2024 NEXT ACT! New Play Summit 13

NEXT ACT! New Play Summit, a joint venture between Capital Repertory Theatre and Proctors, is an annual showcase of new plays designed to shed light on new play development. The summit brings playwrights, directors, actors, and audience members together for a series of workshops and readings, where multiple new full-length plays are given readings.

The Summit was founded on the goal to find a play that theREP wants to produce–furthering the theatre’s commitment to the development of new work. To date, theREP has selected one play to produce as a world premiere from every single NEXT ACT! New Play Summit.

This year, we’re excited to align the NEXT ACT! week-long summit right before the world premiere of the 2022 Summit-winning play “Three Mothers” by Ajene D. Washington!

NEXT ACT! NEW PLAY SUMMIT 13 Schedule
April 15-20
View the full program here. 

Monday, April 15
7:30 p.m. – Main Reading of “All the Emilies in All the Universes” by Ian August
Enjoy a reading of the number one script that came through the submission process for the summit and give feedback to help theREP see what audiences think and ultimately weigh in on what script(s) theREP might produce as a world premiere.

Play synopsis: Emilie struggles with the devastating loss of her stillborn child in four distinct parallel timelines. But when an unexpected bend in the space/time continuum brings these four grieving Emilies together, they realize that infinite possible realities means that somewhere, somewhen, their lost son was born alive. Emilie, Emilie, Emilie and Emilie vow to travel through infinite dimensions, risking permanent erasure from the multiverse, to find the baby boy they thought they’d lost forever. “All the Emilies in All the Universes” is a play about coping with grief, the act of pursuing self-acceptance and finding the truth hidden in yourself in the ever-expanding multiverse around you.

Wednesday, April 17
NEW EVENT! 6-7 p.m. Page to Stage: “Consider the Sparrow”
Experience this 25-minute short film based on the play “The God Game” by Suzanne Bradbeer, NEXT ACT’s very first summit winner and world premiere production! There will be a panel discussion with the playwright, director and more following the film. 

Film synopsis: Differences in faith can be hard enough in a marriage yet Tom and Lisa have made it work for 20 years. But when estranged friend Matt arrives presenting the opportunity of a lifetime and the only condition is a lie about God, well, what’s an American politician to do?

7:30 p.m. New Play Development & Workshop Performance of “Unreconciled” by Jay Sefton & Mark Basquill
“Unreconciled” is the true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a school play directed by a parish priest. The story chronicles a survivor’s journey as he confronts his past and discovers the courage to use his voice. This 80-minute piece is a poignant and at times humorous exploration of family, place, and the meaning of reconciliation. 

Friday, April 19
5 p.m. Next Gen: “Turn to the Bean” by Peter Chansky
You’ll listen to one short (30-60 minute play) by a playwright aged 19-25. This event is in collaboration with UAlbany and Temple University for this event.

7:30 p.m. New Voices: Young Playwright Contest Top 6
This event features readings of 10-minute plays by Capital Region playwrights aged 13-19. This year’s plays are:
“Morning Ritual” by Frederick Durocher, Jr.
“The Sampling Party” by Dorian Harding
“Day Nine” by Eleonora Catalano
“Gotham Isekai” by Haley Jones & Eren Slatcher-Burby
“The Secrets Within” by Claire Hubert, Danielle Deering and Payton Slater
“Tackled” by Georgia O’Dell, Alexia Strom-Warren, and Angeleena VanSlyke

Saturday, April 20
4 p.m. First 15: Be a Literary Manager
This popular event encourages the audience to act as literary managers to assess a submission using the same criteria as theREP’s reading committee. This year’s plays are:
“Eleanor and Dolly” by Jenny Stafford
“The Steel Man” by Cary Gitter
“The Mallard” by Vincent Delaney
“Castling” by Anthony Goss
“Barb Goldfarb Didn’t Make It” by David A. Gregory

NEW EVENT! 7:30 p.m. Poetry Slam emceed by D. Colin
Surround yourself with the powerful artistry of guest slam poets including dynamic performer D. Colin. A Capital Region local since 2007, D. Colin has performed for The Moth, PBS, Write About Now, NPR and has toured both nationally and abroad. As a competing poet, she is currently ranked 12th from the Womxn of the World Poetry Slam 2023. Poets include: Tarishi MIDNIGHT Shuler @13thmidnight, EL @timber_mayhem, Courtney Symone @symonesees, Olivia Hadams @liviyvpoetry, Adonis Richards @lucidvoicesmovement, Brendon @Balanc3, Yexandria Diaz @yasss_yex, GodIs Tymani Rain @godistymanirain, Sheldon Alexander @shelxander, Laney Jade @laneytheepoet and Luis “L-Majesty” Pabon @lmajesty1.