Susan Smith News

Furlough’s Paradise, written by a.k. payne and directed by abigail jean-baptiste, will come to Yale Repertory Theatre next month. Performances will run April 24 - May 16, 2026.

The Broadway Women's Fund revealed its 2026 Women to Watch on Broadway list, the seventh list from the fund spotlighting women in leadership in theater.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust announced the names of the two outstanding early-to-mid-career playwrights who will be celebrated with 2025 Steinberg Playwright Awards.

This April, COAL MINE THEATRE and OUTSIDE THE MARCH are teaming up in association with Rock Bottom Movement to make immersive use of the entire COAL MINE building for the first time in the company's history. 

Connecticut Theatre Company will present 'SORDID LIVES,' a comedy exploring family and freedom, at the Repertory Theatre in New Britain starting March 13, 2026.

The highly anticipated world premiere of BLOODSPORT: AFTER HELEN OF TROY by Ava Pickett will open in March 2026. This new play explores the aftermath of the Trojan War through a modern lens, promising a fresh perspective on a classic tale.

Anne Washburn has been named the sixth recipient of the $35,000 Hermitage Major Theater Award. The commission from the Hermitage Artist Retreat includes a Florida residency and a New York workshop anticipated for fall 2027.

The 2026 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been given to both U.S. playwright Ro Reddick for her play Cold War Choir Practice and U.K./Ireland playwright Hannah Doran for her play The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights.

On May 5, over 10 Indigenous writers will be featured in readings across 21 companies in 11 cities, marking a significant event in Native American theater. Learn mroe here!

Canadian Stage will conclude its season with the Canadian Premiere of the newest play from two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage, CLYDE'S, on stage April 11th to 26th at the Bluma Appel Theatre. 

The Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition will continue to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists.

The Public Theater will present a one-week extension ahead of previews beginning for the world premiere of Antigone (This Play I Read in High School), a new play by 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Anna Ziegler.

Award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock, known for her work in the UK, is penning the screenplay for a biographical film about jazz performer Dinah Washington.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat revealed a change to the program on the Hermitage Beach. Tony Award nominee Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer will step into the lineup!

Rehearsals are underway for The Public Theater's world premiere of ANTIGONE (THIS PLAY I READ IN HIGH SCHOOL), a new play by 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Anna Ziegler and directed by Drama Desk, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel nominee Tyne Rafaeli. Check out photos from rehearsals here!

Tron Theatre Company will present the climate emergency play The Trials, written by award winning writer, Dawn King. Learn more about the upcoming production here!

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has announced a new March program on the Hermitage Beach featuring Tony Award nominee, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and Hermitage Fellow Anna Deavere Smith, alongside Olivier Award nominee and Hermitage Major Theater Award finalist Beth Steel.

With the Justice Department's recent release of the Epstein Files, certain individuals have been implicated in the 3.5 million emails that were made public on Janury 30. One of them in the theatre community was playwright Lauren Gunderson, who is named 9 times in the files.

At a time when cuts to playwriting are impacting ever harder, Papatango is launching a major remodelling of their industry-leading Papatango New Writing Prize to respond to the growing need to foster and support new writing. 

The Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the 22nd competition winner: Fires, Ohio.