LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Presents the 2025 Rough Draft Festival

A Celebration of New Voices in Theater, March 10–21; Free Admission – RSVP Required

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (February 11, 2025) — The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY announces the 2025 Rough Draft Festival. For over two decades, the festival has fostered emerging playwrights and theater artists, offering them a collaborative space to refine their work while engaging with diverse audiences. This year’s festival promises an eclectic lineup, spanning dark thrillers, absurdist satire, and intimate dramas. Performances begin March 10 and run through March 21. Admission is free, but RSVP is required.

“The Rough Draft Festival is not just a showcase; it’s a conversation and a dynamic incubator for groundbreaking theater,” said Handan Ozbilgin, LPAC’s Artistic Director “We invite audiences to witness these stories in progress, to be part of the creative process, and to engage with themes that challenge, entertain, and inspire.”

The Rough Draft Festival is one of LPAC’s distinctive residency programs and festivals, which spotlight emerging artists and foster creativity and dialogue within the community. These include the CUNY Dance Initiative, Emerging Choreographer Series, SchoolTime, and Music Lab. Artists receive rehearsal and performance space to develop and refine their works-in-progress.

“LPAC is where new voices take center stage. The Rough Draft Festival provides a supportive, engaging environment for playwrights to refine their work and connect with audiences,” said Evelyn Lowmark, Interim Executive Director of LPAC.

2025 ROUGH DRAFT FESTIVAL LINEUP

Each show runs for 60–90 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Attendees sit on stage in an intimate setting. The performances are readings of works in progress, rather than full productions. Some shows include workshops where actors perform without reading from the script and use blocking.

“Olives” — Written by Daniel Holzman, Directed by Francesca Sabel

• Monday, March 10, 2025, 2:30 p.m., Mainstage Blackbox (RSVP Here)
• A darkly comedic, erotic thriller about a couple on the brink of transformation. As Miriam, a tech professional, and David, an aspiring guitarist, navigate their anxieties, a mysterious bodybuilder enters their lives, forcing them to confront their deepest fears.
• Daniel Holzman is a playwright and artist from San Francisco whose work has been developed at NYFA, Clubbed Thumb, and LPAC. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Playwriting at Brooklyn College.

“Choke” — Written by KJ Stewart

• Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Little Theater (RSVP Here)
• On a new reality TV show hosted by Yung Gravy, contestants compete in hot dog eating contests for cash prizes and national fame. Meanwhile, from her tiny NYC apartment, Debbie watches—and eats. “Choke” is a biting exploration of gluttony in its many modern forms.
• KJ Stewart is a Brooklyn-based playwright, director, and occasional clown. A graduate of NYU Tisch, their work has been staged at The Wild Project (Fresh Fruit Festival) and Trove Theater Company.

“Fountains of Youth” — Written by Kareem Fahmy

• Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 2:30 p.m., Mainstage Blackbox (RSVP Here)
• Inspired by true events, “Fountains of Youth” unravels the mystery surrounding Moose, an undocumented refugee who vanishes without a trace. As his friends search for answers, their loyalty is tested, exposing deep-seated tensions and hard truths.
• Kareem Fahmy is a New York-based playwright and director originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec. His plays have been staged Off-Broadway and across the U.S., with accolades including the 2022 Woodward/Newman Playwriting Award and a MacDowell Fellowship.

“Open Studio” — Written by Emmy Weissman

• Friday, March 14, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Mainstage Blackbox (RSVP Here)
• When Maya joins a pottery class, she is drawn into the intimate world of two men—one older, one younger. As the trio’s relationships evolve within the confines of a small-town studio, “Open Studio” delves into the delicate intersections of art, connection, and vulnerability.
• Emmy Weissman is a NYC-based playwright whose works have been staged at The Maker’s Ensemble, Chain Theatre, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Playwriting at Hunter College.

“The Stranger” — Written by Sam Walsh

• Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Little Theater (RSVP Here)
• Roy, a reclusive repairman, is confronted by his estranged niece Maxine, who forces him to confront the ghosts of his past. “The Stranger” is a quiet meditation on grief, regret, and the painful process of letting go to start anew.
• Sam Walsh is a playwright and multi-disciplinary artist exploring loneliness and American individualism. They are an ARTC Fellowship recipient and a finalist for New Georges Jam, Ingram New Works Lab, and Play Penn.

“Furball” — Written by Jeana Scotti

• Friday, March 21, 2025, 2:30 p.m., Little Theater (RSVP Here)
• Sam has a growing problem—literally. A mysterious furball is forming inside their body, and no doctor seems to have an answer. As the furball grows, “Furball” offers a surreal, hilarious, and unsettling commentary on relationships, bodily autonomy, and the absurdity of modern health crises.
• Jeana Scotti is a playwright and educator, currently a 2025 New Georges Audrey Resident and MacDowell Fellow. Her work has been developed at Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers Group and New Perspectives Lab. 

How to Attend a Show: Guests attending LPAC shows are encouraged to enter the college at 45-50 Van Dam Street, Long Island City, Queens (see Maps and Directions). For more information, please email lpacboxoffice@lagcc.cuny.edu or call (718) 482-5151

Stay Informed: Follow LPAC on Instagram for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and artist features. Subscribe to the LPAC newsletter to stay in the loop about upcoming events, ticket offers, and more.

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The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC), located at LaGuardia Community College, is a cultural hub that fosters artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. LPAC is dedicated to providing a platform for dynamic artists and storytellers to create, collaborate, and inspire. Through diverse programming, LPAC continues to support its mission of making the arts accessible to all. It is the stage for productions of the award-winning Theater and Music Performance programs of LaGuardia Community College, as well as works from partner institutions, including Carnegie Hall, Joffrey Ballet School, and the Drama League of New York.

LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.

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