
This year the Festival Week runs October 18 through 22, 2023.
Save the Dates!
The winners and finalists for ANPF 2023 will be announced in July.
Learn more about the plays, playwrights, and Festival information
on our Fall Festival page.

Ashland New Plays Festival joins the Dramatists Guild, Theatre Communications Group, Shakespeare Theatre Association, and other theatre organizations across our community to stand with Nataki Garrett and condemn in every possible way the unconscionable harassment and death threats that she has received as Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Explore Our Events

Fall Festival
A celebratory week-long festival featuring public readings, talkbacks, a playwriting workshop, and more.

New Play Workshops
New play development intensives culminating in public readings and talkbacks

New Voices
An annual retreat for emerging playwrights, with a focus on craft and community building.

Inside ANPF
Inspiring conversations with theatre artists about the process and productions that make up ANPF.
Our Commitment to Antiracism
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We at the Ashland New Plays Festival acknowledge our complicity in racist structures and pledge to move forward with concrete actions.
Click here to read our full action statement.
We are deeply committed to supporting theatre artists during this time of crisis in funding for the arts. We ask that you stand with us as we reach toward a more equitable and ethical future.
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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
Thank You to Our Grantors





