Wilma Theater and Soho Rep Co-Produce World Premiere of DJ Hills' 'Horsegirl & Cowdaddy,' Directed by Adil Mansoor, Playing Philadelphia and New York

A co-production between two of American theater's most respected mid-size companies is taking shape, and it is one that working theater professionals in Philadelphia and New York should have on their radar right now. Wilma Theater and Soho Rep have partnered to produce the world premiere of 'Horsegirl & Cowdaddy,' a new drama written by DJ Hills and directed by Adil Mansoor. The production is currently in pre-production and actively casting, with performances scheduled to begin at Wilma Theater in Philadelphia on September 22, 2026, before transferring to Soho Rep in New York for a run from March 14 through April 11, 2027. For theater artists across both cities, this is a significant opportunity to get in early on what promises to be a closely watched new work.

The play centers on Horsegirl, a transgender woman in her thirties navigating a life of quiet routine alongside her father, Cowdaddy, in a forgotten corner of Southern Pennsylvania. When a new-to-town teacher arrives and the two fall in love, Horsegirl undergoes a physical transformation that forces her to reckon with what a genuinely happy life might look like for her. It is the kind of intimate, character-driven new work that both Wilma and Soho Rep have built their reputations on, and the logline suggests a production that will demand emotionally grounded, physically present performers. Intimacy coordination is already confirmed, with Leo Mock attached in that role, which signals that the production team is approaching the material with care and intentionality from the earliest planning stages.

The playwright, DJ Hills, is a writer whose voice has been gaining serious attention in the American new play landscape. The director, Adil Mansoor, is perhaps best known for his deeply personal and formally inventive work 'Amm(i)gone' and his own autobiographical piece 'Autobiography of an Unknown Artist,' which he created and performed and which received wide acclaim for its exploration of identity, faith, and transformation. His sensibility as a director is rooted in work that takes emotional and theatrical risks, and 'Horsegirl & Cowdaddy' appears to be squarely in his wheelhouse. The production data also lists Caleb Hammons, Eric Ting, Cynthia Flowers, Morgan Green, and Lindsay Smiling in directorial and co-artistic director capacities, suggesting a collaborative and institutionally supported creative leadership structure across both presenting organizations. Casting is being handled by Stephanie Yankwitt of tbd casting co., a name that actors and agents working in the new play space will recognize.

The institutional backing here is notable. Wilma Theater, based in Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts corridor, has long been one of the city's flagship producing theaters, known for its commitment to new and contemporary work and its HotHouse Company of resident artists. Soho Rep, operating out of its Walker Street home in lower Manhattan, is one of the most adventurous and critically esteemed off-Broadway producers in the country, with a track record of developing work that goes on to have significant cultural impact. The involvement of Playwrights Horizons, listed among the production companies, adds another layer of institutional credibility. Playwrights Horizons is one of New York's preeminent developmental homes for new American plays and musicals, and its association with this production suggests that 'Horsegirl & Cowdaddy' has been nurtured at a high level. The production is operating under an Actors' Equity Association agreement, confirming union status for performers.

For Philadelphia-based theater professionals, the production's first leg at Wilma Theater represents the primary hiring opportunity. Wilma's home on South Broad Street is a fully equipped proscenium house, and a production of this scale and ambition will require a full complement of design and production staff. The subject matter and the creative team's sensibilities suggest that the scenic, lighting, sound, and costume design conversations are likely already underway or beginning soon. Given the co-production structure and the geographic split between Philadelphia and New York, production coordinators and company managers with experience navigating multi-venue transfers will be particularly valuable to this team. New York-based crew and artists should note the Soho Rep engagement beginning in March 2027, as that run will have its own staffing needs closer to the transfer date.

With casting actively underway and performances not beginning until September 2026, there is time to pursue this opportunity thoughtfully, but the window for certain positions, particularly in design and production management, narrows quickly on new play productions of this profile. The full listing for 'Horsegirl & Cowdaddy' on ProductionList.com includes confirmed crew contacts, production office information, and scheduling details for both the Philadelphia and New York engagements. If this production matches your skills and experience, now is the moment to make contact. Check the listing regularly as additional crew and design team members are confirmed in the weeks ahead.

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