The WIT Factor Theater Festival
Colette Pitts
April 30- May 10 2026
IN RESIDENCE: April 28 – May 11, 2026
The WIT Factor Theater Festival champions emerging Women+ theater artists by providing free, fearless space to develop bold, original work. We rely upon our brilliant volunteers to assist us in amplifying raw and intimate voices. Together we ensure the next generation of Women+ creators are unapologetically seen, supported, and staged.
PRICE:
Student/Recent Graduate: $12
General: $22
All access pass: $45
At IRT: 154 Christopher st. NYC #3B (third floor)
ADA Accessible
PLEASE NOTE: All sales final and there is no late seating at IRT Theater.
VISIT/CONTACT US»
PERFORMANCES:
April 30: Fishbowl by Fiona Magee
Ten years after her dad’s death, Julia unravels when Romi arrives with a mission from God, a fishbowl, and 3 months to live.
Playwright – Fiona Magee
Director – Colette Pitts
Lighting Design – Fisayo Ekeng
Sound Design – Emma Mcaninch
Set Design/Marketing – Delaney Wong
Projection Design – Delaney Wong
Cast:
JULIA – Fiona Magee
ROMI – Sanad Fanous
Julia’s Dad – Chad Moores
Young Julia – Lana Kathryn Moores
May 1: Man Cave by Katherine Humes
A rock ’n’ roll drag show meets deposition: Man Cave asks what becomes of feminine sexual shame when voiced through masculine performance.
Written & Performed by Katherine Humes
Directed & Styled by Lizzie Leach
May 2: Chainsaw Tits by Nicole Streger
Kinley, a sheltered girl given chainsaws at puberty, escapes to shed them, only to be mistaken for a haunted house performer.
Playwright: Nicole Streger
Director & Dramaturg: Lucy Harrington
Composer: Kyu Park
Assistant Director: Ferdinand Moscat
Lighting Designer: Hayley Chisholm
Featuring: Caroline Humphrey, Lola Bodé, & Justin Kuhn
May 3: Beets by Klaudia Karp
A tight-knit group of immigrants have been running a Ukrainian restaurant in New York City for decades. But when a new American owner steps in, they must figure out how to protect their culture, and their sanity.
A staged reading. Written by: Klaudia Karp.
FEATURING:
Savanna Zumbado
Ryan Hemstock
Kyra Moskowitz
Małgorzata Jasiniak
Griffin Welti
Amilia Shaw
Daria Sokol
Sunny Makwana
Egor Pluzhnikov
Thom J O’Connor
May 4: In Her Nature by Sabrina Carlier
Often reduced to a footnote, Vita Sackville-West lived in frenzy, fantasy, and flowers, loving in ways that brought suffering.
WRITER/DIRECTOR Sabrina Carlier
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Henry Alper
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Dagny Rebhan
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Daniel Yee
ASSISTANT MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Kobe Patrick
LIGHTING DESIGNER Stephen Ludwig
VITA Sara Seim
HAROLD Connor Bullock
VICTORIA Drew Schoenhofer
ROSAMUND Vaishnavi Murari
VIOLET Safwa Ozair
VIRGINIA Din Klein
STAGE DIRECTIONS Elena Falkow
May 6: The Beautiful Lies Of Venice Row by Laurie Hernandez
When cabaret star Venice Row dies, her loved ones return to her mansion, and become trapped with her ghost and dark secrets they must face.
Venice Row: Colette Pitts
June Carter: Laurie Hernandez
Evelyn Carter: Ayla Walsh
Frances: Brynn Ayoob
GianLuca : Evan Mallick
Harrison : Rye Fruehling
Bea: Izzy Goussen
Hazel: Lexi Kolb
Stage Directions: Colin Konstanty
May 7: The Broadway Women’s Alliance Career, Community, & Care Panel
College seniors and recent grads! Step into the theatre industry with tools to navigate early career challenges, and sustain well-being.
This event is in partnership with The Broadway Women’s Alliance.
This panel will include:
Katie Dalton, President Audience Rewards
Taylor Courtney, Associate General Manager at Bespoke Theatricals
Amanda Chin, Associate Producer at Wagner Johnson (and Tisch alum)
Jenifer Foote, Therapist at Spotlight on Therapy and former Broadway performer
Moderated By: Colette Pitts
May 8: Sitter by Valentina Zazzali
Sitter is a one-woman show covering various stories and tidbits about the life of a babysitter in New York City. The show consists of monologues, characters, and the things learned from being around children.
Valentina Zazzali – Writer and Performer
Andrea Cañas – Director
Eva Zazzali – Stage Manager
May 9: when all the men went to war by Wendy Zhang
When all the men go to war, a lyrical play blurs memory and reality as three women, Briony, Marianne, and Analise, drift in endless limbo.
This will be a staged reading of the play.
Written by Wendy Zhang.
May 9: HEEL by Delia Frances Kenagy
A rehearsed reading of HEEL, a dark comedy where a sadistic CEO abducts a failed actor-turned-therapist and traps him in her apartment.
Delia Frances Kenagy (Writer) is a London-based playwright and alumni of NYU Tisch Drama.
Sabrina Carlier (Director) is a director, actor, and theatre maker based in New York.
Aubrey Tierney (Danika)
Henry Alper (Eli)
Stephen Ludwig (The Intern, The Executive, and The Man in the Dog Suit)
May 9: Baby Banker by Chloe Diamond
Jane Bennett, a young banker, struggles through her finance internship. When her sisters move in, she must choose between family and career.
“Baby Banker” is written, directed, and produced by Chloe Diamond.
Jane Bennett: Chloe Diamond
Diana Bennett: Reyna Cordon
Billie Bennett: Paige Westbrook
Charlotte St. Claire: Gabriella Antifantis
Mitchell St. Claire: Ethan Howard
Kai: Braden Misiaszek
Daniel: William Dangerfield
May 10: The Blessing by Drew Schoenhofer
The Blessing Hotline guides believers through worldly strife. Join us for a righteous, absurd, bloody time, or miss the holiest event ever!
CREATIVE
Playwright: Drew Schoenhofer
Director: Cristina Neely
Stage Manager: Riley Grippo
Sound Designer: Sophie Simons
Lighting Designer: Sophia Ling
CAST
Seville: Laini Sharifi
Lucy: Skylar Causey
Rita/Woman: Lauren Reeves
Kit: Sydney Germany
Men: Tyler Bowyer
Festival Director & Producer: Colette Pitts
Festival Manager & Producer: Skylar Causey
If an event is sold-out, please email Skylar Causey at causeysky@gmail.com.
IRT Theater is a grassroots laboratory for independent theater and performance in New York City, providing space and support to a new generation of artists. Tucked away in the old Archive Building in Greenwich Village, IRT’s mission is to build a community of emerging and established artists by creating a home for the development and presentation of new work.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Legislature; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council; A.R.T./New York’s NYC Small Theatres Fund made possible with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation & support for ASL interpretation provided in part through funding from Access A.R.T./New York.
ACCESS: IRT is a fully wheelchair-accessible facility. Please reach out to Kori Rushton if you have any accessibility questions or concerns, krushton@irttheater.org
PLEASE NOTE: All sales final and there is no late seating at IRT Theater.