Texas State University’s School of Theatre, Dance and Film will present the 24th annual New American Play Festival Aug. 31 through Sept. 6, 2026, bringing playwrights, professional theater artists, and students together for a week devoted to developing and celebrating new American theater.
Built around the mission to “Study the Craft. Nurture the Artist. Celebrate the Work,” the New American Play Festival gives TXST theater students the opportunity to collaborate with professional playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs through an intensive, hands-on new-play development process. Rehearsals are open to the public and culminate in public script-in-hand readings.
This year’s festival will feature development workshops for Lightbread by Eugene Lee and Smoking Mirrors by Adonis Anderson. Lee, an accomplished playwright, actor and television writer, serves as artist in residence and artistic director of the festival at TXST. Anderson is an actor and playwright whose stage credits include work with Austin’s Ground Floor Theatre and Broad Theatre.
Professional guest artists participating in the 2026 festival include Saundra McClain, director of Lightbread; Mikala Gibson, director of Smoking Mirrors; Lela A. Holt, dramaturg for Smoking Mirrors; and actors Michael Costello and Jacqui Cross.
The festival begins Monday, Aug. 31, with a company meet-and-greet followed by new-play development workshops. Rehearsals continue throughout the week, alongside a brown bag lunch event at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4. Public readings will include Lightbread at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, and Smoking Mirrors at noon Sunday, Sept. 6, both in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
A highlight of the festival will be a tribute to playwright Celeste Bedford Walker, recipient of the festival’s 2026 Distinguished Achievement Award, recognizing her sustained excellence and contributions to the development of American theater. The tribute will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at the Performing Arts Center.
For more than two decades, the festival has created a laboratory where writers can test and refine their work in collaboration with theater professionals and emerging artists. The workshop process includes auditions, several days of open rehearsals and presentations by guest artists before culminating in staged readings and opportunities for audience discussion. Plays developed through the festival have gone on to productions in cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Houston, and Austin.
All festival rehearsals are open to the public. The panel is free to attend, while play readings require tickets.
The New American Play Festival takes place at TXST’s Theatre Center, 430 Moon St., and Performing Arts Center, 405 Moon St., in San Marcos. Parking is available at the Edward Gary Street Garage.
For the complete festival schedule and additional information, visit the New American Play Festival website.