Rough Draft Festival 2025 at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY announces the return of its Rough Draft Festival, a dynamic incubator for groundbreaking theater. For over two decades, the festival has fostered emerging playwrights and theater artists, offering them a collaborative space to refine their work while engaging with a diverse audience. This year’s festival promises an eclectic lineup, spanning dark thrillers, absurdist satire, and deeply personal narratives.

“The Rough Draft Festival is not just a showcase; it’s a conversation,” says Handan Ozbilgin the Artistic Director of LPAC “We invite audiences to witness these stories in progress, to be part of the creative process, and to engage with themes that challenge, entertain, and inspire.”

This year’s festival lineup presents a diverse slate of performances, spanning from dark comedy to intimate dramas. The 2025 Rough Draft Festival Playwrights and their shows include:

2025 ROUGH DRAFT FESTIVAL LINEUP

 "Olives" – Written by Daniel Holzman | Directed by Francesca Sabel
Monday, March 10, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Main Stage
A darkly comedic, erotic thriller about a couple on the brink of transformation. As Miriam, a tech professional, and David, an aspiring guitarist, navigate their anxieties, a mysterious bodybuilder enters their lives, forcing them to confront their deepest fears.

"Choke" – Written by KJ Stewart
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Little Theater
On a new reality TV show hosted by Yung Gravy, contestants compete in hot dog eating contests for cash prizes and national fame. Meanwhile, from her tiny NYC apartment, Debbie watches—and eats. Choke is a biting exploration of gluttony in its many modern forms.

"Fountains of Youth" – Written by Kareem Fahmy
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Main Stage
Inspired by true events, Fountains of Youth unravels the mystery surrounding Moose, an undocumented refugee who vanishes without a trace. As his friends search for answers, their loyalty is tested, exposing deep-seated tensions and hard truths.

"Open Studio" – Written by Emmy Weissman
Friday, March 14, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Main Stage
When Maya joins a pottery class, she is drawn into the intimate world of two men—one older, one younger. As the trio’s relationships evolve within the confines of a small-town studio, Open Studio delves into the delicate intersections of art, connection, and vulnerability.

"The Stranger" – Written by Sam Walsh
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Main Stage
Roy, a reclusive repairman, is confronted by his estranged niece Maxine, who forces him to confront the ghosts of his past. The Stranger is a quiet meditation on grief, regret, and the painful process of letting go in order to start anew.

"Furball" – Written by Jeana Scotti
Friday, March 21, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Little Theater
Sam has a growing problem—literally. A mysterious furball is forming inside their body, and no doctor seems to have an answer. As the furball grows, Furball offers a surreal, hilarious, and unsettling commentary on relationships, bodily autonomy, and the absurdity of modern health crises.

FREE ADMISSION – RSVP REQUIRED

How to Attend a Show: Guests attending LPAC shows are encouraged to enter the college at 45-50 Van Dam Street, Long Island City, Queens (see Maps and Directions). For more information, please email lpacboxoffice@lagcc.cuny.edu or call (718) 482-5151