Steamboat Springs’ Bud Werner Memorial Library will serve as a launchpad for promising new plays this weekend as the Colorado New Play Festival opens its 27th season. 

Beginning Friday and continuing through Saturday evening, the festival will feature staged readings in Library Hall of four new plays presented by nationally acclaimed theater companies, including Roundabout Theatre in New York and Northlight Theatre in Chicago. Readings are open to the public and offer a chance to preview developing works that may reach stages across the country.

Festival co-founder Jim Steinberg said this year’s lineup showcases a range of voices, perspectives and themes including family legacies, historical events and artistic ambition.

“We’ve got everything from a Cambodian American refugee story to a two-person play about Shakespeare’s marriage,” Steinberg said. “The variety of voices is what makes this festival so impactful.”

The weekend kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday with “A Conversation with the Playwrights,” a discussion led by festival curator Joel Ruark, who will explore the craft of writing for the stage.

Friday evening readings:

5 p.m. – “Creature Feature” by Noah Diaz, presented by Roundabout Theatre in New York

Eleven-year-old Topeka lives in the shadow of her family’s horror TV show. When her mother, who is the show’s host, suddenly quits, it leads to chaos. Topeka finds herself pushed into an unexpected starring role. The play is a coming-of-age piece about identity, performance and the roles we’re asked to play in life.

8 p.m. – “Dawn” by Tuyết Thị Phạm, presented by Everyman Theatre in Baltimore

Set against the trauma of the Khmer Rouge, “Dawn” explores the relationship between Mary, a Cambodian American woman, and her mother, both of whom are grappling with generational scars, guilt and healing. The deeply emotional and personal play traces a journey toward liberation and mutual understanding.

Saturday evening readings:

4 p.m. – “Vienna, Vienna, Vienna” by Carey Perloff, presented by Six Points Theater in Minneapolis

This heartfelt and humorous story follows three generations of a Jewish family as they travel to Vienna for an award ceremony. Along the way, old beliefs are questioned and bonds are tested — accompanied by generous servings of Viennese chocolate cake.

7:30 p.m. – “Muse of Fire” by Lauren Gunderson, presented by Northlight Theatre in Chicago

One of America’s most-produced playwrights presents a story about William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway. The two-person drama about love, art and sacrifice explores the heart of a storyteller and his creative flame.

All readings will take place at Library Hall in the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Individual tickets and weekend passes are available.

The festival’s unique model sets it apart. Rather than only inviting playwrights, the CNPF partners with theater companies to provide development opportunities for plays with a path to production. This structure has led to more than 100 plays being staged around the world.

Steinberg said the value of the festival was on display earlier this week when “Purpose,” a play first developed at the 2019 festival, won the Tony Award for best play after previously earning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the American Theatre Critics Award.

“That’s never happened before in American theater where a single play won all three,” he said. “And it started here in Steamboat Springs. Literally in our cottage, over coffee and conversations.”

That kind of success, he said, deepens the festival’s commitment to elevating new voices.

“We do this because storytelling is essential,” Steinberg said. “When local audiences come out and take part in this process, they’re helping shape the future of American theater.”

For tickets or more information, visit ColoradoNewPlayFestival.org