A Performed Retrospective of Richard Schechner’s Creative and Academic Legacy

— What happens and when? Explore the festival through its performances and encounters. Find the dates and locations of our program.

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Be a part of this Historical Event

Theatre is made possible only through and with a community. Whether you volunteer or donate, your support gives artists the freedom to experiment and take risks.

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About the Schechner Plays Festival

The Schechner Plays Festival, a performance festival taking place internationally and in New York, will celebrate Schechner’s legacy of performance experiments, academic boundary-breaking, and global exchange.

Productions

Take a look at our catalogue of upcoming shows of Schechner’s creative work, inspired by the 2025 published collection, Schechner Plays. The festival will feature new productions of Schechner's past work as well as never-before-seen plays that will be making their debut.

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Festival production still
Festival production still
Festival production still

What to Expect

Performances & Readings

Experience new productions of Schechner’s work and staged readings from across his oeuvre.

Screenings & Exhibitions

Revisit Schechner’s revolutionary productions and archival photography that expanded the boundaries of performance.

Workshops & Labs

Develop your own craft in participatory workshops, including one given by Richard Schechner himself.

Panels & Conversations

Participate in post-show talkbacks and academic symposiums discussing Schechner’s legendary vision for theatre and performance.

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Be Part of the Festival

Theatre is born between performer and spectator. The festival is a place to encounter and experiment. Come as an audience member or collaborator. There is no single way to be part of the event. Join our mailing list, show your support by donating, or buy tickets when available!

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Richard Schechner

Few have had such a far-reaching career as an author, theatre director, workshop leader, professor, and editor as Richard Schechner.

The Schechner Plays Festival is a performed retrospective of Schechner’s creative and academic legacy that includes innovative stagings and staged readings of and from, Schechner’s creative work developed by a diverse group of artists many of whom have worked with Schechner during his long career.

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