Contemporary American Theater Festival unveils 2026 slate: five new plays, four world premieres
The Contemporary American Theater Festival has announced its 2026 lineup: five new plays, four of them world premieres, to be staged July 10 to Aug. 2 at three venues on the Shepherd University campus. The season features works by award-winning playwrights Lisa D’Amour, Yussef El Guindi, Beth Kander, Christina Pumariega and Aurin Squire.
The festival described the selection as a mix of comedic and serious themes that approach contemporary issues from distinct perspectives. D’Amour’s The Smoker, by the Pulitzer Prize finalist, centers on a diverse group of under-employed New Yorkers who connect over cigarette breaks and gradually build a community.
Artistic Director Peggy McKowen said the audience is drawn into that circle, noting the play explores how people move through society and the human need for connection, according to the announcement. Refugee Rhapsody by El Guindi, a 2025 recipient of the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Citation of Excellence, examines the immigrant experience through two young Arab Americans and their encounter with a wealthy patroness.
The production is a rolling world premiere with Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre (PA) and Artists Repertory Theatre (OR), and CATF’s staging is in partnership with The Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. McKowen said she was struck by the play’s writing and by parallels it draws between the immigrant experience today and the journey of the enslaved in this country.
Best Line Wins, by Kander and inspired by the lives of comedy duo Elaine May and Mike Nichols, looks at creativity, competition and gender disparity, tracing the comedians’ divergent careers after their partnership ended. Pumariega’s ¡VOS!
follows Annie back to Buenos Aires for IVF treatment, where she uncovers the stories of two women who disappeared during Argentina’s Dirty War, in a work inspired by Las Madres and shaped as a search for home and family.
Squire’s My Favorite Sociopath is a comedy set at the dawn of the 24-hour news cycle, tracking three journalism students whose friendship devolves into ambition and betrayal; McKowen said the play, based on a true experience, highlights the challenges and desperate measures young journalists face in a competitive, shrinking field.
Beyond the five mainstage productions, the festival plans more than 30 talktheater events—discussions, lectures and opportunities to meet artists and fellow theatergoers—intended to provide context and deepen the experience for attendees, according to the announcement.
Performances are scheduled for the Frank Center, the Marinoff Theater and Studio 112 on the Shepherd University campus.