Third Works Festival at Trinity Theatre Company – Pay What It’s Worth
Experience the power of live theatre like never before at the Third Works Festival, presented by Trinity Theatre Company. This exciting festival showcases bold, original works from emerging playwrights, bringing fresh perspectives to the stage.
With our “Pay What It’s Worth” initiative, you decide the value of your experience. Instead of purchasing a ticket in advance, attend a performance, immerse yourself in the story, and contribute what you believe the show was worth. Your support helps us continue developing new voices in theatre.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of creativity and innovation. Discover groundbreaking performances, support new artists, and be part of a theatre experience designed to engage and inspire.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
23 and Me and Me and Me
Written by Toby Inoue of Evanston, IL
5-7PM (TBD)
Swimming Off the Big Dock
Written by Phillip Middleton Williams of Palmetto Bay, FL
7-9PM (TBD)
Friends gather at their summer place on Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan on July 20, 1969. But there’s more going on besides the first moon landing. For some, it’s the beginning of a new life, and for others, it’s a time to examine how this group of ruling class rising young adults process the death of one of their own and the everyday hypocrisies that are a foundation of their way of life. One small step, indeed.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Mick and Ernie Go to Therapy
Written by Mike Byham of Southlake, TX
5-7PM
Mick and Ernie are thieves who have just completed a job in North London. They duck into a psychological therapist’s office to hide from the police – who are hot on their heels. The therapist mistakes them for her next client and conducts a “couples counseling” session, revealing secrets and ultimately ending with a surprise.
Hazzard
Written by Kelleen Blanchard of Seattle, WA
7-9PM (TBD)
Friday, April 25, 2025
Dragonsbreath: The Video Game
Written by Austin Steinmetz of San Diego, CA
5-7PM (TBD)
Road Buddy
Written by Sashank Kanchustambam of San Diego, CA
Saturday, April 26, 2025
IFs (Imaginary Friends)
Written by Thomas J. Misurca of Los Angeles, CA
2-4PM (TBD)
A group of Imaginary Friends are released from service by their children. Before they fade into oblivion, they meet a group of elderly friends who can see them. But dealing with older friends has its challenges. Together they’ll do their best to recapture the magic of childhood.
This House Is Empty
Written by Sean Pomposello of Redding, CT
5-7PM
This Road in the Shape of My Spine
Written by Baylee Shlichtman of Santa Ana, CA
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Craftsmen
Written by Wesley Preis of San Diego, CA
10AM-12PM (TBD)
Hamlet – Act V, Scene II, Take 2
Written by Roger Henry of San Diego, CA
12-2PM (TBD)
Even William Shakespeare didn’t always get it right on the first draft. What is now known as an iconic tragedy could have just as easily been a comedy; and what were ultra-modern references at the time may have gotten the axe to preserve the work’s timelessness by the final revisions. But did he make the right decisions in his edits? You decide, as you witness ‘Hamlet – Act V, Scene II, Take 2’.
Cringe
Written by Melissa Jordan Grey of San Diego, CA
2-5PM (TBD)
A fashion-backward professor, a high-maintenance best friend, and a stressed-out stylist walk into a boutique… and walk out changed forever. Between dating disasters, shapewear slip-ups, and one high-stakes dress catastrophe, this birthday girl glow-up spirals into a hilarious and heartfelt reckoning on resilience, reinvention, and the roads not taken. With rapid-fire wit and a Hacks-meets-Maisel energy, CRINGE skewers generational divides, Instagram culture, and the absurdity of modern romance. Because in the end, real confidence isn’t about fitting into the perfect outfit—it’s about realizing you were fabulous all along.
Bedtime at the Cottage
Written by Liz Leighton of New York, NY
5-7PM (TBD)
The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness
Written by Lisa Balderston of San Diego, CA
In The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness, two loving Mexican families gather for a joyous dinner to celebrate the upcoming wedding of their gay sons. Their happiness is shattered when the young men are tragically killed. In the aftermath, the families struggle to rise above their profound grief. One mother buries herself in her floral business, refusing to confront the loss, while the other channels her pain into activism, fighting against hate crimes and advocating for stricter gun laws. Alongside them, a sister navigates her own path through the heartbreak. This poignant play explores themes of love, prejudice, grief, gay marriage, and resilience, shedding light on the challenges of being LGBTQ+ and BIPOC in a world where hatred and violence persist.