JULY 28, 2025
CONTACT: Isabella Rodrigues, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
EMAIL: IsabellaR@OrlandoShakes.org
After receiving over 200 new play submissions, Orlando Shakes, in partnership with UCF, has selected 5 finalists for PlayFest 2025.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Shakes, in partnership with UCF, is pleased to announce the finalists and semi-finalists for PlayFest 2025. Selected from over 200 submissions, these exceptional plays represent vibrant voices in contemporary theater.
Orlando Shakes PlayFest is a two-week-long annual festival that provides a place for writers, theater professionals, and audiences to connect and share ideas that promote thought-provoking stories. Audiences experience staged readings of six new works over two weekends and participate in the development of new plays, conversing with playwrights, directors, and actors while absorbing groundbreaking new works.
Finalists for PlayFest 2025 include Chasing Gods by Paris Crayton III, Dead Girls Quinceañera by Phanésia Pharel, Tumbleweed by Marcus Scott, Muse of Fire by Lauren Gunderson, and Dunk City by Stephen Brown. These five plays will be featured in staged readings during the festival, accompanied by audience feedback and development opportunities.
“We are thrilled to announce the return of Playfest this fall, and we couldn’t be more excited to showcase the work of this dynamic group of playwrights,” said Roberta Emerson, Director of New Play Development. “Their creativity and vision promise to astonish and captivate audiences. We eagerly anticipate sharing these incredible stories with our community and celebrating the magic of new plays together!”
Semifinalists for PlayFest 2025 include The Mallard by Vincent Delaney, The Sandwich Ministry by Miranda Hall, Walk Away, Anna May by Diana Ly, The Great Reveal by David Valdes, and Mercy by Felicia Oduh. Although not selected for a staged reading, these semi-finalists will be celebrated and recommended through the National New Play Network’s New Play Exchange platform, enhancing visibility and opportunities for further development of their plays.
PlayFest 2025 is scheduled for two weekends at Orlando Shakes: October 24-26 and October 28-November 2.
Orlando Shakes and UCF congratulate all finalists and semi-finalists on their remarkable achievements.
For more information about PlayFest 2025, please visit https://wob.frg.mybluehost.me/website_944fc117/npd/playfest/
Orlando Shakes is a core member of the National New Play Network, a nationwide organization devoted to developing new work through the New Play Exchange, rolling world premieres, the Producer-in-Residence Program, and annual conferences. Orlando Shakes prides itself on active participation within the national new play community while engaging its local audiences in the latest and greatest in playwriting.
PlayFest 2025 is sponsored in part by Frank Santos.
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ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Now in its 37th season, Orlando Shakes, in partnership with UCF, is Central Florida’s largest non-profit professional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.
** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs, and by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts. Additional support is also provided by generous individual donors.
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest