Humana Festival of New American Plays

Through March 28
Actors Theatre of Louisville

Every year, I do my best to prod theater lovers from Indy into taking the relatively short trek to Louisville for the Humana
Festival of New American Plays.

By definition, it’s tough to sell the festival based on titles, given that it’s all untested new work. And, most
years (including this one), it’s also tough to push specific playwrights, since it’s unlikely that you’ve
been exposed to the work of Lisa Dillman or Dan O’Brien. You might recall Deborah Zoe Laufer, whose “End Days”
was performed here at the Phoenix a few seasons back.

I often fall back on past work to make the Humana Fest case, reminding anyone who will listen that such recent winners as
“Becky Shaw” and the Pulitzer-winning “Dinner with Friends” launched at Humana, taking their place
alongside such now-canonical shows as “Crimes of the Heart” and “The Gin Game.”

How about just a general prodding? Some of my best theatrical experiences of the last dozen or so years have come courtesy
of this internationally known fest. Go. Details here.