NEW WORKS
Hendersonville Theatre is committed to the creation of new works for the stage. We host a new works reading series throughout the year, as well as seek out and commission original work for our main productions and One Act Festival. Hendersonville Theatre actively contributed to the development of new plays and musicals.
NEW WORKS SERIES
In 2021, this commitment was both strengthened with the establishment of our bimonthly public play readings, called the New Works Series. Our New Works Series offers area playwrights the opportunity to have their working scripts read by actors for public feedback. From this series, selected works are chosen for workshops and future full production on our main stage.
ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL
Ticket Pricing:
SEASON SUBCRIPTION AND FLEX PASSES HERE
Single Show (A or B): $25
SHOW A–CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
SHOW B–CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
BEST OF SHOW–CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Festival Ticket (A & B Shows): $40
FESTIVAL TICKET–CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Reserved Seating
November 6-16, 2025
Show A
Thursday, November 6 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 8 at 3 pm
Sunday, November 9 at 3 pm
Friday, November 14 at 7:30 pm
Show B
Friday, November 7 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 15 at 3 pm
Best of Show
Sunday, November 16 at 3 pm
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours
Show A
Directed by River Spade:
Backyard Stonehenge by Jacquelyn Priskorn
TJ and Kendra are grappling with tension in their relationship. TJ attempts to surprise Kendra by creating a Stonehenge-like structure in their backyard using stones borrowed from their neighbor. As they confront their strained relationship, guilt, and disappointment, will they ultimately find solace in working together to complete the stone circle?
Tiffanie Boone – Kendra
Gina Purri*– TJ
Amanda McLoughlin– Neighbor
Catatonia…or, Waiting for Gato by Matt Wade
Waiting for Godot but with cats! Two cats, Crash and Ace, ponder the meaning of life and their absurd situation. This quirky comedy is filled with cat puns, existential musings, a surprising time-traveling twist, and the existential themes of waiting and uncertainty.
Kai Strange – Crash
Annika Knudson– Ace
Goober Berdine*– Milton
Tree #2 by R.A. Pauli
Charlie, an overly enthusiastic actor in a community theater production, obsessively interrogates the director about the character’s motivation, much to the director’s exasperation. The play is a witty take on the absurdity of taking a minor role too seriously.
Shayne Gardner* – Director
Allie Maree – Charlie
Directed by Liz Martino:
A Sign You Were Alive by Rebecca Kane
Set in a suburban home during a mysterious pandemic, James tries to care for his sick daughter, Chelsea, by providing unconventional nourishment and protecting her from the outside world. The play delves into themes of love, fear, and the struggle to maintain normalcy in the face of the extraordinary.
Annika Knudson – Chelsea
Shayne Gardner*– Renee
Clay Gaitskill – James
Show B
Directed by Dakota Mann:
I’d Rather Die Than Go Back To Christmastown by Abby Auman
Filled with sharp humor, this satire takes a playful jab at the clichés of holiday romances, making it an audience favorite. A high-powered businesswoman fears falling into the typical holiday movie trope of abandoning her career for love in a small town. Her assistant helps her devise a plan to avoid this fate by becoming the “villain” of her own story.
Olivia Stuller* – Businesswoman
Elijah York* – Assistant
Denise Lockett – Mom
Tate Albert – Dad
Riding Lessons by Brett Hursey
Meet Clark, who is accompanied by an imaginary clown that only a few can see. Meet Edie, a woman with her own challenges. Through Clark and Edie’s conversation, this humorous and heartfelt play explores loneliness, mental health, and finding acceptance in one’s quirks.
Leah Webster*– Edie
Gina Purri*– Clark
Kai Strange– Clown
Thanks for the Mammaries by Bailey Jordan Garcia
A poignant comedy that explores themes of gender identity, body dysphoria, and the journey toward self-acceptance. Despite the humorous tone, the play tackles serious issues, ending on a note of mutual understanding and a farewell to a past self and a new life.
Denise Lockett – Don
Natalie Broadway – Marty
Kai Strange – Bailey
Directed by Bess Park:
My Name is Jane by Phil Darg
This drama follows Jane, a woman in her late 30s who desperately wants to become a mother. Hoping to become a social media influencer, she documents her journey through infertility treatments and pregnancy. The play delves into the emotional and legal challenges she faces, especially in light of the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. As Jane navigates her path to pregnancy, the play explores themes of personal struggle, societal expectations, and the impact of shifting legal landscapes.
Leah Webster*– Jane
Lucien Hinton* – Darrell
Natalie Broadway – Sandra/Escort
Sarah Leatham* – Dr. Alvarez
Lex Culotta – Clerk/Patient
Kip Brown – Male Doctor
*Making their Hendersonville Theatre debut
Step into the spotlight of creativity at Hendersonville Theatre’s second annual One Act Play Festival! This two week extravaganza celebrates the art of storytelling through a dynamic lineup of short plays, showcasing a kaleidoscope of genres—from laugh-out-loud comedies to heartfelt dramas. Featuring original works by both regional and national playwrights, directed and performed by incredible local talent, the festival promises an unforgettable journey into the world of theatre.
The festival begins with an open call for submissions from across the country. After a meticulous selection process, a team of readers will handpicked a stellar lineup of plays that will make their world premiere on our stage. Divided into two sections, Show A and Show B, these short gems are performed in rotation, offering audiences a diverse and impactful theatrical experience.
One-act plays are renowned for their intensity and focus, delivering powerful narratives in a condensed format. This unique approach demands precision and creativity from performers, resulting in captivating and memorable performances. For artists, the festival provides an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their versatility and innovation, fostering growth in acting, directing, and technical execution.
Beyond the stage, the One Act Play Festival creates a vibrant community for theatre enthusiasts. It’s a space where performers, directors, and audiences come together to exchange ideas, celebrate new works, and build connections. Adding to the excitement, audience members will play an active role in the festival by voting for the Best of Show, culminating in a thrilling competition to crown the audience favorite.
Join us at Hendersonville Theatre for an evening of exceptional storytelling, spirited performances, and a shared love for the craft of theatre. Don’t miss your chance to experience the excitement, engagement, and inspiration of the One Act Play Festival!
Thank You To Our Sponsors
New Works Series
SUBMISSIONS
To Submit to Our New Works Series:
- All work must be original.
- The playwright must attend the performance.
- If your script is chosen, the playwright will agree to provide scripts for each character in their show plus a script for the stage direction reader.
- We prefer new work. However, if you’ve had a previous production, please provide details.
- Include a short bio about yourself as a playwright and tell us where you live (Hendersonville, Greenville, Asheville etc.)
- Scripts must be submitted as a PDF and include a character list and short character description.
- There is no submission fee.
Submit plays and questions to [email protected].
Due to the overwhelming response, the One Act Play Festival has closed submissions early. Thank you for being interested, and check back next year! If you’d like to be notified about future development opportunities, please click here to be added to our mailing list.
Hendersonville Theatre’s One Act Play Festival is back! HT seeks new 10 minute plays for our second annual One Act Play Festival. The Festival runs November 6-16 and will include a Best of Show competition. (See more about the festival here!) Submission dates are:
January 1 to March 15th at 11:59 pm EST.
Submission Fee: one play for $5, or up to three plays for $10.
About the Festival
Hendersonville Theatre’s One Act Festival has been created to support new plays. Each year, Hendersonville Theatre accepts nationwide submissions of original one act that have not been produced. The competition is in line with HT’s on-going commitment to enrich our community by serving as a beacon of performing arts, inspiring, empowering, and educating through engaging in transformative experiences. We help theatre artists find their voices and cultivate social consciousness. We support new and established playwrights and incubate new plays. We seek to make a lasting, life-long impression on our community – inspiring the audience to continue provocative conversations long after the curtain closes.
Finalists
A selection of 8 finalists will be performed on stage. Production and performances will be under the supervision of Hendersonville Theatre artistic director Victoria Lamberth, utilizing the talents of Hendersonville Theatre. Finalists will be given 2 complimentary tickets to attend one performance of the One Act Festival.
About Hendersonville Theatre
Hendersonville Theatre is a critically-acclaimed community-driven theatre company best known for leading through community collaboration, creative partnerships, and cultural enrichment. We strive for a positive economic impact that fosters a vibrant, engaged community. To learn more about Hendersonville Theatre, click here. Since 1966, Hendersonville Theatre has supported new artists and new works.
Festival Guidelines
The finalists will be selected by our judging panel. All submissions must be written in English. National submissions are accepted. As you fill out the submission form, make sure that you adhere to these guidelines listed below:
- Submissions are due no later than March 15th at 11:59pm EST.
- The scripts that are submitted must be the final version.
- Plays must be between 10-15 minutes in length.
- Playwrights may submit one play for $5, or up to three plays for $10.
- Submissions will be capped at 300.
- Eight submissions will be chosen to take part in a best of show competition with the winning submissions receiving a cash prize. Submissions involving two or more writers, the monetary prize will be divided equally among them.
- Plays that are submitted should feature six actors or less.
- Scripts with minimal set, costume, and prop requirements are preferred.
- Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a fully produced production. Plays that have been through workshops and stage readings are allowed.
- Plays must be submitted electronically in PDF format or as a word document.
- Each play being submitted must be in a separate document. Any document containing multiple plays will only have the first one being considered for the festival.
- We will not be considering any musicals, screenplays, or theatre for young audiences’ scripts for this festival.
- Only completed applications will be considered.
- If selected for festival participation, playwrights must be prepared to provide a professional bio and headshot. These materials will be utilized in festival promotions, including marketing, programs, and other publicity efforts.
Questions? Email [email protected].
All submissions must accompany an Administrative Fee. The fee will go towards producing the festival and the cash prize. By submitting a script and paying the entrance fee, it is assumed that the playwright agrees to the festival guidelines. Payment/submissions will receive a confirmation email.
Festival finalist will receive notifications some time in late Summer, 2025. If chosen, the playwright and Hendersonville Theatre will enter a letter of agreement before rehearsals commence.
Hendersonville Theatre reserves the right to not choose any entries for production, without a refund and the right to update the rules of the festival at any time. Hendersonville Theatre also reserves the right to reject any script for any reason and to determine the ineligibility of a winner.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.