New Works Festival

Tomorrow's Playwrights... Today!

2011 Promise to be a great year!

2010 Eleven pieces by 9 playwrights, including five returning NWF Alums.

2009 Eleven new pieces were presented as part of the NWF 09, including pieces from playwrights across the country, student, professional playwrights and one full length one act.

2007-2008 This year the NWF is expanding to integrate works created by the Solo Performance class under the instruction of Susan Hinshaw, and performed by the artists that created them. Many of the Solo pieces created last year went on to perform in venues through the LA area.

2006 brought an expanded submission process that included accepting submissions from College students, faculty, and staff, as well as the local community, and beyond.  Additional requirements for participation were specified:  the work must be original and previously unproduced; moreover, writers were required to participate in the development/rehearsal process and register for the production class.

In addition, the festival expanded to include a symposium, with a panel discussion by some of LA’s leading playwrights and directors. Coordinated by COC faculty member, Mark Salyer, the inaugural symposium, “Creating New Theatrical Work in LA” included playwright and Director of New Works at the Theatricum Botanicum, Jennie Webb, playwright and screenwriter Mickey Birnbaum, professional actress and playwright Katherine Griffiths and director Randee Trabitz.

In 2005, under the direction of Associate Adjunct Theatre instructor David Stears, the festival refocused on the development process of the writer.  With an expanded rehearsal period, playwrights had an opportunity to hear and revise their work before integrating the actors work into rehearsals.

In 2001, the New Works Festival began as a partnership between the English Department and the Theatre Department.  Two faculty members, English instructor Kim Gurnee and Theatre instructor Susan Hinshaw, wanted to offer an expanded interdepartmental opportunity for students to improve their writing and acting skills.  The festival, which initially was an outgrowth of classes and only open to current COC students, was directed by adjunct Theatre instructor, Nancy Kissam.