Colorado New Play Summit

FEB 15 – 16 & 21 – 23, 2020

Colorado New Play Summit

Setting the stage for new plays

Over the past 15 years, the Colorado New Play Summit has given audiences “a window into the wider theater world and… introduced some of the country’s most fascinating up-and-coming talents” (Westword). Join us for our annual celebration of new work and visionary artists from across our cultural community.

Summit playwrights spend two weeks with directors, actors and dramaturgs to workshop and develop their new plays. Over the weekend, you get to hear their work-in-progress at readings, as well as watch the Theatre Company world premieres of twenty50 by Tony Meneses and You Lost Me by Bonnie Metzgar – both featured as readings at the 2019 Summit.

From mingling over meals in the beautiful Seawell Ballroom to the last call at the Summit Party, there are countless opportunities to connect with artists, industry professionals, theatre lovers, subscribers and students.

Summit Successes Keep Coming

Over the past 41 seasons, our Theatre Company season has produced over 400 plays from scratch, including many that got their start as a reading. By commissioning new plays and presenting the Colorado New Play Summit, we underwrite the important work required of playwrights, invest in the future of the American Theatre and keep our finger on the pulse of contemporary writing.

The company of American Mariachi. Photo by Adams VisCom.

The company of American Mariachi. Photo by Adams VisCom

José Cruz González’s American Mariachi has been subsequently produced by The Old Globe (San Diego), Arizona Theatre Company, and South Coast Rep (Orange County), with an upcoming production at The Goodman Theatre (Chicago).

Bob Ari and Linden Tailor in The Great Leap. Photo by Adams VisCom.

Bob Ari and Linden Tailor in The Great Leap. Photo by Adams VisCom

The Great Leap is slated to be produced at 8 theatres in the 2019/20 season, including at the Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis) and American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco). It is one of the top ten most-produced plays this season. Lauren Yee is currently the second most-produced playwright in the country this year, with The Great Leap and Cambodian Rock Band being presented on 16 stages combined.

Lauren Gunderson (commissioned for The Book of Will) is the most-produced playwright in the country this season, with a whopping 33 productions, including 12 co-writing credits. The company of The Book of Will. Photo by Adams VisCom.

The company of The Book of Will. Photo by Adams VisCom

Lauren Gunderson (commissioned for The Book of Will) is the most-produced playwright in the country this season, with a whopping 33 productions, including 12 co-writing credits.

Ben Huber and Jamie Ann Romero in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere production of The Legend of Georgia McBride. Photo by Jennifer M Koskinen.

Ben Huber and Jamie Ann Romero in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s world premiere production of The Legend of Georgia McBride. Photo by Jennifer M Koskinen

Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride will be adapted into a movie starring Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory.”

SCHEDULE

LAUNCH WEEKEND | Feb 15 – 16, 2020

Enjoy the first readings in a laid-back setting that’s perfect for local theatre lovers, students and first-timers.

Be the first hear to the latest drafts of our featured new play readings
Meet your next favorite Colorado playwright at the Local Playwrights’ Slam

The Launch Weekend schedule will be announced when packages and À La Carte tickets go on sale in early January 2020. Sign up for an email alert when Launch Weekend goes on sale.

FESTIVAL WEEKEND | Feb 21 – 23, 2020

Chock full of opportunities to connect and experience the next draft of the plays, this robust weekend is perfect for industry professionals, everyday theatre lovers, subscribers and students.

Hear the refined readings of fully-workshopped plays
Watch World Premiere productions of two new plays that were featured readings at last year’s Summit
Mingle with artists and industry leaders at meals, events and parties
Discover up-and-coming talent at High School Playwriting Competition readings

GET TICKETS

FRI – FEB 21

11AM: Registration in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby

11:30AM: Lunch in the Seawell Ballroom

12:30PM: First new play readings

Orange Track: Another Kind of Silence in the Space Theatre
Blue Track: Hotter Than Egypt in the Jones Theatre

3:30PM: Second new play readings

Orange Track: In Her Bones in the Jones Theatre
Blue Track: Reclaiming One Star in the Space Theatre

6:30-7:30PM: Summit Dinner in the Seawell Ballroom

8PM: twenty50 in the Space Theatre

10PM: Playwrights’ Slam in the Jones Theatre

SAT – FEB 22

9AM: High School Playwriting Competition & Continental Breakfast in the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre

11:30AM: Lunch in the Seawell Ballroom

12:30PM: Third new play readings

Orange Track: Reclaiming One Star in the Space Theatre
Blue Track: In Her Bones in the Jones Theatre

3:30PM: Fourth new play readings

Orange Track: Hotter Than Egypt in the Jones Theatre
Blue Track: Alma in the Ricketson Theatre

Dinner on your own

8PM: You Lost Me in the Ricketson Theatre

OR Subscriber Optional Add-On Event

High School Playwriting Competition in Conservatory Theatre

9:30PM-12AM: Summit Party in the Seawell Ballroom

SUN – FEB 23

12PM: Fourth new play readings

Orange Track: Alma in the Ricketson Theatre
Blue Track: Another Kind of Silence in the Space Theatre

GET TICKETS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please feel free to contact us with any other questions not answered here.

About the Summit Schedule Tickets Travel

What is a reading?
New play readings are how we showcase the essence of a story without production elements like scenery, staging, lights and costumes. Think of it like watching a live radio program being recorded. Our actors stand on stage, scripts handy, and perform the lines with all of the passion of a final production. The audience gets all of the emotion of a fully-produced performance, just stripped down. This allows the playwright, director and audience to focus entirely on the language and story.

Which weekend should I choose?
Everyone is invited to both of our weekends, and each one has distinctive opportunities that may draw you one way or another. The Launch Weekend is lower key and has fewer events, and tickets are just $10. It’s ideal for first-timers and students who want a taste of the Summit with less commitment. The Festival Weekend has more of everything – it’s two-and-a-half jam-packed days of readings, World Premieres, meals and events. It’s perfect for industry professionals who want to discover new work and mingle with new contacts, students looking to make their first contacts in the field, and hardcore theatre fans who want to be a part of it all.

Who are the industry attendees?
Every year the Colorado New Play Summit attracts theatre industry leaders and artists from over 20 states. This includes playwrights, directors, actors, dramaturgs, artistic directors, literary managers, casting directors, managers, agents and other representatives from theatre companies throughout the country. View the 2019 industry attendee list

How can I submit a play to be considered for the future?
We accept unproduced original, full-length plays and musicals, which must be submitted by a literary agent. Playwrights residing in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico or Utah may send plays directly without an agent. We have a special interest in plays written by and for diverse voices, plays written by women playwrights and we are also interested in plays written for young audiences. Adaptations will be considered if you have secured underlying rights. Scripts may be sent by email or mail without prior synopsis or dialogue sample. Plays can be submitted year-round. Plays should be sent digitally to: playsubmissions@dcpa.org. Plays may also be mailed to:

Attn: New Play Development
DCPA Theatre Company
1101 13th St.
Denver, CO 80204-5319

Due to the number of submissions we receive, we will only respond if we are interested in a particular script or playwright.

What are tracks? Which one should I choose?
You will notice that Festival Weekend has an orange track and a blue track. Our tracks are simply the order in which you’ll see the readings. Both tracks will see all readings and attend all events but due to the sizes of our theatres, not everyone can see the same readings at the exact same time. If you’re attending the Summit with a group, make sure you buy tickets to the same track so you can coordinate readings. Even if you are on separate tracks, you will still have the same meal and World Premiere schedule. The Launch Weekend has a simpler schedule with just one reading of each play, so you will not see any track options for Launch Weekend.

Do I get to choose a seat?
Readings, meals and events are general admission, so you will get to choose your seat when you arrive. Our theatres are intimate enough that every seat will give you a great view of the action, but if you’d like to find somewhere to sit with a group, we recommend arriving at the reading at least 15 minutes early. The world premieres will have assigned seats; all of the tickets in your order will be sat together.

Will I get physical tickets or is there Will Call?
For Launch Weekend and A La Carte Festival Weekend tickets, you will be able to select how you want to receive your tickets: digitally by email, physically by snail mail or at will call. A La Carte Festival Weekend buyers may opt-in to receive a name badge, but will still receive individual tickets for their events.

For Festival Weekend, those with all-inclusive passes may pick up their badges and world premiere tickets at registration upon arrival. Please wear your badge to gain entry to all events. Registration will be located inside the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, and will be open on Fri, Feb 22 at 11am to pick up badges. If you are arriving late for Festival Weekend or have any questions during the Summit, please see a box office agent. The main ticket counter is located inside the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, and we also have counters in The Jones and Ricketson theatres.

How do I get to the Summit?
All of our events will be located in the Denver Performing Arts Complex in downtown Denver. The intersection of 14th and Curtis streets is a good pick-up and drop-off location for all venues. Most Summit events take place in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Using a map app? Our exact address is 1400 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204.

Where should I stay for the Summit?
As a Summit attendee, you get exclusive Summit discount rates at nearby partner hotels. Check back here in the months leading up to the Summit for additional rates.

How can I get around Denver?
Avoid the cost and hassle of parking downtown with these options:

Taxis: A taxi stand is available just across 14th Street at The Curtis Hotel. Or, our staff is happy to call a cab from the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex.

Bus: RTD offers more than 15 bus routes that pick up and drop off within one block of the Denver Performing Arts Complex. When planning your route to the Complex, put in “Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street” as your cross streets to get the best results.

Light Rail: RTD Light Rail lines D, F and H all make stops at 14th & Champa, beneath the Colorado Convention Center. When planning your route to the Complex, put in “Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street” as your cross streets to get the best results.

Ride-sharing Services: Both Uber and Lyft operate in Denver, but if you want to drive yourself (and still avoid parking), one-way point-to-point car rental memberships like Car2Go and Zipcar are also available.

Bike Sharing: For the casual night out, Denver is host to a B-cycle bike sharing program, with more than 80 bike stands located around the Denver metro area. The closest bike pick-up and drop-off to our theatres is located right next door at the Convention Center.

News and media
See photos and read more about the Colorado New Play Summit from local and national writers who have experienced it.

NEWS AND MEDIA

History of readings
Learn who has been commissioned, who has contributed and which readings have gone on to full productions here and around the country.

VIEW HISTORY

Contact Us

Have a question about the Summit that’s not answered here? First-timer and not sure where to start? We’re here to help. Let us know what’s on your mind and our Summit Producer Grady Soapes will get back to you soon.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors

PRESENTED BY:
AT&T, Sheri & Lee Archer/New Wave Enviro, The Joy S. Burns Commission in Women’s Playwriting, Daniel L. Ritchie, Semple Brown Design, Robert & Carole Slosky, Transamerica

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