New York, NY — Bucks County, Pennsylvania playwright Peter Fenton is presenting his dark comedy play CORONATION as a staged reading at midtown Manhattan’s Chain Theatre July 1 & 2 as part of the 2026 Spotlight New Works Fest. The Spotlight New Works Fest, co-sponsored by Gitelman & Good Publishers and CPA Theatricals, is a curated festival dedicated to showcasing new shows written for educational and community stages.

CORONATION, written and directed by Peter Fenton, is a story of power, privilege, and visibility disguised as a teen comedy. When cornered by the no-nonsense guidance counselor, a charming but overlooked high school senior tells the story of how he hatched a scheme to manipulate the vote for Homecoming Queen in favor of his big-hearted longshot friend to settle a years-long grudge. His plan went horribly right.

The cast will be led by Simon Huynh as Dan opposite Yuliana Sleme as Maria. The supporting cast includes Monah Yancy as Mrs. Lowry, Sophrena Swanson as Janelle, Blue Colacchio as Candice, and Derek Crosby as Bryan with stage manager Brooke Hall. Sleme previously starred in Fenton’s Off-Broadway debut ABANDON ALL HOPE in 2023, while Yancy is a frequent collaborator of Fenton’s at Passage Theatre Company in Trenton, New Jersey. Colacchio is reprising their role from the play’s original workshop production at Newtown Arts Company.