Inaugural Spotlight New Works Fest selects 13 productions for New York showcase

CPA Theatricals and Gitelman & Good Publishers have selected 13 new plays and musicals for the inaugural Spotlight New Works Fest, a festival dedicated to material for educational and community theaters.

The selected works were chosen from a pool of 232 submissions and will be presented as staged readings from June 29 to July 5. The festival will take place at The Factory Series at The Chain Theatre in Manhattan.

The festival is designed to connect playwrights with educational and community organizations seeking original material. According to the organizers, the selected works demonstrate “strong production potential for the secondary theatre market” and “suitability for diverse audiences and theatre communities nationwide.”

The 13 productions accepted for the 2026 festival are:

Birch Academy (Book/Music by Miguel Sutedjo, Book/Lyrics by Andrea Trent)
Coming Out (Allison St. Rock)
Coronation (Peter Fenton)
Die Anywhere Else (Colin Casey)
Fireflies and Fault Lines (Brian S. Brijbag)
The Infernal Machine (Larry Daggett)
Lizzie Borden: Life After Death (William Meurer)
Rescue (Nancy Kissam)
Scouts (Catherine Epstein)
The Student Body (Aaron Levy)
Trial by Jury (Kit Goldstein Grant)
You Go On (Matt Gittins)
The Women in Theatre Project (Jen Coogan)

CPA Theatricals, a non-profit organization, focuses on expanding theater access and supporting innovative voices. The organization’s previous projects include “57th National Mathlete Sum-It” and “Miley Chase The Science Ace.”

Gitelman & Good Publishers aims to expand its catalogue of works specifically tailored to the needs of community and educational stages. The publishers noted that the festival provides a “crucial platform for emerging and established writers to showcase their work.”

Staged readings will be presented to industry professionals, theater educators, and artistic directors. Admission to the productions is free with an RSVP. Further information regarding the schedule and ticketing is available through the festival’s official program website.

••••• Message Center••••

Looking for news and events beyond NYC? Finding Connecticut and Finding The Hudson Valley have the latest happenings just north of the city!

Let’s create with Victory Designs

Need help with your creative needs? Our team has 20+ years of experience with Adobe, Shopify, and WordPress, and we offer affordable graphic design and web services. Let Victory Designs assist you with bringing your ideas to life.

Share your New York City experiences on instagram #findingnewyorkcity

Save on CBD!

My name is Jillian, and I am the editor here at Finding New York City. When I came across New England Hemp Farm a few years ago, I had recently had my ankle fused. New England Hemp Farm’s Sports Relief Rub and 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil have helped with everyday and weather pain.

Finding quality products that can improve your day-to-day life can be tough, but with New England Hemp Farm, getting a good night’s sleep or relieving your pain and anxiety has never been easier. Plus, using our code NYC35, you’ll save 35% on your first purchase. Let us help you find relief and savings with New England Hemp Farm.

Products we use here at Finding New York City include Sports Relief Rub • 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil • Pet Drops• Pet Treats