Creative Cauldron Stage Announces 2026 'Bold New Voices' Festival

A Showcase of Underrepresented Playwrights and Composers

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:03pm

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Creative Cauldron Stage is proud to announce the launch of its 'Bold New Voices' Festival, running from April 11th through May 9th, 2026. The festival is sponsored by Diener and Associates, Certified Public Accountants, and funded by grants from ArtsFairfax and the Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church. This initiative serves as a platform for women playwrights and composers, with a focus on supporting women of color who are traditionally underrepresented in the theater industry.

Why it matters

The 'Bold New Voices' Festival provides a vital opportunity for audiences to engage with new works by underrepresented writers, helping to foster gender equality in the theater industry. By shining a light on these talented women writers, Creative Cauldron aims to create a more inclusive and diverse theatrical landscape.

The details

The festival will feature professionally staged readings of new plays and musicals, allowing attendees to provide feedback that will help select the final offering for Creative Cauldron's 2026-27 mainstage season. The lineup includes works by Sarah Lina Sparks, Gaelyn D. Smith, Danielle Moore, and Diana Burbano.

  • The 'Bold New Voices' Festival will run from April 11th through May 9th, 2026.
  • All performances will take place on Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM.

The players

Laura Connors Hull

Founding Artistic Director of Creative Cauldron Stage, who leads the Bold New Voices Selection Committee.

Carol Lee Campbell

Board member of Creative Cauldron Stage and member of the Bold New Voices Selection Committee.

Krista Grimmett-Adams

Board member of Creative Cauldron Stage and member of the Bold New Voices Selection Committee.

Sarah Lina Sparks

Filipina playwright and recent UCLA graduate, whose play 'The C Word' will be featured in the festival.

Gaelyn D. Smith

Actor, writer, director, and teaching artist, whose play 'Live From My Dad's Couch' will be featured in the festival.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive space for development. We are interested in fostering premieres and giving new life to works written by women that benefit from further development. By shining a light on these talented women writers, we take a small step toward gender equality in our industry.”

— Laura Connors Hull, Founding Artistic Director, Creative Cauldron Stage

What’s next

The Bold New Voices Selection Committee will choose the final offering for Creative Cauldron's 2026-27 mainstage season based on audience feedback from the festival.

The takeaway

The 'Bold New Voices' Festival at Creative Cauldron Stage is a vital initiative that provides a platform for underrepresented women playwrights and composers, helping to foster a more diverse and inclusive theater industry.