Contemporary American Theater Festival

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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.

We are so proud of our playwrights! In 2018, Angelica Chéri’s "Berta, Berta" made its world premiere at CATF: a story in...
10/08/2026

We are so proud of our playwrights! In 2018, Angelica Chéri’s "Berta, Berta" made its world premiere at CATF: a story inspired by a prison song and rooted in love, longing, and the fight to be free.

This October, in exactly one week, Chéri brings "WANTED" to the James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway. As the musical’s book writer and lyricist, she makes history as the first Black woman in more than 30 years to write both for a wholly original Broadway musical.

Learn more about "WANTED" at the link in our bio.

From CATF’s inaugural season to a 2025 world premiere, playwright and screenwriter Lisa Loomer’s work has been part of t...
09/22/2026

From CATF’s inaugural season to a 2025 world premiere, playwright and screenwriter Lisa Loomer’s work has been part of the Festival’s story for more than three decades.

Lisa Loomer writes with the kind of humor and honesty that makes difficult questions impossible to ignore. In "Side Effects May Include…," a mother guides audiences through her son’s search for wellness after a series of diagnoses, navigating the maze of psychiatry, medication, and informed consent.

Her work invites us to sit with uncertainty, laugh when we least expect to, and consider what it means to care for one another. Swipe through to revisit Loomer’s connection to CATF.

CONTENT NOTE: This post discusses su***de, grief, and the loss of a young person.“Gidion’s Knot” by Johnna Adams was a s...
09/16/2026

CONTENT NOTE: This post discusses su***de, grief, and the loss of a young person.

“Gidion’s Knot” by Johnna Adams was a standout of CATF’s 2012 season and a powerful example of why fearless art matters.

The play follows a mother and teacher grappling with the su***de of a young boy, confronting grief, bullying, guilt, and unanswered questions about his death. The production left a lasting impact on audiences and CATF as a whole.

During Su***de Prevention Month, we’re reflecting on work that doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations. "Gidion’s Knot" reminds us that theater can give us space to confront what’s hard to talk about.💜💙

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

09/15/2026

Have you seen the play 'Gidion's Knot' by playwright Johnna Adams? Our Artistic Director, Peggy McKowen, describes the 2012 CATF play as a "signature" staging. It has now been produced by dozens of theaters and embodies the CATF committment to trusting our audiences and believing in our playwrights 💜💙

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a full month since the final shows of the Contemporary American Theater Festival's 3...
09/02/2026

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a full month since the final shows of the Contemporary American Theater Festival's 36th season. ❤️

A month later, we’re still thinking about the stories we told, the artists who brought them to life, and the audiences who shared those moments with us.

Here’s a look back at some of the memories from this season. Thank you to everyone who made CATF 2026 so special! We’re already looking forward to what’s next.

Before "Blonde" was a Netflix film, it was a novel. Before that, Joyce Carol Oates was making theater at CATF.A National...
08/31/2026

Before "Blonde" was a Netflix film, it was a novel. Before that, Joyce Carol Oates was making theater at CATF.

A National Book Award winner and author of sixty novels, Oates came to the Contemporary American Theater Festival three times in its early years, bringing "Black" and "Bad Girls" to the Festival for their world premieres and later adapting "Blonde" into "Miss Golden Dreams" for the stage.

Her history at CATF is a snapshot of what this Festival has always believed: the most exciting theater is often the work that hasn’t been fully defined yet.

Our "From the Archives" series looks back at the writers, artists, and productions that helped make CATF a home for ambitious American theater, and a place where new plays get their start.

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!

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Shepherdstown, WV
25443

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