LSU Selects Three Plays From Over 200 Submissions
A three-week festival at Louisiana State University pairs staged readings of new scientific dramas with presentations from researchers.
By Arjun Weber ·
More than 200 submissions from across the country were reviewed for the 2026 SciArts New Play Festival. The event opens on Monday, Nov. 9, and runs through Nov. 23 at the Studio Theatre in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building on Dalrymple Drive.
The festival presents staged readings of three newly selected works. Each play is described as scientifically accurate. The lineup also includes two keynote talks by scientists who discuss the intersection of their fields and the arts.
On Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m., Jamie Newman of Louisiana Tech University delivers a keynote titled "A Double Helix: The Intertwining of Art and Science." Newman serves as dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences and associate director of the Visual Integration of Science Through Art Center.
That evening at 7:30 p.m., the festival stages "And Yet It Moves." Katie Ganem wrote the play, and Shannon Walsh directs it. The narrative spans nearly 400 years, following two scientists and their daughters as they face the personal and political impacts of their discoveries.
The middle date, Nov. 16, features a 7:30 p.m. reading of "Hello, World." Margot Connolly is the playwright, and Rachel Akers holds the directorial position.
The final weekend begins on Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. Ravi Rau, a professor in the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, presents "Science Is Part of Liberal Arts at a University." At 7:30 p.m. that same day, the company reads "Fission." Cindy Lou Johnson wrote the script, and Barrett Hileman directs the production.
The LSU College of Science, School of Theatre & Film, and Office of Research and Economic Development sponsor the event. Admission is free for the public, and no reservations are required. Additional details are available at lsu.edu/cmda.
