August 08-11, 2024
SC New Play Festival
The 3rd South Carolina New Play Festival will take place over four days, starting on Thursday, August 8, and will feature a wide range of musicals, plays, town halls, an outdoor variety stage, and will culminate in a Cabaret featuring Tony-nominee Phillip Boykin on August 11.
Music Stand presentations of New Musicals by Adam Gown, Greg Borowski and Melvin Tunstall III, and Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour, will be presented alongside a new play from Jake Brasch and excerpts from a new play by Donnetta Lavinia Grays inspired by folk-music legend, Josh White.
The festival will take place in historic downtown Greenville, South Carolina at venues including The Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, CentreStage, The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville Theatre, South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Reedy River Falls Park, and at the Greenville One Center.
All readings are free with reserved seating, festival patrons have early access to reserved seats. To become a patron or learn more about the South Carolina New Play Festival, visit www.southcarolinanewplayfestival.org and follow us on Instagram at @SouthCarolinaNewPlayFestival.
SCNPF is supported, in part, by grants from the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Daniel-Mickel Foundation, the South Carolina Endowment for the Humanities, the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Peace Center, and by public funds from the City of Greenville tourism tax fund.
Music Stand presentations of New Musicals by Adam Gown, Greg Borowski and Melvin Tunstall III, and Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour, will be presented alongside a new play from Jake Brasch and excerpts from a new play by Donnetta Lavinia Grays inspired by folk-music legend, Josh White.
The festival will take place in historic downtown Greenville, South Carolina at venues including The Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, CentreStage, The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville Theatre, South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Reedy River Falls Park, and at the Greenville One Center.
All readings are free with reserved seating, festival patrons have early access to reserved seats. To become a patron or learn more about the South Carolina New Play Festival, visit www.southcarolinanewplayfestival.org and follow us on Instagram at @SouthCarolinaNewPlayFestival.
SCNPF is supported, in part, by grants from the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Daniel-Mickel Foundation, the South Carolina Endowment for the Humanities, the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Peace Center, and by public funds from the City of Greenville tourism tax fund.
Location
Venues including CentreStage, The Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville Theatre, and SC Children's Theatre.
Date & Time
August 8- 11, 2024, with presentations at 7pm on August 8-11 and at 2pm on August 10-11.
Schedule
August 8, 7pm
Town Hall following excerpts from Donnetta Lavinia Grays’ THE JOSH WHITE PROJECT
7:00pm | CentreStage
The Josh White Project was commissioned by the SC New Play Festival and the presentation of excerpts will precede a public town hall on the impact of Greenville, SC on Josh White’s life and legacy. Donnetta Lavinia Grays is an award-winning playwright and actor, whose work has been seen on Broadway and at theaters across the country. She is the recipient of The Whiting Award for Drama, Helen Merrill Playwright Award, The National Theater Conference’s Stavis Playwright Award, Lilly Award, Todd McNerney National Playwriting Award, and the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award. Josh White was a prominent blues and folk musician who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s performing with legends such as Billie Holiday, Woody Guthrie, and Lead Belly, and on Broadway and in Hollywood. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement before his career was negatively impacted by the House Un-American Activities Commission.
The Josh White Project was commissioned by the SC New Play Festival and the presentation of excerpts will precede a public town hall on the impact of Greenville, SC on Josh White’s life and legacy. Donnetta Lavinia Grays is an award-winning playwright and actor, whose work has been seen on Broadway and at theaters across the country. She is the recipient of The Whiting Award for Drama, Helen Merrill Playwright Award, The National Theater Conference’s Stavis Playwright Award, Lilly Award, Todd McNerney National Playwriting Award, and the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award. Josh White was a prominent blues and folk musician who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s performing with legends such as Billie Holiday, Woody Guthrie, and Lead Belly, and on Broadway and in Hollywood. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement before his career was negatively impacted by the House Un-American Activities Commission.
August 9, 7pm
Adam Gwon's ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
7:00pm | Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center
The show tells the story of closeted Math teacher Ricky Alleman and the high school senior who cajoles him into coaching her for the 1996 State Thespian Competition with a monologue from "Angels in America". Soon, Ricky has trouble navigating his carefully compartmentalized life, between his outspoken new boyfriend and the conservative Principal of the High School where he teaches. All the World’s a Stage is a funny and heart-wrenching new musical about being true to yourself in a polarized world.
The show tells the story of closeted Math teacher Ricky Alleman and the high school senior who cajoles him into coaching her for the 1996 State Thespian Competition with a monologue from "Angels in America". Soon, Ricky has trouble navigating his carefully compartmentalized life, between his outspoken new boyfriend and the conservative Principal of the High School where he teaches. All the World’s a Stage is a funny and heart-wrenching new musical about being true to yourself in a polarized world.
August 10&11, 3Pm-7:30pm
Outdoor Variety Stage
3:00-7:30pm | Reedy River Falls Park
SCNPF’s first outdoor variety stage will include internationally renowned performers making their first appearance in Greenville. Clowns, Jugglers, Aerialists, and Acrobats will perform in the Reedy River Falls Park, 32-acre park adjacent to downtown Greenville, South Carolina, in the historic West End district.
SCNPF’s first outdoor variety stage will include internationally renowned performers making their first appearance in Greenville. Clowns, Jugglers, Aerialists, and Acrobats will perform in the Reedy River Falls Park, 32-acre park adjacent to downtown Greenville, South Carolina, in the historic West End district.
August 10, 2pm
Jake Brasch’s TRIP AROUND THE SUN directed by Shelley Butler
2:00PM | The Warehouse Theatre
Jake Brasch (he/they) is a queer sober clown from Colorado and a graduating playwriting fellow at The Juilliard School. The World Premiere of his play The Reservoir, also directed by Shelley Butler, will be presented in 2025 as a co-production between the Denver Center, Alliance Theatre, and Geffen Playhouse. Jake is a member of the 2024 Page 73 Writers Group and a 2023-2024 Alliance/Kendeda Finalist. He is the winner of the Kennedy Center's 2024 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Their work has been developed by New York Stage and Film, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Farm Theater, ArtHouse Inkubator, Letter of Marque Theater Company, Eden Theater Company, and LAByrinth Theater Company. BFA from NYU Tisch (Experimental Theatre Wing/New Studio on Broadway). Trip Around the Sun is a dark comedy about a couple of Parrotheads in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
Jake Brasch (he/they) is a queer sober clown from Colorado and a graduating playwriting fellow at The Juilliard School. The World Premiere of his play The Reservoir, also directed by Shelley Butler, will be presented in 2025 as a co-production between the Denver Center, Alliance Theatre, and Geffen Playhouse. Jake is a member of the 2024 Page 73 Writers Group and a 2023-2024 Alliance/Kendeda Finalist. He is the winner of the Kennedy Center's 2024 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Their work has been developed by New York Stage and Film, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Farm Theater, ArtHouse Inkubator, Letter of Marque Theater Company, Eden Theater Company, and LAByrinth Theater Company. BFA from NYU Tisch (Experimental Theatre Wing/New Studio on Broadway). Trip Around the Sun is a dark comedy about a couple of Parrotheads in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
August 10, 7pm
Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour’s THE DARK LADY with Music Direction by Anessa Marie
7:00PM | Greenville Theatre
Jake Brasch (he/they) is a queer sober clown from Colorado and a graduating playwriting fellow at The Juilliard School. The World Premiere of his play The Reservoir, also directed by Shelley Butler, will be presented in 2025 as a co-production between the Denver Center, Alliance Theatre, and Geffen Playhouse. Jake is a member of the 2024 Page 73 Writers Group and a 2023-2024 Alliance/Kendeda Finalist. He is the winner of the Kennedy Center's 2024 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Their work has been developed by New York Stage and Film, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Farm Theater, ArtHouse Inkubator, Letter of Marque Theater Company, Eden Theater Company, and LAByrinth Theater Company. BFA from NYU Tisch (Experimental Theatre Wing/New Studio on Broadway). Trip Around the Sun is a dark comedy about a couple of Parrotheads in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
Jake Brasch (he/they) is a queer sober clown from Colorado and a graduating playwriting fellow at The Juilliard School. The World Premiere of his play The Reservoir, also directed by Shelley Butler, will be presented in 2025 as a co-production between the Denver Center, Alliance Theatre, and Geffen Playhouse. Jake is a member of the 2024 Page 73 Writers Group and a 2023-2024 Alliance/Kendeda Finalist. He is the winner of the Kennedy Center's 2024 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Their work has been developed by New York Stage and Film, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Farm Theater, ArtHouse Inkubator, Letter of Marque Theater Company, Eden Theater Company, and LAByrinth Theater Company. BFA from NYU Tisch (Experimental Theatre Wing/New Studio on Broadway). Trip Around the Sun is a dark comedy about a couple of Parrotheads in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
August 11, 2pm
Greg Borowsky and Melvin Tunstall III’s STUNTBOY directed by Banji Aborisade
2:00 PM | South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Melvin Tunstall’s show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Show in 2018. Greg Borowsky is a songwriter and producer from South Africa behind some of South Africa’s biggest SAMA (SA Grammy) winning artists and is the co-writer and producer of the official “20 Years of Freedom” song for the South African Government. Stuntboy, a commission from Theatreworks USA, is based on the book “Stunt Boy in the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, and used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc. Stuntboy follows the middle-schooler, Portico Reeves, whose superpower is making sure his parents and two best friends stay safe from bullies. He lives in the biggest apartment building on the block, a building with fifty doors, all of which would be swell except for the secret that Portico’s parents are about to divorce. All this stress gives Portico “the frets”, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all. TheaterWorksUSA has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement for over half a century through its mission to create exceptional, transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities throughout in New York City and across the United States. Since 1967 TheaterWorksUSA has been a trailblazer in the not-for-profit theater industry and has reached more than 100 million audience members nationwide. (www.twusa.org).
Melvin Tunstall’s show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Show in 2018. Greg Borowsky is a songwriter and producer from South Africa behind some of South Africa’s biggest SAMA (SA Grammy) winning artists and is the co-writer and producer of the official “20 Years of Freedom” song for the South African Government. Stuntboy, a commission from Theatreworks USA, is based on the book “Stunt Boy in the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, and used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc. Stuntboy follows the middle-schooler, Portico Reeves, whose superpower is making sure his parents and two best friends stay safe from bullies. He lives in the biggest apartment building on the block, a building with fifty doors, all of which would be swell except for the secret that Portico’s parents are about to divorce. All this stress gives Portico “the frets”, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all. TheaterWorksUSA has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement for over half a century through its mission to create exceptional, transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities throughout in New York City and across the United States. Since 1967 TheaterWorksUSA has been a trailblazer in the not-for-profit theater industry and has reached more than 100 million audience members nationwide. (www.twusa.org).
August 11, 7pm
Broadway Cabaret Featuring TONY-Nominee Phillip Boykin
7:00 PM | Greenville One Center
Melvin Tunstall’s show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Show in 2018. Greg Borowsky is a songwriter and producer from South Africa behind some of South Africa’s biggest SAMA (SA Grammy) winning artists and is the co-writer and producer of the official “20 Years of Freedom” song for the South African Government. Stuntboy, a commission from Theatreworks USA, is based on the book “Stunt Boy in the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, and used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc. Stuntboy follows the middle-schooler, Portico Reeves, whose superpower is making sure his parents and two best friends stay safe from bullies. He lives in the biggest apartment building on the block, a building with fifty doors, all of which would be swell except for the secret that Portico’s parents are about to divorce. All this stress gives Portico “the frets”, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all. TheaterWorksUSA has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement for over half a century through its mission to create exceptional, transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities throughout in New York City and across the United States. Since 1967 TheaterWorksUSA has been a trailblazer in the not-for-profit theater industry and has reached more than 100 million audience members nationwide. (www.twusa.org).
Melvin Tunstall’s show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Show in 2018. Greg Borowsky is a songwriter and producer from South Africa behind some of South Africa’s biggest SAMA (SA Grammy) winning artists and is the co-writer and producer of the official “20 Years of Freedom” song for the South African Government. Stuntboy, a commission from Theatreworks USA, is based on the book “Stunt Boy in the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, and used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc. Stuntboy follows the middle-schooler, Portico Reeves, whose superpower is making sure his parents and two best friends stay safe from bullies. He lives in the biggest apartment building on the block, a building with fifty doors, all of which would be swell except for the secret that Portico’s parents are about to divorce. All this stress gives Portico “the frets”, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all. TheaterWorksUSA has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement for over half a century through its mission to create exceptional, transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities throughout in New York City and across the United States. Since 1967 TheaterWorksUSA has been a trailblazer in the not-for-profit theater industry and has reached more than 100 million audience members nationwide. (www.twusa.org).