Started in 2020, The Hippodrome Theatre’s annual New Works Festival was created to support narrative voices through the development and exploration of plays in traditional and experimental formats representing the diverse landscape of artists in Florida and their stories which reveal the American experience based on the kaleidoscope of identity. We support innovative, experimental or thought provoking material, formats, and styles.
2023 New Works Festival
The Art of Floating
Marian lives in the sleepy town of Spring Hill, Florida where she spends her days hanging out at the senior citizen center and drinking wine with her best friend Fran. After her estranged granddaughter has a crisis of faith and moves in with her, marvelous things begin to happen. A play about death, faith, and learning to float through Jello.
Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm
Slaymaker
Jay and Meghan both agree: ‘Slaymaker’ is the badassest surname for anyone ever – especially a Magic The Gathering champion (or a champion in the making). But if Meghan is divorcing Jay and writing whiny articles about how tough it is to be a girl in Magic, then is she really entitled to keep using it? Legalities aside, the two decide to resolve their differences through a Magic tournament. If she wins, Meghan gets to keep ‘Slaymaker.’ But if Jay beats her…will anything ever change?
Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 pm
2022/2023 New Works Festival
Friday, November 4 at 8:00 p.m.
The Ultimate Cheeseburger
Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Two plays together on one night
Evie & Loren
Evie and Loren look like a perfect match when they find each other on Tinder – except she’s his former mother-in-law. Over the course of a date, Evie and Loren learn a lot – maybe too much? – about each other before realizing they might be heading towards something dangerous.
Suture Bowl
Lights, Camera, Action! Welcome to Suture Bowl! Join top surgeons as they face off in the final episode of the highest-rated reality series ever, battling it out in a gameshow with higher stakes than they ever imagined. Only one will survive – I mean, win!
Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Evie & Loren
Evie and Loren look like a perfect match when they find each other on Tinder – except she’s his former mother-in-law. Over the course of a date, Evie and Loren learn a lot – maybe too much? – about each other before realizing they might be heading towards something dangerous.
Playbill
2021/2022 New Works Festival
February 18-19, 2022
Chosen from 41 playwright submissions, the 5 finalists will work with directors, actors and producers to develop and workshop their plays before showcasing them in staged readings in front of a live audience.
Experience groundbreaking new works while participating in the creative process by sharing your reactions directly with the playwright and the production team at a post-show talk back.
Each performance will showcase all 5 winning playwrights.
Buckets of Rain by Douglas Gearhart
This play explores a couple finding ways to weather tragedy as Kyra and Nick struggle to connect, to support, and to survive each other.
Changeling by Monica Cross
In this magical tale, a mother wanders the forest, yearning for her child, but can she accept what she finds? Love is not always what we expect and imagine.
Ghost of Romeo by Bobby McAfee
In this theatrically comedic exploration of what happens AFTER Romeo and Juliet die, the Apothecary who sold Romeo the poison must battle for his life against a myriad of Shakespearean characters not to mention the ghost of Romeo
Terrence by Terrence Jackson and Jane Arrowsmith Edwards
Twelve-year-old Terrence dreams of college, playing pro ball like his cousin, and being a detective. But after his abusive step dad kicks him out of the house, Terrence must find his own way. This rap drama explores the trap of survival.
Yes No Maybe Ommm by Ken Pedersen
Yes No Maybe Ommm is a musical experiment. An etude exploring the universal story of discovery, conflict, war, peace, heart, and family; all told in five words.
Behind the scene view of the New Works Festival
Playbill
The New Works Festival 2022 in the News
Hippodrome to debut five new plays this weekend by Main Street Daily News (2/15/2022)
The Hippodrome celebrates Florida playwrights in its 2022 New Works Theater director Stephanie Lynge joins TV20′s Lisa Sacaccio (2/15/2022)
New Works Festival returns in person to Hippodrome Theatre by Ben Crosbie published in the Alligator (2/24/2022)