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Get more New Play Festival information for the 2025 festival and past festivals, including the festival dedication, guest artists, productions, reading series and more.

Decades of playwriting + new work

Discover more about New Play Festival, a week-long festival centered on producing, reading, and discussing new scripts from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop.

Productions

Explore the three productions in the 2026 New Play Festival, written by MFA playwrights Poonam Dhir, Adrian Enzastiga, and Cianon Jones.

Reading Series

Explore the seven readings of new plays in our reading series for the 2026 New Play Festival. Each day features readings of full plays written by MFA playwrights.

Ticket Information

Tickets go on sale starting Monday, May 4 at noon, at the Theatre Building box office window. In-person, cash sales only.

There will be NO LATE SEATING for any of the productions. Due to the potential for sold out performances, all non-claimed tickets will be released 10 minutes before curtain time. This includes already purchased tickets.

Productions

UI Students (with ID) – Free, limit 1 ticket per student
General Admission – $5, cash only

Reading Series

UI Students (with ID) – Free, limit 1 ticket per student
General Admission – Free, but you must obtain a ticket

Box Office Hours

Monday, May 4

Noon - 1:30 p.m.
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5

Noon - 1:30 p.m.
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 7

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Friday, May 8

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Iowa New Play Festival 2026

Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8, 2026 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights. Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA and undergraduate playwrights.
Iowa New Play Festival Welcome Reception + Guest Panel promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival Welcome Reception + Guest Panel

Monday, May 4, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm
Theatre Building

Join us for the kick-off of Iowa New Play Festival 2026!

Tony and Leo promotional image

Tony and Leo

Monday, May 4, 2026 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Theatre Building
By M D Frank
Directed by Søren Olsen
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
The Milk Miracle promotional image

The Milk Miracle

Monday, May 4, 2026 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Theatre Building
By Poonam Dhir
Directed by Cristina Goyeneche
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
The Milk Miracle promotional image

The Milk Miracle

Monday, May 4, 2026 9:00pm to 11:00pm
Theatre Building
By Poonam Dhir
Directed by Cristina Goyeneche
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Tuesday, May 5 to Friday, May 8, 2026 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights. Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA and undergraduate playwrights.
Guest Roundtable | The Milk Miracle promotional image

Guest Roundtable | The Milk Miracle

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 10:30am to 11:30am
Theatre Building
A roundtable discussion of the Iowa New Play Festival production The Milk Miracle by Poonam Dhir directed by Cristina Goyeneche.
Rituals of Theophany promotional image

Rituals of Theophany

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Theatre Building
By Darrin Terpstra
Directed by Vivian Bonde
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
The Year Between promotional image

The Year Between

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Theatre Building
Written and directed by Randy Jackson-Alvarenga
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Wednesday, May 6 to Friday, May 8, 2026 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights. Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA and undergraduate playwrights.
Lucia promotional image

Lucia

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Theatre Building
By Emily Kaufman-Bell
Directed by Kayla Adams
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
Selections from the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop promotional image

Selections from the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Theatre Building
Selections from the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Thursday, May 7 to Friday, May 8, 2026 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights. Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA and undergraduate playwrights.
BEARS BEARS BEARS BEARS BEARS  promotional image

BEARS BEARS BEARS BEARS BEARS

Thursday, May 7, 2026 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Theatre Building
By Gwen Docter
Directed by M D Frank
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic promotional image

Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic

Thursday, May 7, 2026 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Theatre Building
By Adrian Enzastiga
Music by Mark Bruckner and Adrian Enzastiga
Directed and Choreographed by Michael C. Flores
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic promotional image

Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic

Thursday, May 7, 2026 9:00pm to 11:00pm
Theatre Building
By Adrian Enzastiga
Music by Mark Bruckner and Adrian Enzastiga
Directed and Choreographed by Michael C. Flores
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Friday, May 8, 2026 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights. Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA and undergraduate playwrights.
Guest Roundtable | Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic promotional image

Guest Roundtable | Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic

Friday, May 8, 2026 10:30am to 11:30am
Theatre Building
A roundtable discussion of the Iowa New Play Festival production Drag'daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic by Adrian Enzastiga.
Hail Mary promotional image

Hail Mary

Friday, May 8, 2026 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Theatre Building
By Zoe Senese-Grossberg
Directed by Meredith G. Healy
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading Series
Deep Fried Dolphins promotional image

Deep Fried Dolphins

Friday, May 8, 2026 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Theatre Building
By Cianon Jones
Directed by Josh Turner
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
Deep Fried Dolphins promotional image

Deep Fried Dolphins

Friday, May 8, 2026 9:00pm to 11:00pm
Theatre Building
By Cianon Jones
Directed by Josh Turner
Part of Iowa New Play Festival – Production Series
Guest Roundtable | Deep Fried Dolphins promotional image

Guest Roundtable | Deep Fried Dolphins

Saturday, May 9, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Theatre Building
A roundtable discussion of the Iowa New Play Festival production Deep Fried Dolphins by Cianon Jones.

Funding for the Iowa New Play Festival is provided by The David and Jean Schaal Fund for Theatre Arts.