In this dynamic evening of new theatrical voices, emerging playwrights share their works-in-progress with a live audience. Scenes are read aloud by actors cast on the spot.
Gillian Glasco (she/her) is a native of North Little Rock, Arkansas and received a B.F.A. in Acting from Ithaca College. Her short film “Tough” was most notably screened at UrbanWorld Film Festival at AMC Times Square and the oldest running LGBTQ+ film festival, Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco. As an actress of stage and screen, she’s performed in the world-premieres of Suzan-Lori Parks’s “Sally and Tom” and Dominique Morisseau’s “Mud Row”, understudied “Doubt” on Broadway, and has been featured in a host of New York and regional theatrical productions and guest starred and recurred on many episodic series such as Law&Order, Jessica Jones, City on a Hill, Blue Bloods, Bull, and FBI: Most Wanted. Glasco was also a featured writer for the online magazine “Sunday Best” profiling trailblazing public figures, artists, educators, and business CEOs in the Black diaspora.
Susanna Horng (pronounced soo-SAN-na HONG, she/her) has been a Dramatic Question Theatre (DQT) PlayTime Fellow. Her stories and poems have appeared in Bennington Review, Minerva Rising, and The Rumpus, among others. Her work has been supported by residencies at Catwalk Institute and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, as well as fellowships from The New York Foundation for the Arts and The Jerome Foundation. She is a Clinical Professor in Liberal Studies at NYU.
Shaakirah Nazim-Harris is an actor, singer, and writer from New York. A graduate of RADA’s Shakespeare program and NYU’s drama program, Shaakirah also releases original music under her middle name YASMINA. In early 2025, she finished wrapping a new short film titled ‘Brainstorming,’ which she also co-wrote. You can find Shaakirah on the stage, screen, or in Brooklyn with her dog: doing the things that truly make her happy.
His play DEE’S DILEMNA was produced in Houston, TX by the FADE TO BLACK FESTIVAL in June 2024. His play BLACK IN THE FIRST DEGREE was produced Off-Broadway by the Downtown Urban Arts Festival June 2025. DEE’s DILEMNA was chosen as the best of the best short plays and was produced again in Houston Texas in June 2025. His play BLACK IN THE FIRST DEGREE was selected by the International Human Rights Art Festival was produced off-broadway at the Tank Theater on December 13, 2025. His play PERSONAL PURGATORY was featured in the PLAYERS THEATRE LUV FESTIVAL in February 2026. His play WHEN WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE will be featured in the FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL in April 2026. His play CRABS IN A BARREL will be featured in the MIDTOWN INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL July 2026.
At the core of the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Literary Series is the belief that theater has the transformative power to challenge the status quo, connect disparate worlds of thought, and, ultimately, change the world. Thus, we are invested in the development of work that shifts the conversation around representation in the theater and are dedicated to providing a platform for those voices traditionally underrepresented on the American Stage.
CTH’s Literary Series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Jarvis & Constance Doctorow Family Foundation and the Axe-Houghton Foundation.
Selected playwrights submit 10-12 pages of a new work in the early stages of development. Actors are cast on the spot and perform a cold reading, followed by a moderated audience feedback session. In addition to serving the development of new work, these readings give audiences a sneak peek into how new plays are created.
CTH asserts that a “Future Classic” promotes courageous and open-minded examination of controversial and critical topics that are at the heart of society. Designed for the emerging professional playwright, Future Classics offers participating writers the opportunity to showcase their new completed works and receive dramaturgical feedback. Participants work with CTH’s resident dramaturge, a professional director and a dedicated group of actors to showcase a new full-length play.
Submit your work to Ms. Shawn René Graham, Literary Director at shawnrene@cthnyc.org. No phone calls please.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Coalition of Theatres of Color.
