We are thrilled to announce the lineup for the 2025 QCT Playwriting Festival! The five winning plays were chosen by QCT’s Festival Reading Committee, who read and evaluated the over 140 short plays submitted from around the world.
Education Director Brendan Shea: “We were humbled by the volume and breadth of submissions to our inaugural festival—I’m happy to say that the five plays we determined represent contemporary playwriting at its finest include several Quincy playwrights! I look forward to seeing this work in the hands of our talented local directors and performers.”
The QCT Playwriting Festival will be held on June 28 at 6:30 pm on the Barbara Rowell Mainstage in partnership with the Midsummer Arts Faire.
Please direct all inquiries about the QCT Playwriting Festival to Education Director Brendan Shea (brendan.shea@1qct.org).
2025 Festival Lineup
The Summit by Dan Conboy
In a corner bar, in a tiny village in Northeast Missouri, three men meet to discuss the suffering of the people on Earth. A debate of biblical proportions with epic worldly consequences. True identities are revealed and the fate of mankind hangs in the balance.
Valley Lane by Alec Eaton
After Will pulls Thomas out of a fight, the two strangers settle into a booth at a little diner in Valley Lane.
Locker Room Talk by John Holleman
On the verge of a breakdown, a new teacher seeks solace in an empty locker room. There, he meets a man who knows that sometimes it’s not just the students who need a little coaching.
The Bench by Romney Humphrey
Two social isolates unexpectedly discover that a specific bench in the park has great importance to each of them. The problem? Both require full occupation of that bench on a specific day and time. This specific day and time. And no one is budging.
Dispatches from a Mars Widow by Nicole Dieker Finley
When a new life awaits all those brave enough to pack up and ship off to be a part of the first Mars colony, many take the plunge and kiss their old lives goodbye. But what becomes of everything, and everyone, they leave behind?
Call for Directors
A call for directors is now open for volunteers interested in leading one of the five staged readings. Please apply below. All directors must be available to attend a directing workshop on May 14 at QCT.
Call for Actors
A call for actors is also now open! All performers, regardless of experience, are welcome to register for a “Meet the Directors” event on May 27-28 at QCT. Actors will have an opportunity to connect with the festival team and read excerpts from the play in a casual, low-stakes environment. Selected performers must be available for two rehearsals in June, plus a technical run-through on performance day.