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New Light Theater Project Unveils Season 13 Featuring Two World Premieres

Lean-To and Fish will be staged at 59E59 Theaters and WP Theater, respectively.

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New Light Theater Project Unveils Season 13 Featuring Two World Premieres

New Light Theater Project has revealed its upcoming 2026 season including two world premiere productions and a developmental presentation.

New Light Theater Project will kick off season 13 with the winner of the 2026 New Light New Voices Award, Lean-To, a new play by Stephen Sheffer, directed by Jesse Jou, running at 59E59 Theaters, Theater B for a special limited engagement this fall. The production will run for five weeks, beginning September 10 through October 10. The play follows an overprepared hiker and a not-so-prepared couple who are forced to share a rustic lean-to shelter in the woods. This production will be co-produced with Pendragon Theatre.

The season continues with Melis Aker's Fish, running from September 26 to October 25 at the WP Theater. The show is a co-production of WP Theater and Signature Theatre with consulting producer Noor Theatre. Tatiana Pandiani directs this darkly comedic coming-of-age story about grief, girlhood, and games that go too far.

In addition, New Light is reviving their commitment to developing new work with Stories to Tell at the End of the World, a commissioned solo play written by Gina Femia, co-directed by Tabatha Gayle and Kaitlin Paige Longoria and featuring Kleo Mitrokostas. This commission is a co-production with 5th Wall Theatre. Further details to be announced.

A sneak peek of season 13 was shared with supporters and friends of the organization at an intimate kick-off celebration on Sunday evening. The 'Lucky 13 Party' featured playwrights, directors, and/or performers included in the upcoming season as well as members of the New Light Theater Project's Artist Collective.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Orchestrations - Top 3
1. Anders Eljas, Brian Usifer - Chess
22.2% of votes
2. Ethan Popp, The Rescues - The Lost Boys
20.2% of votes
3. William David Brohn - Ragtime
11.3% of votes

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