This week marks the opening Actors Theatre of Louisville’s 37th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. First up is Meredith McDonough’s The Delling Shore, about two rival authors and their daughters, a work in which words become weapons.  

This year marks the 35th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays presented by Actors Theatre of Louisville. Every year this event draws the attention of theater professionals from across the nation and around the world. Six world premieres are offered in rolling repertory, an amazing feat made possible by Actors Theatre’s excellent physical complex with three stages.  

I occasionally write about concepts that theaters might consider to give us a broader array of performances. Know Theatre recently established an umbrella concept, the Jackson Street Market, that’s beginning to produce results. With a goal of building and retaining the local artist community, the Market seeks to help local “artistic entrepreneurs” to leverage Know Theatre’s resources on their behalf.  

Khaled Hosseini's debut novel, 'The Kite Runner,' spent more than five years on The New York Times bestseller list. Published in 42 languages and made into a 2007 movie, the story follows the life of a young Afghani from the mid-1970s until 2001 and has resonated with readers worldwide. It's now a play receiving its regional premiere this month at Actors Theatre of Louisville in a co-production with the Cleveland Playhouse, where it will transfer in October.