We are thrilled to present the culminating event for our 2026 New Voices Program cohort! The New Voices Program is a playwriting program for local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, sponsored by the Maurer Family Foundation. 

Help us celebrate the work that these talented writers have put together over the last several months on May 13 at 7:00 pm, live in the Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre on Raleigh Little Theatre’s Campus.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre

The Plays & Playwrights

Enjoy 10-minute plays from each of our participant’s plays that were developed over the course of the program.  Each play will be presented at the culminating event. Learn more about each of our playwrights and featured plays below.

Content Warning: Some of the plays contain adult themes and language. 

Coming Home by Charlie Probus

Charlie Probus (they/them) is a transdisciplinary artist who works across theatre, poetry, and visual art. Their work centers queer and trans narratives, and explores identity, resilience, and the stories we tell to survive. Their first play, Brothers in Arms, premiered at the Raleigh Fringe Festival in 2024. Their play Guilty Pleasure was awarded the Austin Hays One Act Playwriting Award by the Arts Club of Washington and premiered in Durham in January 2026. Charlie’s poetry has appeared in Rat’s Ass Review, Phonebook Lit Mag, Opal Age, and onstage at Brooklyn Poets. As a visual artist, their work has been featured at the Cameron Gallery at The Scrap Exchange, The CoLab in Raleigh, and Safe Space Salon & Gallery.

Fog by Dr. Mary H Russell

A lifelong lover of the theater, Dr. Mary H. Russell brings her passion for storytelling to the stage as a first-time playwright. After years of enjoying and supporting the performing arts from the audience and as a volunteer, she now steps into a new creative role.  A role inspired by the power of live performance to spark thought, emotion, and connection.  With a deep appreciation for character, dialogue, and meaningful narrative, Mary hopes that her debut work reflects both her admiration for the craft and her commitment to sharing stories that resonate. She is confident that this first production marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her artistic journey.

Pressed by Ruben R. Roman

Ruben Roman is a Bronx-born playwright of Puerto Rican heritage, now based in North Carolina. Writing since childhood, he explores family, class mobility, and the tension between ambition and belonging. His work often centers on fathers and sons, fractured siblings, and professionals learning how to survive rooms that weren’t built for them. His work examines the emotional cost of ambition and the quiet negotiations of identity.

Ruben is a member of this year’s New Voices cohort and is developing new full-length plays.

Soft Radiance Concealer by QueenMakeeda Taylor

QueenMakeeda Taylor is an artist and performer. She graduated from MSU with a BFA in Theatre and a minor in Creative Writing. QueenMakeeda strives to combine her passions for storytelling and movement in both her art and her life. She is excited to be part of the New Voices 2026 Cohort and looks forward to growing as a playwright while continuing to strengthen her artistic voice.

What Love Is by Nadia Ferjani

Nadia Ferjani is a young aspiring attorney who has a passion for the arts. While obtaining her undergraduate education she spends her time playing the guitar, writing scripts, acting, reading, and picking up all kinds of creative hobbies. As a New Voices cohort member she hopes to bring her unique perspective as an Arab American into the theatre. 

Sponsor

This project was supported by the Maurer Family Foundation.