
[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Yes, NoHo Needs Some SPF14! The Road Theatre Company’s 14th annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF14), one of the largest playwright’s festivals in the U.S., returns July 7-16!
We do theatre in the NoHo Arts District. So whether you are a theatre novice or an avid theatre goer, you will have your pick of shows, especially this summer. The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, founding artistic director, together with Sam Anderson, artistic director, remain committed to their meaningful mission to develop and produce New Work for the Stage. This July they invite you to the 14th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF14) where they will present staged readings with playwrights from across the country and around the world followed by a talk-back with the playwright and director.
25 plays over the span of 10 days.
“It is with great pride that we are able to bring you premieres of all kinds and appreciate your participation in this important process,” says Taylor Gilbert. “Supporting new work and new voices is essential to our community and we hope to see you here.”
The Road Theatre has gone on to produce numerous plays over the years from the Summer Playwrights Festival including, Beloved by Arthur Holden (SPF12), Death House by Jason Karasev (SPF8), Stupid Kid by Sharr White (SPF7) and Through the Eye of a Needle by Jami Brandli (SPF7). “We are very proud to be bringing these new plays from the festival to our audiences.”
SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL (SPF 14):
This year’s festival features all New Works by playwrights from across the United States. Taylor Gilbert, Founding Artistic Director, recalls the very moment the festival launched in 2010: “It’s just an idea” said Scott Alan Smith, Associate Artistic Director emeritus, “Let’s start a playwrights festival!” We said “Sure, why not?” Now, 14 years later we are continuing our tradition of bringing New Works to the stage for your enjoyment. We are excited to present 25 new plays up close and personal in our beautiful Magnolia Space. Live in person! So join us, get comfortable in one of our seats and enjoy this year’s ride at The Road’s 14th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival!”
Artistic Director, Sam Anderson, reflecting on the process: “The Road is so proud to present 25 New Works led by an All Volunteer Producing group of Road members. The selection process was managed by Krishna Smitha and Frank Collison with hundreds of plays read by our members. We have much to share and we invite all new theatre works devotees to join us! Plays, talkbacks, and the kind of inclusion we all want to share… THIS is SPF14!!! Enjoy!”
Tickets are a suggested donation of $15. More information and RSVP link: https://roadtheatre.org/event/14th-annual-summer-playwrights-festival/

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
Friday, July 7, 8:00PM PT
THE RIMSKY-FOGELMAN by Andrew R. Heinze
Directed by Stan Zimmerman
Saturday, July 8, 12:00PM PT
Double Feature Performance
ILYSM by Clarinda Ross
Directed by Tally McCormack
&
THE BOATMAN by Alex Moggridge
Directed by Carlos Lacamara
Saturday, July 8, 4:00PM PT
BEST LIFE by Melisa Tien
Directed by Christina Carlisi
Saturday, July 8, 8:00PM PT
ROBBIN, FROM THE HOOD by Marlow Wyatt
Directed by Gerard Joseph
Sunday, July 9, 12:00PM PT
LEAR IN TULSA by Steven Leigh Morris
Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
Double Feature Performance
Sunday, July 9, 4:00PM PT
LOUD by Mashuq Mushtaq Deen
Directed by Ru Kazi
&
A BRIEF LIST OF EVERYONE WHO DIED by Jacob Marx Rice
Directed Daphnie Sicre
Sunday, July 9, 8:00PM PT
YEAR ONE by Erik Gernand
Directed by Taylor Nichols
Monday, July 10, 8:00PM
PT RECKONINGS by Jack Bushnell
Directed by Lori Tubert
Tuesday, July 11, 8:00PM PT
THE REFUSENIKS by Alison Bendix
Directed by Dana Schwartz
Wednesday, July 12, 8:00PM PT
AMERICAN HUNGER by Nikhil Mahapatra
Directed by Susan Vanita Diol
Thursday, July 13, 8:00PM PT
HIGH MAINTENANCE by Peter Ritt
Directed by Victoria Hoffman
Friday, July 14, 8:00PM PT
AIN’T NO FAIRYTALES IN SECTION 8 by Cris Eli Blak
Directed by Christian Telesmar
Saturday, July 15, 12:00PM PT
SINGULARITIES OR THE COMPUTERS OF VENUS by Laura Stribling
Directed by Laura Stribling
Saturday, July 15, 4:00PM PT
HAIRY AND SHERRI by Adrienne Dawes
Directed by Judith Moreland
Saturday, July 15, 8:00PM PT
THE BIRTHDAY GAME by Judah Skoff
Directed by Andre Barron
Double Feature Performance
Sunday, July 16, 11:00AM PT
A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRONG by Judy Klass
Directed by Darryl Johnson
&
ELEPHANTS’ GRAVEYARD by Marjorie Williamson
Directed by Meeghan Holaway
Sunday, July 16, 3:00PM PT
EVERYONE IS DOING FINE by James Odin Wade
Directed by Brian Shnipper
Sunday, July 16, 8:00PM PT
This is an evening of short, one-act play readings:
LET ME SEE YOUR BEAUTY by Katherine Swan
Directed by Liz Herron
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD by DeLane McDuffie
Directed by Justin Lord
SAX APPEAL by Elizabeth Barnard Sampson
Directed by Nancy Fassett
THE VIRGINIA WOOLF PROJECT by Bell Lee
Directed by Avery Clyde
DUNG by Trevor Norwitz
Directed by John Gowans
TALKBACKS:
Each play reading will be followed by a moderated discussion with the director and cast. Some discussions will include playwrights.
PRICING:
Tickets are a suggested donation of $15. No donation is too small, but if you can’t afford to donate at this time we understand. Please come anyways and enjoy some live play readings! Reservations are strongly suggested by using the link below.
When:
Friday, July 7- Sunday, July 16, 2023
Where:
Road Theatre’s Magnolia Theatre at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony.
10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
SPF14 FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Alexis Ingram- Festival Coordinator
Festival Producers – Frank Collison, Susan Diol, Cherish Monique Duke, Laura Gardner, Darryl Johnson, Victoria Martinez, Justin Okin, Nina Sallinen, Elizabeth Sampson, Krishna Smitha, Blake Young-Fountain
Associate Producer – Garrett Neuschatz
Scott Alan Smith – Founding Festival Director
THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY:
Located in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District, L.A. County’s fastest-growing arts community, The Road is an ensemble of 150+ theatre artists fiercely committed to the creation and development of new plays. To further that mission, The Road has launched Under Construction, a diverse collaborative group of new and established playwrights dedicated to socially and politically relevant storytelling for the American stage. Celebrating 32 years of groundbreaking work and led by Founding Artistic Director Taylor Gilbert along with Artistic Director Sam Anderson, The Road is a multi-award-winning theatre named as one of the top 10 intimate theatre companies in Los Angeles (LA Weekly). Visit www.roadtheatre.org for more info.
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SUPPORT
Support for this program was provided through the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Arts Development Fee Program, and the Office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian.