Every great play starts with a single word. At Lighthouse Festival, we’re nurturing the next generation of Canadian theatrical voices through our comprehensive Play Development Program. You can be part of this creative journey.
The Power of Play Development
Our development process transforms promising scripts into polished productions through:
- Professional workshop sessions with actors
- Collaborative feedback and refinement
- Expert creative guidance
- Essential technical support
Meet our 2026 Playwrights:
Here Comes the Grooms
Written by Steven Gallagher
BIO – Steven Gallagher is a writer, director, and actor based in Toronto. His musical Pollyanna, written with composer Linda Barnett, had its World Premiere at Theatre Aquarius. His musical, Blackout, written with Anton Lipovetsky, premiered in Toronto (The Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage Co.) and was selected to be part of the prestigious NAMT Festival in New York in 2022.His plays include Murder at Ackerton Manor (Tweed and Company Theatre, Lighthouse Theatre, Theatre Orangeville), Deadly Memories(Port Stanley), Stealing Sam (United Solo Theatre in NYC, Alberta Theatre Projects), and Memorial (Next Stage Festival). Other musicals include The Last Party, written with Nicky Phillips,(Toronto Fringe 2018), and Drama 101, written with Kevin Wong . Steven is a Merritt Award Nominee, the winner of the Aubrey & Marla Dan Fund for New Musicals, Winner of Best Drama at The United Solo Theatre Festival for Stealing Sam, and the winner of Best Play, BroadwayWorld (Ottawa) for Murder at Ackerton Manor.
SHOW DESCRIPTION – Here Come the Grooms is a fast-paced, heartwarming comedy about two grooms, their clashing mothers, and their very pregnant best friend. When Mitch and Theo arrive at their wedding venue to find it still decorated for a retirement party, they scramble to pull it all together—before their surrogate goes into labor. But when a surprise guest shows up and long-buried family tensions erupt, the couple must decide what it really means to say “I do”… before the baby does.
All In
Written by Daniela Vlaskalic and Beth Graham
BIO – Daniela and Beth are both award-winning, mid-career actors, playwrights, and collaborators. They have been creating theatre in Canada for the last thirty years. The two of them met as students at the University of Alberta, while in the BFA program for acting. After graduating, they collaborated (with Charlie Tomlinson) to create The Drowning Girls. Their production of The Drowning Girls toured across the country (Alberta Theatre Projects, Tarragon Theatre, Belfry Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Persephone Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). Since then, the play continues to be produced nationally and internationally (receiving over 200 productions worldwide). The Drowning Girls has received numerous awards for its’ productions and playwriting, including the Gwen Pharis Ringwood literary Award for Drama, and the shortlist for the Carol Bolt Award. Daniela and Beth’s other award-winning collaborations include; Comrades, The Last Train, A Foolish Boy, Mules, and, most recently, Dora Maar: the wicked one, which will receive its Ontario premiere at Here For Now Theatre Company‘s 2026 Season.
SHOW DESCRIPTION – When no one at book club has read the book, Lauren pulls out a deck of cards and deals a hand of poker to the four other women in attendance, spelling the end of book club and the beginning of their monthly poker games. Once a month, Ruth, Amy, Belinda, Jennifer, and Lauren meet to play cards, joined by the occasional eccentric guest. The bets are laid. Wine is drunk. Gossip and laughs are had. Lives are shared. All In is a comedy about friendship and forgiveness.
Play Development Supported By
