Auditions for UpStage Napa Valley PlayFest 2026 will be held on July 15 at 6:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Helena (1428 Spring Street).
This year's theme is Noir.
Here’s why noir works for a short play:
1. Tight structure: Noir thrives on suspense and a quick buildup to a twist or moral reckoning — perfect for 15 minutes.
2. Strong atmosphere: You can create a mood quickly with lighting, music, and
stylized dialogue rather than needing big sets or long exposition.
3. Small cast: Most noir stories center on 2–3 characters —— which keeps
production simple.
4. Emotional intensity: Noir’s focus on desperation, secrets, and betrayal gives
actors a lot to work with in a short time.
5. Stylization: You can lean into noir tropes (voiceovers, shadows, cigarette
smoke, hard-boiled one-liners) in a self-aware or modernized way.
Rehearsals:
September 14 – November 1, 2026
Tech:
November 3, 4
November 10, 11
November 17, 18
Performances:
November 6–8, 2026
November 13–15, 2026
November 20–22, 2026
