First Peek
The FIRST PEEK reading series occurs every year in May or June, following an annual Writing Challenge put to participating playwrights during the month of February.
Please join our Mailing List to be notified each year about this event.
Many reading series plays have gone on to production and accolades:
Terence Anthony’s House of the Negro Insane was developed in the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2019 and premiered in the Contemporary American Theater Festival in 2022.
Stephanie Alison Walker’s The Abuelas and Jennifer Maisel’s Eight Nights were produced by LA’s Antaeus Theatre Company in 2019.
Matt Schatz’s The Burdens was developed at the 2016 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and premiered at City Theatre in Pittsburgh in 2019.
Stephanie Alison Walker’s The Abuelas was a winner of the Ashland New Play Festival and premiered in 2019 with Teatro Vista at Victory Gardens in Chicago.
Eric Loo’s Death and Cockroaches was produced by Chalk Rep Theatre in LA in 2018.
Marek Glinski’s Pigs & Chickens was produced in 2018 by Ensemble Studio Theatre/Los Angeles.
Stephanie Alison Walker’s The Madres received a 2018 rolling world premiere through the National New Play Network.
Deb Hiett’s The Super Variety Bonus Match Round! was produced by Rogue Machine Theatre in 2017.
Wendy Weiner’s Perpetual Girl was workshopped at Pioneer Theater Company’s Play-by-Play program in 2017.
Jennie Webb’s Currency was produced by Inkwell Theater in LA in 2016.
Dorothy Fortenberry’s Partners was featured at the 2014 Humana Festival.
Deros Bos’ Very Simple was workshopped at the Page 73 Productions 2012 Summer Residency at Yale.
Padraic Duffy’s Puzzler was produced by Sacred Fools Theater Company in 2011.
Jennifer Haley’s The Nether won the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, premiered in 2013 with Center Theatre Group in LA, and continues with productions on London’s West End, off-Broadway, and around the world.
First Peek 2024 June 8-16 at City Garage Theatre
We hope you can join us for our 14th Annual FIRST PEEK reading series featuring brand new work drafted during our February Writing Challenge. Come
First Peek 2023 May 20-21 at Atwater Village Theatre
We hope you can join us for our 13th Annual FIRST PEEK reading series featuring the brand new work of some of our member playwrights.
First Peek 2022 June 11-12 at Atwater Playhouse
We hope you can join us for our 12th Annual FIRST PEEK reading series featuring the brand new work of some of our member and
First Peek 2021 June 12-13 Live on Zoom!
The Playwrights Union invites you to our 11th annual reading series, featuring the brand new work of some of our member playwrights. Come participate in
The 2019 reading series is MAY 18-19 at VS. Theatre!
The Playwrights Union hosts its 10th annual reading series of new work. These six original plays were drafted during a month-long writing challenge to our
The 2018 reading series is JUNE 2-3 at VS. Theatre!
The Playwrights Union hosts its 9th annual reading series of new work. These six original plays were drafted during a month-long writing challenge to our
The 2017 reading series is JUNE 10-11 at VS. Theatre!
The Playwrights Union hosts its eight annual reading series of new work. These six original plays were drafted during a month-long writing challenge to our
The 2016 reading series is JUNE 4-5 at VS. Theatre!
The Playwrights Union hosts its seventh annual reading series of new work. These six original plays were drafted during a month-long writing challenge to our
FIRST PEEK 2015: May 30-31 & June 6!
The Playwrights Union hosts its sixth annual FIRST PEEK reading series of new work at Moving Arts in Silver Lake. Come see the first public
Playwrights Union FIRST PEEK Reading Series, May 17-18, 2014
The Playwrights Union invites you to our 5th annual reading series, featuring the brand new work of some of our member playwrights. All plays were drafted
Playwrights Union Reading Festival May 18-19, 2013
The Playwrights Union invites you to our fourth Annual Reading Festival of New Work. All plays were drafted during our February Writing Challenge, and have
Playwrights Union Reading Festival May 12-13, 2012
The Playwrights Union invites you to our third annual Reading Festival of New Work. All of the plays were first drafted during our February Writing
Playwrights Union Reading Festival of New Work June 10 & 11, 2011
The Playwrights Union invites you to our second annual Reading Festival of New Work, plays drafted during our February Writing Challenge. Come hear brand new
Playwrights Union Reading Festival of New Work May 6-9, 2010
The Playwrights Union, a network of Los Angeles theater artists writing for stage, tv and film, hosts its first Reading Festival of New Work May