Florida Repertory Theatre Unveils Casting & Directors for PLAYLAB 2026
The Arcade Theatre in Fort Myers will host five new play readings by Kenneth Jones, Kelundra Smith, and more
Florida Repertory Theatre has announced directors and casts for the five new plays selected for its 2026 PlayLab Festival of New Works, running April 30–May 3 in the Historic Arcade Theatre.
The 2026 PlayLab selections are Halfs by Dominic Finocchiaro, Tennessee Williams Drank Here by Kenneth Jones, Monarchs by Kelundra Smith, The Last Great Escape Artist by Stephen Spotswood, and Ahoy-hoy by Jenny Stafford.
PlayLab is an intensive weekend of rehearsals, readings, talkbacks, and development that brings professional playwrights, directors, actors, and audiences together to work on new plays in a laboratory setting. Each reading includes a talkback, allowing audiences to participate in discussions with the playwright, director, and cast.
Tickets are $39 per reading, or patrons may purchase an all-access pass for $175, which includes admission to all five readings and the playwrights’ panel. A VIP all-access package for $185 includes all six admissions and a concessions item at each reading. Tickets are available at floridarep.org or by calling 239-332-4488.
The 2026 PlayLab selections were chosen from a pool of 99 submitted plays evaluated by a committee of volunteer readers. The festival has been presented annually since 2014 and features a range of voices, genres, and styles.
2026 PLAYLAB CASTS & DIRECTORS
Tennessee Williams DRANK HERE by Kenneth Jones
Thursday, April 30 at 7 PM
Directed by Jason Parrish
Featuring Liz Abbott, Stephen Christopher Anthony, Hannah Easton, Greg Longenhagen, Carolyn Messina, and Jan Neuberger, with Dianne Summers reading stage directions. Stage manager: Arthur D’Alessio.
HALFS by Dominic Finocchiaro
Friday, May 1 at 7 PM
Directed by Annette Trossbach
Featuring Patrice Eakman, Ethan León, Matt Lytle, Ciarán McCarthy, and Skylee Vaughn, with Noah Garcia reading stage directions. Stage manager: Sarah Colatriano.
THE LAST GREAT ESCAPE ARTIST by Stephen Spotswood
Saturday, May 2 at 2 PM
Directed by Stuart Brown
Featuring David Breitbarth and Jana Denning. Stage manager and stage directions reader: Summer Dawn Wallace.
MONARCHS by Kelundra Smith
Saturday, May 2 at 7 PM
Directed by Karen Stephens
Featuring Logan Green, Patricia Idlette, Marta Mayada, Cicero McCarter, Sonya McCarter, Robert Richards, Jr., and Alia Shakira. Stage manager: Joy Brooks.
AHOY-HOY by Jenny Stafford
Sunday, May 3 at 4 PM
Directed by Celine Rosenthal
Featuring Veronika Duerr, Gabe Hunyor, Cody Klimek, and Oriana Lada, with Gerrie Benzing reading stage directions. Stage manager: Arthur D’Alessio.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ PANEL
Sunday, May 3 at 6:30 PM
Following the final reading, audiences can attend a panel discussion with the festival playwrights, who will discuss their work and the process of developing new plays.
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