Actors Theatre Playhouse Launches 2026 Season with Acclaimed 10-Minute Play Festival

WEST CHESTERFIELD — Actors Theatre Playhouse (ATP) will officially open its 2026 theater season this June with its highly anticipated annual 10-Minute Play Festival. Described by regular patrons as "Popcorn for the Brain," the festival features a rapid-fire showcase of seven short, standalone plays running for three consecutive weekends from June 5 through June 20. This year's production marks a major milestone for the Playhouse, introducing a new trio of co-producers — Ian Hefele, Wendy Almeida, and Bridget McBride — who are steering the logistical helm of the ambitious showcase. The seven winning scripts were meticulously whittled down from a competitive national pool of more than 300 blind submissions. "In a 10-minute play, the audience is dropped directly into a single, high-stakes moment in time," said the production team. "The characters undergo an entire emotional arc right in front of you, spanning formats from razor-sharp workplace comedies to introspective existential dramas. It guarantees a little something for everyone." The 2026 lineup features a diverse mix of genres and national voices, brought to life by a collaborative ensemble of directors and actors drawing from across the Monadnock region and nearby Vermont communities: "Who's Afraid of Laughter?" by Rand Higbee (Directed by Rob Gray) "The Fault in Our Genes" by James McLindon (Directed by Burt Tepfer) "The Moment Before" by Samantha Eppes (Directed by Ian Hefele) "Death Takes a Lunch Break" by Jim Sampson (Directed by Brenda Seitz) "Stages" by Rachel Zake (Directed by Lin Snider) "Finding Help" by Marj O'Neill-Butler (Directed by Ann Linge) "The Meadows" by Ryan Kaminski (Directed by Wendy Almeida) The 2026 festival acting ensemble features a dynamic mix of familiar regional faces and newcomers, including Scott Aronowitz, Jonathan Benney, Emmadora Boutcher, Jim Bombicino, Rebecca Cross, Rachel Distler, Lauren Fierman, Nick Hattam, Bruce Holloway, Cassandra Holloway, Tera Murray, Isabella Potter, Scott Rodenhauser, Rose Watson, and Jen Zakrzewski.