Pride Plays at D.C. WorldPride 2025 | American Theatre
- The annual Pride Plays festival, co-founded by Michael Urie, Doug Nevin, and Nick Mayo, is launching its sixth year in Washington, D.C., with free readings scheduled from June...
- Participating theaters include Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in D.C.and Rattlestick Theater in NYC.
- The festival aims to spotlight queer artists as playwrights, directors, and performers.The material presented ranges from queer theatre classics to new plays exploring queer experiences in various settings.
Celebrate queer art and voices at the pride Plays Festival in Washington, D.C.,kicking off during WorldPride. This exciting event, featuring free readings from June 3-6, showcases both classic and new works by queer playwrights, directors, and performers. Founded in 2019, Pride Plays expands its mission this year, offering a vital platform for LGBTQ+ theater at a critical moment. News Directory 3 is proud to highlight this critically important cultural event. Discover more about the plays, discussions, and art exhibits planned, including performances from the Gay Men’s Chorus! Discover what’s next …
Pride Plays Festival Kicks Off in D.C. During WorldPride
Updated June 02, 2025
The annual Pride Plays festival, co-founded by Michael Urie, Doug Nevin, and Nick Mayo, is launching its sixth year in Washington, D.C., with free readings scheduled from June 3-6. This marks the first time the festival will take place in the nation’s capital, coinciding with D.C.’s hosting of the 50th anniversary WorldPride celebration. Later in June, Pride Plays will continue with readings in New york City, in association with Rattlestick Theater; programming for the New York festival, which begins June 23, will be announced soon.
Participating theaters include Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in D.C.and Rattlestick Theater in NYC. Organizers emphasize the festival’s importance, especially given recent challenges to diversity efforts.
The festival aims to spotlight queer artists as playwrights, directors, and performers.The material presented ranges from queer theatre classics to new plays exploring queer experiences in various settings.
Plays receiving readings at Woolly Mammoth include:
- The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer, directed by Zhailon Livingston, starring Robin De Jesús (June 4 and 6).
- Pony by Sylvan Oswald, directed by Will Davis (June 3 and 5).
- A couple by Arturo Luíz Soria, directed by Danilo Gambini (June 3 and 5).
- The Hotel/makeda: A Baltimore Cycle Play by Lady Dane Friergy, directed by Ibi Owolabi (June 4 and 6).
- Mother Mary by KJ Moran Velz, directed by Charlotte La Nasa (June 4 and 6).
- Fear & Wonder by Jason Tseng, directed by Emily Hartford (June 3 and 5).
“When Woolly Mammoth approached us about bringing Pride Plays to D.C. during WorldPride, it was before the election,” said Urie. “We were completely on board then, and are even more so now. Washington, D.C. has an unbelievable theatre scene and a vibrant LGBTQIA community; both are being bullied by our current government right now. as people flood in from all over the world to celebrate Pride this June, it is a thrilling obligation to bring queer theatre to the stages of our nation’s capital.”
Zhailon Livingston, director, reflected on the impact of The Normal Heart:
“I first saw the revival of The Normal Heart on my very first trip to New York. It was the first show I saw unsupervised and the first queer audience I had ever been in,” livingston said. “It changed my life to be in the presence of the reckoning that is The Normal Heart and I have been chasing that sense of event and action ever since. I am beyond honored to present these historic words at Pride Plays 2025.”
Festival events also feature a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. on June 3, post-show discussions with Black in space’s Baronhawk Poitier and DJ Slammer, a talkback after The Normal Heart, and a closing dance party with Empress of Pride Rayceen Pendarvis, DJ Suspence, and Maki Roll. Visual art by Rashad Ali Muhammad and an interactive exhibit by Dwayne lawson-Brown will also be on display. Tickets are available on Woolly mammoth’s website.
“The energy surrounding the Pride Plays festival is electric!” said Maria Manuela Goyanes, Woolly Mammoth artistic director.“The chance to bring it to D.C.,and have our local artists involved as well was too exciting to pass up. While talking about the project, I was told how important this was to D.C. To me, it is always a great idea to uplift the broad range of voices creating theatre by and for the LGBT+ community. Surrounding us is a community that’s rich,deep,entertaining,part of the history of this country and part of our ongoing lives. It’s not just now. It’s always.”
Founded in 2019, Pride plays aims to celebrate queer works, introduce new voices, and support emerging artists. In 2024,Sam Gravitte and Sammy Lopez joined as Celebration producers. Director ibi Owolabi joined the festival programming team for Pride Plays 2025.
What’s next
pride Plays continues to expand its reach, fostering understanding and gratitude for queer stories in New York City and beyond.