A festival of five staged readings of plays by emerging talent, honouring the legacy of playwright Terrence McNally, with an academic symposium at UT.
The Terrence McNally Festival comes to the McCullough Theatre from Friday, January 29, through Sunday, January 31, 2027. It's a three-day run centered on five staged readings of plays, with talent coming from Austin and across the country. The festival is presented by the Terrence McNally Foundation in association with Rattlestick Theater, and it's part of Texas Performing Arts' 45th-anniversary season.
The whole thing honors Terrence McNally (1938–2020), a five-time Tony Award winner who grew up in Texas and spent six decades as a defining force in American theater. You might know his work from plays like Master Class, Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune, and Love! Valour! Compassion!. The festival carries on his legacy of championing bold new voices by pairing these staged readings with an academic symposium at UT's Harry Ransom Center.
The McCullough Theatre sits right beside Bass Concert Hall at 2375 Robert Dedman Drive. It's a 400-seat house with a 30-foot proscenium and an orchestra pit that holds 35 musicians—it also hosts UT Opera student productions and Arts After Hours gatherings in the lobby. Texas Performing Arts, which was founded 45 years ago, is programming the festival as part of its anniversary season.
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So, you've got five staged readings over three days at the McCullough, plus a symposium at the Ransom Center. The festival runs Friday, January 29, through Sunday, January 31, 2027.
