A new children’s fantasy about self-acceptance and emotional growth will kick off a three-week series of staged readings later this month as the finalists for the 2026 Mike Sockol New Works competition take the spotlight in the Black Box theater.
“The Best Most Super Fantastic Hiking Tour,” by Fay Corinotis, opens the series on Thursday, May 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The play follows bullied 9-year-old Nicole, who is guided by the whimsical “Fairy Guidemother” Fresh Air Freida on an imaginative journey through destinations including the “Clone Zone,” “Emotion Ocean” and “Gratitude Station.”
Directed by Paul Hufker, the reading looks to blend humor, music and fantasy elements with themes of self-love, gratitude and acceptance.
The staged reading is the first of three finalists presented during May and June as part of the annual Mike Sockol New Works program. Audience members will be invited to participate in talk-backs with the cast, crew and playwright following each performance, and one of the featured plays may ultimately receive a full production during the theater’s 2026-27 season.
The May 21 cast includes Julia Sauers as Nicole, Karina Lucid as Fresh Air Freida and Adrianna Pizzuta as the stage directions reader and ensemble member. Additional ensemble performers include Mikaela Lukowicz, Emma Allison and Urja Vyas.
The second finalist, “An Autistic Girl’s Guide to Hope & High School” by Hester Young, will be presented on Monday, June 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Directed by Lisa Arnseth, the drama follows 16-year-old Beatrice after a suicide attempt leads to an autism diagnosis, forcing her to reevaluate her identity and relationships while guided by an unconventional inner voice.
The series concludes on Tuesday, June 2 with “The Truth About Cindy” by Chris Minichino, directed by Julia Renee Gardner.
The comedy centers on a boy who becomes convinced his teacher is a werewolf, setting off panic and accusations reminiscent of the Salem witch trials.
The goals of the Mike Sockol New Works Series, presented by Villagers Theatre, are to provide New Jersey playwrights and theaters with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their play; to provide alternative performance opportunities for local actors and directors; and to expose audiences to new works.
All three readings will take place in the Black Box theater at Villagers Theater, 475 Demott Lane, Somerset.. Admission is free, though a $10 cash donation is suggested. No tickets are required. Online: villagerstheatre.org.
