The 2026 VOX NOVA Playwright Festival Semi-Finalists
A HUGE THANKS to all of this year's submitting playwrights!
First and foremost, heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted a play to the 2026 VOX NOVA Playwright Festival. We are deeply grateful for your creativity, passion, and trust; this festival wouldn’t exist without you. The incredible talent across all submissions made the selection process both inspiring and incredibly challenging.
We’d also like to recognize our dedicated team of play evaluators, whose thoughtful reading and reporting helped us arrive at this outstanding group of semi-finalists.
And now, the moment we’ve been waiting for... we’re thrilled to announce the 7 semi-finalists for 2026! Without further ado, here they are, in alphabetical order:
First and foremost, heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted a play to the 2026 VOX NOVA Playwright Festival. We are deeply grateful for your creativity, passion, and trust; this festival wouldn’t exist without you. The incredible talent across all submissions made the selection process both inspiring and incredibly challenging.
We’d also like to recognize our dedicated team of play evaluators, whose thoughtful reading and reporting helped us arrive at this outstanding group of semi-finalists.
And now, the moment we’ve been waiting for... we’re thrilled to announce the 7 semi-finalists for 2026! Without further ado, here they are, in alphabetical order:
Analysis Paralysis
by James Kelsey Nelson
An Empty Room
by Katelin Wilcox
El Sueño Americano
by Richard Lyons Conlon
Miracle Lake
by Susan Lily Jackson
The Cicada's Song
by Eric Litra
This Show Was Supposed to Be Funny
by Marshall Logan Gibbs
Vent
by Judy Klass
by James Kelsey Nelson
An Empty Room
by Katelin Wilcox
El Sueño Americano
by Richard Lyons Conlon
Miracle Lake
by Susan Lily Jackson
The Cicada's Song
by Eric Litra
This Show Was Supposed to Be Funny
by Marshall Logan Gibbs
Vent
by Judy Klass
Our next steps...
After a deep evaluation of these fine works through private live readings, with talented actors and adept judges, we will be announcing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize Winners on August 31, 2026. More soon!
After a deep evaluation of these fine works through private live readings, with talented actors and adept judges, we will be announcing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize Winners on August 31, 2026. More soon!
