This exciting annual event features readings of five new plays in varying stages of development. Playwrights, directors, and actors join us from all over the country. Each reading is followed by a post-performance discussion.
March 5–7, 2027
The Perlberg Festival returns next year.
Lineup announcement coming January 2027
Perlberg Festival of New Plays
Executive Producer: Diane PerlbergAssociate Producers: Sandra and Bernie Meyer
Sponsored in part by the Maurer Family Foundation and the
Mayotte Foundation in honor of Mark Perlberg
Media Sponsor: Palm Beach Post
Learn about the History of New Play Development at PBD.
MARK
PERLBERG
1956 - 2025
Mark was beloved by Palm Beach Dramaworks. He was one of the company’s greatest advocates, whose boundless enthusiasm and generosity were key to PBD’s success from the moment he joined the board (in the 2006-07 season), which he would eventually chair for six years. He was involved in so many aspects of PBD, but his passion was new plays.
He explained why the festival became so important to him and Diane.
“Plays are meant to be seen, and it’s very, very hard to make that happen. I realized there were all these extremely talented people struggling to get their work produced or make a living as playwrights. Diane and I both felt very strongly that any contribution we could make that would allow talented people’s work to be seen was our No. 1 priority: New works are the lifeblood of theatre.”
“The Perlberg Festival of New Plays has become an indispensable launching pad for new plays in the American theatre. Infused with the generous guiding spirit of Mark Perlberg, the festival offers playwrights both a dynamic collaborative ethos and a coveted testing ground for the urgent work in front of them. My play came to life in their hands.” -Steven Dietz
2026 Perlberg Festival of New Plays. Look What You Missed.
