One PlayGround Gala

ONE PLAYGROUND GALA (2026)
Celebrating the June Anne Baker Prize 25th Anniversary
September 14, 2026
A.C.T. (SF) / A Noise Within (LA), 5:30pm-7:30pm PT / Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago), 7pm-9pm CT / The Brazen Tavern (NY), 8pm-10pm ET
Tickets: $150 (see below for Host levels)

TICKETS DONATE READ THE PRESS RELEASE

PlayGround will honor four theatre luminaries at our annual four-city gala on Monday, September 14th. In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of PlayGround’s June Anne Baker Prize, one of the nation’s longest-running play commissions dedicated to the next generation of promising women/non-binary playwrights, PlayGround will recognize significant theatre artists and producers who have elevated womxn playwrights and stories throughout their careers: Margo Hall, Lorraine Hansbury Theatre (San Francisco), Jessica Kubzansky, Boston Court Pasadena (Los Angeles), Emily Shooltz, Signature Theatre (New York), and Ericka Ratcliff, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago). The 2026 June Anne Baker Prize winners are Esther Banegas Gatica (PlayGround-Los Angeles), KT Frances Hartline (PlayGround-SF), Uma Incrocci (PlayGround-NY), and Toby Inoue (PlayGround-CH). The Gala honorary committee includes June Anne Baker Prize alumni Lauren Yee and Geetha Reddy (honorary co-chairs), as well as Rachel Bublitz, Patricia Cotter, Laura Domingo, Brady Lea, Alanna McFall, Erin Marie Panttaja, Evelyn Jean Pine, Bridgette Dutta Portman, and Kimberly Ridgeway.

The four-city cocktail gala will take place simultaneously on September 14 in San Francisco (American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102), Los Angeles (A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107), Chicago (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611), and New York (The Brazen Tavern, 356 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036). Proceeds from this year’s gala will support the June Anne Baker Prize and PlayGround’s national programs, elevating women/non-binary voices for the stage.

Listen to our 2024 keynote speaker, Tony Award-winning playwright Jonathan Spector (Eureka Day), talking about the role and impact of PlayGround for new playwrights.

General tickets: $300

Host Levels
Host – $500 (includes 2 host-level tickets & recognition on the host committee)
Table Host – $1,000 (includes a table of 4 plus recognition on the host committee)
Event Host – $5,000 (includes up to 12 host-level tickets plus recognition on the host committee)