The Summer Play Festival (SPF) was a theatre festival held in New York, USA.

Description

The annual four-week Summer Play Festival took place during the summer months at the

Public Theater The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as the Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers.Epstein, Helen. ''Joe Papp: An American Li ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. It was founded by Broadway producer

Arielle Tepper Madover Arielle Tepper is a theater and film producer, native New Yorker, and founder of the concierge service, WhatShouldWeDo?! She also serves as the Board Chair for The Public Theater in New York. Tepper has won six Tony Awards. Early life Arielle Te ...

and staged new plays and musicals by emerging writers. The first Summer Play Festival was presented in 2004, introducing a $10 ticket price that was a key feature of the event for its entire run. A year later in 2005, The Living Room for Artists, Inc. was formed as a non-profit organization to ensure that the Festival perpetuates its goals, and whose central mission is to both fuel the growth of emerging theatre artists and encourage people of all ages to create, attend and work in the theatre. Unlike the

New York International Fringe Festival The New York International Fringe Festival, or FringeNYC, was a fringe theater festival and one of the largest multi-arts events in North America. It took place over the course of a few weeks in October, spread on more than 20 stages across seve ...

, there was no application fee and each production was allotted a significant budget. The SPF organization handled all the marketing and maintained no long-term rights to the plays and musicals showcased. The Festival's advertising blanketed New York during the summer, with television, newspaper, and magazine ads. Bus stops and street posters also advertised the event. 100 emerging playwrights and composers, and around 1000 directors, designers, and other theatre artists worked at the Festival during its six-year run. The Festival had a successful track record in identifying emerging talent: SPF’s writers and artists have gone on to receive numerous awards and accolades, and productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally and internationally. Many have also developed projects with major film and television companies. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', and numerous other newspapers lauded Tepper's vision of creating affordable theatre for audiences, and a unique creative opportunity for emerging and established artists. Other Festival programs included concerts, panels, salons, and forums developed in conjunction with ''

Time Out New York ''Time Out'' is a global magazine published by Time Out Group. ''Time Out'' started as a London-only publication in 1968 and has expanded its editorial recommendations to 328 cities in 58 countries worldwide. In 2012, the London edition becam ...

'' and the NYC Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, a university internship program, a play commissioning program, and residency programs with the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre of Great Britain, and a number of Festivals in Europe. Artists included

Ally Sheedy Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy (born June 13, 1962) is an American actress. Following her film debut in 1983's '' Bad Boys'', she became known as one of the Brat Pack group of actors and starred in ''WarGames'' (1983), ''The Breakfast Club'' (1985) ...

Mary Beth Peil Mary Beth Peil (born June 25, 1940) is an American actress and soprano. She began her career as an opera singer in 1962 with the Goldovsky Opera Theater. In 1964 she won two major singing competitions, the Young Concert Artists International Au ...

Marin Hinkle Marin Elizabeth Hinkle (born March 23, 1966) is an American actress. Among many television and movie roles, she is best known for playing Judy Brooks on the ABC television drama ''Once and Again'', Judith Harper-Melnick on the CBS sitcom ''Two an ...

, John Gould Rubin,

Annie Parisse Anne Marie Cancelmi (born July 31, 1975), known professionally as Annie Parisse, is an American actress. She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series '' Law & Order''. Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera ''As the W ...

Katherine Waterston Katherine Boyer Waterston (born March 3, 1980) is a British-American actress. She made her feature film debut in ''Michael Clayton'' (2007). She had supporting roles in films including ''Robot & Frank,'' ''Being Flynn'' (both 2012) and ''The Di ...

Stew A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. A stew needs to have raw ingredients added to the gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables and ...

Annie Golden Annie Golden (born October 19, 1951) is an American actress and singer. She first came to prominence as the lead singer of the punk band the Shirts from 1975 to 1981 with whom she recorded three albums. She began her acting career as Mother in ...

, Adam Gwon, Jeremy Schonfeld,

Georgia Stitt Georgia Stitt (born June 17, 1972) is an American composer and lyricist, arranger, conductor, and musical director. Early life and education Stitt was born in Atlanta, but spent most of her childhood in Covington, Tennessee. She earned a B.Mus d ...

Sam Gold Sam Gold is an American theater director and actor. He has directed both musicals and plays, on Broadway and Off-Broadway. He won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for ''Fun Home''. Early life Gold was raised in Westchester an ...

Beau Willimon Pack Beauregard Willimon (born October 26, 1977) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He helped develop the American version of the series ''House of Cards'' and served as showrunner for the first four seasons. In 2018, Willimon created th ...

Christopher Gattelli Christopher Gattelli is an American choreographer, performer and theatre director. Early life and career Gattelli grew up in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He started dancing at the age of 11 and is a "Star Search" Grand champion.

, Trip Cullman,

Jordan Harrison Jordan Harrison (born 1977) is a playwright. He grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. His play ''Marjorie Prime'' was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Biography Harrison received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1999 a ...

Chloe Moss Chloë Moss (born 1976 in Liverpool) is an English playwright and screenwriter. Early life Moss grew up in Liverpool and attended Manchester Metropolitan University, where she studied film. She joined the Royal Court's Young Writers programme ...

, Evan Cabnet,

Kristoffer Diaz Kristoffer Díaz is an American playwright, screenwriter, and educator. As a playwright, he has five full-length titles amongst other works which have been widely produced and developed. In 2010, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. ...

Adam Driver Adam Douglas Driver (born November 19, 1983) is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award; making him one of few performers nominated ...

J.T. Rogers J. T. Rogers is a multiple-award-winning, internationally recognized American playwright who lives in New York. Rogers has written several plays including ''Oslo'', ''Blood and Gifts'', ''The Overwhelming'', ''White People'', and ''Madagascar''. ...

, and Quiara Hudes.

Past Festivals

2009 * ''The Chimes'' by Kevin Christopher Snipes, directed by Adam Immerwahr * ''Departure Lounge'' by Dougal Irvine, directed by Christopher Gattelli * ''Reborning'' by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Kip Fagan * ''The Happy Sad'' by

Ken Urban Ken Urban is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and musician based in New York. He is a senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and leads the Music and Theatre Arts Program's dramatic writing program. Urban is ...

, directed by Trip Cullman * ''The Sacrifices'' by Alena Smith, directed by

* ''Tender'' by Nicki Bloom, directed by Daniella Topol * ''We Declare You A Terrorist'' by Tim J. Lord, directed by Niegel Smith * ''Whore'' by Rick Viede, directed by Stephen Brackett 2008 * ''The Black Suits'' music & lyrics by

Joe Iconis Joseph Peter Philip Iconis (born September 22, 1981) is an American composer, lyricist, and playwright. He is best known for writing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical ''Be More Chill''. Early life and education Iconis graduated fr ...

, book by Joe Iconis & Robert Maddock, directed by John Simpkins * ''Esther Demsack'' by Billy Finnegan, directed by Stafford Arima * ''Future Me'' by Stephen Brown, directed by Joanna Settle * ''Green Girl'' by Sarah Hammond, directed by Wendy McClellan * ''Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom'' by

Jennifer Haley Jennifer Haley is an American playwright. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas and studied acting at the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate degree. Haley also received a MFA in playwriting at Brown University in 2005, where she ...

, directed by Kerry Whigham * ''Tell Out My Soul'' by Jacquelyn Honess-Martin, directed by Evan Cabnet * ''The Ones That Flutter'' by Sylvia Reed, directed by Stephen Brackett * ''Tio Pepe'' by Matthew Lopez, directed by Caitlin Moon 2007 * ''Alice in War'' by Steven Bogart, directed by Alice Reagan * ''Blueprint'' by Bixby Elliot, directed by Jonathan Silverstein * ''Cipher'' by Cory Hinkle, directed by Kip Fagan * ''Devil Land'' by Desi Moreno-Penson, directed by Jose Zayas * ''Flesh and the Desert'' by

Carson Kreitzer Carson Kreitzer is an American playwright currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1991 with a B.A. in theatre and literature and an M.F.A. from the Michener Center for Writers at the Univer ...

, directed by Beth Milles * ''The Gabriels'' by

Van Badham Vanessa "Van" Badham (born 1974) is an Australian writer and activist. A playwright and novelist, she writes dramas and comedies. She is a regular columnist for the '' Guardian Australia'' website. Early life Badham was born in Sydney in 1974. ...

, directed by Rebecca Patterson * ''Half of Plenty'' by Lisa Dillman, directed by Meredith McDonough * ''Lower Ninth'' by

, directed by Daniel Goldstein * ''Minor Gods'' by Charles Forbes, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch * ''Missing Celia Rose'' by Ian August, directed b
Adam Immerwahr
* ''My Wandering Boy'' by Julie Marie Myatt, directed by John Gould Rubin * ''The Nightshade Family'' by Ruth McKee, directed by Shelley Butler * ''Not Waving'' by Ellen Melaver, directed by Douglas Mercer * ''Novel'' by Anna Ziegler, directed by Michael Goldfried * ''Unfold Me'' by Joy Tomasko, directed by Linsay Firman * ''Vrooommm! A NASComedy'' by Janet Allard, directed by David Lee 2006 * ''The Butcherhouse Chronicles'' by Michael P. Hidalgo, directed by Thomas Caruso * ''Father Joy'' by

Sheri Wilner Sheri Wilner (born January 22, 1969) is an American playwright. Her works have been produced at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, the Guthrie Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA ...

, directed by

Pam MacKinnon Pam MacKinnon (born January 9, 1968) is an American theatre director. She has directed for the stage Off-Broadway, on Broadway and in regional theatre. She won the Obie Award for Directing and received a Tony Award nomination, Best Director, for ...

* ''The Fearless'' by Etan Frankel, directed by Scott Schwartz * ''Gardening Leave'' by Joanna Pinto, directed b
Michael Goldfried
* ''Hardball'' by Victoria Stewart, directed by Lou Jacob * ''Hitting the Wall'' by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich, directed by Drew Barr * ''Marge'' by Peter Morris, directed by Alex Timbers * ''Millicent Scowlworthy'' by Rob Handel, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll * ''Sonia Flew'' by Melinda Lopez, directed by Justin Waldman * ''Spain'' by Jim Knable, directed by Jeremy Dobrish * ''Splitting Infinity'' by Jamie Pachino, directed by

Matt Shakman Matt Shakman is an American film, television, and theatre director, and former child actor. He produced and directed ''WandaVision'' and has directed episodes of ''The Great'', ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'', '' Fargo'' and ''Game of Thro ...

* ''The Squirrel'' by Alex Moggridge, directed by Patrick McNulty * ''Swansong'' by

Patrick Page John Patrick Page (born April 27, 1962) is an American actor, low bass singer, and playwright. He originated the roles of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in '' Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'', the Grinch in ''Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christma ...

, directed by David Muse * ''Training Wisteria'' by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Evan Cabnet * ''A Wive’s Tale'' by Christina Ham, directed by Rosemary Andress 2005 * ''The Adventures of Barrio Grrrl!'' by

Quiara Alegría Hudes Quiara Alegría Hudes (born 1977) is an American playwright, producer, lyricist and essayist. She is best known for writing the libretto, book for the musical theatre, musical ''In the Heights,'' and screenplay for In the Heights (film), its film ...

, directed by Liesl Tommy * ''Courting Vampires'' by Laura Schellhardt, directed by Lou Jacob * ''crooked'' by Catherine Trieschmann, directed by Linsay Firman * ''Ephemera'' by John Yearley, directed by Erma Duricko * ''How Love is Spelt'' by Chloë Moss, directed by Michael Sexton * ''Indoor/Outdoor'' by Kenny Finkle, directed by Daniel Goldstein * ''Madagascar'' by J. T. Rogers, directed by Gus Reyes * ''The Map Maker's Sorrow'' by Chris Lee, directed by Stefan Novinski * ''Messalina'' by Gordon Dahlquist, directed by David Levine * ''Mimesophobia'' by

Carlos Murillo Carlos Murillo is an American playwright, director, and professor of Puerto Rican and Colombian descent. Based in Chicago, Murillo is a professor and head of the Playwriting program at the Theatre School at DePaul University. He is best known for ...

, directed by Matt August * ''Sick'' by Zakiyyah Alexander, directed by Daniella Topol * ''Split Wide Open'' by Christina Gorman, directed by Lisa Rothe * ''Ted Kaczynski Killed People With Bombs'' by Michelle Carter, directed by Jeremy Dobrish * ''tempOdyssey'' by Dan Dietz, directed by Randy White * ''Welcome to Arroyo's'' by

, directed by Jaime Castaneda * ''Wildlife'' by Victor Lodato, directed by Michael Sexton 2004 * ''Anatomy 1968'' by Karen Hartman, directed by Lisa Rothe * ''Arrivals & Departures'' by Rogelio Martinez, directed by Lou Jacob * ''Colorado'' by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, directed by Tracy Ward * ''Earthquake Chica'' by Anne Garcia-Romero, directed by Leah C. Gardiner * ''El Paso Blue'' by Octavio Solis, directed by Juliette Carrillo * ''Honor & The River'' by Anton Dudley, directed by Ken Schmoll * ''It's Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino'' by John Bucchino, directed by Daisy Prince * ''Kid-Simple'' by

, directed by Will Frears * ''Kitty Kitty Kitty'' by Noah Haidle, directed by

Carolyn Cantor Carolyn is a female given name, a variant of Caroline (given name), Caroline. Other spellings include Karolyn, Carolyne, Carolynn or Carolynne. Caroline itself is one of the feminine forms of Charles. List of Notable People *Carolyn Bennett (bo ...

* ''Mayhem'' by Kelly Stuart, directed by Melissa Kievman * ''Pink'' by Heather Lynn MacDonald, directed by Linsay Firman * ''Prozak & the Platypus'' by Elise Thoron and

Jill Sobule Jill Sobule (born January 16, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter best known for the 1995 single "I Kissed a Girl (Jill Sobule song), I Kissed a Girl", and "Supermodel (Jill Sobule song), Supermodel" from the soundtrack of the 1995 film ''Cl ...

, directed by

Rebecca Taichman Rebecca Taichman is an American theatre director. In 2017, she received the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for ''Indecent''. Life and career Taichman attended McGill University, Montreal, and graduated from the Yale School of Drama. She w ...

br>Prozak and the Platypus webbed site
* ''Sam & Lucy'' by Brooke Berman, directed by Trip Cullman * ''Spin Moves'' by Ken Weitzman, directed by Suzanne Agins * ''Stealing Sweets and Punching People'' by Phil Porter, directed by Michael Sexton * ''Sweetness'' by Gary Sunshine, directed by Trip Cullman * ''The Dew Point'' by

Neena Beber Neena Beber is an American writer of plays and television screenplays. She is also a television producer. Beber wrote the sixth episode of the TBS comedy '' The Detour''. Her short (10-minute) play ''Misreadings'' was included in ''Best Americ ...

, directed by William Carden * ''Wet'' by

Liz Duffy Adams Liz Duffy Adams is an American playwright who has written many plays including ''Born With Teeth''; ''Or,''; ''Dog Act''; ''The Salonnieres''; ''A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World''; ''The Broken Machine'', and others. Her play '' ...

, directed by Kent Nicholson

References

{{reflist Theatre festivals in the United States Summer festivals Festivals in New York City Recurring events established in 2004