The Aggregate Collective, a Southern Oregon-based theatre company known for its mission of radical hospitality and shared learning, will host its second annual “The Loop Festival” from August 11 to 14, 2025, at The Hivve in downtown Grants Pass.
This four-day New Works Festival brings together professional artists, directors, and playwrights from across the country with a shared goal of advancing the genre of Young Adult Theatre. The festival will culminate in a public showcase on Thursday, August 14, featuring staged readings of three original works written specifically for young adult performers and audiences.
The 2025 lineup includes “My Tree” by Samara Siskind, “Good Knight Cyberella” by V.B. Rankin, and the musical “In BeTween,” with music by Nicky Phillips, lyrics by Sarah Ziegler, and a book by Steven Gallagher. Each piece explores themes relevant to today’s youth and is written with young adult actors in mind.
The festival’s unique format invites playwrights to participate virtually throughout the development process, engaging in rehearsals and post-performance feedback discussions with both actors and the audience. This interactive feedback model—referred to as the “loop”—is designed to help shape the future evolution of each work.
Roughly thirty young adult actors from across Southern Oregon have been selected to take part in the three-day workshop and rehearsal period leading up to the public readings. During this time, they will work alongside professional directors and serve as cultural consultants to the playwrights, offering feedback on the authenticity of the characters, language, and stories.
The final staged readings on August 14 will be guided by nationally recognized directors, including Kristen Fogle and Marjorie Treger from California, and Bradley Behrmann from Illinois. The festival is being facilitated by local theatremakers Julia Cuppy, Jaese Lecuyer, and Tianna Eddy, and hosted at The Hivve by Trever Yarrish.
Tickets for the August 14 showcase are $10 and include an all-day pass to the in-person event as well as access to a livestream. Audiences can attend in person, watch from home, or do a combination of both. Tickets are available now at https://aggregatecollective.ludus.com.
While exact performance times are still to be announced, all three readings will take place throughout the day on Thursday, August 14, at The Hivve—a multimedia performance venue located in the heart of Grants Pass. Organizers encourage community members, educators, and theatre enthusiasts alike to attend and help shape the next generation of theatrical storytelling.