COUNTRY
By: Andrew Tyrell-Smith
Directed by Bonnie Dolan
The dates for performances will be: 6/5 8 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: Dos, a bounty hunter, shoots his quarry, Uno. Dos reflects upon the nature of killing and the "toll on the soul" it may or may not take. He thinks about the other men he's killed. Then, he realizes that Uno isn't quite dead yet. The two share a polite conversation, given the circumstances, until Dos takes the opportunity to ask the killed-but-not-dead Uno about what dying is like. Uno responds, after some prompting, that he's thinking about his daughters, and his horse, and how he wanted a better life for himself and his girls. He realizes that they probably didn't want all that though: they'd give it all up if he just came back. Uno dies. Dos searches for something to say for a long time; he never finds it.
Characters:
Uno: Any age, any gender. A cowboy turned bad. Speaks with a hurried country accent.
Dos: Any age, any gender. A bounty hunter turned thoughtful. Speaks with a deliberate, plodding western twang.
The Deed
By: Jessica Wienecke
Directed by Bonnie Dolan
The dates for performances will be: 6/5 8 PM and 6/7 4 PM
Blurb: Julie has always wanted to die. Mack has always wanted to kill
someone. Over the course of an evening, they discuss a mutually agreeable solution to their problems. Despite their differences, they come to enjoy each other’s company, but they’re both stuck to their courses. Eventually, Mack goes to kill Julie only to discover she doesn’t have it in her. Julie, however, discovers she does have a survival instinct and kills Mack in self-defense.
Characters:
Julie (F, 20s+) – wants to die
Mack (F, 20s+) – wants to kill her