2025 Michigan Playwrights Festival

Schedule

Thu Sep 11 2025 at 08:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

410 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103 | Ann Arbor, MI

Advertisement
Theatre NOVA is dedicated to raising awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and new playwrights in a diverse and expanding audience. We created the Michigan Playwrights Festival, a series of professionally acted and directed music stand readings, to nurture Michigan playwrights and to develop full-length plays.
The MICHIGAN PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL will run September 11-14 at Theatre NOVA (410 W Huron St, Ann Arbor). Performances are Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 per performance, or $30 for a Festival Pass. Tickets may be purchased online at www.TheatreNOVA.org or in person one hour before each performance.
This year's festival:
“I Am A Sword” by Joseph Zettelmaier
Sept. 11 @ 8pm
Martine Lowe was an Olympic fencer until a brutal assault put her into a coma. Her recovery has been long and difficult, but she's managed to regain most of what she's lost. In hopes of returning to the competitive fencing world, she's begun training with Declan Teague, a man famous for his prestigious students and his unusual teaching methods. Martine moves in and out of reality as she faces the truth of what's happened to her and what it means to be a sword. Directed by Josie Herman. The cast includes: Brittany Batell, Jonathan Davidson, Andy Jones.
“Matrescence” by Jennifer Lane
Sept. 12 @ 8pm
Margot is an unmarried, pregnant, queer woman in her thirties, and she has to tell her ultraconservative Republican parents that she's having a baby. Using the structure of pregnancy, childbirth, and the fourth trimester, Matrescence is a story of motherhood in the modern era. Directed by CJ Williams. The cast includes: Bréon LaDawn, Princess Beyoncé Jones, Edward Colon, La’Paige, Larry Rink.
“Look at Me Now” by Jill Halpern
Sept. 13 @ 3pm
In this dramatic exploration of James Baldwin's quote "I am what time, circumstance, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also much more than that— so are we all..." a yin-meets-yang lesbian couple, an orphaned Black teen, and a third-generation White supremacist on Death Row are all dutifully playing their assigned roles— or trying— when a brush with death calls each to break free from the prison of fixed identity, from habitual ways of seeing and being seen, and find the grace in becoming. Directed by Bryana Hall. The cast includes: Cassandra Svacha, Emily Wilson-Tobin, Evan Brown.
“Blue Star Highway” by Andrew Morton
Sept. 13 @ 8pm
Blue Star Highway is an exploration of love, secrecy, and the impact of choices across generations. In 1994, William, a closeted high school teacher, meets Ben in the lakeside town of Saugatuck, Michigan and begins to imagine a different kind of life. Thirty years later, William’s children and grandchild arrive in Saugatuck for a funeral and discover the life their father lived after he left them. As past and present collide, they are forced to confront the past and redefine the meaning of family. Directed by Kevin Keller. The cast includes: Mike Sandusky, Jordan Clime, AJ Dagenais.
“These My Queens” by Sarah Elisabeth Brown
Sept. 14 @ 2pm
A 90s baby dyke performance artist falls in love with a budding drag queen and questions her sexuality. Directed by Siri Quist. The cast includes: Cassius Merriweather, Laura Nguyen.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

410 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Theatre Nova

Host or Publisher Theatre Nova

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Ann Arbor

Nerd Nite
Thu, 11 Sep at 07:00 pm Nerd Nite

LIVE Ann Arbor

Nature TV
Thu, 11 Sep Nature TV

Blind Pig

MUSIC
Nature TV, Special Guest Runner And Bobby
Thu, 11 Sep at 07:00 pm Nature TV, Special Guest Runner And Bobby

Blind Pig

MUSIC
Ann Arbor Glass Succulents & Trees Workshop  @ 4M Venue
Thu, 11 Sep at 07:00 pm Ann Arbor Glass Succulents & Trees Workshop @ 4M Venue

Venue by 4M

WORKSHOPS
Final Fantasy Win-a-Box Sealed
Fri, 12 Sep at 12:00 am Final Fantasy Win-a-Box Sealed

2459 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI

Habitat FORE Humanity of Huron Valley Golf Outing
Fri, 12 Sep at 09:00 am Habitat FORE Humanity of Huron Valley Golf Outing

Stonebridge Golf

SPORTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
ESL Community Tutoring at AADL Malletts Creek
Fri, 12 Sep at 10:30 am ESL Community Tutoring at AADL Malletts Creek

3090 E Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3225, United States

Love Train Adoption Days
Fri, 12 Sep at 11:00 am Love Train Adoption Days

Humane Society of Huron Valley

SHOPPING
Ann Arbor Concert Band - Broadway Spectacular at Michigan Theatre Ann Arbor
Fri, 11 Apr at 07:30 pm Ann Arbor Concert Band - Broadway Spectacular at Michigan Theatre Ann Arbor

Michigan Theatre Ann Arbor

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Tiny Film Festival
Sun, 24 Aug at 04:00 pm Tiny Film Festival

Ann Arbor District Library

ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVALS
Keigo Hirakawa Trio
Sun, 24 Aug at 06:00 pm Keigo Hirakawa Trio

314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Improv Jam
Sun, 24 Aug at 07:30 pm Improv Jam

2350 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103

Literati Presents: Austin Channing Brown in conversation w\/Ashley C. Ford
Mon, 25 Aug at 06:30 pm Literati Presents: Austin Channing Brown in conversation w/Ashley C. Ford

Literati Bookstore

ART LITERARY-ART
Dracula Auditions and Callbacks
Mon, 25 Aug at 07:00 pm Dracula Auditions and Callbacks

322 W Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48104

ART THEATRE
Historical Mystery Night with Dianne Freeman and Darcie Wilde
Wed, 27 Aug at 06:30 pm Historical Mystery Night with Dianne Freeman and Darcie Wilde

Schuler Books (Ann Arbor)

ART LITERARY-ART
Yes, Also: Live Podcast Recording & Improv Show
Wed, 27 Aug at 07:00 pm Yes, Also: Live Podcast Recording & Improv Show

2350 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103

PERFORMANCES COMEDY
SOLD OUT Summer of Studio Ghibli Dinner & Movie - Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Wed, 27 Aug at 07:00 pm SOLD OUT Summer of Studio Ghibli Dinner & Movie - Tale of the Princess Kaguya

603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48104

ENTERTAINMENT WORKSHOPS
Club Improv Group Showcase
Thu, 28 Aug at 07:00 pm Club Improv Group Showcase

2350 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103

Say What? Comedy Open Mic
Thu, 28 Aug at 08:00 pm Say What? Comedy Open Mic

2350 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Michigan 48103

OPEN-MIC COMEDY
Alex Anest Organ Trio | North Star Lounge
Sat, 30 Aug at 06:30 pm Alex Anest Organ Trio | North Star Lounge

North Star Lounge

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Ann Arbor?

Discover Ann Arbor Events