[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Yes, NoHo Needs Some SPF17! The Road Theatre Company’s 17th annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF17), now one of the largest staged reading festivals in the U.S., returns July10-19, 2026.
25 Plays in 10 Days!
About the 17th annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF17)
The Road Theatre Company remains committed to their meaningful mission to develop and produce new works for the stage. This July, they invite you to the 17th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival where they will present 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, founding artistic director. “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, its upcoming production Kaiju by Dan Caffrey, that will open the 2026/2027 season, Lifeline by Robert Axelrod (SPF 15), Otherkin by N.T. Vandecar (SPF 15), The Totality of All Things by Erik Gernand (SPF 15), High Maintenance by Peter Ritt (SPF 14), 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.”
This year’s festival features all new works by playwrights from across the United States. Taylor Gilbert recalls the very moment the festival launched in 2009: “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, 17 years later, the Road Theatre is continuing their tradition of bringing new works to the stage for your enjoyment. They are excited to present 25 new plays up close and personal in their beautiful Magnolia space. So get comfortable in one of their seats and enjoy this year’s ride at The Road’s 17th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival!
What:
17th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF17)
When:
Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 19, 2026
Where:
All play readings will be held at The Road Theatre
10747 Magnolia Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601
Tickets:
Festival passes are available for only $75.00 to have access to all the full length readings, or buy an individual ticket for a suggested donation of $15.00. For more information and to RSVP go to:
https://ci.ovationtix.com/35065/production/1278695
The Festival Lineup
Friday, July 10 | 8pm
Children and Art written by Ian August directed by Ryan McRee
Saturday, July 11 | 12pm
Losing Face written by Nathan Joe directed by Danny Bernardo
Saturday, July 11 | 4pm
We’d Rather Know If You Weren’t Coming Back written by Dave Osmundsen directed by Christina Carlisi
Saturday, July 11 | 8pm
The Emergency written by Sopan Deb directed by Arpita Mukherjee
Sunday, July 12 | 12pm
SHUT UP WHEN YOU TALK TO ME written by Stephen Belber directed by Ken Meseroll
Sunday, July 12 | 4pm
Behind the Sun written by Stanley Kipper & Laura Drake directed by Angie Browne
Sunday, July 12 | 8pm
COMPROMISED written by Mike Bencivenga directed by April Webster
Monday, July 13 | 8pm
Red Devil written by Andrea Berting directed by Victoria Hoffman
Tuesday, July 14 | 8pm
End of the Century written by Lee Rosenthal directed by George Bamber
Wednesday, July 15 | 8pm
He Looked at Me with His Dick in Her Mouth written by Annie Grey Smith directed by Jamie Gallo
Thursday, July 16 | 8pm
That Day Is Coming, Every Day Is Coming written by Cameron Scott directed by Christian Haines
The View From Here written by Ellen Margaret Lewis directed by Dana Schwartz
Friday, July 17 | 8pm
A Walking Shadow written by Ryan Clarke directed by Carlos Lacámara
Saturday, July 18 | 12pm
Orson & Walt in a Bar in Rio written by Brian Hohlfeld directed by Rob Brownstein
Saturday, July 18 | 4pm
A FATAL PLACE written by Hallie Palladino directed by Chelsea Gonzalez
Saturday, July 18 | 8pm
MAPP written by Angela J. Davis directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky
Sunday, July 19 | 11am
The Inevitability of Falling written by Kevin Theis directed by Elizabeth Herron
Sunday, July 19 | 2pm
Patriots written by Enrique R. Carrasco directed by Andre G. Brown
Sunday, July 19 | 7.30pm
One-Act Night (Order TBA)
Women’s Health and Wellness written by Sharon E. Cooper directed by Alexandra Tejada
Dinner at Donovan’s written by Nan Gatewood Satter directed by John Gowans
The Things We Keep written by David J. Valdez directed by Matt Hill
Taylor’s Backpack written by Elin Hampton directed by Carolyn Crotty
At Home written by Steven D’Addieco directed by Darryl Johnson
Cereal Noir written by Austin Steinmetz directed by Devin Davis-Lorton
One Way to Reno written by Bill DiPaolo directed by Laura Gardner
Talkbacks
Each play reading will be followed by a moderated discussion with the director and cast. Some discussions will include playwrights.
About 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 35 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 ten intimate theatre companies in Los Angeles (LA Weekly). Visit www.roadtheatre.org for more info.