Little Festival of the Unexpected

25A Forest Avenue
Portland, ME 04104

Since its debut in 1990, the Little Festival of the Unexpected has established a tradition of nurturing artists, invigorating audiences, and exploring new voices, new visions and new forms of theater. The festival furnishes a supportive environment for playwrights to develop their work, as well as a unique opportunity for audiences to catch a firsthand look at the creative process that brings scripts to the stage. Little Festival readings are performed by a company of professional actors, and are followed by an open discussion between the audience, director and playwright.

Each playwright in residence receives a stipend as well as housing during the festival. Limited support for travel is also available.

Past Little Festival of the Unexpected scripts have a successful track record of full productions both here at Portland Stage and at other professional theaters around the country. Both Almost, Maine, which was developed at the 2003 Little Festival, and Papermaker, 2014 Little Festival, went on to become the most commercially successful Mainstage productions in Portland Stage’s history. Many other Little Festival works have gone on to productions elsewhere, including successful Off-Broadway runs and television filming.

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