The Greenhouse
Festival
A Celebration of New Plays & Bold Storytelling
New Threads Theatre Company and Next Exit Productions are thrilled to present the 2nd Annual Greenhouse Staged Reading Festival, taking place June 5th–8th at Barking Legs Theatre in Chattanooga. This festival is an exciting platform for emerging regional and national playwrights, fostering the development of new theatrical works and amplifying fresh voices that align with New Threads’ mission of innovation and community engagement.
Keep scrolling for details and what to expect…
The Greenhouse Festival will feature:
16 Ten-Minute Plays – Dynamic, short-form stories from emerging voices.
3 Full-Length Plays – Bold, compelling narratives in development.
A Special Storytelling Event – A night of captivating, live storytelling.
Engaging Audience Talkbacks – After each event we will dive into the themes, ideas, and new play development process with the audience, playwrights, directors, and actors.
The Development Process
The festival’s short plays will be selected from our Southeastern Short Play Contest, highlighting the best in new playwriting. Behind the scenes, we are assembling a top-notch production team and directors to bring these works to life.
In April of 2025, we will hold auditions for local Chattanooga-based actors to participate in the festival. Playwrights will be invited into the rehearsal process, working collaboratively with directors and actors to refine and develop their scripts before their staged readings in April and May.
Why It Matters
The Greenhouse Festival is more than just a showcase—it’s an incubator for new theatrical talent and a celebration of storytelling that pushes boundaries, inspires conversation, and enriches the local arts community. By fostering creativity and artistic excellence, this festival aligns with the shared values of New Threads Theatre Company and Next Exit Productions—nurturing theatre that is bold, relevant, and deeply connected to its audience.
Join us for this unforgettable weekend of new works, meaningful dialogue, and groundbreaking theatre. Stay tuned for ticketing information and updates.