Colorado New Play Summit

Colorado New Play Summit

Setting the stage for new plays

Since 2005, 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 Theatre Company world premieres.

PROGRAMMING UPDATE

Theatre is back! Our Broadway and Theatre Company season feature many of our previously-announced productions. Visit our Response Page for a list of shows that we are working to reschedule.

LEARN MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

About the Summit Schedule Tickets

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 2020 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. 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.

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

Summit Successes Keep Coming

Over more than 40 years, 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.”

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

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