New Visions/New Voices is a biennial national festival for plays-in-progress written for young audiences. Over one hundred theater artists (playwrights, composers, directors, music directors, and actors) rewrite, revise, and rehearse new plays and musicals over a five-day period in May. The plays are presented as rehearsed readings during a three-day national conference for an audience of theater professionals, educators, publishers, and others interested in this field.
New Visions/New Voices 2010: May 21 - 23, 2010
Discussion Leader: Todd London
The Flea and the Professor
Adapted by Jordan Harrison from the Hans Christian Andersen story, composed by Richard Gray, directed by Anne Kauffman. Commissioned by Arden Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA).
The Scarecrow and His Servant
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the Philip Pullman novel, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Commissioned by The Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis, MN).
Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly
Adapted by Y York, directed by Mark Lutwak. Commissioned by First Stage Children's Theater (Milwaukee, WI).
Promised Land of Balalatladi
Adapted by Omphile Molusi, directed by Monageng ‘Vice' Motshabi. From Market Theatre (Johannesburg, South Africa).
Our Sunjata
Written and directed by Christopher T. Parks. Commissioned by McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ).
The Very True and Unusual Life of Chook
By Angela Betzien, directed by Leticia Cáceres. Commissioned by Real TV (Melbourne, Australia).
The Edge of Peace
By Suzan Zeder, directed by Linda Hartzell, with ASL Master/Actor Billy Seago. Commissioned by Seattle Children's Theatre (Seattle, WA).
New Visions/New Voices 2008: April 25 - 27, 2008
Discussion Leader: Laurie Brooks
Dani Girl
Book and lyrics by Christopher Dimond, music by Michael Kooman, directed by John Carrafa. Commissioned by American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco, CA).
The Happiest Show on Earth
Music Composed by Stuart Day, directed by Dave Brown. Commissioned by Patch Theatre Company (Adelaide, Australia).
The Judgment of Bett
By R.N. Sandberg, directed by Scott Zigler. Commissioned by American Repertory Theatre (Cambridge, MA) and Discovering Justice (Boston MA).
Katrina: The Girl Who Wanted Her Name Back
By Jason Tremblay, directed by Tom Arvetis. Commissioned by Adventure Stage Chicago (Chicago, IL).
The Monster Under the Bed
By Kevin Dyer, directed by Richard Shannon. Commissioned by Polka Theatre (London, England).
Nocturnal
By Ramon Esquivel, directed by Richard Perez. Commissioned by Bloomington Playwrights Project (Bloomington, IN).
Pobby and Dingan
Adapted by Paula Wing from the book by Ben Lee, directed by Stewart Arnott. Commissioned by Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (Toronto, Canada).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 2006: May 19 - 21, 2006
Discussion Leader: Jeff Church
Wild Horses
By Rhiana Yazzie, directed by Randy Reinholz. Commissioned by Native Voices at the Autry (Los Angeles, CA).
The K of D
By Laura Schellhardt, directed by Laura Kepley. Commissioned by Trinity Repertory Theater (Providence, RI).
Dreams Carved from Stone
By Ric Averill, directed by Nancy Halverson. Commissioned by Children's Theatre Company of Sioux Falls, (Sioux Falls, SD).
Helly's Magic Cup (presented at New Visons/New Voices as Grail)
By Rosalba Clemente, directed by Michael Gow. Commissioned by Windmill Performing Arts (Adelaide, Australia).
Tale of a West Texas Marsupial Girl
By Lisa D'Amour, composed by Sxip Shirey, directed by Whit MacLaughlin. Commissioned by The Children's Theatre Company, (Minneapolis, MN).
Harriet Jacobs – Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Adapted by Lydia Diamond from the book by Harriet Jacobs, composed by McKinley Johnson, directed by Hallie Gordon. Commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre (Chicago, IL).
Adapted from L'enfant et les sortileges by Maurice Ravel, new libretto by Carl Miller, directed by Tony Graham. Commissioned by Unicorn Theatre (London, England).
back to top
New Visions 2004: May 21 – 23, 2004
Discussion Leader: Ricardo Khan
Einstein is a Dummy
Book and lyrics by Karen Zacarias, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, directed by Rosemary Newcott. Commissioned by Alliance Theatre Company (Atlanta, GA).
Anon(ymous): an Adaptation of the Odyssey
An adaptation of Homer's "Odyssey" by Naomi Iizuka, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Commissioned by The Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis, MN).
Nothing is the Same
By Y York, directed by Mark Lutwak. Commissioned by Honolulu Theatre for Youth (Honolulu, HI).
Perfectly Persephone, the myth of spring
By Kevin Kling, directed by Janet Stanford. Commissioned by Imagination Stage (Bethesda, MD).
Witness
By John Urquhart, adapted from the novel by Karen Hesse, directed by Vivian Robin Snipes. Commissioned by Lexington Children's Theatre (Lexington, KY).
By Doug Cooney and David O., adapted from the novel by George Saunders, directed by Corey Madden. Commissioned by commissioned by Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles, CA).
back to top
New Visions 2002: May 17 - 19, 2002
Discussion Leader: Todd London
The Bully Show
By Brian Guehring, directed by Kevin Ehrhart. Commissioned by Omaha Theater for Young People (Omaha, NE).
Color Me Dark: A Story of the Great Migration North
By Jerome Hairston, adapted from the novel by Patricia C. McKissak, directed by Ricardo Kahn. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC) and Scholastic Entertainment (New York, NY).
Dis/Troy
By Yokanaan Kearns, directed by Mark Lutwak. Commissioned by Honolulu Theatre for Youth (Honolulu, HI).
Power Play
By Barry Kornhauser, music composed by Ron Barnett, directed by Eric Johnson. Commissioned by Blue Shift Theatre Ensemble (Boone, NC) and Fulton Theatre (Lancaster, PA).
The Red Badge of Courage
By Joe Sutton, adapted from the novel by Steven Crane, directed by Linda Hartzell. Commissioned by Seattle Children's Theatre (Seattle, WA).
Sacagawea
By Eric Coble, composed by Marv Ross, directed by Stan Foote. Commissioned by Oregon Children's Theater (Portland, OR).
The Selfish Giant, book, music & lyrics by Russ Brown, adapted from the story by Oscar Wilde, orchestrated by Justin Nabors, directed by Jill Womack. Commissioned by Theater Reaching Young People and Schools (TRYPS) (Columbia, MO).
Stories My Mother Told Me: The Odyssey of Telemeca
By Mary Hall Surface and David Maddox, co-directed by David Saar and Jose Cruz Gonzalez. Commissioned by Childsplay (Tempe, AZ).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 2000: One Theater World
A Joint Project between the Kennedy Center and ASSITEJ/USA. The following six projects were the rehearsed readings constituting New Visions/New Voices portion of the event
Discussion Leader: Todd London
Lake of Panthers
By Eric Coble, directed by William Hoffman. Commissioned by The Cleveland Play House (Cleveland, OH).
Shim Ch'ong Chon: A Korean Folk Tale
By Doug Kaback, composed by Hi-za Yoo, directed by James Hanes. Commissioned by Department of Theatre, California State University Northridge (Los Angeles, CA).
The Emperor's New Clothes: An Opera for Children
Music, lyrics and book by Ric Averill, directed by Graham Whitehead. Commissioned by the Seem To Be Players, (Lawrence, KS).
The Beggar's Strike
Adapted by Carlyle Brown from the book by Aminata Sow Fall, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Commissioned by The Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis, MN).
Salt & Pepper
By José Cruz González, directed by David Saar. Commissioned by Childsplay (Tempe, AZ).
By Mark Medoff, directed by Bob Devin Jones. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 1998
Discussion Leader: Peter C. Brosius
Caribe
By Saundra McClain, composed by Kysia Bostic, directed by Regge Life. Commissioned by Troupe NY (New York, NY).
The Dream Thief
By Robert Schenkkan, directed by John Vreeke. Commissioned by First Stage (Milwaukee, WI).
The Tales of Wost
By Kevin Lawler, directed by Stephanie Anderson. Commissioned by Omaha Theater Company for Young People (Omaha, NE).
Even Steven Goes to War
By Allison Gregory, composed by David Maddox, directed by David Saar. Commissioned by A.S.K. Theatre Project (Los Angeles, CA).
The Incredible Disappearing Lady
By Maria Dahvana Headley, composed by Michael Keck, directed by Pamela Sterling. Commissioned by Idaho Theater for Youth (Boise, ID).
Wrestling Season
By Laurie Brooks, directed by Jeff Church. Commissioned by
Coterie Theatre Kansas City, MO).
Searching for David's Heart
By Cherie Bennett, directed by Rob Goodman. Commissioned by Long Wharf Theatre (New Haven, CT).
Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Piñata Woman and Other Super Hero Girls Like Me
By Luis Alfaro, Alma Elena Cervantes, Sandra C. Muñoz, Marisela Norte, Directed by Lisa Peterson. Commissioned by Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles, CA).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 1996
Discussion Leader: Todd London
Panelists: Abigail Adams and Yvonne J. Levette
Cyra and Rocky
By Cherie Bennett, directed by Janine Nina Trevens. Commissioned by TADA! Youth Theater (New York, NY).
Beeswax
By Doug Cooney, composed by Craig Ames and Carlos Moran, directed by Deborah S. Nitzberg. Commissioned by City Lights Youth Theatre (New York, NY).
The Highest Heaven
By Jose Cruz Gonzalez, directed by John McCluggage. Commissioned by the San Jose Repertory Theatre (San Jose, CA).
Song of Rice, Song of Life
By Karen Yamamoto Hackler, composed by Kenny Endo, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Commissioned by Honolulu Theatre for Youth (Honolulu, HI).
I Believe I'll Run On and See What the End's Gonna Be
By Kim Hines, directed by Michael Robins. Commissioned by Illusion Theater (Minneapolis, MN).
Bunnicula
By Jon Klein, adapted from the books by James and Deborah Howe, composed by Chris Jeffries, directed by Rita Giomi. Commissioned by Seattle Children's Theatre (Seattle, WA).
Quinly Agonistes (aka A Por Quinly Christmas)
By Quincy Long, composed by Michael Silversher, directed by Kathleen Dimmick. Commissioned by Sundance Institute (Salt Lake City, UT).
By N. Scott Momaday, directed by Tazewell Thompson. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 1995
Discussion Leader: Linda Hartzell
Panelists: Tomas Hernandez, Phyllis S. K. Look, and Leanne Tintori Wells
Youth Panelists: Julian Breece, Vanessa Brown, Sarah Palmer, and Matthew Wehner
And Now Miguel
By Lynn Alvarez, adapted from the book by Joseph Krumgold, composed by Mauricio Beltran, directed by Susana Tubert. Commissioned by Lincoln Center Institute (New York, NY).
Across the Plains: The Journey of the Palace Wagon Family
By Sandra Fenichel Asher, directed by Amie Brockway. Commissioned by
Coterie Theatre (Kansas City, MO).
Selkie
By Laurie Brooks, directed by Nancy Swortzell. Commissioned by New York University Program in Educational Theater (New York, NY).
Maryushka and Baba Yaga
By Carol Korty, domposed by Scott Wheeler, directed by Robert W. Colby. Commissioned by Emerson College (Boston, MA).
Angels Voices
Book and lyrics by Gary Race, composed by Noa Ain, directed by Gary Race. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).
A Village Fable: In the Suicide Mountains
By James Still, adapted from the book "In the Suicide Mountains" by John Gardner, composed by Michael Keck, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Commissioned by
Center Theater Group (Los Angeles, CA).
tigertigertiger
By Mac Wellman, composed by Michael Roth, directed by Liz Diamond. Commissioned by Sundance Institute (Salt Lake City, UT).
By Eric L. Wilson, composed by Chris Limber, directed by Milton R. Zoth. Commissioned by the MUNY Student Theatre (St. Louis, MO).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 1993
Discussion Leader: Todd London
Panelists: Robert Graham Small, Tazewell Thompson, and Suzan L. Zeder
T-Money & Wolf
By Ric Averill and Kevin Willmot, directed by Ric Averill and Kevin Willmott. Commissioned by Seem To Be Players, (Lawrence, KS).
Victoria's Christmas
By John B. Davidson, composed by Roberta Carlson and John B. Davidson, directed by Gary Gisselman. Commissioned by The Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis, MN).
The Sun's Musicians
By David F. Eliet, composed by Nancy Rosenberg, directed by Roger T. Danforth. Commissioned by The Cleveland Play House (Cleveland, OH).
Imaginary Friends
By Laurie Brooks, adapted from the story by Terry Brooks, directed by Alan Levy. Commissioned by Hartford Children's Theater (Hartford, CT).
Alicia in Wonder Tierra, (or I Can't Eat Goat Head)
By Sylvia Gonzalez S., directed by Albert Pertalion. Commissioned by Body Politic Theatre (Chicago, IL).
The Very First Family
Music, lyrics, and book by Philip Hall (presented at New Vision/ New Voices as The First Family of Africa), directed by Dale AJ Rose. Commissioned by
Coterie Theatre (Kansas City, MO).
The Matsuyama Mirror
By Velina Hasu Houston, directed by Brian Nelson. Commissioned by East West Players (Los Angeles, CA).
By Y York, adapted from the book by Janet Taylor Lisle, directed by Linda Hartzell. Commissioned by Seattle Children's Theatre (Seattle, WA).
back to top
New Visions/New Voices 1991
Discussion Leader: Sandra Deer
Dragonwings
By Laurence Yep, adapted from his book Dragonwings, directed by Phyllis S.K. Look. Commissioned by Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Berkeley, CA).
Do Not Go Gentle
By Suzan L. Zeder, directed by Jim Hancock. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).
The Yellow Boat
By David Saar, directed by Carol Evans. Commissioned by Childsplay (Tempe, AZ) and Metro Theater Company (St. Louis, MO).
‘SKEGEE
By Deborah Sims-Wood, composed by Howard Kenney, Directed by Derek Anson Jones.
The Secret History of the Future
By James Still, directed by Deirdre Kelly Lavrakas. Commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC).
A Tale of Two Cities
Music, lyrics, and book by Wendy Kesselman, adapted from the book by Charles Dickens, directed by Moses Goldberg. Commissioned by Stage One Children's Theatre (Louisville, KY).
White Sails, Dark Seas
By Paul Lavrakas, directed by Kim Peter Kovac. Commissioned by Birmingham Children's Theatre (Birmingham, AL).
Young Playwrights Roundtable
Short plays and scenes from the Kennedy Center Young Playwrights Roundtable, written by Erik Blankenship, Thomas Campbell, Josh Frank, Josh Granger, and Jason Kaiser,directed by Mary Hall Surface.
back to top
