2025 MODERN WORKS FESTIVAL
September 10-21, 2025
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Back for the sixth year and taking place at Urbanite Theatre, the 2025 Modern Works Festival has expanded into a two-week playwriting and reading festival and a celebration of women in theatre.
The Festival will kick off with the SOLD-OUT one-woman brainchild of Phoebe Potts: TOO FAT FOR CHINA. Written, drawn, and performed by Potts, TOO FAT FOR CHINA (Sep 11-14) is a comic look at the agony of adoption.
A panel of readers has selected three playwrights as finalists: Stacey Isom Campbell (1999), Jenny Stafford (AHOY-HOY), and Sarah Cho (SCREEN TIME). Each playwright will have a production team and the chance to present their new work in two staged readings, receiving guidance from our artistic team, a dramaturge, and audience discussions.
The Modern Works Festival is an exciting step for many women on their journey of developing a play. We're proud that plays from past Festivals have gone on to receive their world premieres, including recent works WESTMINSTER by Brenda Withers and THE APIARY by Kate Douglas.
The Festival will also feature a robust lineup including: a lively discussion with Nan Barnett, Executive Director of National New Play Network; a "Behind the Festival" talk with Producing Artistic Director Summer Wallace; an audience roundtable to discuss the new works; a kick-off party; and the opportunity for Passholders to vote for their favorite of the three plays!
Single Tickets are moving fast for staged readings, and Fest Passes are SOLD OUT. Click here to learn more about our standby policy.
2025 FESTIVAL LINEUP
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
6:00PM Festival Kickoff Party*
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: 1999 by Stacey Isom Campbell
5:00PM Staged Play Reading: AHOY-HOY by Jenny Stafford
7:30PM A Conversation with our Featured Guest Speaker, Nan Barnett, Executive Director of National New Play Network
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: SCREEN TIME by Sarah Cho
5:00PM Staged Play Reading: 1999 by Stacey Isom Campbell
7:30PM Staged Play Reading: AHOY-HOY by Jenny Stafford
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: SCREEN TIME by Sarah Cho
5:00PM Audience Roundtable Discussion*
*Indicates an exclusive event for Festival Passholders!
Meet the Playwrights
Meet the three 2025 Modern Works Festival Finalists
Nan Barnett
Executive Director, National New Play Network (NNPN)
Nan Barnett is a new play developer and producer and an advocate for theater-makers and the theater they make.
While on NNPN’s Executive Committee, she worked to create the organization’s revolutionary Rolling World Premiere and Residency programs and, after joining NNPN full-time in 2013, guided it through the development and launch of its field-altering New Play Exchange. The planning process resulted in the organization’s much-lauded new governance and membership structure designed to lead the field towards a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive new play ecosystem.
NNPN is an alliance of professional theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. Founded in 1998, NNPN continues to revolutionize the new play landscape through the strength of its member theaters, collaborative efforts, and its nationally recognized programs and services for artists and organizations.
Attend the Guest Speaker Event featuring Nan Barnett on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 7:30pm with a Festival Pass or single ticket!