20th Anniversary New Works Festival
August 11–20, 2023
at the Lucie Stern Theatre
At TheatreWorks, it’s in our DNA to gather our friends and family and build community around the creation of new plays for the American theatre. Plays that celebrate the human condition—stories that build understanding, that entertain, that take us to new surroundings, new emotions, and new heights. This year marked our 20th Anniversary New Works Festival, and what a celebration it was!
staged readings
happy pleasant valley
By MIN KAHNG
Happy Pleasant Valley seeks to explode the myth that the enjoyment of sex stops after a certain age, exploring themes of generation gaps, ageism, and finding connection and relevance in the digital age—with a little bit of good old-fashioned murder thrown in.
Nerve
By MINITA GANDHI
Jyoti, a recent widow with ailing health finds the future of her well-being in her daughters’ hands. A multi-generational and multicultural journey that explores the love language of food, Nerve asks what our legacy is and that we truly leave behind.
Madeleines
By BESS WELDEN
Spiced with poetry and smatterings of Yiddish and Spanish, Madeleines tells the story of a family of Jewish women grappling with how to love each other through haunted pasts, shared grief, and the solace of baking together.
Low Expectations
By MICHAEL GASTON
Michael Gaston takes us on a wild ride as he reconnects with his past and raises his expectations for what is possible with the healing power of empathy, kindness, and love.
special events
Before the Ink Dries
FRIDAY, August 11
A Special TheatreWorks Fundraiser with David Henry Hwang and Rajiv Joseph
Songs and Stories with Shakina
Friday, August 18
A Musical TheatreWorks Fundraiser and Party
Meet the Artists Panel
Sunday, August 20
Our Festival artists discussed creating new works and bringing them to life onstage.
J. Lohr Lounge
Throughout the Festival
A relaxing space for wine and conversation, open to members of our Inner Circle.