The South Carolina New Play Festival (SCNPF) has announced the lineup for its third season, which will take place August 8-13. Performances will be held at various venues in historic downtown Greenville, SC, and all programming is free with reserved seating.
The festival will kick off August 8 at 7:00 PM at CentreStage with excerpts from Donnetta Lavinia Grays' The Josh White Project, followed by a public town hall. White was a prominent blues and folk musician who rose to fame in the 1930s and '40s and became a key figure in the civil rights movement, before his career was negatively impacted by the House Un-American Activities Committee. The town hall will explore the impact of Greenville on White's life and legacy.
On August 9, Adam Gwon's All the World's a Stage will be presented at 7:00 PM at Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center. The new musical from the Ordinary Days composer and lyricist tells the story of closeted math teacher Ricky Alleman, who is tasked with coaching a student on a monologue from Angels in America. Jonathan Silverstein will direct.
From 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM August 10, Insider Sessions will be held at the Greenville One Center. Theatrical industry leaders including Barbara Pasternak (Artistic Director of TheaterworksUSA), Kent Nicholson (Senior Vice President of Broadway Licensing Global), Travis Ballenger (Vice President of Spoke Entertainment), and Merri Sugarman (Tara Rubin Casting) will share insights from their professional experience in six hour-long sessions.
At the Warehouse Theatre on August 10, Jake Brasch's Trip Around the Sun will be presented at 2:00 PM, with direction by Shelley Butler. The dark comedy follows a pair of Jimmy Buffett fans (a.k.a. Parrotheads) in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
At 7:00 PM August 10, Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour's The Dark Lady will be presented at the Greenville Theatre. The synth-pop musical tells the story of Emilia Bassano, who some believe to be the true, uncredited author of Shakespeare's works. Anessa Marie will serve as music director.
Greg Borowsky and Melvin Tunstall III's Stuntboy will be staged at 3:00 PM August 11 at the South Carolina Children's Theatre, with direction by Banji Aborisade. Based on Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third's book Stunt Boy in the Meantime, the work follows middle schooler Portico Reeves, whose superpower is making sure his parents and best friends are safe from bullies.
From 3:00-8:00 PM August 10-11, SCNPF will hold its first outdoor variety stage at Reedy River Falls Park. Internationally renowned performers including clowns, jugglers, aerialists, and acrobats will perform in the 32-acre park.
The festival will close with a solo cabaret from Tony nominee and Greenville native Phillip Boykin, held August 13 at 7:00 PM at the Greenville One Center. The actor will share a selection of songs and stories from his Broadway experience in shows including Hadestown, Porgy and Bess, The Music Man, and more.
The SCNPF has also announced its second commission, a new musical inspired by comedian and magician Piff the Magic Dragon. The work will be written by John van der Put (Piff the Magic Dragon), with music by Matt Schatz.
"We are excited to bring the South Carolina New Play Festival back for another year," Executive Director West Hyler said in a statement. "Last year we commissioned Donnetta Lavinia Grays, and this season we will present excerpts from her new play in progress, and announce our second commission of John van der Put, more famously known as Piff the Magic Dragon.”
“For our third festival we’ve expanded to present three musicals and a play, an outdoor variety stage, an insider package of industry sessions, and a town hall," added Artistic Director Shelley Butler. "We are thrilled to support this dynamic collection of writers: Jake Brasch, Greg Borowski and Melvin Tunstall III, Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour, Donnetta Lavinia Grays, and Adam Gwon, whose visions are distinct but who collectively embrace theatricality and speak to the present moment.”
