The Fresh Grind Festival was created to feature new, original works in development and up-and-coming writers and directors. It is an opportunity to collaborate, to explore, and to develop original plays and musicals, culminating in public staged readings at Theaterlab, a white-box theatre in midtown.

Flat Fish Part of the Fresh Grind Festival
Executive Producer George Simon
Produced by Black Coffee Productions

Written by Sean Dunnington
Directed by Jenna Spiwack

When Willy goes missing, his older sister Jill goes on a quest to bring him home. By reading the journal he left behind, Jill comes to understand her brother’s misguided search for love–and, ultimately, uncovers not only the answers that Willy has been looking for, but makes unprecedented discoveries about herself. Through witnessing the complicated and unpredictable past of Willy, as Jill unfolds her disregarded issues, Flat Fish tells a haunting story of family, connection, and love.

Tutus
Written by Natalie Margolin
Directed by Alyssa White

This is a play about a girl who poops in her tutu during her first ballet recital. Tutus explores how we process our experiences, reminding us how important it is to laugh when things feel tragic, and questioning what happens when there’s no room for laughter anymore.