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.
APRIL 2026
Opera Lafayette presents New Woman, featuring Grammy-nominated soprano Lauren Snouffer accompanied by the Opera Lafayette Orchestra, Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 PM at Sixth & I, 600 I St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $30-$55 and are available here.
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts presents its 15th annual Dramathon, an evening of world-premiere short plays written, directed, and performed by professional DC theater artists, on Monday, April 27 at 7:30 PM at the Theatre Lab, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. Part theatrical showcase, part fundraiser, this unique performing arts event benefits The Theatre Lab’s Send a Kid to Camp initiative. Admission is free; donations encouraged. Details here.
Folger Shakespeare Library presents a staged reading of Macbeth, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Federal Theatre Project’s production of Shakespeare’s “Scottish play.” The final event in Adjoa Andoh‘s Director’s Residency at the Folger, Macbeth: A Tribute to the Federal Theatre Project performs Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 PM at the Folger, 201 East Capitol St SE, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $35-$70 and are available here.
Arena Stage presents the 2026 Voices of Now Festival, an inspiring afternoon of original, youth-devised theater from across the DC region, Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 PM at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St SW, Washington, DC. Tickets are pay-what-you-can ($10 suggested donation, free option included) and available here.
2 Boys and A Girl at American University present a senior capstone performance of Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam, directed by AU alum Sirra Faal, Friday, April 24 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, April 25 at 8:00 PM in the Katzen Arts Center at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. Tickets are free; RSVP here.
The Puppet Co presents a marionette double feature of Phantasmagoria by Puppet Pants and Unraveling by Shadow Girls Cult, Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM at the Puppet Co at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD. 18+. Tickets range from $15-$35 and are available here.
The German Embassy Washington presents Artists in Exile: Perspectives on Freedom, Wednesday, April 22 at 5:00 PM in the Arellano Theater, Levering Hall at Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD. Devised and directed by Drew Lichtenberg, with musicians from the PostClassical Ensemble, the evening features music, writings, and life stories of German artists who faced difficult choices under oppressive regimes. Tickets are free; RSVP here.
Theater of War Productions, The Earth Commons, and The Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics at Georgetown University present The Oedipus Project, featuring live readings from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for discussion of climate change and environmental justice. Performers include Jesse Eisenberg, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jumaane Williams, David Strathairn, Kathryn Erbe, Sam Waterston, Erika Rose, and Craig Wallace. This hybrid event will be held Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 PM at Georgetown University’s Gaston Hall and on Zoom. Tickets are free; RSVP here.
Folger Shakespeare Library presents Tell Out My Soul: What’s The Story and Who’s Telling It?, a candid conversation with Adjoa Andoh MBE, the inaugural resident in the Folger’s Director’s Residency, Sunday, April 19 at 7:00 PM at the Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St SE, Washington, DC. Tickets are $55 ($45 for Folger members) and available here.
Avant Bard Theatre presents Songs & Stories of Immigration, Sunday, April 19 at 5:00 PM at The Filling Station (Ballston Exchange), 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA. The latest in Avant Bard’s Resistance Readings series, Songs & Stories of Immigration features Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Elena La Fulana and an encore performance of The Lady Bird of St. John by La Pluma Theatre. Tickets are free; reserve here.
Guillotine Theatre and The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington present Julia Sues for Freedom, a scripted reenactment of the 1842 court case, Julia Roberts v. Austin Adams and Anne Harding, in which Julia, an enslaved woman, sued to win her freedom. Julia Sues for Freedom will be presented at the following dates, times, and locations:
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Arlington’s Central Library at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 18 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201
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The Ball-Sellers House at 3:00pm on Saturday, April 25 (weather permitting) 5620 3rd St S, Arlington, VA 22204
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Westover Farmers Market at 11:00am on Sunday, April 26 (weather permitting) Westover Library Plaza, 1644 McKinley Rd, Arlington, VA 22205
All performances are free and open to the public.
The Catholic University of America presents a staged reading of Doctor Blackwell, a folk-inspired musical about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to gain a medical degree in the United States, Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 PM in CUA’s Callan Theatre, 3801 Harewood Rd NE, Washington, DC. Tickets are free; RSVP here.
Monologue Madness celebrates its 15th anniversary Saturday, April 18 at 6:30 PM at Penn Social, 801 E St NW, Washington, DC, with 32 talented local actors going head to head in five high-energy, single-elimination monologue rounds before a panel of judges and a live audience. Tickets are $25 general admission ($30 priority seating in the first two rows) and available here.
Folger Shakespeare Library presents an all-ages celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday with stage combat demonstrations, ruff-making, coloring, sonnet writing, birthday cupcakes, and much more. The celebration will be held Saturday, April 18 at 11:00 AM at the Folger, 201 East Capitol St SE, Washington, DC, and is free and open to the public. Details here.
George Mason School of Theater presents Airness by Chelsea Marcantel, directed by Jackie House, running Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19 in the Donald and Nancy de Laski Performing Arts Building, 4502 Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA. Showtimes and tickets ($19 general admission; $9 students and seniors) are available here.
Baltimore Center Stage presents Nygel and Friends, a high-energy celebration of sound, soul, and storytelling featuring Nygel Robinson (co-creator of Mexodus), Broadway star Melody Betts, vocalist J. Aria, and students from Baltimore School for the Arts. Performances will be Friday, April 17 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 PM at BCS, 700 N. Calvert St, Baltimore, MD. Tickets are free; reserve here.
Best Medicine Rep presents a reading of Dinkers Taming Bangers by Kim E. Ruyle, directed by Mia Amado, Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 PM in the Hefner Auditorium at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg (entrance at the corner of Odendhal and Lost Knife Road). Admission is free, no tickets required.
NextStop Theatre Company presents a reading of The Second Best School Shooting, a dark comedy by Alice Stanley Jr., Monday, April 13 at 7:00 PM at NextStop, 269 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, VA. This reading launches NextDraft, a new reading and workshop series dedicated to developing bold, in-progress theatrical works. Tickets are $15 and available here.
George Mason University presents Circa: Humans 2.0, created by Yaron Lifschnitz and the Circa Ensemble, Sunday, April 12 at 7:00 PM at GMU’s Center for the Arts, Concert Hall, 4373 Mason Pond Dr, Fairfax, VA. Tickets range from $38-$60 (half price for youth under 12) and are available here.
Creative Cauldron presents its 2026 Bold New Voices Festival of new work by women playwrights and composers, April 11-May 9 at Creative Cauldron Stage, 127 E. Broad St, Falls Church, VA.
All performances take place on Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. The lineup includes:
- April 11: The C Word Written by Sarah Lina Sparks | Directed by Sally Imbriano
- April 18: Live From My Dad’s Couch Written by Gaelyn D. Smith | Directed by A.
Lorraine Robinson - April 25: His Girl Friday Book by Danielle Moore | Music & Lyrics by Zachary Sloan and
Danielle Moore | Directed by Matt Conner - May 9: Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikka Written by Diana Burbano | Directed by
Elena Velasco
Tickets are free for in-person or livestream viewing and available here.
Applause Unlimited presents The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen, an award-winning show featuring storytelling, song, and puppetry in three of Andersen’s most beloved tales, Saturday, April 11 through Saturday, April 18 at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA. Tickets are $20 (plus $3 booking fee) and available here. Children under 3 years free with paying adult.
Dance Place presents ABYSS: post body, a performance by dance duo slowdanger that transitions into a live techno set inviting audiences to the dance floor to partake in the show themselves. ABYSS is part of Dance Place’s AFTER DARK series and performs Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 PM at Dance Place, 3225 8th St NE, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $10-$45 and are available here.
Glass Canon Theatre Company presents Songs of the Acropolis: A Night of Cabaret and Community, directed by Travis Xavier, music directed by Emily Erickson, and featuring 15+ DMV-based performers, Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $22-$54 and are available here.
Bread & Puppet Theater presents its touring production of The End of the World Never Minding Show, Friday, April 10 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, April 11 at 7:00 PM at 2640 Space, 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD, and Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM at Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt. Rainier, MD. Tickets are $20 for Baltimore shows and $25-$35 in Mt. Rainier; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. More information and tickets here.
Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts (CABCoFA), Department of Theatre Arts, presents its 2026 Senior Showcase, Monday, April 6 through Saturday, April 11 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC. This dynamic showcase highlights talented students across acting, musical theater, dance, theater administration, and theater technology. Details and tickets (free with RSVP) are available here.
