Garden State New Play Festival at Jersey City Theater Center
Dates: 5/1/2026 - 5/17/2026
📍 Theatre: Jersey City Theater Center
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The Garden State New Play Festival returns for its second season, showcasing innovative and community-driven storytelling. Taking place at the Jersey City Theater Center from May 1 to May 17, 2026, the festival emphasizes engagement between playwrights and local communities, focusing on themes of social justice and civic engagement. Led by Cheryl Katz from the New Jersey Play Lab and Olga Levina of the Jersey City Theater Center, the festival aims to foster meaningful dialogue through the art of theater. Playwrights of all backgrounds are invited to submit their works for consideration, with an emphasis on individualized support and collaboration.
Cast and Creative Team for Garden State New Play Festival at Jersey City Theater Center
Creative Team
Olga Levina
Executive Producer
Cheryl Katz
Founder and Senior Dramaturg
News About Garden State New Play Festival at Jersey City Theater Center
Interview: Olga Levina-Founder & Executive Producer of JCTC
June 15, 2026 Olga Levina is the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC), where she has spent more than two decades building one of New Jersey’s leading arts organizations, and the Founder of Voices International Theatre and Arts Festival.
Free Writers Workshop at White Eagle Hall to Launch 2026 Garden State New Play Festival
April 07, 2026 Jersey City Theater Center and The New Jersey Play Lab will present Tell Your Story!, a free community writing workshop led by Dania Ramos on April 14, 2026 at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, NJ.
Jersey City Theater to Host Garden State New Play Festival
March 23, 2026 Jersey City Theater Center, in partnership with the The New Jersey Play Lab, will present the return of the Garden State New Play Festival, an innovative three-week celebration of new theatrical works and emerging voices.
Jersey City to Host Annual New Play Festival This Spring
January 20, 2026 Jersey City's popular New Play Festival will return this spring, showcasing a series of innovative plays by emerging playwrights. Learn more about the event here!
20th Anniversary Season Announced at Jersey City Theater Center
September 06, 2025 Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) has announced its 2025–2026 20th Anniversary Season: Bridging Cultures through the Arts—a milestone year celebrating two decades of ambitious, globally focused programming that sparks dialogue and builds community through live performance.
Garden State New Play Festival Opens Submissions for 2026 Festival
July 07, 2025 Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) and The New Jersey Play Lab (NJPL) have announced the return of the Garden State New Play Festival (GSNPF)—a bold, collaborative, and deeply human approach to new play development.
THE GARDEN STATE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: BRIDGING ART AND COMMUNITY Begins In May
April 16, 2025 Jersey City Theater Center and The New Jersey Play Lab will present the inaugural Garden State New Play Festival from May 1–4 and 8–11, 2025.
Playwrights Selected For Garden State New Play Festival
October 28, 2024 The Garden State New Play Festival has announced its selected playwrights, showcasing new works that highlight contemporary themes and innovative storytelling.
Playwrights Selected For Inaugural Garden State New Play Festival
October 21, 2024 Discover the selected playwrights for the inaugural Garden State New Play Festival, showcasing emerging voices and fresh narratives in New Jersey's vibrant theater scene. Learn more!
Jersey City Theater Center Reveals Lineup For 2024-25 Season
September 12, 2024 Jersey City Theater Center has announced its 2024-2025 season, a dynamic lineup of performances and festivals that celebrate the power of the arts in bridging communities. This season promises an eclectic mix of theater, dance, and music, featuring artists from across the globe.
JCTC, Montclair State & NJPL to Present Garden State New Play Festival
April 26, 2024 The Garden State New Play Festival is a new initiative devised by the Jersey City Theatre Center, The New Jersey Play Lab, and the Department of Theatre and Dance's BA Theatre Studies Program at Montclair State University. Learn more!About the Theatre
Jersey City Theater Center Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
What shows have played recently at Jersey City Theater Center?
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Best Foreign (05/11/25-05/11/25)
Fallen from GRACE (05/10/25-05/10/25)
Oh, Muffy! (05/10/25-05/10/25)
Daddy, An Un-Chinese Kid (05/09/25-05/09/25)
Joy Comes in the Morning (05/08/25-05/08/25)
New Work (Title TBA) (05/04/25-05/04/25)
Solomon (and Me) (05/03/25-05/03/25)
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Aberdeen and Netarine (05/02/25-05/02/25)
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Mean Girls: High School Version SASY Inc. (8/07-8/09) |
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Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini New Jersey Performing Arts Center (1/23-1/23) |