NewPlayFest Legacy
Dive into the anthologies of winning plays, published through Dramatic Publishing, and discover the stories that shaped the festival’s legacy. Explore the history of AACT NewPlayFest since its beginnings in 2014. Learn about past festival plays, playwrights, and the producing theatres that brought them to life.
NEWPLAYFEST 2014–2024
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF NEW WORK
Explore Past NewPlayFest Plays
AACT NewPlayFest is a national program that champions new plays and connects playwrights, community theatres, reviewers, and audiences through the development and production of outstanding new work.
This archive celebrates every NewPlayFest cycle from 2014 through 2024. Discover past winning plays, learn about the playwrights and producing theatres that brought them to life, and explore the published anthologies available through Dramatic Publishing Company.
From world premieres to publication, these plays represent the lasting impact of AACT NewPlayFest and the many playwrights, theatres, artists, and volunteers who have helped bring new stories to community theatre audiences across the country.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2024
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 6 (Dramatic Publishing).
- Criminal Mischief, by William Cameron – The Sauk, Jonesville, Michigan. Opened: February 2, 2024.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 2m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 90 min. - The Red Flags, by Catherine Castellani – Verona Area Community Theater, Verona, Wisconsin. Opened: February 8, 2024.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 2m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 80 min. - I Thought I Knew You, by Philip J. Kaplan – Stage Left Theater, Spokane, Washington. Opened: March 22, 2024.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 105 min. - Eating Blackberries, by Pam Harbaugh – Hickory Community Theatre, Hickory, North Carolina. Opened: April 5, 2024.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 75 min. - Tennessee Wet Rub, by Kim E. Ruyle – Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove, Oregon. Opened: August 9, 2025.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 110 min. - The China Shop, by Richard Manley – Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lincoln, Nebraska. Opened: November 8, 2024.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Satire. Cast Size: 3m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 90 min.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2022
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 5 (Dramatic Publishing).
- Escaping the Labyrinth, by Thomas S. Hischak – Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines, Iowa. Opened October 15, 2021.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 3 to 7m., 1 to 3w. Approx. Run Time: 95 minutes. - Unpacking Mother, by Karen Schaeffer – Market House Theatre, Paducah, Kentucky. Opened February 10, 2022.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2w. Approx. Run Time: 75 minutes. - MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us), by John Bavoso – Midland Center for the Arts/Center Stage Theatre, Midland, Michigan. Opened February 25, 2022.
Genre: Comedy/Satire. Cast Size: 1m., 4w. Approx. Run Time: 120 minutes. - The Cafe Mocha Murders, by Deanna Strasse – Golden Chain Theatre, Oakhurst, California. Opened March 25, 2022.
Genre: Comedy/Farce. Cast Size: 4m., 5w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Of Men and Cars, by Jim Geoghan – Midland Community Theatre, Midland, Texas. Opened October 21, 2022.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 5 to 12m., 2 to 8w. Approx. Run Time: 120 minutes. - Launch Day (Love Stories from the Year 2108), by Michael Higgins – Theatre Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Opened October 21, 2022.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 3 to 5m., 3 to 5w., 1 to 3 any gender. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2020
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 4 (Dramatic Publishing).
- On Pine Knoll Street, by Mark Cornell – The Sauk, Jonesville, Michigan. Opened February 6, 2020.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 115 minutes. - Casserole, by Pam Harbaugh – Boise Little Theater, Boise, Idaho. Opened October 18, 2019.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 3m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 100 minutes. - Shattering, by Pat Montley – Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma, Washington. Opened January 24, 2020.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 105 minutes. - Goat Song Revel, by Dan Borengasser – Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton, Florida. Opened February 6, 2020.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 5m., 1w. Approx. Run Time: 80 minutes. - The Cayuga Canal Girls, by Laura King – Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville, Connecticut. Opened October 2, 2021.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 5w. Approx. Run Time: 95 minutes. - Proprioception, by Marilyn Millstone – Rover Dramawerks, Plano, Texas. Opened September 10, 2021.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 5w. Approx. Run Time: 95 minutes.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2018
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 3 (Dramatic Publishing).
- Finishing School, by Elaine Liner – Elkhart Civic Theatre, Bristol, Indiana. Opened September 8, 2017.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 2m., 2w., 1 either gender. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets, by Paul Elliott – Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lincoln, Nebraska. Opened January 19, 2018.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 3w., 1 either gender. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Eternity, by Michael Cochran – Stage III Community Theatre, Casper, Wyoming. Opened January 26, 2018.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 5 to 6m., 4 to 5w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Mynx and Savage, by Rebecca Gorman O’Neill – The Vortex Theatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Opened April 27, 2018.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 100 minutes. - Treehouse, by Joe Musso – Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove, Oregon. Opened August 10, 2018.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 85 minutes. - Sweet, by Denise Hinson – County Seat Theater Company, Cloquet, Minnesota. Opened September 28, 2018.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2016
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 2 (Dramatic Publishing).
- Lighthouse, by William Baer – Windsor Community Playhouse, Windsor, Colorado. Opened September 25, 2015.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 100 minutes. - Laguna Beach, Ohio, by Malcolm MacDonald – Stage Right Productions/2nd Street Theater. Opened March 25, 2016.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 3m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 100 minutes. - Wash, Dry, Fold, by Nedra Pezold Roberts – Chicago Street Theatre/Community Theatre Guild, Valparaiso, Indiana. Opened May 20, 2016.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 105 minutes. - Gracefully Ending, by A. J. DeLauder – Theatre Arlington, Arlington, Texas. Opened July 1, 2016.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 110 minutes. - The Emperor of North America, by Thomas Hischak – Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring, Maryland. Opened September 16, 2016.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 2 to 3m., 3 to 8w. Approx. Run Time: 120 minutes. - Shades of Valor, by Karen L. Lewis – Twin City Stage, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Opened October 28, 2016.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m., 2w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Get Out of Dodge, by Jeanne Drennan – Venice Theatre, Venice, Florida. Opened November 3–20, 2016.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m., 3w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.
View Anthology NewPlayFest 2014
Plays from this cycle appear in AACT NewPlayFest Anthology, Vol. 1 (Dramatic Publishing).
- The Boatwright, by Bo Wilson – Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Opened September 12, 2014.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 2m. Approx. Run Time: 95 minutes. - End Papers, by Barry Weinberg – Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Opened July 24, 2014.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m, 2w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes. - Jellofish, by Jim Henry – Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville, Connecticut. Opened May 2–11, 2014.
Genre: Comedy/Drama. Cast Size: 3m, 1w. Approx. Run Time: 105 minutes. - The Vanishing Point, by Nedra Pezold Roberts – California Stage Company, Sacramento, California. Opened March 27, 2014. Withdrawn from licensing, pending script changes.
- The Seamstress, by Cece Dwyer – Hickory Community Theatre, Hickory, North Carolina. Opened January 10, 2014.
Genre: Drama. Cast Size: 3m, 3w. Approx. Run Time: 95 minutes. - Exit Laughing, by Paul Elliott – Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield, Missouri. Opened November 15, 2013.
Genre: Comedy. Cast Size: 1m, 4w. Approx. Run Time: 90 minutes.
>> More information on these plays, licensing, and the anthology from Dramatic Publishing Company.