The Roy and Edna Disney CalARTS Theater (REDCAT) presents the 21st annual New Original Works (NOW) Festival, a celebration of new and innovative dance, theater, music, and performance by Los Angeles artists presented over three weekends this fall. 

Committed to an investigation of history and contemporary norms, these nine works use humor, improvisation, and multidisciplinary collaboration to disrupt power dynamics, craft collective rituals of care, and build new modes of community abundance. 

NOW Festival 2024 was organized by Katy Dammers, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Performing Arts with Rolando Rodriguez, Administrative Manager through an open application process with NOW alumni Marissa Brown (NOW ‘21) and Emily Mast (NOW ‘12 & ‘16).

NOW Pass

See all 9 works for $50!

Each of the three festival weekends features a triple bill of performances in a shared evening. Each program will premiere on Thursday and repeat Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM. Performances will also be livestreamed each Saturday during the festival’s run.

In the spirit of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), REDCAT’s parent institution, the NOW Festival has served as a catalyst for creativity and new ideas for more than two decades. 

Each year, NOW Festival premieres new and innovative work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia performance by Los Angeles-based artists. All artistic teams receive rehearsal space, production and technical support, artist fees, and participate in development workshops. Since the first edition in 2004, NOW Festival has presented the work of over 200 artists who continue to be seen on stages throughout the U.S. and abroad.