The South Carolina New Play Festival has revealed the full casting and creative teams for its 2025 season, taking place August 7-10. 

Transforming Greenville, South Carolina, into a hub for theatrical innovation, SCNPF is a multi-day festival of developmental readings for new plays and musicals, outdoor variety shows and street fairs, cabarets, workshops, and masterclasses, and a musical theatre scholarship contest.

Merlin Returns starring Piff the Magic Dragon, a new musical parody written by John van der Put and West Hyler, with original music and lyrics by Matt Schatz (The Burdens), will be directed by West Hyler (Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour) with musical direction by Melissa Yanchak. The production will star Piff the Magic Dragon (America’s Got Talent) as Merlin, alongside Noah Weisberg (Elf, South Pacific) as Doug Henning. Jade Simone, Brett Alters, Rachel Gasdia, and Zach Shaduk round out the cast.

The Break, a new musical written by Chris Dimond and Michael Kooman (Romantics Anonymous, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes), will be directed by Melissa Crespo with musical direction by Harry Collins. The role of Sam will be played by Jane Bruce (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jagged Little Pill), and the role of Charlie will be played by Ben Fankhauser (Newsies). Tinasha LaRaye will read the stage directions.

Mariah, or the Passageway, a new play by Rachel Bonds (Jonah), will be directed by Linsay Firman. The production will be led by Francesca Fernandez as Mariah (Mojada, The Wolves), with Daniel Abeles (Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again), Nate Miller (Peter and the Starcatcher), Ariel Woodiwiss (The Wolves, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play), Chip Egan, Marshall Spann, and Mimi Wyche. Jamaica Brewster will read stage directions.

My Favorite Sociopath, by Aurin Squire (Wonderful World, This Is Us, The Good Fight), will be directed by Celine Rosenthal (Bhutan). The cast will feature Joe Serafini (Carlos on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Cade Parker (Dear Evan Hansen), and Adell Ehrhorn. Amanda Sox will read stage directions.

The Drought Girl, by Lyra Nalan, will be directed by Maegan Azar. The cast will include Ayden Woo, Eryn Woo, and Caleb Woo, with Nekoda Moses reading stage directions.

As part of its commitment to commissioning and developing original work, SCNPF will also host a private developmental workshop of The Untitled Josh White Play by Donnetta Lavinia Grays, a new play about the Greenville-born folk music legend and Civil Rights pioneer. Tamilla Woodard will direct the workshop with Wesley Hix as the musical director. J. Quinton Johnson (Hamilton) will lead the cast as White, alongside Clark E. Nesbitt, Kirsten Brock, Andre Webb, Kelseigh Redmon, Rick Connor, and Andrew Anderson.

The 2025 festival will also present its signature Outdoor Variety Stage, emceed by Christina Gelsone (Air Play), and featuring Paris the Hip Hop Juggler, Daniel Craig, and Natalie Abell, and the North Carolina-based company Nouveau Sud. 2025 will also introduce South Carolina’s Next Broadway Star Scholarship Contest, and will culminate with a Broadway Cabaret starring Mary Kate Morrissey.

The South Carolina New Play Festival is helmed by Executive Director West Hyler, and Artistic Director Shelley Butler. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.