2024 MODERN WORKS FESTIVAL
September 4-8, 2024
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Producing Partner: Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
Associate Producer: Carole & Malcolm Schwartz
Back for the fifth year and taking place at Urbanite Theatre, the Modern Works Festival is a five-day playwriting contest, reading festival, and celebration of women in theatre.
Three playwright finalists have been selected by a panel of play readers to present their work as a staged reading during the Festival. The Festival will culminate in an audience roundtable discussion, and Festival Passholders will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite of the three works, awarding the winner a prize of $3,200!
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In addition to staged readings from the three finalists, Festival Passholders can enjoy tickets to the opening and closing events of the Festival, talkbacks with playwright finalists, panel discussions with women in theatre, guest playwright discussions, and much more.​​
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ANNOUNCING THIS YEAR'S WINNER
We are thrilled to announce Lia Romeo, playwright of A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON, as the winner of the Modern Works Festival!
Her darkly comedic tale introduced a unique spin on life and motherhood after Neverland for Wendy. Her compelling characters and thought-provoking themes resonated strongly with Festival audiences. Romeo will take home a prize of $3,200 to help further develop her new work. We are excited to see what comes next for A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON.
MEET THE FINALISTS
PASSHOLDER BENEFITS
Guarantee your spot at the most popular events, including all three play readings, panel discussions, exclusive access to the opening and closing celebrations, and more!
Get Tickets to All 3 Playreadings
Passholders will have guaranteed seats to all three playreadings and can choose between three convenient performance times for each.
Attend Exclusive Events
Passholders are invited to attend the festival's opening and closing celebrations, as well as other bonus events.
Learn from Panel Discussions
Meet with and learn from inspiring women in theatre in an intimate setting.
Share Your Voice*
Cast your vote for your favorite play among the finalists and take part in an audience roundtable discussion!
*Festivalgoers must see all 3 staged readings to vote.
Experience Keynote Speaker Event(s)
Hear from a (surprise) thought leader in theatre as they share illuminating insights and perspectives about the industry.
Be Inspired
Watching the first-ever staged reading of a play creates a new appreciation for the work that goes into a final production. Connect with the artists and discover how exciting and vibrant theatre can be!
Lia Romeo
A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON
Lia Romeo (she/her), Playwright - is a recent graduate of the Juilliard playwriting program. Her plays have been developed at the O’Neill, La Jolla Playhouse, the Lark, and elsewhere, and have been produced at companies such as Colt Coeur, Dorset Theatre Festival, Laguna Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre, Project Y Theatre, and New Jersey Repertory Theatre. Four of her plays have been recognized by the Kilroys List. Her plays are published by TRW, Broadway Licensing, and Broadway Play Publishing. She is the associate artistic director of Project Y Theatre Company and the co-founder of the Parent-Caregiver Playwrights Group, and she teaches in the M.A. program in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
Baylee Shlichtman
IN THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST
Baylee Shlichtman (she/her), Playwright - writes weird and magical plays about navigating relationships and autonomy. She is on the board of the Orange County Playwrights Alliance, the facilitator for the Wayward Artist's EMBARK New Play Cohort, and a part of the Flamboyan Emerging Writers Project. She has had her work read or developed with AlterTheatre Ensemble, Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble, Curtis Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre/ LA, The Larking House, Long Beach Shakespeare Company, OC-Centric New Play Festival, Playground-LA, South Texas College Latinx New Play Festival, The Vagrancy Theatre, The Wayward Artist, and The Workshop Theatre among others. She graduated from USC with a B.A. in Journalism.
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
Sarah Elizabeth Grace
I’M SAVING YOU A SEAT
Sarah Elizabeth Grace (she/her), Playwright - is a New York City-based performer, producer and writer whose work focuses on gender dynamics and imperfect people. Recently her play DEAD GIRLS CLUB was a finalist at the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival. Produced off-off-Broadway plays include CRUSH, MORE, IMPLICIT CONSENT, THE REGIME IS FEMALE, AND MENTAL NUDITY. Short Films: PERIOD PIECE (Sick N’ Wrong film festival, Bridgeport Film Festival), THE PROCESS. Publications: I WON’T BE THAT PERSON (Chaotic Merge Magazine). Fictional Podcasts: NORA’S DRAGON (all podcast platforms). Ms. Grace self-publishes short literary pieces via her Substack GRACE AND STORMS. BFA: NYU. Upcoming: a new adaptation of ALICE IN WONDERLAND at Brooklyn Music School.
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
FESTIVAL CALENDAR
AS OF JUNE 11, 2024
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
6:30pm - Kick Off Party
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SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
2:00pm - Finalist-Lia Romeo, A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON
5:00pm - Finalist-Baylee Shlichtman, IN THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST
8:00pm - Finalist-Sarah Elizabeth Grace, I'M SAVING YOU A SEAT
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
2:00pm - Finalist-Sarah Elizabeth Grace, I'M SAVING YOU A SEAT
5:00pm - Finalist-Baylee Shlichtman, IN THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST
8:00pm - Finalist-Lia Romeo, A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON
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SEPTEMBER 7, 2024
2:00pm - Finalist-Lia Romeo, A NICE MOTHERLY PERSON
5:00pm - Finalist-Baylee Shlichtman, IN THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST
8:00pm - Guest Playwright Speaker: Special Guest, Lauren Gunderson
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2024
2:00pm - Finalist-Sarah Elizabeth Grace, I'M SAVING YOU A SEAT
5:00pm-Audience Round Table-come and discuss your favorite reading
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More events, including panelists and add-on events, to be announced!