NEXT STEP THEATRE FESTIVAL to Return to NYC With World Premieres & More

Returning for its second year from June 8th through June 14th, Next Step Theatre Festival is transforming the traditional festival model into a collective powerhouse of shared expenses, expertise, and artistic elevation.

Hosted at the Producers Club - Grand Theater, the 2026 lineup features an eclectic array of world-premiere readings, musicals, and concerts. By "taking the next step together," these creators are bypassing industry gatekeepers to bring high-concept, high-stakes storytelling directly to the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

The 2026 Festival Lineup (in order of presentation)

WE KNEW BEETHOVEN (Reading with Music)

Written by W. Gregory Nissen | Monday, June 8 @ 5:00 PM
A fictionalized drama tracing Ludwig van Beethoven's journey from a precocious youth to a tormented icon. This study in greatness explores his volatile temperament, his fateful encounter with Mozart, and the encroaching deafness that fueled his genius.

OCEAN IN A TEACUP (In Concert)

Book & Music by Joel Krantz; Lyrics by Krantz & Neil Selden | Tuesday, June 9 @ 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Based on the true story of a WWII American pacifist turned Red Cross medic in India. After breaking a vow never to kill, he embarks on a journey toward redemption guided by a spiritual teacher during the Great Famine of Bengal.

BRIAR PATCH (Reading)

Written by William Carter | Tuesday, June 9 @ 5:00 PM
In Eatontown, GA, a pastor attempts to reconnect with his son through a play about Joel Chandler Harris (author of the Br'er Rabbit stories). The project ignites a firestorm over race, identity, and the danger of surface-level judgments.

A VOTE OF HER OWN (Musical)

Book by Candace Corrigan; Songs by Corrigan & Janne Henshaw | Wednesday, June 10 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Nashville, 1920: The eyes of the nation are on Tennessee. As the final battleground for the 19th Amendment, this musical captures the high-stakes political storm that determined the future of women's suffrage in America.

HERE I AM (Reading)

Written by Domenick V. Danza | Wednesday, June 10 @ 5:00 PM
After eight years of estrangement, Chase returns to find everything changed. When a crisis strikes, he is forced to stop running and finally take responsibility for the wreckage of his past.

FUR PAJAMAS (Musical Dramedy)

Book & Lyrics by David Ceci; Music by John Allman | Thursday, June 11 @ 1:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Can a one-hit wonder reclaim his glory? Nigel Gladstone, former frontman for the 80s band Fur Pajamas, has one week to write a jukebox musical to save his career-all while dodging a vengeful ex-bandmate and a litigious ex-girlfriend.

RADICALIZATION OF ROLFE (Drama Reading)

Written by Andrew Bergh | Thursday, June 11 @ 4:30 PM & Friday, June 12 @ 2:30 PM

A bold "queering" of a classic. This reimagining of The Sound of Music follows Rolfe as he is caught between secret love and the seductive, terrifying rise of Nazi influence.

FIREFLIES AND FAULT LINES (Dramedy)

Written by Brian Brijbag | Friday, June 12 @ 5:30 PM & Saturday, June 13 @ 5:00 PM

Set during a magical summer festival, two exes reunite with new partners in tow. As they embark on a "Firefly Walk," unresolved feelings create emotional fault lines that threaten to upend their new lives.

THE REAL GOSSIPERS OF SALEM (Musical Concert)

Book by Billy Swensen; Music & Lyrics by Jackie Collins & Dillan James Smith | Friday, June 12 @ 8:00 PM & Sunday, June 14 @ 5:00 PM
What happens when the Real Housewives meet the Salem Witch Trials? Four high-society residents must use their wealth and social sway to survive the most dangerous trial of their lives.

THE ROAD TO SHAMBALA (Musical Reading)

Created by Tomi Griffin | Saturday, June 13 @ 2:30 PM

A "Three Dog Night" meets The Wizard of Oz rock-and-roll Easter egg. Follow college student Sam and friends down the Rainbow Road in a psychedelic search for peace, love, and tranquility.

FOR THE RECORDS (Musical Reading)

Book, Music & Lyrics by Richard Uhrlaub | Saturday, June 13 @ 7:30 PM & Sunday, June 14 @ 1:00 PM

In an era of sealed adoption records, Joshua searches for his true identity. This poignant work follows a movement of adoptees determined to reclaim their stolen histories and the truth of their origins.