Now entering our 27th year, The Colorado New Play Festival is dedicated to advancing the art of storytelling as an essential element of the human condition and spirit. As a nonprofit organization, 40% of our annual budget comes from individual donations.

This year, we need your help to raise $130,000 to sustain our vital programs:

The Colorado New Play Festival – A nationally recognized festival where playwrights collaborate with actors, directors, and dramaturgs to develop new works that will shape the future of American theatre. Over our 27 year history, an impressive 70% of plays developed at the festival have gone on to full productions on Regional and Broadway stages.

For our 2025 Festival (June 8–15), we will welcome 40 artists from Colorado and across the country for a week-long residency. Producing the Festival costs over $100,000, with the majority of our budget supporting housing, travel, and hospitality at local Steamboat Springs establishments, in addition to paying all of our artists fair wages for their time and talent.

The Youth Storytelling Slam – A ten-week writing program, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Colorado, that empowers students in Grades 4-7 to craft original stories. Their stories are then performed by professional actors for an audience of students, family, and peers—fostering creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of storytelling.

New American Voices – A transformative writing program in partnership with the International Rescue Committee, providing newly arrived refugees with the space, mentorship, and tools to share their personal stories.

Your support directly fuels these programs, ensuring that playwrights, students, and storytellers have the resources they need to bring their work to life.

Every donation—large or small—makes a difference.

2025 Annual Campaign

Support the Future of Theatre with CNPF

Team Members