New Play Lab

Fostering bold new voices through mentorship, community, and conversation

The Players’ Ring is committed to supporting new work development and elevating emerging voices as part of our mission as a nonprofit arts organization in Portsmouth, NH.

Through our RING-WORKS program, we select promising plays from our annual Mainstage submissions—works we believe have great potential but may benefit from further development before being considered for a full production.

Each selected playwright is paired with mentor Leslie Pasternack, a local playwright, director, and dramaturg, for one-on-one feedback and guidance. The script is then shared with our Ring Readers’ Club, a community of theatre lovers who participate in moderated Zoom-based discussions with the playwright in attendance.

The process culminates in a live staged reading and talkback at the theatre, where the audience plays a vital role in shaping the play’s next steps.

This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation.

This Season’s Selected Plays:

Moms the Musical by Jennifer Lake
Staged Reading & Talkback: Wednesday, October 1, 7 PM >>> Get tickets

Beast of Eden by Will Saxe
Zoom Discussion: Tuesday, September 23, 6 PM >>> Register
Staged Reading & Talkback: Tuesday, October 28, 6:30 PM >>> Reserve your free seat

Things Get Ugly by Doug Brendel
Zoom Discussion: Monday, November 17, 6 PM >>> Register
Staged Reading & Talkback: Monday, January 12, 6:30 PM >>> Reserve your free seat

If you’re a curious audience member who wants to take part in the creative process, sign up below to join our Ring Readers’ Club and help shape the future of local theatre.