A Festival of Readings for Educational & Community Stages • Presented by CPA Theatricals and Gitelman & Good Publishers
About Spotlight New Works Fest
Spotlight New Works Fest shines a light on ambitious new plays and musicals created for educational and community stages—the places where theatre begins.
The Writing Takes Center Stage
Spotlight New Works Fest is a curated festival dedicated to showcasing new shows written for educational and community stages.
The festival features scripted readings only, allowing the writing to take center stage. Submissions are reviewed and scored by a committee of readers, resulting in a selective, thoughtfully balanced lineup.
Spotlight New Works Fest is the only festival devoted exclusively to the secondary market, elevating ambitious new work for the stages where so many artists and audiences first fall in love with theatre.
No Submission Fees. No Participation Fees.
We provide the venue, festival staff, and the opportunity to present your work;
participating companies are responsible for producing and staging their own readings.
Festival Dates
June 29 - July 5, 2026
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Submit Your Work
January 3, 2026 - February 3, 2026
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Our Partners
Gitelman & Good Publishers is a curated, digital-first publishing and licensing company dedicated to high-quality plays and musicals written specifically for educational and community stages.
Founded with the belief that secondary-market theatre deserves the same artistic rigor as professional theatre, Gitelman & Good Publishers (GGP) focuses on work that is ensemble-rich, theatrically ambitious, and meaningful for student performers and their audiences.
Our catalog centers stories that invite curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking—without talking down to young people or the educators who guide them.
In addition to publishing and licensing, GGP creates teacher-friendly resources, including classroom companions, lesson plans, and author insights, to support meaningful engagement with new work in rehearsal rooms and classrooms alike.
GGP serves as the producing organization behind Spotlight New Works Fest, extending its mission to discover, elevate, and champion new voices writing for the secondary market.
CPA Theatricals, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to creating, producing, and supporting new musical theatre that educates, entertains, and expands opportunities for young performers and underserved communities.
Founded in 2002 by Larry Little, CPA Theatricals develops original musicals and stage works that often feature strong, compelling roles and ensemble-driven storytelling.
Over the years, CPA Theatricals has produced and developed numerous original shows that have gone on to broader licensing and performance opportunities, underscoring its commitment to artistic innovation and community engagement.
As a partner of Spotlight New Works Fest, CPA Theatricals brings decades of theatrical production experience and a shared belief in nurturing new work for the stages where future theatre makers begin their journey.
What Makes Spotlight New Works Fest Different?
Curated, Not Crowdsourced
Spotlight New Works Fest is intentionally curated.
Submissions are read and evaluated by a committee using a shared scoring framework, resulting in a selective lineup shaped by artistic merit and fit—not volume or speed.
Exclusively for the Secondary Market
Spotlight New Works Fest is the only festival devoted entirely to new plays written for educational and community stages.
We center work created for high school, college, and community theatre—where so many artists and audiences first encounter the power of live theatre.
No Fees –
For Anyone
There are no submission fees and no participation fees.
Playwrights never pay to be considered or included. The festival exists to support artists and educators, not to monetize access.