San Francisco's PlayGround Celebrates 30 Years of New Works

Lineup announced for annual Festival of New Works featuring premieres, readings, and more

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:03am by Ben Kaplan

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PlayGround, a leading San Francisco theater company, has announced the full lineup for its 30th annual Festival of New Works, a showcase for emerging playwrights. The festival will feature the premiere of "Mycelium" by Juliet Kang Huneke, as well as staged readings of three new commissioned plays and recognition of four Festival Finalists. The festival runs from May 15-31 at Potrero Stage and will also be simulcast.

Why it matters

The PlayGround Festival of New Works has been a vital incubator for new theatrical voices over the past three decades, helping to launch the careers of numerous acclaimed playwrights. The festival's continued success highlights San Francisco's thriving theater community and the city's commitment to supporting the development of contemporary American drama.

The details

The 30th annual Festival of New Works will feature the premiere of "Mycelium" by Juliet Kang Huneke, a PlayGround commission originally developed at the 2025 festival. The festival will also include staged readings of three new commissioned plays: "Good Romans" by Baylee Shlichtman, "The Case of the Missing Messenger" by Madeleine Butler, and "Disloyal" by Anne Brady. Additionally, four playwrights will be recognized as Festival Finalists for their outstanding plays, which received in-house readings earlier this season: "Courting" by Dana Leslie Goldstein, "Merchant of Stratford" by Maury Zeff, "The Suit" by Alex Kingsley, and "The House of Flightless Birds" by Baylee Shlichtman.

  • The festival runs from May 15-31, 2026.
  • The Kick-Off and Playwrights Panel will take place on May 15 at 7pm PT.
  • "Mycelium" by Juliet Kang Huneke will be performed on May 16-17 and May 23-24 at 7pm PT.
  • The festival readings will take place on May 17 at 3pm PT, May 24 at 3pm PT, and May 31 at 3pm PT.
  • The Young Playwrights Project will be held on May 29 at 7pm PT, and the "Best of PlayGround(SF) '26" will be presented on May 30-31 at 7pm PT.

The players

PlayGround

A leading San Francisco theater company that has been showcasing new works and supporting emerging playwrights for the past 30 years.

Jim Kleinmann

The founding Artistic Director of PlayGround, who has overseen the company's growth and impact over the past three decades.

Juliet Kang Huneke

A playwright whose play "Mycelium" will receive its premiere as part of the 30th annual Festival of New Works.

Baylee Shlichtman

A playwright whose plays "Good Romans" and "The House of Flightless Birds" are being featured in the festival.

Madeleine Butler

A playwright whose play "The Case of the Missing Messenger" will receive a festival reading.

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What they’re saying

“It's humbling, with everything our field and the arts in general have gone through particularly in the last six years, to see the impact PlayGround and the Festival of New Works have had in launching hundreds of new plays and playwrights over the past thirty years. I'm so proud of the numerous professional playwrights PlayGround has been able to support, nurture and champion.”

— Jim Kleinmann, Founding Artistic Director, PlayGround (broadwayworld.com)

What’s next

The 30th annual Festival of New Works will conclude with PlayGround's Young Playwrights Project on May 29 and the "Best of PlayGround(SF) 2026" showcase on May 30-31.

The takeaway

For three decades, the PlayGround Festival of New Works has been a vital incubator for emerging playwrights, helping to launch the careers of numerous acclaimed writers and solidifying San Francisco's reputation as a hub for contemporary American theater. The festival's continued success is a testament to the city's commitment to supporting the development of new dramatic voices.