Past FreeFest - The New Group

Our 2024 FreeFest will take place in June 13-20, 2024.

FreeFest is a FREE play reading festival featuring new works that embrace radical expression. The festival provides a public platform for artists to showcase their creative expression and further their writing process.

Public reading festivals have long been a part of the New Group/New Works development program. The program focuses on the nurturing and development of new plays and musicals. A core tenant of this program is to build and facilitate lasting relationships between The New Group, artists, and audiences who connect through theater that is adventurous, stimulating, and socially relevant. This program has become a vital incubator for emerging and established playwrights, and serves as the primary pipeline for world premieres at The New Group.

From our 2023 Festival, June 14 – 16

All readings took place in The Romulus Linney Theater at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036).

written by Gloria Majule
directed by Shariffa Ali
with Gbenga Akinnagbe*, Malachi Beasley, Annelise Cepero*, Amandla Jahava*, Jerrie Johnson*, Janelle McDermoth*, Fikile Mthwalo, Abigail Onwunali*, and Nomé Sidone*.

Buddies Zahra and Hawi, two brilliant Ivy League students from East Africa, experience new levels of (dis)orientation in a whirl of competitive placements and pledge parties.

featuring a post-show talkback with Abosede George.

book & lyrics by Kia Beth Kofron & Cooper Kofron
music by Mark Hollmann & Drew Gasparini
music direction by Steven Gross
directed by Marc Acito
with Shuga Cain, Rob Colletti*, Gizel Jimenez*, Colleen Grate*, Jesse Manocherian*, Brad Oscar*, Jen Perry*, Jason Tam*, and Joy Woods*.

In this satirical musical comedy, a sports-obsessed high school tackles budget cuts by converting their state-of-the-art football stadium into a pot farm.

featuring a post-show talkback with Zakiya Ansari and Sherée Gibson.

by Preston Crowder
directed by Stevie Walker-Webb
With Marchánt Davis*, Alfie Fuller*, Rebecca L. Hargrove*, PJ Johnnie*, Jacob-Sebastian Phillips*, Sis*, and Keith Randolph Smith*.

After an alarming incident between their young children, two very different couples must confront their taboo secrets and guilty pleasures.

featuring a post-show talkback with Kirya Traber.

Event photos by Natalie Powers.

*Actors and Stage Managers so designated are members of Actors’ Equity Association.

FreeFest is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Generous support for The New Group is provided by The Shubert Foundation and The

Howard Gilman Foundation. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The New Group’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.