12 Peers Theater

This year, 12 Peers Theater is producing a staged reading of Best Ever Creation Story Contest by Eion Carney on August 21st for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. We are excited to be a part of such a long standing festival and have assembled a great cast of actors who we believe will honor the playwright’s wishes and help our company and help to put our best foot forward.

To give you some background on the festival, Pittsburgh New Works Festival is currently in its 21st year. This unique festival brings 18 companies in the Pittsburgh theater community together. These companies will produce eighteen one act plays; twelve for their main stage and six for the staged readings festival. The Pittsburgh New Works Festival is one of a kind in the United States and the only festival that comes close to their structure (18 different companies coming together to produce 18 different new plays) is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Last year, for its 20th year, Pittsburgh New Works Festival produced twenty new plays with twenty different theater companies.

The festival is such a valuable asset not only to theater companies but also actors throughout the Pittsburgh area. After the festival is finished they have a gala where they present the best production, director and actors with the “Donna Awards” named after Pittsburgh New Works Festival founder Donna Rae. They award the Outstanding Supporting Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actress, Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Production, Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Playwright. The winner of Outstanding Playwright receives an award as well as a check for $500 (It should be noted that actors, directors and productions in the main stage portion of the festival also receive a small stipend).

Every year I look forward to Pittsburgh New Works festival for the opportunities I have received as an actor in this theater community. Vince and I have both had the honor and privilege of being awarded with the Donna Award, but ultimately, I am proud to be part of a festival that supports actors, directors and companies, and playwrights.

Sara Fisher

Associate Artistic Director

12 Peers Theater