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THE BONNIE HAMMERSCHLAG NATIONAL CAPITAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
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DC/Round House Theatre/THE BONNIE HAMMERSCHLAG NATIONAL CAPITAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

THE BONNIE HAMMERSCHLAG NATIONAL CAPITAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

Round House Theatre · Bethesda

RunningFeb 11 – Mar 15
Art Formtheater
Who It's Good For

Seek this out if you're interested in where theater is heading rather than where it's been. This is essential for playwrights, theater professionals, and audiences who want to engage with new work before it becomes canonized elsewhere—expect unpolished edges alongside genuine discoveries.

Round House Theatre's annual celebration of new American work returns with the Bonnie Hammerschlag National Capital New Play Festival, a critical proving ground for emerging and established playwrights. Running through mid-March in Bethesda, this festival curates a slate of original scripts that reflect contemporary voices and urgent theatrical questions. The Hammerschlag Festival has established itself as a genuine incubator—plays developed here have gone on to regional and national prominence, and the festival maintains rigorous artistic standards rather than simply showcasing work-in-progress material. For a theater that's built its reputation on risk-taking, this annual event remains one of the area's most vital platforms for playwrights seeking to shape what American theater becomes.

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Round House Theatre is in Bethesda. The Bethesda Metro station (Red Line) is approximately a 10-minute walk from the theatre. The station is well-marked and provides direct access to the venue's downtown location.
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Last updated April 5, 2026 · Summaries written by Theaterloop editors with AI assistance

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