Name: Old Pueblo Playwrights 2025 New Play Festival
Start: 2025-02-06T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-02-09T21:30:00-07:00
Location: Temple of Music and Art, Cabaret Theatre

Old Pueblo Playwrights 2025 New Play Festival

Old Pueblo Playwrights 36th Annual New Play Festival

Features 17 Plays by 11 Authors in February 2025!

The Old Pueblo Playwrights 36th Annual New Play Festival presents staged readings of 17 original works by 11 playwrights at Tucson’s Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre this February.

“As one of America’s longest running dramatist groups Old Pueblo Playwrights is thrilled to partner with a bevy of local talent to bring literary theatre to life” says 2025 Festival Coordinator John Vornholt. “As always our annual celebration of Tucson theatre offers something for every taste budget and attention span.”

Festival newcomers include Michael Singervalt and Jeffrey Webster.

Festival veterans include award-winning Dramatist Guild member Leslie Powell a recent addition to the OPP board and co-founder of the North Shore Readers Theatre Collaborative Writers & Actors Ink and Random Acts festival. Powell’s plays have been read and produced in Phoenix San Antonio Scottsdale Toronto. Other returning playwrights include award-winning author Gavin Kayner and OPP Treasurer Mel Hector MD. The University of Arizona College of Medicine professor explores the family dilemma of a young man’s addiction in You Never Know. OPP board member and Southern New Hampshire University Professor Liisa Rose returns with seven (!) shorts. Other veterans include OPP board member Sydney Flynn husband Vince Sharon Surhoff. And David Rochon’s Finding Mary Tyler Moore is a change of pace from his Curious Incident of the Dogs Who Might Bite (2022) and Shower Monster (2023).

“Like Hamlet we believe the play’s the thing” notes Vornholt. The best-selling author actor playwright director producer screenwriter journalist and Active Imagination Theatre co-founder has been president of OPP for years. “Each play is performed just once script in hand on a bare-bones set. Post-performance talkbacks add a workshop experience.”

Playwrights Scott Berg and Liisa Rose co-chair this year’s festival.

ADMISSION Pay $10/performance or $35/all-festival pass at the door; cash or check; no credit cards or reserved seats. Credentialed media admitted free.

Thurs. Feb. 6 @ 7 PM

MICHAEL SINGERVALT: “Murphy’s Son”—A retired Marine recently widowed attempts to mend fences with his estranged son before parting forever. Singervalt directs Matthew Jbara (JEFFREY) Brandon Joule (ALLEN) Joe L. Smith (TOM); Susan Hawkins (STAGE DIRECTIONS/FACILITATOR).

Fri. Feb. 7 @ 7 PM

JEFFREY WEBSTER: “Cassandra”—A couple must deal with the husband's unstable ex-girlfriend. Regina Ford directs Chad Eggen (PHIL MORROW) Eric Everts (GORDON) Ray Hebert (AMIR “JOE” HADDAD) Meagan Jones (MISSY) Marcy Miller (BETSY MORROW) Diana Ouradnik (CASSANDRA “CASSIE” ROSS) and Liisa Rose (BARBARA/MOM/PHYLLIS); John Vornholt (FACILITATOR).

Sat. Feb. 8 @2 PM

SHARON SURHOFF: “Six Mile Inn”—Pirates and ghosts add comic mayhem to this rollicking tale. Joanne Anderson directs Scott Berg (BLACKBEARD) Ben Dygert (COL. WM. SCOTT) Paul Hammock (HENRI MOUTON) LaNette Khalil (LAVINIA FISHER) Art Lohman (HISTORY TEACHER) John Love IV (MAJOR STEDE BONNE) Craig Ludwiczak (JOHN FISHER) Kira McNeill (BUTTERCUP) and Dan Reichel (MR. STEVENSON); Barb Tobiasson (STAGE MANAGER); Jeffrey Webster (FACILITATOR).
DAVID ROCHON: “Finding Mary Tyler Moore”—In Minneapolis on business with a young colleague Charlie contemplates life loss nostalgia at the foot of a famous statue. Carl Damhesel directs Eric Everts (CHARLIE) Audrey Ann Gambach (GAYLE/ PASSERBY #2) Tristin McCrocklin (REYNALDO/PASSERBY #3) Kira McNeil (SONYA) and Ricky Sprau (TOM/PASSERBY #1); Liisa Rose (FACILITATOR).
GAVIN KAYNER: “Last Man Standing”—A too-heavy secret is shared to devastating effect. Kayner directs Kevin Chess (VOICES) Meagan Jones (LISA) and Mike Sultzbach (MIKE); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).

Sat. Feb. 8 @ 7 PM

MEL HECTOR: “You Never Know”—Addiction alienation anger and guns make for a toxic mix—oh and misogyny. Zach Wetzel directs Meagan Jones (SUSAN MIGUEL) Brandon Joule (THOMAS MIGUEL) Courtney Pulitzer (DR. MELODY CARTER) Adrian Cory (LEFTY SARS) Joe L. Smith (DR. MARK MIGUEL) Blayk Sprau (OFFICER 1) Tristan McCrocklin (OFFICER 2); Liisa Rose (FACILITATOR).

Sun. Feb. 9 @ 2 PM

LIISA ROSE: “Southern Hospitality”—South Carolina battles California in an HOA pet/pet owner fight. Alex Totillo directs Kira McNeill (TIFFY) and Bella Vivante (PATRICIA); TBA (FACILITATOR).
LIISA ROSE: “Savage”—Karma is a bi**h. Alex Totillo directs Adrian Cory (WILL) and Meagan Jones (ELLEN); TBA (FACILITATOR).
SHARON SURHOFF: “Grace”—What family history lingers in inherited antiques? Jeffrey Webster directs Nancy Ekstrom (GRACE) and Meagan Jones (LOUISE); Mel Hector (FACILITATOR).
LESLIE POWELL: “Crossroads”—One dark and stormy night a young couple come face-to-face with their dangerous future. Esther Almazan directs Scott Berg (OLD EDDY) Eric Everts (YOUNG EDDY) Meagan Jones (YOUNG BONNIE JEAN) and Sydney Flynn (OLD BONNIE JEAN); Ron Pullins (FACILITATOR).
LIISA ROSE: “Ash is to Ashes”—Three sweet old ladies devise a business plan to enrich their golden years. Alex Totillo directs Joanne Anderson (JUNE) Sydney Flynn (EDIE) and Ina Shivack (BETTY); TBA (FACILITATOR).

Sun. Feb. 9 @ 7 PM

LIISA ROSE: “MIL-ILF”—A new twist on MILF! Scott Berg directs Sydney Flynn (JANICE) Matthew Jbara (GERALD) Meagan Jones (GRACE) Kira McNeill (TAYLOR) and Joe L. Smith (FLIGHT ATTENDANT); TBA (FACILITATOR).
LIISA ROSE: “Fifty-Six”—Every grandmother’s worst nightmare comes to fruition. Scott Berg directs Esther Almazan (DR. ALLIE) and Kim Lowry (CAROL); TBA (FACILITATOR).
SYDNEY FLYNN: “Telling Mrs. Fairchild”—Mrs. Fairchild is getting quite forgetful—or is she? Scott Berg directs Esther Almazan (A WOMAN) Joanne Anderson (MRS. FAIRCHILD) Eric Everts (JERRY) and Kristen Kallen-Keck (LUCINDA); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).
VINCE FLYNN: “Pat’s Story”—Pat really wants to be a member of the club. Drew Kallen-Keck directs Kristen Kallen-Keck (PAT); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).
LIISA ROSE: “To Making It Home”—A Colonel and his mentee toast to making it home from Afghanistan. Joanne Anderson directs Adrian Cory (LT. COL. JEREMY OAKES) Kira McNeill (SGT. MILLER) and Joe L. Smith (COL. WILLIAM MAYS); TBA (FACILITATOR).
LIISA ROSE: “Appendices”—A burst appendix? Really Donald? You couldn’t invent something better? Regina Ford and Jeff Webster co-direct Kira McNeill (VOICE) Jeffrey Webster (DONALD) and Regina Ford (MARJORIE); TBA (FACILITATOR).

FYI Old Pueblo Playwrights has been inspiring writers to create diverse new dramatic works for almost 40 years. Join us Monday nights to table-read and critique original works. Follow us on Facebook. Visit us at oldpuebloplaywrights.org. Donate by check to PO Box 775 Tucson AZ 85702 or at [email protected]. Special thanks to the Alliance Performance Center of Tucson (d/b/a Tucson Alliance of Dramatic Artists) for their support of our 501C3 Tucson nonprofit.