None Escape is an adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells set in a trauma support group in the present day. The story follows Prentiss, who tells the support group her story of being shipwrecked on a mysterious island inhabited by Moreau, a scientist conducting disturbing experiments in vivisection, transforming animals into human-like creatures. As Prentiss tells her story, the space and actors around her become the set, the props, and the characters. The transformation of actors into Beast Folk is accomplished with movement and drugstore makeup. Ultimately, the play ends on a note of optimism as the Beasts transform back into human characters, then back into actors, and the audience and cast come together as one.

Auditions: December 10 and 12, 2024

Performances: March 14–29, 2025

Each Theatre@First production begins as someone's dream. Directors with plays to propose for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 are invited to apply now. Prior directing experience, or previous work with Theatre@First is not required. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, directors with disabilities, and members of other marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply. For full details and submission guidelines, visit our Season Planning page.  Make your dream show part of our next season!

Deadline: December 15, 2024

Festival@First 13: Superstitious will collect 8-10 original short plays, and will explore the weird, the wacky, and the sometimes spooky world of superstition.

Superstition is a widely held belief, typically not based on reason or science, that future events can be influenced by one's behavior in some supernatural way. What could go wrong when you mess with these beliefs, passed down through generations, shared across continents, and perpetuated in popular culture? 

Say “Bloody Mary” three times? Break a mirror? Walk under a ladder? What could happen?! The outcome is up to you, but we hope it will be hilarious, uncanny, and maybe a little twisted. We’re looking for each playwright’s take on the theme of superstition, which must be the focal point of each submitted play. 

Deadline: January 31, 2025

Theatre@First is committed to creating anti-racist theatre and community. Please visit our new Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Section to explore the work of our Anti-Racist Change Committee (ARCC) and the policies and tools adopted by our Steering Committee to move our theatre community toward that goal.

Theatre@First is thrilled to receive a 2024 DASH DEI Impact Award from the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres (EMACT).

This award recognizes that "Theatre@First has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion values, not only within your productions but also throughout the Somerville community... Your continuous efforts to bring together people from diverse backgrounds, mentor members committed to social justice, and advocate for anti-racism have made a lasting impact on the community." 

The real reward of this work is the expanding depth and breadth of our theatre community and the ever-increasing quality a wider range of voices brings to our productions. Our sincere thanks to everyone within our organization who has prioritized these vital efforts to create lasting change at Theatre@First. We hope this award will underscore the need to continue and expand this essential work.