New Visions/New Voices is a week-long program in May for playwrights and theaters to stimulate and support the creation of new plays and musicals for young audiences and families, culminating in a weekend of rehearsed readings and discussions with professionals in the field from around the country.

Since its inception in 1991, the program has assisted in the development of 80 new plays, musicals, and operas from 72 playwrights and 32 composers working with 51 U.S. and 7 international theater companies.

For a more in-depth look at the process, please view these articles from TYA Today about New Visions/New Voices 2002 and 2006.

Has there been a past participant from your home state?

Announcement of 2012 New Visions/New Voices Projects

Discussion Leader: Tony Graham

• The Boy at the Edge of Everything
  Written by Finegan Kruckemeyer and directed by Jonathan Shmidt. Commissioned by Trusty Sidekick Theater Company (New York, NY).
• Cautionary Tales for Children
  Adapted by Claudia O'Doherty from Hilaire Belloc's classic satirical anthology, Cautionary Tales for Children, directed by Chris Kohn and composed by Mark Jones. Commissioned by Arena Theatre Company (Melbourne, Australia).
• A Lonely Boy's Guide to Survival (And Werewolves)
  Adapted by Ernie Nolan and directed by Michael J. Bobbitt. Co-commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse (La Jolla, CA), Emerald City Theatre (Chicago, IL) and Adventure Theatre (Glen Echo, MD).
• Minotaur
  Written by Kevin Dyer and directed by Jonathan Lloyd. Originally commissioned by the Kennedy Center in co-development by Polka Theatre (London, England) and Young People's Theatre, (Toronto, Canada).
• Only a Day
  Written by Martin Baltsheit of Düsseldorf, Germany and directed by Nick Olcott.
  Part of the Translation Project. For the first time, the festival's Translation Project will workshop an unproduced English-language version of a previously successful production in another language.
• Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach
  Adapted by Timothy Allen McDonald with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Directed by Marty Johnson and Timothy Allen McDonald. Collaboration between iTheatrics and Work Light Productions.
• The Snow Queen
  Adapted by Barbara Wiechmann from Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale and directed by Jeffrey Mousseau. Commissioned by HERE Arts Center (New York City, NY).
• The Transition of Doodle Pequeño
  Written by Gabriel Jason Dean and directed by Wendy Bable. Commissioned by People's Light and Theatre (Malvern, PA).

New Visions/New Voices 2012 alternates are:

• Albert's Lion
  Written by Walt McGough. Commissioned by SpeakEasy Stage (Boston, MA).
• The Incredible Book Eating Boy
  The play is adapted by Conor Mitchell after the original picture book by Oliver Jeffers. Commissioned by Cahoots NI (Belfast, Northern Ireland).
• London Calling
  Adapted by William Massolia from Edward Bloor's original novel. Commissioned by Griffin Theatre Company (Chicago, IL).

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Registration Information for New Visions/New Voices 2012

The 2012 New Visions/New Voices readings will begin on Friday, May 18, 2012 in the Kennedy Center Family Theater and will conclude in the early afternoon of Sunday, May 20, 2012.

Registration information and materials will be available on this webpage in early 2012.

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Actors

The Kennedy Center attends the local Actors' Equity Association liaison auditions each year and generally casts New Visions/New Voices using local actors. As New Visions/New Voices directors and writers are from out of town, auditions are not held. Please do not send resumes and headshots.

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For more information on New Visions/New Voices, please contact us at:

Please contact us at:

New Visions/New Voices
Education Department
The Kennedy Center
P.O. Box 101510
Arlington, VA 22210

Phone: (202) 416-8830

Fax: (202) 416-8297

Or, you can e-mail us at kctya@kennedy-center.org