New American Voices
Queens Theatre's signature new play development program.
New Play Development at Queens Theatre
New American Voices (NAV), Queens Theatre's new play development program, is dedicated to supporting writers who represent the rich cultural diversity of the evolving populations of the borough of Queens, New York City and the United States. Since its inception in 2002, approximately 200 new works have received Play Readings, Showcases and Full Productions on Queens Theatre's three stages. Audiences have the unique opportunity to participate directly in the development process through post-show discussions with the playwrights, directors and actors.
Unlike many New York City play development programs, which present Play Readings to industry "insiders," New American Voices’ audiences are a diverse and dedicated group of theatergoers who cross ethnic, economic, and generational lines. Many writers whose early drafts or premiere productions of their work were presented through NAV have gone on to prominent careers in theatre.
All readings are free of charge, but reservations are strongly encouraged.
Who We Are
Director of New Play Development
Rob Urbinati is a freelance director and writer based in New York City. He has directed at The Public Theater, Culture Project, Abingdon Theatre, Classic Stage Company, Pearl Theatre, New York University and theatres and universities across the country. He is Director of New Play Development at Queens Theatre, a position he has held since 1998. Rob’s plays include Jane Austen's Lady Susan, Mama’s Boy, Hazelwood Jr. High, Murder On West Moon Street and Death by Design, published by Samuel French; Cole Porter’s Nymph Errant published by Broadway Licensing, and Miss Julie En Hollywood, co-written with Mario Garza, published by Next Stage Press. His book, Play Readings: A Complete Guide for Theatre Practitioners is published by Focal Press/Routledge. His plays have received over 300 productions worldwide. Rob is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and a certified Audio Describer.
Associate Literary Managers
Lisa Garza has over 20 years of theater experience in Houston, Texas. Directing credits include Ten Little Indians, Mousetrap, A Company of Wayward Saints, Moon Over Buffalo, On Golden Pond, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Miracle Worker, Driving Miss Daisy, Come Blow Your Horn, Tally’s Folly, Crowns, West Moon Street, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, Death By Design (world premiere), A Lesson Before Dying, The 39 Steps, Our Town, The Beaux Stratagem, The Foreigner, Freud’s Last Session, The Woman In Black, and Sylvia. She also has over 50 scenic design credits, including Peter Pan (winner of AACT 2015 National Competition), A Christmas Carol, and Bonnie and Clyde (both winners of Broadway World Houston Best Scenic Design in 2016 and 2019 respectively.) She also serves as a lead volunteer in the Technical Arts Resources Department at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas.
Andi Ellis is a non-binary writer hailing from Omaha, Nebraska. They specialize in horror and slipstream, writing about the blurry edge where nightmares become reality. Andi enjoys reading all forms of writing, as well as writing scripts, plays, short fiction, novels, and poetry.
Previous Associate Literary Managers: Nastaran Ahmadi, Vincent Carlson-Brown, Wesley Cromwell, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Adrianna Dufay, Janet Gupton, Melissa Maxwell, Michael Phillips, Tom Rowan, Dana Smith, Greg Thorson, David Wintersteen, Cary Wong
Submissions
Queens Theatre is seeking submissions for Theatre For All Short Play Readings to be held in the Spring of 2025. These submissions will also be considered for BIRD Festival readings in Japan in the Fall of 2025.
Plays on all subjects by writers with disabilities will be considered, as well as plays by any writer which feature a character or characters with a disability. Please note that plays with disabled characters do not need to focus on disability as the topic. Along with your submission, include the following information:
- I identify as a person living with a disability.
or - I do not identify as disabled. One or more of the characters in my play have a disability.
Submissions should be no less than 5 minutes, and no longer than 10 minutes.
QT is seeking diversity in genre, including comedy, drama, satire, etc. Submissions can feature roles for seniors, children and young adults.
With the New American Voices Theatre For All Short Play Readings, Queens Theatre seeks to continue its mission to reflect perspectives on immigration, race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, religion, sexuality and gender.
Please email your play to roburbinati@gmail.com with Theatre For All Submission in the subject line. The deadline is Monday, January 20 at midnight.
NAV Production History
2023-2024 Season
Readings
TFA Short Play Readings
Selections TBA
Education Workshop
Reunion
By Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, Directed by Evan T. Cummings
(Part of the 2023 TFA Actor Training Program)
2022-2023 Season
Readings
We Will Never Reach The Shore
By Tim J. Lord, Directed by Jackson Gay
Say It Ain't So
By Nikki Brake-Silla, Directed by Christina Eskridge
Studio Production
Eight Tales of Pedro
By Mark-Eugene Garcia, Directed by Rodrigo E. Bolaños
2021-2022 Season
In Person Readings Return!
Fall 2021
SHORTS! An Evening of Short Plays
Directed by Aneesha Kudtakar and Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li
Featured Plays:
- Rowing to America by Kitty Chen
- Smooth Transition by Mrinalini Kamath
- Primary Colors, One Small Step and Broken English by Nina Ki
- To The Stars by Nandita Shenoy
- A Is For American, Suffragette, Bad Chinese Daughter, Walkable Feast
- and Two Artists Trying To Play The Bill by Lucy Wang
- Our House In The Middle Of The Street by Cary Wong
Spring 2022
Eight Tales of Pedro
By Mark-Eugene Garcia, Directed by Rodrigo E. Bolaños
As I Was, Not As I Am
By Alice Hakvaag, directed by Hanna Postlewait
Tumbleweed
By Marcus Scott, directed by Dev Bondarin
The Things We Carry
By Oya Mae Duchess, directed by Evan T. Cummings
3 Bodies
By Jerron Herman, directed by Dominic D’Andrea
Blanche & Stella
By A.A. Brenner, directed by Colm Summers
The Life and Times of Stephen Hawking
By Magda Romanska, directed by Jackson Gay
2020-2021 Season
Virtual Play Readings
2020
Lyin' Ass
By Eugene Lee, Directed by SaMi Chester
The Innkeepers
By Novid Parsi, Directed by Kate Bergstrom
Delivery
By Jelisa Jay Robinson, Directed by Rubén González
Poolside
By T. Cat Ford, Directed by Susanne Boulle
Dirty Linen
By Ofem Ajah, Directed by Kimille Howard
J'Oy Vey
By Anita Simon and Lojo Simons, Directed by Will Pomerantz
2021
Atacama
By Augusto Amador, Directed by Sara Guerrero
The Prisoner
By Seamus Lucason, Directed by Nicola Murphy
Ghost Story
By Lia Romeo, Directed by Kimille Howard
2019-2020 Season
Studio Productions
Chicken and Biscuits
By Douglas Lyons, Directed by Zhailon Levingston
Play Readings
It Can Happen Here
By Judith Sloan, Directed by Alexandra Aron
Strong Face
By Philana Imade Omorotionmwan, Directed by Kimille Howard
Ravage
By Nina Ki, Directed by Dennis Yueh- Yeh Li
Three Italian Women
By Laura Maria Censabella, Directed by Abigail Zealey Bess
2018-2019 Season
Studio Productions
Relic, or, I Was Bubbie's Favorite by Joel Feinman (as told to Lojo Simon)
By Lojo Simon, Directed by Will Pomerantz
Play Readings
Theatre For All Short Plays - Take Two!
- Ashes of the Revolution by John Patrick Bray, Directed by Evan T Cummings
- Broken English by Nina Ki, Directed by Evan T Cummings
- Claudie's Brother by Barbara Lindsay, Directed by Lisa Garza
- Interabled by Marianna Mott Newirth, Directed by Lisa Garza
- Purging by Ann Marley, Directed by Lisa Garza
- The Crass Menagerie by Rich Orloff, Directed by Evan T Cummings
- The Tale of the Sleeping Cutie by Diane Sampson, Directed by Vincent D'Onofrio
Chicken and Biscuits
By Douglas Lyons, Directed by Zhailon Levingston
Let There Be Love
By Mrinalini Kamath, Directed by Aimee T odoroff
Twice, Thrice, Frice
By Fouad Teymor, Directed by Tracy Cameron Francis
On The Roof
By Donna Hoke, Directed by Michael Hardart
Theatre For All Short Plays
- Miss Direction by Kyle Anthony Smith, Directed by Emerie Snyder
- Bits and Pieces by Lacey Alexander, Directed by Emerie Snyder
- Death Bites by Makena Metz, Directed by Emerie Snyder
- On the Rocks by Jeffrey Neuman, Directed by Gwynn MacDonald
- Mint Jelly by Kelli Lynn Woodend, Directed by Gwynn MacDonald
- X-Ray Vision at the Motel 9 by Ian August, Directed by Gwynn MacDonald
- Zulee's School Lesson by Ian August, Directed by Gwynn MacDonald
- We'd Make Great Babies by Carey Cox, Directed by Brant Russell
- Hurry Up and Wait by Annalise Cain, Directed by Brant Russell
2017-2018 Season
Studio Productions
Jimmy and Carolyn
By James Andrew Walsh, Directed by Brooke Ciardelli
Play Readings
Beach Glass
Written and Directed by Matthew Sheridan
The Anatomy of Love
By Ted Malawer, Directed by Jackson Gay
Sweet Texas Reckoning
By Traci Godfrey, Directed by Cailín Heffernan
The Relic
By Lojo Simon, Directed by Will Pomerantz
The Apocalypse Plays
By Alex Rubin, Directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker
Dear Penelope
By Kat Sparks, Directed by Jen Wineman
Dare To Be Black
By Tommie More, Directed by Mary Hodges
2016-2017 Season
Studio Productions
Spirits of Another Sort
Adapted by Gregg Mozgala from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Directed by Alice Reagan
(in association with The Apothetae Theatre Company)
Park Plays
By Ngozi Anyanwu, Jenny Lyn Bader, Jess Barbagallo, Gracie Gardner, Richard Hinojosa, MJ Kaufman, Rex McGregor, Don Nguyen, Frank Paiva and Lauren Yee
Directed by Evan T. Cummings, Mary E. Hodges, Emma Miller, Michele O’Brien and Marilee Talkington Festival Director: Brant Russell
Play Readings
Jimmy and Carolyn
By James Andrew Walsh, Directed by Tom Wojtunik
Straight on 'Til Morning
Written and Directed by Phillip Dallmann
We're Da Champs!
By Jeff Mandels, Directed by Bill Russell
Paper Cut
By Andrew Rosendorf, Directed by Evan T. Cummings
Reunion
By Nandita Shenoy, Directed by Sanjit De Silva
June is the First Fall
By Yilong Liu, Directed by Kenneth Lee
song of summer
By Lauren Yee, Directed by Kel Haney
2015-2016 Season
Play Readings
Mourning Sun
By Antu Yacob, Directed by Ari Laura Kreith
(in association with Theatre 167)
Washer/Dryer
By Nandita Shenoy, Directed by Benjamin Kamine
(in association with Ma- Yi Theater Company)
Lily In Love
By Kristine M. Reyes, Directed by Colette Robert
(in association with Mission to dit(Mars)
2014-2015 Season
Mainstage Productions
The Cottage
By Sandy Rustin, Directed by Adam Dannheisser
The Queens Bees
By Rob Urbinati, Directed by Jose Zayas
Studio Productions
World's Fair Play Festival
by Todd Almond, Camilo Almonacid, J. Stephen Brantley, Jenny Lyn Bader, Masuq M. Deen, Kristoffer Diaz, Halley Feiffer, Craig Lucas, Wendy MacLeod, Harrison David Rivers, Caridad Svich and Lauren Yee
Directed by Ari Laura Kreith, Eric Pearson and Brant Russell
Festival Director: Brant Russell
Dishwasher Dreams: Is This America?
By Aladdin Ullah, Directed by Christopher McElroen
Escaping Queens
Music & Lyrics by Joe Ortiz, Book by Joe Ortiz and Greg Fritsch, Directed by Greg Fritsch
Play Readings
The Invention of the Living Room
By Andrew R. Heinze, Directed by Amy Wright
Slow Food
By Wendy MacLeod, Directed by Emily Maltby
Cuerdas (Ropes)
By Barbara Colio, Directed by Maria Alexandria Beech
Housekeeping
By Margaret Vandenberg, Directed by Lisa Rothe
Geoffrey & Jeffrey
By Kim Carney, Directed by Rose Ginsberg
2013-2014 Season
Play Readings
Under the Mango Tree
By Carmen Rivera, Directed by Candido Tarino
The Day After My Suicide
By Cary Wong, Directed by Rob Urbinati
Trials With Brownies
By Snehal Desai, Directed by Larissa Lury
Homebodies
By Maria Alexandria Beech, Directed by Michelle Bossy
Salt in A Wound
By Melissa Maxwell, Directed by Terry Lyn Berliner
The Commencement of William Tan
By Don Nguyen, Directed by Tamara Fisch
2012-2013 Season
Mainstage Productions
Hit Lit
By Robert Wuhl, Directed by Steven W. Wallace and Robert Wuhl
Play Readings
If It’s Sad, I Don’t Want to Hear It
By Rehana Mirza, Directed by Benjamin Kamine
Useless
By Saviana Stanescu, Directed by Dan Wineman
Vanishing Son
By Peter Gil-Sheridan, Directed by Shelley Butler
2011-2012 Season
Mainstage Productions
Chix 6
By Lourds Lane, Directed by DJ Salisbury (in association with READY, FIRE, AIM Productions, Nederlander-Browne, Dan Frishwasser, Wendy Timmons / Jennifer Swalwell and Executive Producers Aldo Scrofani & Heather Provost)
Heat Wave: The Jack Cole Project
Choreographed and Directed by Chet Walker
Gilbert & Sullivan In Briefs
Written and Directed by Ray Cullom
Studio Productions
Jackson Heights, 3 AM
By Jenny Lyn Bader, J. Stephen Brantley, Ed Cardona, Les Hunter, Tom Miller, Melisa Tien, and Joy Tamasko, adapted and Directed by Ari Kreith
(in association with Theatre 167)
Play Readings
Ms. Maxwell and Mrs. Chen
By John Watts, Directed by Melissa Maxwell
Wetback
By Elaine Romero, Directed by Edward Torres
Pilgrims Musa & Sheri in the New World
By Yuseef El Guindi, Directed by Marcy Arlin
Samsara
By Lauren D. Yee, Directed by Snehal Desai
En Tus Brazos (In Your Arms)
By Caridad Svich, Directed by Jose Zayas
Hit Lit
By Robert Wuhl, Directed by Ray Cullom
2010-2011 Season
Showcase Productions
Summer in Sanctuary
By Al Letson, Directed by Rob Urbinati
167 Tongues
By Jenny Lyn Bader, Meny Beeriro, Alving Eng, Steven Fechter, Jennifer Gibbs, Les Hunter, Anna Kushner, Rehana Mirza, Suzanne Sheptock and Stefanie Zadravec, adapted and directed by Ari Kreith
(in association with Theatre 167)
Play Readings
Fallow
By Kenneth Lin, directed by Jackson Gay
Flipziods
By Ralph B. Pena, directed by Loy Arcenas
Solterona
by Augusto Federico Amador, directed by Lauren Keating
Draw the Circle
by Deen, directed by Chay Yaw
Zona Rosa
by Carlos Morton, directed by Michael Barakiva
Dances with Dinosaurs
by Bob Canning, Directed by Mark Finley
2009-2010 Season
Full Productions
Against the Rising Sea
by Kelley Masterson, directed by Joe Cacaci
(in association with Cobalt Blue Productions, LTD & Joe Cacaci Productions)
Rosa Loses Her Face
by Kitty Chen, directed by Nancy Robillard
(in association with Electric Theatre Company)
Showcase Productions
Opa! The Musical
by Mari Carras, Laurel Ollstein, Nicholas Carras, Elise Morris and Donald Eugster, directed by Sam Viverito
(in association with Carras / Papageorgiou Productions, Inc)
Rosa Parks
by Jeff Hughes and Scott Ethier, directed by Daniella Topol
(in association with Playwrights Horizons)
Sweet Karma
by Henry Ong, directed by Marcy Arlin
(In association with Immigrants' Theatre Company)
Play Readings
Tennis in Nablus
by Ismail Khalidi, directed by Mariana Carreno King
My Secret Language of Wishes
by Cori Thomas, directed by May Adrales
Atreides, End
by Andreas Flourakis, directed by Alexander Harrington
(In association with the Greek - American Performing Arts Festival)
In the Crossing
by Leila Buck, directed by Shana Gold
(in association with Lark Play Development Center and New York Theatre Workshop)
Running Into Me
by Vickie Tanner, directed by Margaret Perry
Tea in the Afternoon
by Vanessa Shealy, directed by Melissa Attebery
Dead Ringer
by Gino DiIorio, directed by SuzAnne Barabas
(in association with New Jersey Repertory Company)
2008-2009 Season
Full Productions
The Men of Mah Jongg
by Richard Atkins, directed by Mark Medoff
(in association with Electric Theatre Company)
Showcase Productions
Kingdom
by Aaron Jafferis and Ian Williams, directed by Ron Daniels
(In association with The Public Theater)
Vine Tata (Daddy’s Coming)
by Irina Eremia Bragin, directed by Tom Rowan
Southern Promises
by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by Jose Zayas
(in association with “Best of the Boroughs Festival” at P.S. 122)
American Hwangap
by Lloyd Suh, directed by Trip Cullman
(in association with Ma-Yi Company)
Play Readings
Cover Girl
by Safa Samiezade’-Yazd, directed by Daniella Topol
Wonder Woman Wears Raggedy Ann Pajamas
by Karina Arroyave, directed by Dave Groom
Red Flamboyant
by Don Nguyen, directed by Joanna Settle
(in association with the Public Theatre Emerging Playwrights Group)
Paper Son
by Christine Toy Johnson, directed by Evan Yionoulis
(in association with the Asian Cultural Arts Festival)
Centennial Casting
by Gino DiIorio, directed by Brendan Burke
Shiksa
by Richard Aellen, directed by Rob Urbinati
2007-2008 Season
Full Productions
Girl’s Room
by Joni Fritz, directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett
Showcase Productions
Our Dad is in Atlantis
by Javier Malpica, translated by Jorge Ignacio Cortinas, directed by Debbie Saivetz
(in association with Working Theatre and Lark Play Development Center)
Vengeance Can Wait
by Yukiko Motoya translated by Kyoko Yoshida and Andy Bragen, directed by Jose Zayas
(in association with “Best of the Boroughs Festival” at P.S. 122)
New Amsterdames
by Ellen K. Anderson, directed by Heather Ondersman
(in association with Flying Fig Theatre)
Queen Scenes II
by Paul M. Kelley, Theodore D. Kemper, Marin H. Levinson, Ed Miller, Mary Najeddine, Elyse Nass, Richard Pioreck, Fred-Rohan Vargas, Jeff Sovern and Cary Wong, directed by Kay Long, Don Nguyen and Elizabeth Sturrus
Shangri La
by Rob Urbinati, directed by Michael Goldfried
Play Readings
The North Pool
by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Vijay Mathew
Papa Esta en la Atlantida
by Javier Malpica, directed by Debbie Saivetz
Night Blooming Cereus
by Alex Argyros, directed by Tom Rowan
(in association with the Greek Cultural Festival)
Lost Accents
by Qui Nguyen, directed by Robert Ross Parker
(in association with the Asian Cultural Festival)
The Cello Plays
by Cary Wong, directed by Tom Wojtunik
2006-2007 Season
Showcase Productions
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Giovanna Sardelli
(in association with Lark Play Development Center)
365 Days/365 Plays
by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Rob Urbinati and Don Nguyen
(in association with The Public Theater)
Freedom High
by Adam Kraar, directed by Susan Einhorn
(in association with Queens College)
Mommy
by Edith Freni, directed by Alexis Poledouris
(in association with “Best of the Boroughs Festival” at P.S. 122)
Play Readings
Blood in America
by Qui Nguyen, directed by John Gould Ruben
The Manuscript
by Irina Eremia Bragin, directed by Tom Rowan
No Time for Champions
by J.P. Chan, directed by Ralph Pena
Layla and Majnun
by Nastaran Ahmadi, directed by May Adrales
Swoony Planet
by Han Ong, directed by Ron Daniels
(in association with Ma-Yi Theatre Company)
Advanced Chemistry
by Rich Orloff, directed by Patrick McNulty
(in association with MacDowell Centennial)
2005-2006 Season
Showcase Productions
Trial by Water
by Qui Nguyen, directed by John Gould Rubin
(in association with Ma-Yi Theater Company)
Breathe
by Javon Johnson, directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj
(in association with Lark Play Development Center)
Queens Scenes
by Meny Beriro, Paul M. Kelley, Theodore D. Kemper, Ed Miller, Stefan Monty, Elyse Nass, Richard Pioreck, Fred Rohan-Vargas, Jeff Sovern and Cary Wong, directed by Don Nguyen, Mitch Poulus and Elizabeth Sturrus
(in association with Queens Theatre in the Park Playwrights Group)
Play Readings
Good Mourning, America
by Lucy Wang, directed by Rob Urbinati
Rosa Loses Her Face
by Kitty Chen, directed by Marcy Arlin
Off White and Eclipse
by Cary Wong, directed by Victor Maog
My Secret Language of Wishes
by Cori Thomas, directed by Claire Lundberg
Utopia Parkway
by Charles L. Mee, directed by Davis McCallum
Red Hot Mamas
by David Christner, directed by Roger T. Danforth
The Home Team
by Kim Carney, directed by Rob Urbinati
2004-2005 Season
Showcase Productions
Noble Laureate (Mr. Singer & His Demons)
by Miriam Hoffman and Rena Berkowicz Borow, directed by Avi Hoffman
The Ride
by Danny Easton and Mitch Chakour, directed by Zoya Kachudurian
Taxi to Jannah
by Mark Sickman, directed by Donald Douglass
(in association with Animated Theatreworks, Inc)
Welcome to Arroyo’s
by Kristoffer Diaz, directed by Margarett Perry
(in association with Lark Play Development Center and the Hip Hop Theater Festival)
Play Readings
Huck & Holden
by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Vijay Mathew
Is This Desire?
by Liliana Almendarez, directed by Rob Urbinati
Tara’s Crossing
written and directed by Jeffrey Solomon
Browntown
by Sam Younis, directed by Abigail Marateck
Crossing the Blvd
written and directed by Judith Sloane and Warren Lehrer
The Men of Mah Jongg
written and directed by Richard Atkins
Girl’s Room
by Joni Fritz, directed by Tom Rowan
2003-2004 Season
Full Production
Nine Parts of Desire
by Heather Raffo, directed by Jack Hofsiss
Showcase Productions
Greater Messapia
by Andy Bragen, directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Mamaleh
by Roy Singer and Mitchell Uscher, directed by Mitchell Uscher
Karaoke Night at the Suicide Shack
by Rob Urbinati, directed by Dan Fields and Alex Aron
Play Readings
The Great Purim Adventure of Chip Malibu
by John W. Lowell, directed by Rob Urbinati
Benefit of the Doubt
by Sheila W. Schwartz, directed by Rob Urbinati
Celestial Motions
by Mrinalini Kamath, directed by DeLora Whitney
Trial by Water
by Qui Nguyen, directed by Robert Ross Parker
2002-2003 Season
Play Readings
Greater Messapia
by Andy Bragen, directed by Davis McCallum
New World Rhapsody
by Adam Kraar, directed by Tom Rowan
At Home in an Alien Land
by Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, directed by Brian O’Donnell
CaribBeing
by Tessa Martin, directed by Bill Van Horn
The Grandma Show
by Tom Ecobelli and Peter Marino, directed by Rob Urbinati
2001-2002 Season
Play Readings
Melting
by Lucy Wang, directed by Rob Urbinati
Lunatic’s Ball
by Claudia Menza, directed by Harold Dean James
Taxi to Jannah
by Mark Sickman, directed by Roger Hendricks Simon
The Coffee Trees
by Arthur Giron, directed by Angel David