NEW YORK CITY: Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation are currently presenting the 2023 First Light Festival, part of the EST/Sloan Project to develop plays exploring science and technology. The festival kicked off earlier this week with a satellite reading of The Kit: Made by Martha at Alchemical Studios, developed with support from the Bechdel Project’s ROO Residency. The programming will continue through June 23 and includes six public readings, two closed readings for internal development, and a Youngblood Brunch featuring five short plays by members of EST’s early career playwrights collective.

All First Light Festival presentations are free and held at Ensemble Studio Theatre on 52nd St. in Manhattan on Thursdays at 3 p.m. The lineup includes ReWombed by Nikki Brake-Sillá on May 18; PIN. by Sam Mueller on May 25; Las Borinqueñas by Nelson Diaz-Marcano on June 1; Hello, World by Margot Connolly, directed by Alex Keegan, on June 8; S P A C E by L M Feldman, directed by Larissa Lury, on June 15; and With Fellowship by Amanda Keating on June 23.

In addition, the festival will include invitation-only internal development presentations of Apple Bottom by Karina Billini and Spray by Emily Chadick Weiss.

The Youngblood Science Brunch will be held at the theatre on May 21. Tickets are $25 for general admission and will be available beginning May 12.  The brunch will feature new short plays centered on science and technology by Jake Brasch, Phanésia Pharel, Lizzie Stern, Danny Tejera, and Susan Yassky.

Ensemble Studio Theatre is a nonprofit developmental theatre based in Hell’s Kitchen, N.Y. As a developer and producer of original, provocative, and authentic new plays, EST seeks to discover and nurture new voices and support artists throughout their creative lives.