Our New Play Sounding Series (NPSS) has produced staged readings of more than 50 new plays since it began in 1994. Many of these plays have gone on to full productions in Salt Lake Acting Company seasons. Nearly all have been produced in other regional theatres, or published for the professional market.

Since 1998, with the help of funding by American Express, SLAC has paid a modest honorarium to actors and directors involved in the readings, ensuring professionalism in the program. Funding provided by Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts, and Parks program allows the growing audience to attend the series at no cost.

Salt Lake Acting Company's New Play Sounding Series will continue to provide a safe environment for the research and development of new plays.

The mission of the New Play Sounding Series

• To develop relationships with emerging and established playwrights, both locally and nationally, and to foster ongoing and mutually nourishing correspondence.
• To create a constructive, low risk arena in which to explore new creative voices and investigate works of interest in greater depth.
• To involve the audience in the process of play creation, exploration and selection.
• To provide additional working opportunities for local theatre artists.

NPSS History

2010

• THE PERSIAN QUARTER by Kathleen Cahill
• PROPHETS OF NATURE by Keith Reddin
• VIRTUE by Tim Slover

2009

• SHE WAS MY BROTHER by Julie Jensen
• MAMMOTH by Eric Roberson
• SUNLIGHT by Sharr White
• CHARM by Kathleen Cahill

2008

• THE TOWERING DEAD by Mike Dorrell
• THE RANT by Andrew Case
• A SLIGHT DISCOMFORT by Jeff Metcalf
• CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE by Carter W. Lewis
• 14 by John Cameron

2007

• THE RECEPTIONIST by Adam Bock
• BUNBURY by Tom Jacobson
• IN CORRECTIONS by Doris Baizley and Susan Raffanti
• THE CANCER DIARIES by Jeff Metcalf

2006

• THE THUGS by Adam Bock
• SEXSTING by Doris Baizley and Susan Raffanti
• DARK YELLOW by Julia Jordan
• THE O'CONNOR GIRLS by Katie Forgette

2005

• THE LAND SOUTHWARD by Darcy Hogan
• ROUNDUP by Kurt Proctor
• ART FOR ART'S SAKE by Mike Dorrell
• THE OVERWHELMING by J. T. Rogers

2004

• TOUCH OF RAPTURE by Mary Fengar Gail
• A CROOKED MAN by Richard Kalinoski
• ROUNDING THIRD by Richard Dresser
• SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS by Adam Bock

2003

• FRANKINCENSE by John Rafter Lee
• LILY AND DASH by Mike Dorrell
• MADAGASCAR by J.T. Rogers
• THE GOSHUTE PLAY by Julie Jensen

2002

• ANCIENT LIGHTS by Shelagh Stephenson
• WAIT! by Julie Jensen
  (Retitled from NO SMALL ACTORS, had its world premiere at The Salt Lake Acting Company, April 8, 2003.)
• 10 TEN-MINUTE PLAYS BY SLAC PLAYWRIGHTS GROUP

2001

• SEEING THE ELEPHANT by J. T. Rogers
  (Received its world premiere at The Salt Lake Acting Company, April 2, 2002)
• NO SMALL ACTORS by Julie Jensen
  (SLAC commissioned play, week-long workshop November of 2000 culminating in reading of first draft)
• CABBIES, COWBOYS AND THE TREE OF THE WEEPING VIRGIN by Jeff Metcalf
  (Received its world premiere at The Salt Lake Acting Company, January 22, 2002. A book containing all of the commissioned pieces was published by SLAC and given as a gift to audience members.)

2000

• ABSENCE by Wendy Hammond
  (Previous draft entitled THE HOLE premiered at Purple Rose Theatre in Michigan, in 1999)
• RED HERRING by Michael Hollinger
  (world premiere, Philadelphia Theatre Company, March 2000.)
• CHEAT by Julie Jensen
  (world premiere at Women’s Project in New York in October of 2002.)
• A LOSS OF APPETITE by David Kranes

1999

• BASH, IPHIGENIA IN OREM, MEDEA REDUX by Neil Labute
  (Produced Off-Broadway in 1999 with Calista Flockhart)
• WINDING SHEET by Eric Samuelsen
• THE LIVELY LAD by Quincy Long
  (Workshop production, A.S.K. Common Ground Festival, L.A., 1999)
• OUTRAGE by Nate Briggs
  (Playwright Nate Briggs is now a member of the Playwright’s Group, sponsored by SLAC, headed by Dramaturg Mike Dorrell)

1998

• TWO-HEADED by Julie Jensen
  (Salt Lake Acting Company, world premiere,2000; workshop production, A.S.K. Common Ground Festival, L.A., 1999, Produced by The Women’s Project in New York, in 2000.)
• UNDER WESTERN SKIES by Al Brown
  (T.C.G / N.E.A. Playwright in Residence at SLAC, 1998)
• BOB AND MAY ARE GETTING MARRIED by Carl Sanders
  (Produced in Seattle in 2000 at One World Theatre, published by Rain City Press under the title THE PERFECT STRANGER)
• DRIFT by Jon Tuttle
  (produced by Trustus Theatre, North Carolina, 1998)

1997

• RENO BANGS by Al Brown
• TINY ISLAND by Michael Hollinger
  (produced by Arden Theatre, Philadelphia, 1998)
• A BIRCH IN WINTER by Aaron Shaheen
• MOTHER COLLEGE by Richard Kalinoski

1996

• VICTOR AND THE VIRGIN by Thomas G. Dunn
• MOLLY’S DELICIOUS by Craig Wright
  (produced by Philadelphia Festival of New Plays 1997; Arden Theatre, Philadelphia 1997, Published by Dramatic Publishing)
• ROSE COLORED GLASS by Susan Bigelow-Marsh
  (produced by Jewish Repertory Theatre, 1997)
• ONE LAST DANCE by Al Brown
  (produced by Salt Lake Acting Company, 1997)
• PAPARAZZI! by Gib Johnson
• THE BIG SLAM by Bill Corbett
  (produced by Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Washington D.C., 1997; A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle, 1997, Published by Dramatist Play Service)

1995

• WINTER OF THE DEER by David Kranes
  (world premiere by Salt Lake Acting Company 1996)
• THE LOST VEGAS SERIES by Julie Jensen
  (produced by Zebra Crossing Theatre, Chicago 1997, winning the Jefferson Award; and in London 1998)
• DADDY’S GONE HOME TO MOTHER IN HEAVEN by Gary Stewart
• NAPOLEON’S CHINA by Ann Haskell, Sherry Kramer and Rebecca Newton
  (produced by Salt Lake Acting Company 1996)
• VOIR DIRE by Joe Sutton
  (produced by Seattle Repertory Theatre, 1996)
• THE BIG NUMBERS by Craig Wright
• INCORRUPTIBLE by Michael Hollinger
  (produced by Salt Lake Acting Company, 1996; Arden Theatre, Philadelphia, 1996; Artist’s Repertory Theatre, Portland, Oregon 1998)