“A Festival? A Festival! You wish to go to the festival?” — Into the Woods  With four major theater festivals taking place across the DMV this month and next, now is the perfect time to see professional readings of new plays still in development. Festivals featuring professional readings of new plays are fast becoming a fixture in the DC theater scene, offering audiences and institutions an opportunity to provide feedback on works in progress and to guide future mainstage programming.  Works from previous festivals have gone on to successful mainstage productions in DC, on Broadway, and across the nation. Add to that: the price is right. With ticket prices ranging from free to far lower than a fully-staged production, festival season is the perfect time to immerse yourself in theater. A First Look Festival, Ford’s Theatre What: A free, two-day festival features new works in development by playwrights in the Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions initiative. The works center on historically significant events and figures. This year’s festival features three new works currently in development: Springs, written by Jeanne Sakata, directed by Jessica Kubzansky. Springs is a Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commission Providence Spring, written by Richard Hellesen, directed by Holly Twyford. Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest, book and lyrics by Psalmayene 24, music by Kokayi, directed by Reginald L. Douglas. When: January 16 and 17, 2026Where: Ford’s Theatre, DCCost: Free!Pro Tip: Two works from past First Look Festival readings, Pearl Cleage’s Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard and The American Five by playwright Chess Jakobs have gone on to successful, fully-staged productions at Ford’s Theatre. Which production from this year’s festival will go on to a fully-staged production? (Lots of folks are betting on Young John Lewis to be the breakout hit this year.)For more information on Ford’s First Look Festival, click here.  Reading Room Festival, Folger Theatre What: a public celebration exploring how Shakespeare’s works are adapted, translated, and reimagined for the stage today. Four fully staged readings center the festival, with additional workshops, panel discussions, and special events for audiences, artists, and scholars. When: January 22-25, 2026Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, DCCost: Individual events, $20. All-access pass, $125. Students free with valid ID.Pro tip: Check out Marcus Gardley’s LEAR, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear set in 1960s San Francisco. This modern-verse translation by Gardley, an Obie Award-winning playwright, offers a poetic reckoning with history, progress, and patriarchy. After the reading, award-winning theater artist, novelist, and educator Ifa Bayeza will lead a conversation with members of the creative team and cast. For more information on the Folger Reading Room Festival, click here.  New Pages, New Stages Festival, Studio Theatre (in partnership with Arena Stage, Theater Alliance, Solas Nua, and Theater J) What: Professional readings of new plays by a diverse array of playwrights from five leading local theater companies.When: January 23-25, 2026Where: Studio Theatre, DCCost: $15 per reading, $300 all-access pass to all six plays plus a Saturday evening post-show reception.Pro Tip: Studio Theatre conceived of this new festival to fill the void left by the Kennedy Center’s now-defunct Page-to-Stage program, which long supported the development of new works in the region.  For more information on Studio Theatre’s New Pages, New Stages Festival, click here.  Last but not least: Busy in January? Stay tuned in February for Round House Theatre’s National Capital New Play Festival What: Developmental readings of four new plays held alongside a mainstage production of Nothing Up My Sleeve.When: February 11-March 15, 2026Where: Round House Theatre, Bethesda, MarylandCost: Readings: free; Mainstage production: $50-$94Pro Tip: The NCNP Festival headlining production reunites Playwright Aaron Posner with the magician known as Dendy, the forces behind Round House’s hugely successful 2022 reinterpretation of The Tempest.  For more information on the Bonnie Hammerschlag National Capital New Play Festival, click here.  The post If it’s January, it must be festival season appeared first on DC Theater Arts. ...read more read less