Congratulations to the playwrights selected for the third biannual Stethoscope Stage play festival! Presented by Theatre TCU and The Burnett School of Medicine, the 2026 festival features a staged reading of captivating monologues and short plays exploring today’s hot-button topic of body image, health, and GLP-1 use. This performance of theatrical works by writers from across the USA and abroad will be immediately followed by a panel discussion and Q&A facilitated by academic and health professionals. Mark your calendars to join us at 2PM CT on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Amon G. Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas. CLICK HERE to reserve your FREE seats.
Note: Official selections and honorees are listed in no particular order.
Official Selections – Performance
- The Weight of the Conversation by Annalise Feliu
- The Before Picture by William A. Smith
- The G.L.P. by Brandon Hicks
- The Heavy by Charles Day
- My Body Belongs to Me by Lia Martin
- Birthright by Brandon Hicks
- The Before Picture or Leah: Before by Brandon Riley
- GLP1 by Janice A. Farringer
- Have a Blessed Day, Sir by Rachael Brennan
- Weighing Less, Carrying More by Emily Avakian
Official Selections – Publication
The following works have been selected for publication in Burnett School of Medicine’s journal.
- The Weight of the Conversation by Annalise Feliu
- The Before Picture by William Smith
- Is it Cheating? by Uzomah Ugwu
Finalists
- Heavy Silence by Jasmine Perez
- After by Kendall Schmidt
- Mind Versus Body by Emma Sanchez
- Measured in Numbers by Trinity Bowers
- Before & After by Bella Blackman
Semifinalists
- JUST A BITE by Debra A. Cole
- Risk vs. Reward by Kate Nethery
- Food Fight by Katelin Wilcox
- The Seesaw of GLP-1 Medications by Joel Roa
Script Review Committee
Ayvaunn Penn, MA, MFA – Stethoscope Stage Founder and Director. In addition to being an assistant professor in the Texas Christian University (TCU) Department of Theatre, Penn is: a Columbia University Playwriting Dean’s Fellow; published and produced playwright; full member of The Dramatists Guild of America; Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Finalist; and Yale Drama Series Short List Honoree.
Heather Hale Nguyen, MS – Director, Humanities & Communication, Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU. Heather is trained in Medical Improv and is a trained QPR instructor.
Lindsay Hayward, MA – Academic Coordinator, Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU. Lindsay is an international performer, playwright and EMC candidate.
Erin Nelson, PsyD – Assistant Dean of Physician Communication, Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU. Dr. Nelson has over two decades of experience conducting independent psychological evaluations and providing consultation on psycho-legal matters.
Anne Wright – Coordinator, Physician Communication Team, Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU. Anne has worked as Standardized Patient in Clinical Skills at the School of Medicine and is also a trained opera singer, and MIEA certified mindfulness teacher.
Stethoscope Stage 