Terrence McNally Foundation announces festival in Austin for 2027
According to americantheatre.org, the Terrence McNally Festival—a pop-up gathering planned for January 29 to 31, 2027, in Austin, Texas—has been unveiled by the Terrence McNally Foundation alongside collaborators Texas Performing Arts, the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and Rattlestick Theater.
New Play Readings and Academic Symposium in Austin
The three-day festival brings together theatre artists, emerging playwrights, and scholars for performances, new play readings, and academic discussions honoring McNally’s body of work. Santino DeAngelo, executive director of the Terrence McNally Foundation, stated that the partnership celebrates the playwright’s profound impact on American theatre while championing new voices.
“At a time when so many of our beloved theatre festivals have ceased to be, we could not be more proud to partner to present a festival that celebrates Terrence McNally’s profound impact on the American theatre while championing the new voices shaping its future,” DeAngelo said in a statement reported by americantheatre.org. “It feels especially meaningful to host this festival in Texas, where Terrence grew up and first discovered his love of theatre.”
Under the leadership of artistic director Liz Frankel and artistic producer Kate Eminger, the festival features readings of five new scripts. The lineup of chosen pieces features Girl Time, written by Eliza Frakes and helmed by director Sarah Hughes; The Seahorse, penned by Kate Fodor and directed by Will Davis, the artistic director of Rattlestick; a fresh version of Gulliver’s Travels crafted by Zack Fine and Bradley Michalakis; You Can Tell a Tree By Its Fruit by comfort ifeoma katchy; and The Daisies, written by Tony Meneses and directed by Danny Sharro. David Kornhaber leads an academic symposium on January 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harry Ransom Center, examining McNally’s contributions to American drama with speakers from Princeton University, the University of Texas at Austin, SUNY Purchase, the University of Toronto, Villanova University, and Santa Clara University.
Special Production of Corpus Christi
Austin’s Rude Mechs presents a special production of McNally’s 1998 play Corpus Christi on January 30 at 8 p.m. The play reimagines the New Testament through Joshua, a gay Christ figure born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the early 1950s who leaves home in search of acceptance and gathers disciples.
Festival organizers noted that the event highlights McNally’s lifelong connection to Texas, where he was raised after being born in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rattlestick Theater associate artistic director and festival artistic producer Kate Eminger highlighted the strong ties between Rattlestick’s leadership and institutions including UT Austin and St. Edward’s University, emphasizing the city's many theaters.