The New School for Drama Presents NEW VOICES Playwrights Festival

The New School's School of Drama's newest playwriting talent will be on display during the New Voices Playwrights Festival, featuring four original plays performed in repertory February 17-24 and April 21-28, 2018. Showcasing the work of this year's graduating playwriting MFAs, the festival also highlights Drama's MFA actors and directors.

For over a decade, graduating School of Drama MFA playwrights have been showcasing their thesis work for packed audiences at the festival, allowing the students a comprehensive, hands-on experience in mounting a fully-produced play prior to leaving school. This year will be no exception, featuring engrossing, stimulating, and provocative work from the class of 2018.

"We are excited to share the work of our graduate playwriting program, which, under the guidance of our outstanding faculty, continues to develop the voices of some of the most dynamic and diverse writers for stage, film and television," says Pippin Parker, Dean of School of Drama.

"New Voices gets the playwriting students out of the isolated environment of writing," says Robert Hoyt, director of professional development and external relations. "It's important for them to hear and see their plays performed-to actually see the world they have been creating."

The New Voices festival is also an opportunity for the graduating students to present their work to key industry leaders.

New Voices Playwrights Festival schedule:

Proceed To Highlighted Routeby Erica Mann, directed by India Marie Paul, featuring Brett Bezad, Shaotian Cai, Rose Dolezal, William Donovan, and Claire McClain; February 17, 3:00 p.m.; February 21, 7:00 p.m., February 22, 9:30 p.m.; February 23, 7:00 p.m.; February 24, 8:00 p.m.

Ah Sweeter Lymeby Karina Billini, directed by Andrés López-Alicea, featuring Jonathan Crimeni, Moire Kiyingi, Jillian Macklin, Miranda Powers, and Matthew Thomas Scott; February 17, 8:00 p.m.; February 21, 9:30 p.m.; February 22, 7:00 p.m.; February 23, 9:30 p.m.; February 24, 3:00 p.m.

No Baby by Blake Bishton, directed by Peter J. Kuo, featuring Jessica Bettencourt, Brett Bezad, Rose Dolezal, Alexandra Merritt Mathews, and Matthew Thomas Scott; April 21, 3:00 p.m.; April 25, 7:00 p.m.; April 26, 9:30 p.m.; April 27, 7:00 p.m.; April 28, 8:00 p.m.

Untitled by Nikhil Mahapatra, directed by Nicky Maggio, featuring Renée-Michele Brunet, William Donovan, Jillian Macklin, and Claire McClain; April 21, 8:00 p.m.; April 25, 9:30 p.m.; April 26, 7:00 p.m.; April 27, 9:30 p.m.; April 28, 3:00 p.m.

All performances are at the School of Drama Theater, 151 Bank Street, 3rd Floor, New York City. Admission is free and reservations are recommended. Please call Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 or visit ticketcentral.com.