Voices of Color - The 2025 One Act Play Festival

A Special CWP Mainstage Production

July 11th – 19th, 2025

Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.

Join us for one of our most popular events, featuring 8 original short plays in one theatrical experience

Audiences will enjoy an eclectic mix of short plays telling black stories, featuring comedy, drama, and everything in between!

In addition to thrilling sell-out crowds, this exciting event provides black playwrights with an opportunity to see their work produced.

Presented with the support of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Featuring:

Pocketbook by Cris Eli Blak

After killing her mother's attacker in self-defense, an imprisoned teenage girl finds hope in a public defender who not only gives her faith that she might be able to find freedom, but also gives her faith that someone sees her.

Hattie - A Seat at the Table by Krystle Dellihue

When Gone WIth the Wind star Hattie McDaniel learns she must sit separately from her cast at the 12th annual Academy Awards, she is forced to confront her own internal and external conflicts as race, resilience, and representation intersect in Hollywood’s Golden Age.

I Can do Evil all by Myself by Ken Green

A play about superheroes, super villains and the burden of regular ol' stereotyping.

Improper Nouns by Melanie Payne

A friendship falls apart over a Scrabble game when one woman plays an offensive word. Can a friendship survive across racial lines?

Prayer and Moon Pies by Ivan Rome

Young prayer warrior, Naomi, comes to check on her elderly church member, Willa Mae, and through a prayer session and a box of moon pies, they discover true friendship.

Headlong Into the Abyss by Susan Middaugh

During the height of Hurricane Katrina, Lamont and his wheelchair bound Aunt Pauline escape to the attic of her home. When a chopper passes overhead without stopping, their hopes for being rescued are dashed – until Lamont comes up with a plan.

Retha’s First March by Rex McGregor

After experiencing her first Black Lives Matter protest, a young teacher is galvanized to take further action against racism. But how can she do the most good?

Down by 23 by Greg Jenkins

A down-on-their-luck father and son just want to watch some basketball on TV. An intruder cop, however, makes things difficult for them.

  You Can't Take It With You 

   by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman

    A CWP Mainstage Comedy Co-Produced by Bonnie Wilpon

    Directed by Brie Nestler

    August 8th - 23rd, 2025

    Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.

    Sundays at 2 p.m.

The family of Martin Vanderhof lives “just around the corner from Columbia University — but don’t go looking for it.” Grandpa, as Martin is more commonly known, is the paterfamilias of a large and extended family of charming eccentrics.

His granddaughter, Alice, is an attractive and loving girl who is still embarrassed by her family’s idiosyncrasies. When Alice falls for her boss, Tony, a handsome scion of Wall Street, she fears that their two families – so unlike in manner, politics and finances – will never come together.

But why be obsessed with money? After all, you can’t take it with you...

Presented with the support of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

You Can't Take it With You is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)