Happy 2024 From ANPF!
Our volunteer readers have settled in to read, enjoy, discuss, and decide which 12 of the 350 plays submitted for possible inclusion in our Fall Festival will go on to be read by our Artistic Director.
As you might imagine, this takes some time. We look forward to sharing the names of the winning plays and their playwrights in July.
During this time of feverish reading, ANPF is also busy making plans for some other exciting events.
We'll tell you all about them as soon as we can. (Don't you love the good kind of surprise?)
Keep your eye on this space for more information about what's in store.
In the meantime, enjoy reading below about the playwrights we hosted and the plays we presented in 2023.
Our 2023 Fall Festival
Presenting Playwrights
Our 2023 Fall Festival
Presented Plays
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.
Become a Reader
We are currently accepting reader applications for the 2024 Fall Festival. Our deadline for applications has been extended to 11/19/23. Visit our Work with Us page to learn more and to apply!
Listen Now
Our podcast features a collection of audio recordings of compelling new plays and engaging conversations with theater artists. We are a year-round festival of new plays available on demand.
Submit a Script
Playwrights, we look forward to reading your new works. We accept new plays starting July 15 through December 1, or until we reach 500 submissions. Read our guidelines here and see if the submit button is live!
Support
Donate today or become a member of ANPF and join a passionate community of theater lovers as we support playwrights and take part in the creative process of bringing new works to the stage.
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:
Silueta
By Diana Burbano, Tom Shelton, and Chris Shelton
Thank You to Our Grantors
Thank You to Our Inaugural Community Partners
