International Play Reading Festival | 2020

Columbia University School of the Arts International Play Reading Festival

OCTOBER 2–25, 2020

Featuring Candace Chong Mui Ngam (Hong Kong), Nophand (Thailand), and Camila Villegas (Mexico).

Co-founded by Carol Becker and David Henry Hwang, this marquee annual festival presents readings of three plays by living international playwrights alongside conversations with the playwrights and translators. Now in its third year, the 2020 edition of the festival will be held as a series of podcasts.

Listen to the trailer here or at either of links below:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Listen to individual podcast episodes at the links below.

© 2020 by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Plays

mexico sierra tarahumaras
International Play Reading Festival: Rarámuri Dreams

Friday, October 2, 8:00 pm ET
Written by Camila Villegas (Mexico)
translated by Daniel Jáquez directed by Opalanietet

A kidnapping. A murder. Two parents seek justice and redemption—if only the system worked that way.

thailand traffic
International Play Reading Festival: Taxi Radio

Friday, October 9, 8:00pm ET
Written by Nophand (Thailand)
directed by Aya Ogawa

On a stormy night in Bangkok, four beings are stuck in traffic. Your phone can't help you out of these dead ends.

hong kong skyline
International Play Reading Festival: May 35th

Friday, October 16, 8:00 pm ET
Written by Candace Chong Mui Ngam (Hong Kong)
directed by Leigh Silverman

Sui Lum and Ah Dai grapple with a date so volatile that the government won’t let them say it aloud.

Daniel Jáquez, Nophand, and Susan Bernofsky
Translator Panel Discussion

Saturday, October 24, 10:00 am ET

Daniel Jáquez (Rarámuri Dreams), and Nophand (Taxi Radio). Moderated by Susan Bernofsky, Writing​. This panel discussion is sponsored by the MFA Writing Program/Literary Translation at Columbia.

Candace Chong Mui Ngam, Nophand, and Camila Villegas, and David Henry Hwang
Playwright Panel Discussion

Sunday, October 25, 10:00 am ET

Candace Chong Mui NgamCamila Villegas, and Nophand. Moderated by David Henry Hwang, Theatre.

“Theatre is fundamentally about human interaction––something we all know is incredibly challenging at this time. We are grateful to have such an adventurous group of playwrights with whom to collaborate on this experiment.”
– CAROL BECKER, DEAN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

 

“The International Play Reading Festival this year will be accessible for the first time to a truly international audience. We hope these extraordinary plays can help bring our world together, during a time when we all share a common threat, one that acknowledges no borders.”
– DAVID HENRY HWANG, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

 

Festival Directors

Carol Becker, Professor of the Arts and Dean, Columbia University School of the Arts
David Henry Hwang, Concentration Head, Playwriting, Theatre MFA Program

Selection Committee

Susan Bernofsky, Director, Literary Translation at Columbia, Writing MFA Program
David Henry Hwang, Concentration Head, Playwriting, Theatre MFA Program
Morgan Jenness, Theatre MFA Program
Kate Loewald, Theatre MFA Program and The Play Company
Christian Parker, Theatre MFA Program

Nominating Bodies

John Eisner, The Lark
Michel Hausmann, Colony Theatre/Miami New Drama
Anchuli Felicia King
Joanna Lee
, Museworks
Roberta Levitow
Bill Rauch
, The Ronald O. Perelman Center for the Performing Arts
Mark Russell, Under the Radar (Public Theater)
Ken SmithFinancial Times
Lloyd Suh, The Lark
Mfundi Vundla, Market Theatre

Production

Gavin Browning, Director of Public Programs and Engagement
Natalie Layne Baker, Sound Editor
Jessi Cotter, Production Manager
Tiffany Davis, Communications Assistant
Caroline Eng, Sound Designer
Kate Foster, Literary Manager, Taxi Radio
Carey McHugh, Assistant Director of Communications
Martin Murray, Literary Manager, May 35th
Jim Petty with Five Ohm Productions, Audio Engineer
Sami Pyne, Student Producer
Zoe E. Rotter, Casting Director
Christina Rumpf, Senior Director of Communications
Paola Alexandra Soto, Literary Manager, Rarámuri Dreams
Kristina Tate, Assistant Director of Communications
Joan Wyatt, Stage Manager

 

Columbia University makes every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Please notify the office at least 10 days in advance if you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation or any other disability accommodations. Alternatively, Disability Services can be reached at 212.854.2388 and [email protected].