Two Saturdays.
Five bold new plays.
One immersive theatrical experience.
The Press Box Theater is proud to present the 2026 New Playwrights Festival, a curated showcase of emerging and established voices featuring staged readings of original works in development. This festival is designed to give audiences an inside look at exciting new plays while offering playwrights a professional, supportive environment to hear their work in front of a live audience.
All readings are book-in-hand staged readings and are followed by short audience talkbacks.
TICKETS
Festival Pass – $49
• Admission to all five plays across both Saturdays
• Includes dinner on Saturday, January 10
• Best value for experiencing the full festival
Single Show Tickets – $15
• Admission to one individual reading
Schedule & Plays
The Pilgrim Soul
By Kate Gill
A searching, deeply human play that explores faith, doubt, and the longing for meaning in a fractured world. As characters stand at emotional and spiritual crossroads, The Pilgrim Soul asks what we hold onto—and what we must release—when belief is tested.
Reading begins at 4:00 PM
Followed by a short audience Q&A
At the Table
By Emily Badger
An intimate and sharply observed one-act that spans generations of a single family gathered around a shared table. As memories surface and stories collide, At the Table reveals the quiet tenderness—and unresolved tension—that shape who we are.
Reading begins at 5:15 PM
Followed by a short audience Q&A
Dinner Break
Approximately 6:15–6:45 PM
Dinner is included for Festival Pass holders.
Sfumato
By Adam Petrosino
Set in the competitive world of fine art and academia, Sfumato is a lyrical, emotionally charged exploration of ambition, obsession, and the cost of artistic greatness. As two young artists are pushed toward brilliance, inspiration begins to blur into something far more dangerous.
Reading begins at 7:00 PM
Followed by a short audience Q&A
Additional Information
• All readings are staged, book-in-hand presentations
• Each reading includes a moderated audience talkback
• Snow date: Sunday, January 11 (if needed)