In its third year, the South Carolina New Play Festival continues to expand with more free events, including outdoor performances, and a new commissioned play about Greenville blues legend Josh White.
In addition, Broadway actors Andy Mientus, Jon-Michael Reese and Siri Howard will be featured along with Eliza Pagelle in a public reading at the Gunter Theatre (Aug. 9, 7 p.m.) of Adam Gwon’s new musical, “All the World’s a Stage.” The story centers on a closeted math teacher who coaches a student for a state drama competition.
Gwon is perhaps best known for his international hit “Ordinary Days.”
For its annual cabaret, Broadway star and Greenville native Phillip Boykin will take the stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at Greenville One Center.
“It’s an exciting festival, and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to grow this quickly,” said Executive Director West Hyler, who runs the festival with Artistic Director Shelley Butler. “It’s due to the arts supporters in Greenville that make it happen.”
Admission is free for all events, except for the closing cabaret, but tickets are required for the readings.
A few readings are already sold out, but some seats are still available at the website, southcarolinanewplayfestival.org.
Plenty of space is available for one of the festival’s new features: the outdoor street-circus-style entertainment onstage at Falls Park between 3 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 10 and 11.
“We’re trying to be accessible to more people and we’re hoping the outdoor stage will do that,” Hyler said.
Parrot Heads and Shakespeare
Among other highlights, the festival will offer “Insider Sessions,” featuring theater-industry insiders from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at Greenville One Center.
“A Trip Around the Sun” (Aug. 10-11 at the Warehouse Theatre), featuring Mimi Wyche and Peter Van Wagner, is a dark comedy about a couple of parrot heads in Florida planning the remaining time they have left on Earth.
“The Dark Lady” (Aug. 10, 7 p.m. , Greenville Theatre), by Sophie Boyce and Veronica Mansour, is a synth-pop musical about Emilia Bassano, a woman theorized by some to be the true, uncredited author of Shakespeare’s works.
“Stuntboy” (Aug. 11, 3 p.m., South Carolina Children’s Theatre) is a musical for young audiences centering on a middle-schooler whose superpower is making sure his parents and two best friends stay safe from bullies.
The festival gets underway on Aug. 8 with a reading at Centre Stage of a work-in-progress about singer-songwriter Josh White by playwright Donnetta Lavinia Gray. The play, featuring some of White’s songs, is the first commissioned work by the festival.
Born in Greenville, White achieved fame in New York City and other big cities for his songs in such genres as Piedmont blues, country blues, gospel and social protest. But he was targeted by the House Un-American Activities Committee for his civil rights advocacy.
“He was neglected and forgotten about despite the huge impact he had on music and culture because he was blacklisted,” Hyler said.
The play includes familiar actors on the Greenville theater scene, including Chip Egan. Matt Giles and Clark Nesbitt. The reading will be followed by a town hall to discuss White’s legacy.
Festival events spotlight both Broadway and local talent.
“Our whole point of the festival is the build a bridge between Greenville and Broadway,” Hyler said.
Want to go?
What: South Carolina New Play Festival
When: Aug. 8-11
Where: Various venues in downtown Greenville
Tickets: All events are free (some require tickets), except for the cabaret featuring Philip Boykin
Info: southcarolinanewplayfestival.org
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