About the Conference
The Collegiate New Play Development Conference (CNPDC) is thrilled to announce its inaugural New Play Reading Series, taking place virtually from March 14-28, 2025. The event will feature three groundbreaking new plays: To Survive or To Live by Faith Jarrell, Falling Knives by Tira Palmquist, and Wunderkammer by Francesca Pazniokas.
CNPDC is a pioneering, inter-collegiate conference aimed at creating rolling campus premieres of new plays, connecting college students, faculty, and emerging theatre artists with the vibrant world of new play development. In an era where the future of American theatre is being actively shaped by new voices, CNPDC provides a unique opportunity for playwrights to experiment, grow, and refine their works without the pressures of commercial production. CNPDC is co-led by Tiffany Antone (Iowa State University), Kristi Good (Carnegie Mellon University), and LaRonika Thomas (Washington College).
“We believe higher education plays a vital role in not only preparing students for careers in theatre, but in shaping the future of the industry itself,” said Antone. “Our program offers a space where playwrights can truly develop their craft, free from the constraints of the traditional non-profit development model. Through our unique rolling premieres, we empower students and faculty to engage with the work of living playwrights in real-time and help bring new stories to life in innovative ways.”
CNPDC offers flexible participation for its member institutions, in order to ensure equity for the variety of programs across the country. “We recognize that some institutions will have writers in residence, while others will solicit scripts from outside their programs, and each institution should be able to use its available resources in a way that makes sense for the scope of its unique reading,” said Antone. “The more institutions that participate in the reading series, the more options they will have available to fit their future seasons.”
REGISTER HERE
2025 PLays
Online
To Survive or To Live by Faith Jarrell
Directed by Jai Basu Presented by Washington College
Synopsis: In the Bronx, four twenty-somethings find themselves entangled in a small-time crime syndicate, only to see their lives unravel when one of them mysteriously disappears. Upon her return, secrets emerge that threaten the fragile bond between friends. This drama explores themes of survival, loyalty, and the complicated realities of growing up in today’s world.
Why We’re Excited: This play is written by a senior theatre student, for students. To Survive or To Live takes on dark themes like economic insecurity, addiction, and friendship with surprising maturity and insight, offering a compelling glimpse into the struggles of young adulthood in the 21st century.
Online
Falling Knives by Tira Palmquist
Directed by Sarah Hall presented by Middle Tennessee State University
Synopsis: Charley, Kit, Rikki, Jesse, and Aiden are friends and co-workers, struggling to hold their lives together in the wake of personal tragedies. As they grapple with the sudden disappearance of their friend Madison, they find themselves questioning the emotional costs of the lives they’re trying to rebuild. Falling Knives merges the personal, the political, and the poetic to explore grief, loss, and healing.
About the Playwright: Tira Palmquist is an acclaimed playwright known for works such as Age of Bees and Two Degrees. Her plays have been produced at the Denver Center and Guthrie Theatre, among others.
About the Director: Sarah Hall is a theatre major at MTSU who has directed and assistant-directed productions at both MTSU and Nashville Repertory Theatre.
online
Wunderkammer by Francesca Pazniokas
Directed by Tiffany Antone Presented by Iowa State University Theatre
Synopsis: A taxidermist’s world is turned upside down when his new assistant brings his creations back to life. Wunderkammer examines themes of identity, tribalism, and the blurred lines between human and animal, life and death. This play offers rich possibilities for design and physical theatre.
Why We’re Excited: With its focus on identity and made families, Wunderkammer offers a unique platform for theatrical experimentation. The play’s potential for puppetry is particularly exciting for CNPDC, as Iowa State University’s award-winning puppetry professor Amanda Petefish-Schrag is on hand to lend her expertise in this innovative design approach.