Pacific Playwrights Festival History

*denotes play went on to production at SCR or elsewhere.

2023

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.