Play by Play Festival

Every couple of years the Northampton Playwrights Lab produces a week-long Play by Play Festival featuring staged readings of new works by our members. Performed by professional local actors in collaboration with directors and stage managers, Play by Play celebrates the exceptional theater talent in Western Mass and gives audiences the opportunity to see a wide range of new plays presented in public for the first time.

The 2026 Play by Play Festival, celebrating our 20th Anniversary, will take place in the the workroom of the Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street.

Thurs April 23, 7:30pm - My Inferno by Harley Erdman

A simple evening stroll through the streets of Manhattan takes a turn for the worse as Dante encounters various circles of hell, past present & future. Join us for a surreal and surprising romp through worlds both strange and familiar.

Fri April 24, 8pm - Another True Thing by Meryl Cohn

A provocative writing instructor pushes a small group of aspiring storytellers to tell the stories they’re most afraid to tell. When they share more than they intend, revealing truth in front of strangers becomes scary, liberating, awkward, and sometimes volatile. As boundaries dissolve and intimacy deepens, the group confronts how unsettling—and sometimes transformative—it is to be seen.

Sat April 25, 2pm - Vashti Says No! by Talya Kingston

Stepping out of the Hebrew bible and into our modern time, Queen Esther takes us to a world of privilege and silence. When one woman speaks out against injustice, will she dare risk banishment or death to become the heroine of her own story?

Sat April 25, 8pm - Dig by Peter Kennedy

In a small desert town in southwestern Colorado, the death of archaeologist Sandy Adelfan is a catalyst for friends and family to begin excavating their own tangled pasts. As secrets are dug up, reality begins to deteriorate and trusted relationships erode.

Sun April 26, 2pm - double feature:

The In Between by Leanna James Blackwell

Three people meet in a public park in the afterlife. Who are they and why are they there? In this short comic drama, the way to find answers is mysterious and unexpected - and so is the way out.

Earworm by Stephanie Carlson

A struggling songwriter decides to write a tacky holiday song and discovers the joys and pitfalls of getting what you wish for.

Check back soon for ticket information.

photographs from the 2023 festival: