Lineup Announced!

August 2 | South Norwalk

Get ready for a day of surprises, laughter, and serious theatrical talent. Thrown Stone’s first-ever CT Short Play Fest hits the stage Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Crystal Theatre in South Norwalk — and we’ve just announced the lineup.

Presented alongside the SoNo Arts Festival, this one-day event features two sessions of brand-new short plays: one by emerging teen and young adult writers, and another by experienced playwrights from around the country (and beyond). You’ll see them performed live, script-in-hand, and help us celebrate a powerful day of new work.

A panel of industry professionals will select one standout play from each session. The winner of the Afternoon Session will advance to compete in the Evening lineup.

Get Tickets

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Afternoon Session

2:00 PM

Evening Session

6:00 PM

Tickets (Per Session)

Adults – $29/Session;
$50/Both Sessions
18 and Under – $19
(Rated TV-14)

At the Crystal Theatre

“It’s going to be a fun day in South Norwalk,” added Co-Artistic Director Jason Peck. “The theatre is steps from the SoNo Arts Festival — so come for the music, food, and art, and stay for some of the most inventive new plays you’ll see all year.”

Afternoon Session — 2:00 PM (Emerging Playwrights)

Ashley Diaz (15, she/her, Norwalk, CT) – Pablo’s Adventure: The Prequel
A nervous young robin faces bullies, predators, and a brutal winter. Will he find the courage to fly?

Audrey Hunter (19, she/her, Dallas, TX) – Buy Teeth / Find Space
After losing her front teeth, Leann fixates on a vision board while Jerome escapes into the cosmos. Can hope hold them together?

Dylan Malloy (21, she/her/hers, Aliso Viejo, CA) – Locusts
Three preteens are dropped at the wrong church for a Bible contest — and spiral into a surreal crisis of belief.

Ashton Mayhew (17, he/him, Norwalk, CT) – Due Tomorrow
A tale told by an idiot… in front of the entire class. Evan waits until the very last minute to deliver his Macbeth presentation.

Anna Parker (18, she/her, Houston, TX) – Party Princess
A birthday performer and a strong-willed mom debate what it means to empower a four-year-old girl.

Natalia Randolph (15, she/her, Norwalk, CT) – Wrong Number
A mistaken text from a nerdy stranger gives a stressed-out pop star a burst of inspiration — but can a misdialed connection lead to something real?

“The Fest is built on a mentorship model,” said Co-Artistic Director Jonathan Winn. “We’re creating a platform where teen and early-career playwrights share space and spotlight with professionals. It’s a rare and joyful opportunity to take risks, be seen, and learn from each other.”

Evening Session — 6:00 PM (Professional Playwrights)

Nelson Clark (he/him, Lisbon, Portugal) — The Greyson Scale
A skeptical researcher and a grieving mother clash during a clinical survey of a near-death experience. What hidden truths lie between science and the unknown?

Earl Crittenden (he/him, New York, NY) — Rubbish
When a Confederate jacket surfaces at a Southern church rummage sale, a drag queen and a society matron clash over history, identity, and what belongs in the trash.

F.J. Hartland (he/him, Johnstown, PA) — SALT WATER
On a windswept autumn beach, a couple confronts love, loss, and the power of memory.

Dana Schwartz (she/her, Los Angeles, CA) — The April & Mr. Bigglesworth Super Special Fun Time Show
Two puppeteers performing a children’s show unravel live onstage as their personal tensions break through the fabric of their characters. What happens when the hardest conversations come in the silliest voices?

Deborah Yarchun (she/her/hers, Brooklyn, NY) — Light the Menorah
Mira hopes to share Hanukkah with her Persian boyfriend for the first time, but blending old traditions with new love isn’t always easy. Can they light the candles without losing the spark?

“Curating the lineup for the inaugural CT Short Play Fest has been an absolute joy,” said Peter Charney, director of the festival. “Our program showcases a remarkable range of voices—from writers as young as 15 to international talents from as far away as Portugal. With such a diverse mix of styles and genres, I can confidently say every audience member will walk away with a different favorite!”

About the Director

Peter Charney

Peter Charney (he/him) is a generative director for the stage and screen. His work seeks to explore the unknowns of existence, ignite the human imagination, and honor the collective experience of storytelling.
Peter is the co-creator and original director of A Eulogy for Roman, which premiered to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe and later had a sold-out run at 59E59 Theaters (2024 Drama Desk Nomination). He is a resident director for SERIALS at The Tank and serves as… Read more

2025 Finalists

These writers won’t appear on August 2, but their work stood out among 148 entries. We’re proud to recognize them.

Afternoon Finalists

Nova Starling (19, they/she/he, Syracuse, NY) — paper airplanes, love letters, and other fragile things
Ada S. Wennstrom (21, she/her, Syracuse, NY) — You’re Insecure, Don’t Know What For
Rachel Moerdler-Green (17, she/her, New York, NY) — Love Me As I Am

Evening Finalists

Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend (she/her, Singapore) — 37 Origami Bees
Samara Siskind (she/her/hers, South Florida) — Priceless
Evan Baughfman (he/him, Long Beach, CA) — Every Sheep Counts
Cori Diaz (she/her, New York, NY) — Lesbian Chess Night, 2006

See you at the fest!

Lineup Announced for the CT Short Play Fest