Pacific Playwrights Festival History
*denotes play went on to production at SCR or elsewhere.
- Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Sean Hartley and Daniel Messé, book by Craig Lucas (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by David Ivers)*
- Galilee, 34 by Elean Burgess (Argyros Stage production - directed by Davis MaCallum)
- Meeting for Worship by Ana Nogueira (Reading - directed by Mike Donahue)
- The Brothers Play by Arya Shahi (Reading - directed by Knud Adams)
- Fremont Ave. by Reggie D. White (Reading - directed by Taylor Reynolds)
- An Oxford Man by Else Went (Reading - directed by Emma Rosa Went)
- You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World! by Keiko Green (Reading - directed by Zi Alikhan)*
- avaaz by Michael Shayan (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel)*
- Coleman ’72 by Charlie Oh (Argyros Stage production - directed by Chay Yew)
- Dr. Silver created by Anika and Britta Johnson, music & lyrics by Anika and Britta Johnson, book by Nick Green (Reading - directed by Logan Vaughn)
- Chapters of a Floating Life by Clarence Coo (Reading - directed by Jesca Prudencio)
- The Staircase by Noa Gardner (Reading - directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch)*
- Crasiss by Bleu Beckford-Burrell (Reading - directed by Lili-Anne Brown)
- Galilee, 34 written & directed by Eleanor Burgess (Reading)*
2022
- Clean/Espejos by Christine Quintana, Spanish translation and adaptation by Paula Zelaya Cervantes (Argyros Stage production - directed by Lisa Portes)*
- A Million Tiny Pieces by Spenser Davis (Reading - directed by David Ivers)
- how to roll a blunt by Naomi Lorrain (Reading - directed by Colette Robert)
- avaaz by Michael Shayan (Reading - directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel)*
- love you long time (already) by Katie Do (Reading - directed by Mei Ann Teo)
- Bite Me by Eliana Pipes (Reading - directed by Jennifer Chang)*
- Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life created by Anika and Britta Johnson, music & lyrics by Anika and Britta Johnson, book by Nick Green (Samples from the Lab excerpt - directed by Logan Vaughn)
2021
Note: The 2021 Festival was offered exclusively in digital format, with high-quality video production, professionally filmed with a multi-camera setup.
- Covenant by York Walker (directed by Tamilla Woodard)*
- Coleman '72 by Charlie Oh (directed by David Ivers)*
- Park-e Laleh by Shayan Lotfi (directed by Mike Donahue)
- Clean by Christine Quintana (directed by Lisa Portes)*
- Harold & Lillian book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis (directed by Michael Greif)
2020
Note: The 2020 Festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following play were slated to be performed or read.
- The Scarlet Letter by Kate Hamill (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Marti Lyons)*
- I Get Restless by Caroline V. McGraw (Argyros Stage production - directed by Tony Taccone)
- Vladimir by Erika Sheffer (Reading)
- The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul book, music and lyrics by Christie Baugher (Reading - directed by Danny Mefford)
- Park-E Laleh by Shayan Lotfi (Reading - directed by Jennifer Chambers)
- El Borracho by Tony Meneses (Reading - directed by Damaso Rodriguez)*
- Golden Shield by Anchuli Felicia King (Reading - directed by Nana Dakin)*
2019
- Poor Yella Rednecks by Qui Nguyen (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by May Adrales)*
- Sheepdog by Kevin Artigue (Argyros Stage production - directed by Leah C. Gardiner)*
- Prelude to a Kiss, music by Dan Messé, lyrics by Sean Hartley & Dan Messé, book by Craig Lucas (Reading - directed by David Ivers)
- The Canadians by Adam Bock (Reading - directed by Jaime Castañeda)*
- Mask Only by Ana Nogueira (Reading - directed by Mike Donahue)*
- Unlikeable Heroine by Melissa Ross (Reading - directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch)
- Whitelisted by Chisa Hutchinson (Reading - directed by Sarah Rasmussen)*
2018
- SHREW! by Amy Freed (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Art Manke)*
- Little Black Shadows by Kemp Powers (Argyros Stage production - directed by May Adrales)*
- Poor Yella Rednecks by Qui Nguyen (Reading - directed by May Adrales)*
- Love and Contracts by Julia Doolittle (Reading - directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel)
- Sheepdog by Kevin Artigue (Reading - directed by Leah C. Gardiner)*
- I Get Restless by Caroline V. McGraw (Reading - directed by Jennifer Chambers)*
- House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar (Reading - directed by Shelley Butler)*
2017
- The Siegel by Michael Mitnick (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath (Argyros Stage production - directed by Shelley Butler)*
- Yoga Play by Dipika Guha (Nicholas Studio production - directed by Crispin Whittell)*
- SHREW! by Amy Freed (Reading - directed by Sharon Ott)*
- Anacostia Street Lions by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm (Reading - directed by Michael John Garcés)
- Long Lost by Donald Margulies (Reading - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee (Reading - directed by May Adrales)*
2016
- Future Thinking by Eliza Clark (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Lila Neugebauer)*
- Office Hour by Julia Cho (Argyros Stage production - directed by Neel Keller)*
- A Perfect Circle by Noah Haidle (Reading - directed by Evan Cabnet)
- Little Black Shadows by Kemp Powers (Reading - directed by May Adrales)*
- Curve of Departure by Rachel Bonds (Reading - directed by Mike Donahue)*
- Lady Tattoo by Meg Miroshnik (Reading - directed by Marti Lyons)*
- Wink by Jen Silverman (Reading - directed by Bart DeLorenzo)*
2015
- Of Good Stock by Melissa Ross (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch)*
- Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph (Argyros Stage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- BIG SHOT: A.K.A. This is Not the Godfather created by Theatre Movement Bazaar (Nicholas Stage production - directed by Tina Kronis)*
- Going to a Place where you Already Are by Bekah Brunstetter (Reading - directed by Marc Masterson)*
- The Whistleblower by Itamar Moses (Reading - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- Orange: An Illustrated Play by Aditi Brennan Kapil (Reading - directed by Jessica Kubzansky)*
- Vietgone by Qui Nguyen (Reading - directed by May Adrales)*
2014
- Rest by Samuel D. Hunter (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Martin Benson)*
- Five Mile Lake by Rachel Bonds (Argyros Stage production - directed by Daniella Topol)*
- The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois by Adam Rapp (Nicholas Stage production - directed by Crispin Whittell)*
- Zealot by Theresa Rebeck (Reading - directed by Marc Masterson)*
- Future Thinking by Eliza Clark (Reading - directed by Lila Neugebauer)*
- Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph (Reading - directed by Matt Shakman)*
- Of Good Stock by Melissa Ross (Reading - directed by Lynne Meadow)*
2013
- Smokefall by Noah Haidle (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Anne Kauffman)*
- The Parisian Woman by Beau Willimon (Argyros Stage production - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
- Trudy and Max in Love (or that Forever Feeling) by Zoe Kazan (Reading - directed by Lila Neugebauer)*
- Hope and Gravity by Michael Hollinger (Reading - directed by Aaron Posner)*
- Fast Company by Carla Ching (Reading - directed by Shelley Butler)*
- Reunion by Gregory S Moss (Reading - directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt)*
- Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison (Reading - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
2012
- The Prince of Atlantis by Steven Drukman (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Warner Shook)*
- Cloudlands book and lyrics by Octavio Solis, music and lyrics by Adam Gwon (Argyros Stage production - directed by Amanda Dehnert)*
- Warrior Class by Kenneth Lin (Reading - directed by Evan Cabnet)*
- You Are Here by Melissa Ross (Reading - directed by Matt Shakman)*
- I and You by Lauren Gunderson (Reading - directed by Meredith McDonough)*
- The Few by Samuel D. Hunter (Reading - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- Smokefall by Noah Haidle (Reading - directed by Anne Kauffman)*
2011
- Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Anne Justine D'Zmura)*
- Completeness by Itamar Moses (Argyros Stage production - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
- The Prince of Atlantis by Steven Drukman (Reading - directed by Dámaso Rodriguez)*
- How the World Began by Catherine Trieschmann (Reading - directed by Shelley Butler)*
- The Droll {OR, a stage-play about the END of theatre} by Meg Miroshnik (Reading - directed by David Chambers)*
- Annapurna by Sharr White (Reading - directed by Loretta Greco)*
- Cloudlands book by Octavio Solis, music by Adam Gwon, lyrics by Octavio Solis and Adam Gwon (Reading - directed by Octavio Solis)*
2010
- The Language Archive by Julia Cho (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Mark Brokaw)*
- Doctor Cerberus by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Argyros Stage production - directed by Bart DeLorenzo)*
- Completeness by Itamar Moses (Reading - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
- Happy Face by David West Read (Reading - directed by Art Manke)
- Between Us Chickens by Sofia Alvarez (Reading - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- Right to the Top by Amy Freed (Reading - directed by Doug Hughes)* Later renamed The Monster Builder
- Kin by Bathsheba Doran (Reading - directed by Sam Gold)*
2009
- Our Mother's Brief Affair by Richard Greenberg (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
- Emilie - La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight by Lauren Gunderson (Argyros Stage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- In a Garden by Howard Korder (Reading - directed by David Warren)*
- Doctor Cerberus by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Reading - directed by Bart DeLorenzo)*
- Extraordinary Chambers by David Wiener (Reading - directed by Art Manke)*
- 9 Circles by Bill Cain (Reading - directed by Michael John Garcés)*
- The Language Archive by Julia Cho (Reading - directed by Mark Brokaw)*
2008
- What They Have by Kate Robin (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Chris Fields)*
- The Injured Party by Richard Greenberg (Argyros Stage production - directed by Trip Cullman)*
- Sunlight by Sharr White (Workshop - directed by David Emmes)*
- By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Emilie - La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight by Lauren Gunderson (Reading - directed by Kate Whoriskey)*
- Goldfish by John Kolvenbach (Reading - directed by Loretta Greco)*
- You, Nero by Amy Freed (Reading - directed by Sharon Ott)*
2007
- My Wandering Boy by Julie Marie Myatt (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Bill Rauch)*
- System Wonderland by David Wiener (Argyros Stage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- Po' Boy Tango by Kenneth Lin (Workshop - directed by Chay Yew)*
- Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself)—An Entertainment by Donald Margulies (Reading - directed by Bart DeLorenzo)*
- Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera (Reading - directed by Octavio Solis)*
- Our Mother's Brief Affair by Richard Greenberg (Reading - directed by Pam MacKinnon)*
- An Italian Straw Hat translated and adapted by John Strand, music by Dennis McCarthy (Reading - directed by Stefan Novinski)*
2006
- The Studio written, directed and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise (Segerstrom Stage production)*
- Blue Door by Tanya Barfield (Argyros Stage production - directed by Leah C. Gardiner)*
- Leitmotif by Victoria Stewart (Workshop - directed by Jessica Kubzansky)*
- Human Error by Keith Reddin (Reading - directed by Les Waters)*
- Empty Sky by Sarah Treem (Reading - directed by Bill Rauch)*
- System Wonderland by David Wiener (Reading - directed by Art Manke)*
- The Piano Teacher by Julia Cho (Reading - directed by Kate Whoriskey)*
2005
- A Naked Girl on the Appian Way by Richard Greenberg (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Vesuvius by Lucinda Coxon (Argyros Stage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley (Workshop - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Bossa Nova by Kirsten Greenidge (Reading - directed by Casey Stangl)*
- The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler by Jeff Whitty (Reading - directed by Bill Rauch)*
- Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire (Reading - directed by Carolyn Cantor)*
- Ridiculous Fraud by Beth Henley (Reading - directed by Sharon Ott)*
2004
- Safe in Hell by Amy Freed (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle (Argyros Stage production - directed by Ethan McSweeny)*
- Vesuvius by Lucinda Coxon (Reading - directed by David Emmes)*
- The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl (Reading - directed by Bill Rauch)*
- Singing Forest by Craig Lucas (Reading - directed by Bartlett Sher)*
- Safe as Houses by Richard Greenberg (Reading - directed by Ethan McSweeny)*
2003
- Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage (Segerstrom Stage production - directed by Kate Whoriskey)*
- The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow by Rolin Jones (Argyros Stage production - directed by David Chambers)*
- The Hiding Place by Jeff Whitty (Workshop - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Safe in Hell by Amy Freed (Reading - directed by David Emmes)*
- Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz (Reading - directed by Juliette Carrillo)*
- Sea of Tranquillity by Howard Korder (Reading - directed by Michael Bloom)*
- Brooklyn Boy by Donald Margulies (Reading - directed by Daniel Sullivan)*
2002
- Getting Frankie Married—and Afterwards by Horton Foote (Mainstage production - directed by Martin Benson)*
- The Dazzle by Richard Greenberg (Second Stage production - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- 99 Histories by Julia Cho (Reading - directed by Chay Yew)*
- Exposed by Beth Henley (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage (Reading - directed by Kate Whoriskey)*
- Truth and Beauty by Steven Drukman (Reading - directed by Ethan McSweeny)
- Our Boy by Julia Jordan (Reading - directed by Lisa Peterson)*
2001
- The Beard of Avon by Amy Freed (Mainstage production - directed by David Emmes)*
- California Scenarios by Luis Alfaro, Joann Farías, José Cruz González, Anne García-Romero and Octavio Solis (Workshop - directed by Juliette Carrillo)
- Nostalgia by Lucinda Coxon (Workshop - directed by Loretta Greco)*
- Sweaty Palms by Alejandro Morales (Reading - directed by Lisa Portes)
- Tight Embrace by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas (Reading - directed by Ruben Polendo)*
- Hold Please by Annie Weisman (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Eye to Eye by Kevin Heelan (Reading - directed by Seret Scott)*
- Getting Frankie Married — and Afterwards by Horton Foote (Reading - directed by Martin Benson)*
- Scab by Sheila Callaghan (Reading - directed by Olivia Honegger)*
- The Falls by Hilary Bell (Reading - directed by Liz Diamond)*
2000
- The Education of Randy Newman words and music by Randy Newman conceived by Michael Roth, Jerry Patch and Mr. Newman
(Mainstage production - directed by Myron Johnson)* - The End of It All by Cusi Cram (Workshop - directed by Lisa Portes)
- Fighting Words by Sunil Kuruvilla (Workshop - directed by Martin Benson)*
- Hortensia and the Museum of Dreams by Nilo Cruz (Reading - directed by Diane Rodriguez)*
- Vieques by Jorge Gonzalez (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- The Butterfly Collection by Theresa Rebeck (Reading - directed by Bartlett Sher)*
- The Beard of Avon by Amy Freed (Reading - directed by David Emmes)*
- Dulce de Leche by Daniel Goldfarb (Reading - directed by John Pasquin)*
- Tom Walker by John Strand (Reading - directed by Kyle Donnelly)*
1999
- On the Jump by John Glore (Mainstage production - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot by Jose Rivera (Workshop - directed by Juliette Carrillo)*
- Illuminating Veronica by Rogelio Martinez (Workshop - directed by Lisa Portes)*
- Cuchifrito by Eduardo Andino (Reading - directed by Octavio Solis)*
- Lupe, Now! by Jonathan Ceniceroz (Reading - directed by Luis Alfaro)
- The Beginning of August by Tom Donaghy (Reading - directed by Neal Pepe)*
- Everett Beekin by Richard Greenberg (Reading - directed by Mark Rucker)*
- The Mystery of Attraction by Marlane Meyer (Reading - directed by Jody McAuliffe)*
- God of Vengeance by Donald Margulies (Reading - directed by Gordon Edelstein)*
- The Altruists by Nicky Silver (Reading - directed by David Warren)*
1998
- Hurrah at Last by Richard Greenberg (Mainstage production - directed by David Warren)*
- Walking Off the Roof by Anthony Clarvoe (Workshop - directed by Bill Rauch)*
- Landlocked by Cusi Cram (Workshop - directed by Juliette Carrillo)*
- On the Jump by John Glore (Reading - directed by Lee Shallat Chemel)*
- Dogeater by Jessica Hagedorn (Reading - directed by Michael Greif)*
- The Hollow Lands by Howard Korder (Reading - directed by David Chambers)*
- The Mechanics by Chris Van Groningen (Reading - directed by Andrew Robinson)
- The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarias (Reading - directed by Lisa Portes)*
Photo: Cast and artists in rehearsal for the 2017 Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Long Lost, photo by Debora Robinson.