New Works Festival
About
UCR’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production presents New Works Festival by UCR MFA Playwrights Megan Tabaque, Artistic Director June 3 & 5, 2026 7:00pm ARTS Studio Theatre Free and open to the public The New Works Festival proudly presents developmental staged readings of new plays written by our graduating MFA Playwriting Candidates in UCR’s Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts MFA Program. This two-night event brings student playwrights, student actors, and student dramaturgs into process with professional directors to model the rigor, curiosity, collaboration, and revision required at a professional level to give new plays life! The New Works Festival celebrates tomorrow’s emerging theater makers TODAY. June 3, 7:00pm | Livestream Link BEASTHOOD by Emma Winiarski | Directed by Carly DW Bones In rural Massachusetts, four tween girls attending a Catholic wilderness survival camp must band together to save their kidnapped counselors while navigating their coming-of-age and far-fetched dreams. Featuring: River Burnash, Yennie Cannon, Abby Lazar, Juliette Lazard Dramaturgy: Ammie Jergenson and Josephine Wang Content warning: Strong language and tense situations. June 5, 7:00pm | Livestream Link COYOTE HAZING by Gabby Chavez | Directed by Courtney Ulrich Forced to survive a night on a secluded mountain top, four pledges will sacrifice everything to prove that they are worthy of being part of the most esteemed fraternity on campus: Zeta Kappa Phi. Featuring: Hayden Harbison, Winter Johnson, Sebastian Ocampo, Aaron Tackwood, Kyle Whan Dramaturgy: Colin Loveland and Baylee Muise Content warning: Violence and conversations of suicide. Parking: Please click here for parking information and directions.