Contemporary American Theater Festival

Contemporary American Theater Festival Producing and developing new plays since 1991.

The ultimate theater experience: six plays in rotating repertory with opportunities to engage with the artt, the artists, and the audience - all nestled in historic Shepherdstown.

08/28/2026

From one venue to the next! Take another look behind the curtain at our public changeover from the Frank Center as we transitioned from "Best Line Wins" to "The Smoker." Just like our previous post from the Marinoff changeover, we invited audiences to watch this impressive Public Changeover at our largest venue!

Whether it's rolling walls around stage or flying windows into frame, we are delighted to share this experience with our audiences. Putting up five repertory shows is no small task, but part of the Festival magic stems from the dedication of our Production Team!

08/26/2026

The 2026 season may be over, but things are definitely not quiet around here!

We wrapped our season on August 2, and now the full-time CATF team is deep in the process of reading, talking, listening and searching for the plays that could become our next season.

In this video, Artistic Director Peggy McKowen shares a little about how she approaches the process and what she’s looking for when she reads a new play.

Why do iconic playwrights come to CATF?The late Charles Fuller had enormous success throughout his career. His acclaimed...
08/24/2026

Why do iconic playwrights come to CATF?

The late Charles Fuller had enormous success throughout his career. His acclaimed Pulitzer-winning play, “A Soldier’s Play” was made into an Oscar-nominated film in the 80s. In 2014, the Contemporary American Theater Festival did a staging of his play “One Night,” a few months after its premiere at Cherry Lane Theatre

Playwrights choose CATF because it’s a theater incubator where taking risks, experimenting and staying connected to the work is encouraged. Regardless of a playwright’s experience, there is always room to keep asking questions, find new collaborators, and make new theater!

08/24/2026

If you saw any of our plays this summer, you’re now part of an amazing story. The playwrights that come to CATF have made history, and will continue to do great things! They are the voices shaping what comes next in the world of American theater. Consider getting a thinkahead Pass so you don’t miss next year’s new voices!

08/19/2026

How did CATF present five plays across three venues? That's exactly what we invited audiences to witness with our Public Changeovers this season! In this video, see the team move from the set of "¡VOS!" to the set of "My Favorite Sociopath."

These events highlight the collaboration and dedication of our production team, who work diligently to change these particular sets in only 15 minutes! Presenting this backstage experience is one way CATF invites audiences behind the curtain and allows people to learn more about what it takes to bring new theater to life!

08/17/2026

As we look back on the 2026 season, we wanted to share this reflection from Peggy on the heart of this year's plays. Even though the shows have finished, the themes she discusses feel more relevant than ever. We were so glad to have you in the audience to experience these five fearless new works with us in Shepherdstown. We would love to hear which play stayed with you the most this summer and why.

08/03/2026

And just like that, the 2026 Season is over! Thank you thank you thank you to everyone that came out to support CATF during this landmark season. We can't wait to do it again next year.🌟

Today is the FINAL DAY of performances and we're so close to our goal! The 2026 season has been amazing and we celebrate...
08/02/2026

Today is the FINAL DAY of performances and we're so close to our goal! The 2026 season has been amazing and we celebrate every person who devoted their time and expertise to making these 5 incredible plays happen!

Hear from our incredible interns and seasonal staff, some joining us for the first time and others returning after past seasons, as they share how CATF has shaped their careers. Their experiences are made possible by supporters like YOU!

In this Weekend of Giving, help us cross the finish line. Visit the link in our bio to make your gift today.

08/01/2026

We're halfway to our goal...but there's still work to do!
Just like every CATF production, what you see onstage starts long before opening night. It begins with dedicated interns and seasonal staff who spend countless hours building, painting, and bringing our ambitious sets to life with incredible skill and care.

Their talent, creativity, and commitment (and the opportunity to give emerging artists hands-on experience) are only possible because of supporters like you!

This weekend only, every gift to CATF will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. Help us unlock the full match and reach our $40,000 goal!

When you give, you're investing in the next generation of theater makers, bold new American plays, and the artists who bring them to life.

Make your gift by August 2 and double your impact.

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92 W Campus Drive
Shepherdstown, WV
25443

Telephone

+16812402283

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