Explore Our Events
Fall Festival
Our annual flagship event features a week of workshops, public readings, and events with the four winning playwrights chosen from 500 submissions.
Workshops
Each year we workshop and present readings of new plays by past ANPF winners and new plays we are excited to share with our audiences.
Theatre Talk
From June to September we present our monthly salon series of talks with theatre artists, many from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
“Ashland loves theatre like the South loves college football.”
— Kyle Haden
Artistic Director
Ashland New Plays Festival began in 1992, when a group of theatre enthusiasts came together and launched a unique collaboration among local theatres and playwrights. The objective was to present new works, giving audiences, actors, and playwrights a role in the evolution of a new play. The objective remains the same today. ANPF works with new and past Festival winners as well as invited playwrights, to come to Ashland and enjoy a fertile week of workshopping their play with world-class directors, actors, and artistic team members. Our enthusiastic audiences and dedicated volunteer readers make ANPF what it is: a unique community-based theatre organization. Our readings, talkbacks, playwriting workshops, podcast play recordings and conversations provide a rich theatrical experience for audiences and theatre artists alike.
Engaged Community
Expert Guidance
World-Class Talent
Exceptional Cohorts
Community Feedback
I love new theatre and this is a tremendously vibrant festival.
What an inspiring experience to see a play in its developing form. Hearing the ideas and intentions expressed directly by the playwright adds another layer of insight and appreciation for the audience.
I didn't know what to expect walking into the play, but I was pleasantly surprised. The performances were incredible and I really connected to the story despite never having seen a play so early in development. I really enjoyed it!
Strong performances bring rich life to already exciting and well-crafted new plays.
Great theater is good words plus good actors. The rest is detail. You have it all.
Hearing artists speak on their art is fascinating. It's pleasurable to be part of artistic development.
We love our community and our community loves us.
Audience Members Plan to Attend Future ANPF Events
Rated the Quality of our Readings with 4 and 5 Stars
Plan to Recommend ANPF to Others
Volunteer Readers Who Return Each Season
ANPF Play4Keeps Podcast
Enjoy our collection of compelling new plays and
engaging conversations with theatre artists.
Featured play:
Southbridge
By Reginald Edmund
Thank You to Our Grantors
