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Nocturnal Commissions: A theatrical whirlwind

Nocturnal Commissions 2026 October 26 Houghton Hall 7PM

MONDAY, OCT. 26

PRESENTATION OF NEW WORKS
DOORS AT 6:30PM; CURTAIN AT 7:00PM 

a one-night-only benefit evening of mini-masterpieces written in minutes by New Dramatists residents and alums—inspired by the prompts of adventurous commissioners.

Are you ready to see your play idea brought to life?

Commissions are available starting at $3,000


list of playwrights for 2026 Nocturnal Commissions: Sarah Ruhl, Sarah Gancher, Kris Diaz, Neena Beber, C.A. Johnson, Edwin Sanchez, Diana Son and MORE!

 

Are you curious to see what our commissioners come up with?

Join the audience to see a peak behind the curtain.

Tickets start at $75

The Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom 
at Houghton Hall Arts Community: 
22 East 30th Street
New York, NY 10016

THE WRITERS

sarah ruhl headshot

Sarah Ruhl is an award-winning American playwright, author, essayist, and professor.
Originally from Chicago, Ms. Ruhl received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in English at Brown University, as well as her M.F.A. in playwriting, where she studied with Paula Vogel. She also spent a year of graduate work studying English literature at Pembroke College, Oxford. An alum of 13P and of New Dramatists, she won a MacArthur Fellowship in 2006 and the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award in 2016...read full bio here

sarah gancher headshot

Two-time Obie Award-winning playwright Sarah Gancher loves epic stories, big ideas, and deep comedy. Her most frequent subject is how  history is reflected in individual lives—how places, communities, and debates evolve over time... read full bio here

kris diaz headshot

Kristoffer Diaz is a playwright, librettist, screenwriter, and educator. His play The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama...read full bio here

C.A. Johnson smiling in black and white

C.A. Johnson is a Brooklyn-based playwright originally from Metairie, Louisiana. Her plays include ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS (MCC Theater), THIRST (2017 Kilroys List, CATF), THE CLIMB (Cherry Lane Mentor Project), AN AMERICAN FEAST (NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School),I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW, and SOMEBODY’S BODY....read full bio here

Neena Beber, Edwin Sanchez, Diana Son and MORE!

JOIN US AS COMMISSIONER

Receive and see your own mini-masterpiece, inspired by YOUR idea, written by a brilliant resident or alum playwright, performed and directed by some of the incredible talents of Broadway, off-Broadway, and film/TV!

The afternoon of the show, (Monday, Oct. 26 at 12PM ET) commissioners will meet for a brief-45 minute video call to meet your playwrights, and commission your plays (5-minutes, get those elevator pitches ready!)

Once you sign off, playwrights will immediately get to work crafting your idea in only 30 minutes. The plays will be swiftly cast, staged, and rehearsed while you go about the rest of your day. 

From 5:30-7:00PM, commissioners are invited to join the evening's playwrights, as well as ND staff, for complimentary apps and cocktails at a local spot before heading to Houghton Hall for the evening's Presentation of New Works featuring YOUR play.

RESERVE YOUR COMMISSION- $3000

includes your one-of-a-kind commissioned work of art, cocktails/appetizers for you and a guest, and prime seating for two (2) at the Presentation of New Works

email DJ Brumfield, Development Director (@email) for more information. 

JOIN OUR AUDIENCE

Join us at the Fred & Adele Astaire Ballroom at Houghton Hall (22 East 30th Street) for the evening's never-before-seen, never-to-be-seen-again Presentation of New Works, written, directed, and performed by NYC's premier talents.

RESERVE YOUR SEATS - $75

or email Emily Bubeck, Development Associate (@email) for more information. 

THIS YEAR AUDIENCE MEMBERS CAN JOIN IN THE MIRACLE OF CREATION!

FOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE IN-ROOM DONATION, YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR IDEA FOR A PERSON, PLACE, OR THING. THE FINAL PLAY OF THE EVENING WILL BE WRITTEN ON-THE-SPOT, INSPIRED BY AUDIENCE SUGGESTIONS PULLED FROM A HAT. 

DIRECTORS AND PERFORMERS

TBD - MAJORLY EXCITING NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED!

We wish to express our gratitude to

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION

for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear in this program.

 

THE MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES 

Nancy Giles

Performer, CBS Sunday Morning contributor, and ND favorite Nancy Giles!