New Play Festival in Santa Cruz

New Play Festival is an annual student-run showcase of experimental, short stage readings that focuses on nurturing and showcasing new playwrights in the UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Program. This year the festival is uplifting two new playwrights, supporting them through developmental drafts, shaping their stories, and giving them the opportunity to collaborate with actors, a director, and designers. The development time culminates in two weekends of staged readings, open to the public. — ADVISORIES • The presentation is estimated at 75 minutes, with no intermission. ADMISSION • Attend in person at Theater Arts Second Stage at UC Santa Cruz. • Accessibility and visitor resources available here online. • Tickets issued through Eventbrite; Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite on Eventbrite for notifications and updates. • FREE for UCSC undergraduate students (ticket required). • General admission “Pay What You Like” options $5–20 • A limited number of tickets/seats may be available at the door, even after online ticket sales end or reach full capacity. • Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time. FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS • Fri., Nov. 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m. • Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, 7:30 p.m. • Sun., Nov. 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m. matinee • Fri., Nov. 20, 2026, 7:30 p.m. • Sat., Nov. 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m. • Sun., Nov. 22, 2026, 2:00 p.m. matinee PARKING • Arts Lot 126 is the closest parking lot to the event. • Visitor event parking permits are available in advance on Eventbrite as a ticket purchase “add on” at a discounted rate or via the on-site attendant at the event for the standard visitor price. • UCSC affiliates may use their valid UCSC permit, rather than purchase an additional event parking permit; however, on-site attendants will only issue permits at the standard non-affiliate rate. • The Core West Parking Structure (Lot 112) is free of charge on weekends.