Festivals

Festivals, often organized within a specific geographic community or around a theme, are a great way for different works to be in conversation with each other. Content in this section primarily focuses around recapping theatre festivals and analyzing multiple works that were featured.

The Latest

Side-yard: On the Commons, the Neighborhood, Grief, and Not Making Theatre While Still Making Theatre

Essay

Side-yard: On the Commons, the Neighborhood, Grief, and Not Making Theatre While Still Making Theatre

by Richard Newman

15 March 2022

Freedom and Theatre: An International Meditation

Essay

Freedom and Theatre: An International Meditation

by Kellie Mecleary

24 February 2022

Kampala International Theatre Festival

Video

Kampala International Theatre Festival

Performances of The 40th Man or the 28th Woman (Iran), Killing Time (Uganda), and panel discussion on artist-centered networks

Wednesday 15 December to Friday 17 December 2021

Kampala, Uganda

A parade of men women and children carrying a flag.

Side-yard: On the Commons, the Neighborhood, Grief, and Not Making Theatre While Still Making Theatre

Richard

Newman

Essay

Side-yard: On the Commons, the Neighborhood, Grief, and Not Making Theatre While Still Making Theatre

15 March 2022

Play House is a collectively stewarded performance space near the border of Detroit and Hamtramck that has become a place of convening and creation for the neighborhood. Richard Newman, a co-manager of the space and co-director of The Hinterlands ensemble, traces connections between creative practice, community, grief, and an outdoor ramp at Play House.

An audience sits in a dark red theatre, watching actors in costume perform.

Freedom and Theatre: An International Meditation

Kellie

Mecleary

Essay

Freedom and Theatre: An International Meditation

24 February 2022

Producing artistic director Kellie Mecleary shares her experience participating in Vaba Lava Narva Theatre Centre’s first International Freedom Theatre Festival in Estonia.

Kampala International Theatre Festival

Kampala Theatre Festival

Video

Kampala International Theatre Festival

Performances of The 40th Man or the 28th Woman (Iran), Killing Time (Uganda), and panel discussion on artist-centered networks

Wednesday 15 December to Friday 17 December 2021

Kampala, Uganda

The Kampala International Theatre Festival (KITF) is an annual 5-day festival. KITF was launched in November 2014 as a platform to develop professionalism among East African theatre practitioners, connect the East African theatremaking communities with one another and their counterparts from elsewhere. Select performances and a panel discussion livestreaming on the global, commons-based HowlRound TV network Wednesday 15 December to Friday 17 December 2021.

Seven Black actors performing on stage accompanied by the band.

The Shakespeare In Paradise Festival

Robert

Hubbard

Essay

The Shakespeare In Paradise Festival

A Celebration of Bahamian Theatre and Performance

23 November 2021

Robert Hubbard sits down with Dr. Nicolette Bethel and Philip A. Burrows to discuss their creation of the annual Shakespeare in Paradise Festival in the Bahamas.

Re:Encuentro 2021

LATC

Video

Re:Encuentro 2021

A National Latina/o/x Virtual Theatre Festival Celebrating Contemporary Latina/o/x Theatre In the US

Monday 15 November to Saturday 20 November 2021

United States

The Los Angeles Theatre Center presented Re:Encuentro 2021 livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Monday 15 November to Saturday 20 November 2021.

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance Festival

Ohio University

Hollins University

Video

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance

Three Nights of Short Plays and Performances By Trans* Playwrights and Roundtable Discussions with Playwrights, Actors, and Community Members.

Wednesday 17 November to Friday 19 November 2021

United States

Presenting Trans [Plays] of Remembrance livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Wednesday 17 November to Friday 19 November 2021 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

event poster for the prelude festival 2021.

Prelude 2021: Start Making Sense!

Segal

Center

Video

Prelude 2021: Start Making Sense!

An array of short performances, readings, and screenings, plus conversations with artists across the United States

Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the Graduate Center, CUNY presented its 2021 PRELUDE festival, "Prelude 2021: Start Making Sense!," livestreaming on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network from Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2021.

Reimagining a Segregated World: Roma Heroes, European Dramas

Noémi

Herczog

Essay

Reimagining a Segregated World: Roma Heroes, European Dramas

21 October 2021

Noémi Herczog discusses the need for greater Roma visibility on stage and introduces Roma Heroes: Five European Dramas, a new collection that anthologizes plays from the Independent Theater Hungary’s Roma Heroes International Theater Festival.

Performance: Hey neighbor, hey you! (Romania)

CEVA Educational Center for Performing Arts

Video

Performance: Hey neighbor, hey you! (Romania)

With REACTIV Festival: a laboratory of experiences and experiments in which we aim to rediscover ourselves as individuals and groups

Friday 3 September 2021

Targu Neamt, Romania

The Educational Centre of the Performative Arts CEVA in Targu Neamt, Romania presented a performance of Hey neighbor, hey you! with the REACTIV festival livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 3 September 2021.

A large, titled puppet depiction of the American designer Robert Moses with two tiny brown-skinned puppets in front.

Puppets Are Immigrants Too

Jonathan

Mandell

Essay

Puppets Are Immigrants Too

How New York City Turned Ancient Traditions into Cutting-Edge Art

24 August 2021

Jonathan Mandell shares his experience at New York City’s first-ever official Puppet Week.

event poster for ubumuntu arts festival 2021.

2021 UBUMUNTU Arts Festival

Ubumuntu Arts Festival

Video

2021 UBUMUNTU Arts Festival

A celebration of arts and humanity

Friday 16 July and Saturday 17 July 2021

Rwanda

Ubumuntu Arts Festival presented Rebirth, their 2021 celebration of arts and humanity livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 16 July and Saturday 16 July at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 6 p.m. CAT (Kigali, UTC +2).

Future Every Day

Carra

Martinez

Essay

Future Every Day

1 July 2021

Carra Martinez, with thoughts from Justin Favela, Ty Defoe, Ron Berry, and Leyya Tawi, writes about how the future is a structurally minded labor of the everyday.

Festivals for a New Age: Models of Responsiveness, Flexibility and Resistance

The International Presenting Commons (IPC)

Video

Festivals for a New Age: Models of Responsiveness, Flexibility and Resistance

Friday 11 June 2021

United States

The International Presenting Commons (IPC) in partnership with Global Pillow and HowlRound Theatre Commons presents Festivals for a New Age: Models of Responsiveness, Flexibility and Resistance livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 11 June 2021 at 9:30-11:00 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12:30-2:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

A map with two-faced performing arts symbols located within the US and in northwestern Europe.

Taking Rural Playwriting International

Jacob

Juntunen

Essay

Taking Rural Playwriting International

20 May 2021

Jacob Juntunen shares how the MFA playwriting program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale adapted their new play festival for the online world and how open-access software and streaming platforms helped students at the rural school transcend geography.

Image of four tableaus with people experiencing time passing.

Letters From Warsaw

Essay

Letters From Warsaw

24 March 2021

Marta Keil and Grzegorz Reske share letters from the past and the future, from June 2020 to June 2029, detailing the changes to the theatrical landscape in their hometown of Warsaw, Poland.

There’s an Array of Theatrical Talent on Display in Kosovo. So Why Won’t Its Government Support It Properly?

verity

healey

Essay

There’s an Array of Theatrical Talent on Display in Kosovo. So Why Won’t Its Government Support It Properly?

25 January 2021

verity healey, who spent time in Kosovo for its Theatre Showcase last October, discusses the precarious nature of Kosovo’s independent theatre sector and shares her thoughts about the plays she saw while visiting.

Seuls en Scène Festival 2020 / Festival Seuls en Scène 2020

Amelia

Parenteau

Essay

Seuls en Scène Festival 2020 / Festival Seuls en Scène 2020

The Show Must Go On / Le spectacle doit continuer

5 January 2021

Amelia Parenteau explores the most recent Seuls en Scène Festival, which took place in September 2020 on Zoom and had a programmatic mix of video recordings of live performance, “staged” readings, one making-of documentary, and a series of docutheatre work. / Amelia Parenteau explore la dernière édition du festival Seuls en Scène, qui a eu lieu en septembre 2020 sur Zoom et qui a présenté une programmation variée, avec des captations vidéo de performances, des lectures de pièces, un documentaire sur un processus de création et une série de docu-théâtres.

Seven Performers Living in Bogotá / Siete artistas viviendo en Bogotá

Michelle

Yemayá

Essay

Seven Performers Living in Bogotá / Siete artistas viviendo en Bogotá

Actions and Reflections to Cope with the “New Normal” / Acciones y Reflexiones para Afrontar la "Nueva Normalidad"

1 December 2020

Michelle Yemayá notes that while Colombian theatre artists have found ways to face the unexpected changes this year, artists are still struggling to stay afloat. She talks about how she has adapted her practice under the circumstances and shares the stories of three other artists living and working as artists in Colombia right now. / Michelle Yemayá ha notado que, si bien los artistas del teatro colombiano han encontrado formas de enfrentar los cambios inesperados de este año, la lucha por mantenerse a flote es constante. Habla sobre cómo ha adaptado su práctica a las circunstancias y comparte las historias de otras tres personas que en este momento viven y trabajan como artistas en Colombia.

Welcome to Weimar Kunstfest

verity

healey

Essay

Welcome to Weimar Kunstfest

How an Arts Festival is Promoting a Better Germany

23 November 2020

verity healey recaps the multidisciplinary arts festival Kunstfest, which took place in Weimar, Germany in late August and early September this year and tackled issues such as immigration, identity, COVID-19, and the environment.

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance Short Play Festival (Live-captioned)

Tufts University, Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

Tufts University's LGBT Center

Ohio University's Division of Diversity and Inclusion

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance Festival

Video

Trans [Plays] of Remembrance Short Play Festival (Live-captioned)

Three nights of short plays written by up-and-coming trans* playwrights followed by roundtable discussions

Monday 16 November to Wednesday 18 November 2020

United States

Presenting Trans [Plays] of Remembrance livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Monday 16 November to Wednesday 18 November 2020 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

SEGAL TALKS with Stefania Bulbarella, Yeujia Low, Le'Andra LeSeur, Dena Igusti, and Ray Jordan Achan

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Stefania Bulbarella, Yeujia Low, Le'Andra LeSeur, Dena Igusti, and Ray Jordan Achan

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Friday 30 October 2020

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS with Stefania Bulbarella, Yeujia Low, Le'Andra LeSeur, , Dena Igusti, and Ray Jordan Achan livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 30 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

SEGAL TALKS with Bryn Herdrich and Jeesun Choi as well as Elevator Repair Service's John Collins, Greig Sargeant, and Ben Williams

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Bryn Herdrich and Jeesun Choi as well as Elevator Repair Service's John Collins, Greig Sargeant, and Ben Williams

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Thursday 29 October 2020

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS with Bryn Herdrich and Jeesun Choi as well as Elevator Repair Service's John Collins, Greig Sargeant, and Ben Williams (United States) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 29 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

SEGAL TALKS with Mei Ann Teo, Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Zachariah Ezer, and Dominique Rider (United States)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Mei Ann Teo, Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Zachariah Ezer, and Dominique Rider (United States)

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Wednesday 28 October 2020

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS with Mei Ann Teo, Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Zachariah Ezer, and Dominique Rider (United States) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 28 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

Prelude 2020: Sites of Revolution

Martin E.

Segal Center

Video

Prelude 2020: Sites of Revolution

Presented by the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Tuesday 20 October to Friday 30 October 2020

New York City

The 2020 Prelude Festival: Sites of Revolution, brings together artists, critics, activists, and producers from New York City and beyond to explore the many ways in which revolutions are taking place today.

SEGAL TALKS with Kelsey Pyro

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Kelsey Pyro

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Tuesday 27 October 2020

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS with Kelsey Pyro livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 27 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).