ST. PETE NEW WORKS FESTIVAL Set For 2027

Four St. Petersburg based non-profits are doubling down on the city's reputation as a "City of the Arts" by launching the St. Pete New Works Festival. Running from March 25 through April 4, 2027, this inaugural event marks a historic collaboration between: Story Keepers, freeFall Theatre, The Studio@620, and Off-Central Players.

The festival is designed as a two-week "living laboratory" for the performing arts, featuring a dense schedule of new play readings, world premiere productions, Florida premieres, and curated networking events. Unlike traditional festivals, this initiative aims to show that St. Pete isn't just a destination for finished work-it is a collective home for artists at every stage of the developmental journey.

As major national development houses face closures, the St. Pete New Works Festival arrives as a defiant statement of community and sustainability. The festival will utilize the city's vibrant spaces, activating The Studio@620, freeFall Theatre, and The Off-Central Players to host national and local artists.

"The St. Pete New Works Festival is a necessity for the growth of the arts here in St. Pete," says Alan Mohney Jr., Managing Director of Off-Central Players. "We are thrilled to collaborate with freeFall, Story Keepers, and The Studio@620 to bring this festival to life and bring new stories to our community."

"This festival is about proving that the 'City of the Arts' isn't just a tagline-it's a commitment to the messy, beautiful process of creation," says Avery Anderson, Founder of Story Keepers and Festival Organizer. "We aren't trying to build one singular organization to replace what's been lost nationally; we are showing that through collaboration, St. Pete is a collective sanctuary where artists can take risks and find their voice."

"At The Studio@620, our mission has always been to say 'Yes' to the artist," adds Erica Sutherlin, Artistic Executive Director of The Studio@620. "By partnering with our peers for this festival, we are amplifying that 'Yes' and ensuring that St. Petersburg remains a beacon for diversity, innovation, and the next generation of great American stories."

"We are thrilled to participate in this project which creates an open format for organizations to show work that simply needs to be new," says Eric Davis, Artistic Director of freeFall Theatre. "This allows us to bring one of our major season projects into the festival rather than needing to bow out of a project with more demanding thematic constraints for instance. It should be a fun and varied mix of events."

The festival is currently in its "Save the Date" phase. Local and national artists, as well as theater enthusiasts, are encouraged to visit Storykeepers.org to sign up for the mailing list. Subscribers will receive first-access alerts for ticket sales, workshop applications, and the full schedule of events.