The South Carolina New Play Festival has revealed its 2026 season, including new plays and musicals, outdoor performances and special events. The festival will run from July 29 through Aug. 9 in Greenville and the schedule includes:
“The House I Live In: Josh White’s America”
- July 29-Aug. 9, times vary
- Cristal Palace Spiegeltent, Greenville
- Written by Donnetta Lavinia Grays with music and lyrics by Josh White, this original musical marks SCNPF’s first fully staged world premiere and tells the story of pioneering folk musician and civil rights activist, Josh White.
“Fission”
- Aug. 7, 7 p.m.
- Greenville Theatre
- Written by Cindy Lou Johnson, this play follows scientists Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn as their discovery of nuclear fission reshapes history and destroys their 30-year partnership.
SPINX Market Live Arts Fair
- Aug. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Main Street and Falls Park Drive, Greenville
- Hosted by award-winning performer Christina Gelsone, this event will feature local arts organizations and internationally renowned performers.
“Night Game”
- Aug. 8, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville
- Written by Octavio Solis and directed by Lisa Portes, this play centers on baseball legend Ted Williams. When he returns to his childhood home to reconnect with his estranged brother, their reunion explores identity, destiny and the complexities of family.
“The Communist Revolution: A Ninth-Grade European History Project”
- Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
- Greenville Theatre
- Written by Grace McLeod and directed by SCNPF Artistic Director Shelley Butler, this play follows a teenager who takes her history project to the extreme by launching a backyard communist revolution.
Late Night Variety Show
- Aug. 8, 9:30 p.m.
- Cristal Palace Spiegeltent
- This one-night-only event will showcase a mix of world-class circus artists blending acrobatics, physical comedy and feats of skill in an intimate, immersive setting.
Broadway Cabaret
- Aug. 9, 7 p.m.
- Cristal Palace Spiegeltent
- This show will feature performances by Drew Gehling, currently appearing as William Shakespeare in “& Juliet” on Broadway.
“We’ve always been obsessed with what’s next and what’s waiting to be told. This season we offer bold new works brimming with urgent questions,” said Shelley Butler, artistic director of the South Carolina New Play Festival.
The event will also continue South Carolina’s Next Broadway Star, a scholarship program supporting talented teens across the state. Finalists will perform at the Cristal Palace and receive scholarships and training opportunities. Applications for this competition are open until May 1.
Auditions for all SCNPF shows will be held May 16-17. For more information, visit scnpf.org.
