The Phoenix Theatre Company Announces the Richard P. Stahl Festival of New American Theatre December 2026 

(October 13, 2026 – PHOENIX) – The Phoenix Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the 29th Annual Richard P. Stahl Festival of New American Theatre, taking place December 4 – 20, 2026. This year’s festival continues the Company’s longstanding commitment to amplifying new voices and expanding the canon of American theatre. 

The Festival will feature an exciting lineup of events that showcase the journey from page to stage, including a play reading, two musical readings, two Composer Lyricist Cabarets, a Composer and Lyricist Panel, a Choreography Lab, the beloved 24-Hour Theatre Project, a Design Panel, an improvised musical, a collaboration with Spotlight Youth Theatre for the First Draft Series: Young Playwrights, and an exclusive first glance at one of our upcoming productions.  

“The 29th Annual Richard P. Stahl Festival of New American Theatre falls at a pivotal time in our 2026-2027 season, just ahead of two regional premieres in development with The Phoenix Theatre Company. For the first time in many years, we are thrilled to offer all our Festival events in the Hormel Theatre this December, featuring an impressive lineup of local and national artists,” said Michelle Chin, the Festival Director. “Audiences can expect to gain an even greater understanding of the development process and how valuable festivals like ours are to that process.” 

Festival Highlights Include: 

Choreography Lab 
December 4 at 7:30 pm and December 6 at 5:30 pm 
Two choreographers will interpret “Galapagos” from Techies by Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, who also wrote Unlock’d which will be featured in our upcoming season, showcasing the transformative power of movement. 

First Draft Series: Young Playwrights (in collaboration with Spotlight Youth Theatre) 
December 5 & 6 at 10:00 am  
Featuring winners of Spotlight Youth Theatre’s 2026-2027 Playfest playwriting competition. 

New Works Design Panel – Featuring Bandit Queen 
December 5 at 5:30 pm 
Designers discuss their creative process and vision for bringing new works to life. 

Bandit Queen – Musical Reading 
Composer and Book Writer: Amanda D’Archangelis and Lyricist and Co-Book Writer: Sami Horneff  
December 5 at 7:30 pm and December 6 at 2:00 pm 
It’s the opening night of “The Arizona Female Bandit” in 1902, and playwright Katy Davy gets the surprise of her life when the play’s subject, Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s most notorious lady outlaw (who just happens to be Katy’s older sister) bursts in on the final rehearsal, demanding to play herself in the show. As the women step into their own roles, they are forced to both relive their harrowed past and mend their old scars live, in real time. 

Composer Lyricist Cabarets 
Featuring Dylan MarcAurele (December 11 at 7 pm and December 13 at 5:30 pm) and Ryan Ardelt & Matt Villar (December 11 at 8:30 pm and December 13 at 12:30 pm) 
45-minute sets of music followed by talkbacks with the artists. 

[title to be determined]: An Improvised Musical  
December 12 at 5:30 pm 
Artists gather audience suggestions to improvise a complete musical—music, lyrics, and dialogue in real time. 

Composer and Lyricist Panel 

December 12 at 10 am 

A discussion between all of the writers and adapters behind week two of the Festival: Ryan Ardelt, Dylan MarcAurele, Jack Viertel, Matt Villar, and Sam Willmott. This behind-the-scenes event will focus on the process of songwriting, adapting musicals, and how different writing teams approach the journey from page to stage or from screen to stage. 

The Human Comedy – Musical Reading 
Book Writer and Lyricist: William Dumaresq, Composer: Galt MacDermot and Adapters: Jack Viertel, Sam Willmott, and Sammi Cannold 
December 12 at 7:30 pm and December 13 at 2:00 pm 
Set during World War II, young Homer Macauley becomes a telegraph delivery boy bringing messages of hope and tragedy to the local residents. 

The Sparkle Wars – Play Reading 
Playwright: Brendan Bourque-Sheil 

December 18 at 7:30 pm and December 20 at 2:00  
After their production of The Laramie Project gets shut down, a group of high school Theatre students take on the local school board in this 90-minute mockumentary. 

The 24-Hour Theatre Project 
Artist Drawing: December 18 at 7:00 pm and Performance: December 19 at 7:00 pm 
Four playwrights randomly paired with directors and actors to create, rehearse, and perform brand-new short plays in just 24 hours. 

First Glance: Churchill and Roosevelt 

December 20 at 11:00 am 

Our 2024-2025 season saw an almost sold-out run of Churchill written by David Payne and performed by David and his son Daniel.  In January they return to the Hardes Theatre to premiere their new play, Churchill and Roosevelt: The Christmas That Saved The World.  Join us for a first glance of the play that features two world leaders thrust together at a critical time in world history.  Featuring David as Churchill and directed by Daniel, father and son also discuss the development process that preceded this new production and the other productions in their roster – seven in total – all of which feature renowned historical figures.  

The festival will be held in the Hormel Theatre. Tickets will be on sale in early November at phoenixtheatre.com/engage-learn/the-festival-of-new-american-theatre/

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ABOUT THE PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY 

The Phoenix Theatre Company is not only the largest professional regional theatre company in the state, with nearly 600 performances each year on multiple stages, but it’s also the first arts organization in Arizona and a founding member of the Central Arts District. Committed to advancing the performing arts in the Valley, The Phoenix Theatre Company’s mission is to create exceptional theatrical experiences that inspire hope and understanding. For more information about our upcoming shows, outreach programs, and more, visit www.phoenixtheatre.com.   

Visit phoenixtheatre.com/engage-learn/the-festival-of-new-american-theatre/ for submission links, FAQs, and full details.