The annual festival, founded by playwright Richard Warren and director Mark DeMichele, features new, full-length plays and musicals that are production ready. Forty productions have been presented in the New Works Festival since its founding in 1998.

The four selected works are Luke Yankee's The Jesus Hickey, directed by Mark De Michele (July 11-12); the new musical All the More to Love by Craig Bohlmer, Marion Adler and Marc Jacobs, directed by Candace Evens (July 18-19); Rich Oloff's Engagement Rules, directed by Daniel Schay (July 25-26); and The Onset Phenomenon by Jake Jay, directed by William Partlan (Aug. 1-2).

All performances are followed by a discussion and feedback session with the cast, director and the playwright of the production.

The Phoenix Theatre season will kick off with the world premiere musical Unbeatable (Aug. 6-24), which was developed through the New Works Festival. The musical, penned by Eric Coble, Todd Schroeder and Kevin Fisher, is slated to make an Off-Broadway bow at New World Stages on Oct. 9.

Upcoming productions for the Phoenix Main Stage season include The Producers (Sept. 24-Oct. 19), Forbidden Broadway (Nov. 12-Dec. 7), How the Other Half Loves (Jan. 14-Feb. 1, 2009), Les Misérables (Feb. 18-March 22, 2009), and Company (April 22-May 17, 2009). For tickets to the New Works Festival phone (602) 254-2151 or visit PhoenixTheatre.com.