What conversation do you want to have after, say, COVID-19? While that’s the obvious “after” as we begin to see glimpses of the pandemic coming under control, other “afters” might come to mind for you. Such is the theme of the Playwright Festival.

UpStage Napa Valley, a local theater company composed of a volunteer board of directors and actors, is inviting people to submit original short plays for consideration. It isn’t necessary to be a published writer, just the desire to write such a play.

You can take the prompt “Conversations After … ” in many directions. The play should be written for one to three performers and between 10 and 20 minutes long. Plays can be submitted between April 1 and May 15 to UpStage Napa Valley, P.O. Box 277, Calistoga, CA 94515 or to info@upstagenapavalley.org. A panel of community members will review the plays and between five and ten finalists will be announced mid-June.

Upstage Napa Valley plans to present these short plays in an outdoor venue in September when, optimistically, live performances will be safe and feasible. If conditions of the pandemic still restrict a live audience, plays will be filmed and streamed on upstagenapavalley.org. Donations to help the local theater meet expenses are gratefully accepted.

“Napa Valley is home to many lovers of writing,” said Artistic Director Sharie Renault. “UpStage excitedly looks forward to a bounty of submissions for our premier Playwright Festival with the hopes of pulling the community together after this very challenging year.”

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