Play readings and workshops offer a chance to see exciting new work at various stages of development. Want to see the next big thing while it’s still being crafted? Get in on the ground level and see the creative process in action. Featuring new plays and musicals by local and national artists, here are the upcoming play readings and workshops in the DMV.
JUNE
Story District presents its 14th annual Out/Spoken, a showcase of eight true stories told on stage, spotlighting the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. The 2024 Out/Spoken showcase will be held Sunday, June 2 at 7:30 PM at Penn Social, 801 E St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets are $25 and available here.
Solas Nua presents a reading of Sauce by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Saturday, June 1 at 3:00 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1517 18th St NW, Washington, DC. A play about death and rebirth, Sauce was first staged as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival in 2019, and revived there in 2022. Tickets to Solas Nua’s reading of Sauce are free (although donations are welcome); reserve via Eventbrite here.
MAY
African American Collective Theater (ACT) marks its 32nd anniversary with its 2024 DC Black Pride Weekend Showcase, Sunday, May 26 at the Undercroft Theatre, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. Over 25 talented local “ACT’ers” present readings of new LGBTQ+ themed short plays by ACT founder Alan Sharpe, with a matinee at 4:30 PM and a different show at 7:30 PM. Audiences can attend either or both shows! Tickets range from $20-$30 and are available on Eventbrite here.
The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre presents Doomsday 2024, its third annual 24-hour marathon public reading of Poe’s best-loved poems and stories. Streaming live from the Carroll Mansion (800 E Lombard St, Baltimore, MD) from Saturday, May 18 at 12:00 PM to Sunday, May 19 at 12:00 PM, the event includes open access to the Poe Death Exhibit by Poe Baltimore, Poe trivia, art and writing activities for all ages, and of course, the reading. Free and open to the public; more details available here.
Silhouette Stages presents its spring cabaret, Silhouette Unplugged, Saturday, May 18 at 8:00 PM at 10400 Cross Fox Ln, Columbia, MD. Join Silhouette for an evening of fabulous local talent in a relaxed atmosphere. Tickets are $15 and available here.
Baltimore Center Stage presents its Young Playwrights Festival 2024: The Tales We Tell, Saturday, May 18 at 6:00 PM in BCS’ Pearlstone Theater. Each year, BCS invites young playwrights across the state of Maryland to submit their 10 page plays to their YPF Open Call. Six plays are selected to be professionally produced by Baltimore Center Stage. The playwrights of the six plays are paired with a mentor to help them refine their plays before they’re submitted to the creative team. The six winning plays will be performed at the festival. Tickets are free and available here.
Silver Spring Stage presents Unlocking Potential, a monthlong series of workshops covering everything from Q Lab to auditioning, stage management, and producing, plus its first ever monologue competition and two staged readings! The lineup includes:
- Saturday, May 11, 12:00 PM The Show Must Go On: A Stage Management Workshop
- Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM Monologues Mainstage: A Monologue Competition open to the public
- Saturday, May 18, 12:00 PM The Road to Opening: A Producing Workshop
- Saturday, May 18 (time TBA): Staged Reading of a new play
- Saturday, May 25, 12:00 PM The Show Must Go On pt. 2: A Q Lab and Technician Workshop
- Saturday, May 25 (time TBA): Staged Reading of a new play
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Silver Spring Stage’s website here.
Love the variety of events! Excited to attend some of these workshops.