COLORADO NEW PLAY FESTIVAL HISTORY

cnpf-history
The Colorado New Play Festival has an enviable track record with a history of more than 70% of its work moving on to regional and New York stages in short order. Many of these go on to have multiple productions.
Every year during the week-long new play festival, we see stories develop and move from page to stage when some of the most talented playwrights, actors and directors in the United States have a week away from the distractions of daily life to focus on and transform stories. The evolution of a play moves from the isolation of the writer to the collaboration of a cast, crew and directors to bring the story to life to be shared with others. This process is nothing short of magical. We hope you will join us.

2024

Seattle Rep
this man i can mi primo
by Benjamin Benne
directed by Dámaso Rodríguez
Northlight Theatre, Skokie, IL
The First Lady of Television
by James Sherman
directed by BJ Jones
En Garde Arts, New York, NYC
73 Seconds
by Jared Mezzocchi
directed by Aya Ogawa
The Old Globe, San Diego, CA
Fiasco Theater’s Bartleby
adapted by Noah Brody and Paul L. Coffey
directed by Emily Young

2023

Two River Theater, Red Bank, New Jersey
A THOUSAND MAIDS
by Tony Meneses
directed by James Vasquez
American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, CA
BIG DATA
by Kate Attwell
directed by Pam MacKinnon
Signature Theatre, New York, NY
INDIGO DREAMS
by Melis Aker
directed by Candis Jones
Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, CA
SUICIDE ON TELEGRAPH
by Richard J Montoya
directed by Kinan Valdez
Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota, FL
THE ADVENTURE OF LIFE
by Veronika Duerr
directed by Jared Mezzocchi

2022

South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA
A MILLION TINY PIECES
by Spenser Davis
Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee, WI
PARENTAL ADVISORY
by Idris Goodwin
directed by Kyle Hayden
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, NYC, NY
THE GETT
by Liba Vaynberg
directed by Daniella Topol
The Old Globe, San Diego, CA
UNDER A BASEBALL SKY
by José Cruz González
directed by James Vásquez
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA
WALDEN
by KJ Sanchez
Benefit Performance for CNPF
EL JEFE
by Bill Martin
directed by Kent Thompson

2021

Primary Stages, New York, New York
THE NEW GOLDEN AGE
by Karen Hartman
Tectonic Theatre Project, New York, New York
#HERE TOO
by Jimmy Maize
directed by Barbara Pitts McAdams
City Theatre Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
THE BLACK MANN ACT: THE TRIAL OF JACK JOHNSON VAUDEVILLE SHOW
by Gamal Chasten | directed by Monteze Freeland
Curious Theatre Company, Denver, Colorado
THE POOL
by Max Posner | directed by Ken Rus Schmoll

2020

INTERMISSION

2019

City Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
#F**7TH GRADE
By Jill Sobule (Music, lyrics & concept)
Book by Liza Birkenmeier
Directed by Lisa Peterso
Additional Productions
Wild Project
South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California
I GET RESTLESS
By Caroline V. McGraw
Directed by Kate Sullivan
The Public Theater, New York, New York
BLACK MOUNTAIN WOMEN
composed by: Martha Redbone & Aaron Witby
Book by Naomi Iizuka
Directed by Les Waters
Curious Theatre Company, Denver, Colorado
REFUGE
by: Andrew Rosendorf
directed by: Chip Walton
Additional Productions
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois (World Premiere)
PURPOSE
by: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Additional Productions
Steppenwolf Broadway Transfer at Helen Hayes Theater

2018

Actors Theatre of Louisville (Production)
THE THIN PLACE
by: Lucas Hnath
Directed by Les Waters
Additional Productions
Playwrights Horizons
ACT
The Gloucester Stage Company

Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago, Illinois (Production)
MIRIAM FOR PRESIDENT
by: Madhuri Shekar

Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas (Workshop)
TENDER MERCIES
by: Daisy Foote
adapted from: Horace Foote’s Oscar Winning screenplay

 

The Jungle Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Production)
Primary Stages, New York, New York (Production)
LITTLE WOMEN
by: Kate Hamill
based on the novel by: Louisa May Alcott
Directed by Sarah Rasmussen
Additional Productions
The Old Globe

Delaware Theatre Company (Production)
Curious Theatre Company (Production)
SANCTIONS
by: Bruce Graham
directed by: Chip Walton
Additional Productions
Theatre Philadelphia

2017

Tectonic Theater Project, New York City, New York
THE VERY EXTRAORDINARY MR. LAW
by: Jeffrey Lahotse

The Lark Play Development Center (Workshop)
Curious Theatre (Production)
#GOD HATES YOU
by: Emily Dendinger
Additional Productions
Ashland New Play Festival

Primary Stages
PART AND PARCEL
by: Jenny Rachel Weiner
directed by: Kip Fagan

Seattle Rep  (World Premiere, 2025)
Lincoln Center Theatre III (Commission and Workshop)
MOTHER RUSSIA
by: Lauren Yee
directed by: Joshua Kahan Brody
dramaturgy by: Kristin Leahey

South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California
SUGARPLUM FAIRY
by: Sandra Tsing Loh
directed by: Bart De Lorenzo
dramaturgy by: Jerry Patch
Additional Productions
East West Players
Skylight Theatre
Berkely Rep

 

2016

The Lark Play Development Center (Workshop)
American Theatre Company, Chicago (Workshop)
National Playwright’s Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center (Workshop)
National Playwright’s Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center (Reading)
THE QUIET ONES
by: Mary Elizabeth Hamilton
directed by: John Clinton Eisner

Ruth Eston New Play Series, Playwright’s Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Workshop)
Roundabout Theatre Company (Reading)
Steppenwolf Theatre (Reading)
The Guthrie Theatre (Reading)
THE YES READY WITHIN (Eden Prairie, 1972)
by: Mat Smart
directed by: Henry Wishcamper

South Coast Repertory Theatre, Costa Mesa, California (Reading)
Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Production)
South Coast Repertory Theatre (Productions)
ORANGE
by: Aditi Brennan Kapil
directed by: Jessica Kubzansky
dramaturgy by: Kimberly Colburn

Denver Center For The Performing Arts
ZOE’S PERFECT WEDDING
by: Matthew Lopez
directed by: Mike Donahue
dramaturgy by: Douglas Langworthy
Additional Productions
Theaterworks Hartford

Actors Theatre of Louisville (Production)
I NOW PRONOUNCE
by: Tasha Gordon-Solomon
directed by: Meredith McDonough
Additional Productions
Muhlenberg Theatre & Dance

2015

Dallas Theatre Center
MILLER MISSISSIPPI
by: Boo Killebrew
Additional Productions
Longwharf Theatre

Playwrights Horizons, New York, New York (Workshop)
Playwrights Horizons, New York, New York (Production Spring 2018)
DANCE NATION
by: Clare Barron
Additional Productions
Olney Theater Center

Portland Center Stage
Roundhouse Theatre, Washington, DC
Indiana Repertory Theatre
I LOVE TO EAT
by: James Still
Additional Productions
Commonweal Theatre Company
Roundhouse Theatre

Berkeley Repertory Theatre
South Coast Repertory Theatre, Costa Mesa, California
MADWOMAN IN THE VOLVO
by: Sandra Tsing Loh
Additional Productions
Broad Stage
In/Visible Theatre

2014

South Coast Repertory Theatre, Cost Mesa, California (Reading)
Denver Center Theatre Company (2019)
THE WHISTLEBLOWER
by: Itamar Moses
directed by: Oliver Butler

Primary Stages and Theater Masters, New York, New York
INFINITY POND
by: Maria Alexandra Beech

Actors Theater of Louisville
Brooklyn Academy of Music
GLORY OF THE WORLD
by: Chuck Mee
Additional Productions
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Humana Festival

2013

OVER THE WAVES
by: Noah Haildle
directed by: Marc Masterson

Primary Stages – Transferred to Broadway
BRONX BOMBERS
Eric Simonson
Additional Productions
Circle in the Square Theater

Denver Center Theater Company
APPOGIATURA
by: James Still
Additional Productions
Indiana Repertory Theatre

2012

Concord Theatricals
THE FEW
by: Noah Haildle
directed by: Marc Masterson
Additional Productions
Old Globe
Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre
Steep Theatre

Steppenwolf Theatre
THE VAST IN-BETWEEN
by Laura Eason
directed by Heidi Stillman
Additional Productions
Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Williamstown Theatre
KINSHIP
by Carey Perloff
directed by Jonathan Moscone
Additional Productions
Theatre de la Ville, Paris

 

 

Center Repertory Theater of Walnut Creek
A LOVE STORY
by Randal Myler & Dan Wheetman

2011

Second Stage Theatre
BOY WONDERS
by Joe Tracz
directed by Victor Mao

Primary Stages
EAT YOUR HEART OUT
by Courtney Baron
directed by Michelle Bossy
Additional Productions
Rivendale Theatre Ensemble
Tallgrass Theatre Company

Denver Center Theater Company
BABY GIRL
by Octavio Solis
directed by Juliette Carrillo
Additional Productions
The Magic
Kitchen Dog Theater
Theater @ Boston Court

Actors Theatre of Louisville
CHIMERA
by Deborah Stein & Suli Holum
Additional Productions
HERE Arts Center
Gate Theater – London

2010

Atlantic Theater Company
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
by Kenny Finkle
directed by Christian Parker

2009

Denver Center for the Performing Arts
BONE ORCHARD
by Elysabeth Gregory Wilder

Alliance Theatre Company
BOTTOM OF THE WORLD
by Lucy Thurber
directed by Neil Pepe
Additional Productions
Atlantic Stage 2
The Vagrancy

Actors Theatre of Louisville
POOR BEHAVIOR
by Theresa Rebeck
directed by Marc Masterson
Additional Productions
Center Theatre Group

2008

Primary Stages
MAMA HATED DIESELS: THE SONGS AND STORIES OF THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER
by Randal Myler & Dan Wheetman
directed by Randal Myler
Additional Productions
Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Actors Theatre of Louisville
A CELEBRATION OF WENDELL BERRY
by Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel
directed by Marc Masterson

Denver Center for the Performing Arts
WHEN TANG MET LAIKA
by Rogelio Martinez
directed by Terrance J. Nolen

Atlantic Theater Company
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
by Neil Pepe
directed by Neil Pepe & David Pittu
Additional Performances
New World Stages

2007

Primary Stages
THE CHERRY SISTERS REVISTED
by Dan O’ Brien
directed by Andrew Leynse
Additional Productions
24th Humana Festival
R-S Theatrics

Space Theater – Denver Center
LYDIA
by Octavio Solis
directed by Juliette Carrillo
Additional Productions
Attic Rep
Yale Repertory Theatre

Round House Theatre
A SLEEPING COUNTRY
by Melanie Marnich
directed by Marc Masterson

Prospect Theatre Company
THE UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF SAMANTHA BROWN
Book & Lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, Music by Brian Lowdermilk
directed by Michael Cassara with Musical direction by mark Fifer
Additional Productions
Philadelphia Theatre Company

Denver Center Theatre Company
PLAINSONG
by Eric Schmiedl based on the novel by Kent Haruf
directed by Kent Thompson
Additional Productions
Signal Ensemble Theatre

2006

Manhatten Theatre Club
THE RECEPTIONIST
by Adam Bock
directed by Andrew Leynse

FOOLS FOR BROADWAY
by Joe Patrick Ward (composer) and Kenny Finkle
directed by Peter Flynn

Primary Stages
THE MORINI STAND
by Willy Holtzman
directed by Casey Childs
Additional Productions
Colony Theatre
City Theatre
59 E 59

Denver Center for the Performing Arts
FLOODED
by Julie Marie Myatt
directed by Jessica Thebus

Actors Theatre of Louisville
MAPLE & VINE
by Jordan Harrison
directed by Anne Kauffman
Additional Productions
Playwrights Horizon Inc.

2005

Primary Stages
SPICED DANISH VODKA
by Rinne Groff
directed by Andrew Leynse

Marin Theatre Company
RIVER’S END
by Cheri Coons, Composer Chuck Larkin
directed by Lee Sankowich
Additional Productions
NYMF
The Spirit of Broadway Theatre

2004

THE HUDSUCKER PROXY
by Stephen Weiner and Glenn Slater
directed by Tom Kosis

City Theatre Company
PURPLE HEARTS
by Burgess Clark
directed by Peter Flynn
Additional Productions
Gene Frankel Theatre
Kahilu Theatre

2003

Arvada Center
A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN
by Jim Bontempo & Luke Yankee
directed by Luke Yankee

New York Musical Theatre Festival (2004) at Spuk Theatre
BLUE FLOWER
by Jim Bauer (music) and Ruth Bauer
directed by Andrew Levine
Additional Productions
A.R.T.
Second State Theatre

2002

RODEO
by Sean Grennan and Kathy Santen
directed by Peter Flynn

Round House Theatre
MIDWIVES
by Dana Yeaton
directed by Burgess Clark