Ashland New Plays Festival

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The annual Ashland New Plays Festival, which takes place in Ashland, Oregon, United States, was formed by ArtWork Enterprises in 1992.^[1] The week-long event focuses attention on playwrights and the development of new work for the American stage. The festival provides workshops for playwrights with actors and directors then holds public readings of four new plays. There are also discussions and writing workshops that are open to the public. The four winners each year represent culturally and thematically varied work and are selected from nationwide submissions.^[2] In 2007, there were 172 playwrights who participated through submissions and at the festival, growing to more than 190 in 2008.^[3]

The first few ANPFs were collaborations between local theater groups. As the years passed, the festival grew to draw participants from across the USA.^[4]

Playwrights such as David Rambo, Jamie Pachino, and Lisa Loomer have worked with ArtWork Enterprises over the years. Many of the scripts that are worked on and presented during the festival go on to broader recognition. Playwright Karen Zacharias received a Helen Hayes Award for her 1999 ANPF-winning play "The Sins of Sor Juana".^[5]

The organization that produces the ANPF also produces a festival of short plays, The Rogue Valley Ten-Minute Plays Festival^[6] and a special event called the Southern Oregon 24•7 Project.^[7] Many of the events use professional actors and directors.^[8]