Show Finder

Now a cornerstone of New York City’s theater scene, the Chain Winter One-Act Festival has become one of the city’s largest and most dynamic showcases for new work. This vibrant festival is a creative playground for established and emerging talent, celebrating the power of storytelling in all its forms. Chain Theatre again opens its doors to NYC’s playwrights, actors and directors for an exhilarating lineup of original works. Each production is thoughtfully curated to create a thrilling “mix-tape” of live theater, blending drama, comedy and everything in between.

Three festival highlights include Tony Award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Rabe (Sticks and Bones, Casualties of War) with the NY Premiere of By the Look of Her. The Chain Theatre has collaborated with Rabe on numerous projects as he continues exploring the existential crisis of being human. Additionally, head of the Director and Playwrights Unit of the Actors Studio and past Chain collaborator Lyle Kessler (Orphans) brings the world premiere of his new one-act Brothers to this year’s festival, starring Chris Cortez (Black Panther, Poker Face) and Conner Stewart (Goatman).​ Lastly, The Robot, the Spy, and the Love of AI—written by John Arthur Long—will present a groundbreaking fusion of robotics, AI and live theatre. This one-act is an innovative exploration of the use of actual robotics and AI programming abilities onstage. A story centered on the dangers of AI and the innovations and downfalls of technology, the production stars Gabriel Rysdahl (The Better Sister), Monica Park (Simpatico) and the theatrical stage debut of the Unitree G2 Pro Quadrupled robot dog.