2026 conference events
Registration opens Monday, June 1
PlayPenn’s 2026 New Play Development Conference brings together readings of new plays alongside a citywide series of civic gatherings, workshops, artist exchanges, and public conversations focusing on democracy, historical memory, belonging, and collective imagination.
Our new community-focused approach to new play development reflects a broader vision of theatre in a shared civic life that illuminates what theatre can do, who participates in it, how it unfolds, and why it matters. Learn more about the Conference.
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A Laboratory for Civic Imagination
Eboni Booth, Roger Q. Mason, and Sarah Mantell Headline PlayPenn’s 2026 New Play Development Conference: “Democracy in Action”
Tickets now available!
PlayPenn’s 2026 New Play Development Conference brings together readings of new plays alongside a citywide series of civic gatherings, workshops, artist exchanges, and public conversations focusing on art, democracy, historical memory, and belonging.
Our new community-focused approach to new play development reflects a broader vision of theatre in a shared civic life that illuminates what theatre can do, who participates in it, how it unfolds, and why it matters.
This year’s new play conference marks the nation’s 250th anniversary and features a national cohort of artists including Tyler Dobrowsky, Danilo Gambini, Taibi Magar, Amrita Ramanan, and Charlie Thurston.
The Dream We Were Promised: The U.S. Constitution, and the Struggle Toward Belonging42 days to the eventFri, Jul 17
Innovation in Theatre Making: A Panel of Philadelphia Artistic Directors47 days to the eventWed, Jul 22
Free Playwriting Workshop for Adults with Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters50 days to the eventSat, Jul 25
"Bill" by Roger Q. Mason (Philadelphia Reading with Post-Show Social)50 days to the eventSat, Jul 25
Acting Practices and Approaches for Working on New Play Development/Readings51 days to the eventSun, Jul 26
Women Writers Over 50 Workshop with Che’Rae Adams and Angeline Larimer53 days to the eventTue, Jul 28
