FRESH ACTS Puts Students in the Spotlight
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 20, 2026) — Six UAlbany students will see their original plays performed on stage this week as part of FRESH ACTS: A Festival of New Plays, a student-driven production in the Performing Arts Center’s Lab Theatre.
Running Wednesday through Saturday, the festival features two programs of one-act plays written by students and brought to life by student directors and performers. Friday afternoon also features a solo showcase highlighting works-in-progress from 12 additional student playwrights.
Now in its 8th year, FRESH ACTS is the Theatre Program’s primary showcase for student creativity and collaboration. More than 45 students are involved in the festival across writing, directing, acting and production roles, making it one of the Theatre Program’s most collaborative, student-led events of the year.
This year’s featured playwrights include Jared Lewis-Holliday, a political science major from Walden, N.Y.; Lorel Ross, an intended psychology major from Red Hook, N.Y.; David Pastuszka, a linguistics major from Mahopac, N.Y.; Cat Brady, an intended theatre major from New York City; Miranda O’Sullivan, an English major from Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; and Otto Vaval, a theatre major from Hillburn, N.Y.
The six plays were selected through a blind submission process by guest judge A. Rey Pamatmat, an accomplished playwright and co-director of Ma-Yi’s Writers Lab, the nation’s largest collective of Asian American playwrights.
“FRESH ACTS offers these emerging UAlbany playwrights the opportunity to experience their plays come to life, with actors giving voice to their characters and directors envisioning their theatrical potential,” said Shaun Patrick Tubbs, lecturer of direction and this year’s artistic director. “This year’s plays showcase the incredible range of creative voices and perspectives within our community.”
Advance tickets are $7 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public. Day-of-show tickets are $12 and $15.
Tickets are available through the Performing Arts Center.