Free theater: ZETA by Tevis Allan

ZETA is a near-future play exploring AI, human connection, and the increasingly absurd line between the two.

- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Leynse Studio, A.R.T./New York Studios, NYC
- Admission: Free
- Written by: Tevis Allan
- Production: Forgotten Ones

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zeta-tickets-2003096528639?sg=788a68b734188db1594b9761f53dbf2169725e5961be291bcbe955c80d1da1d9a76eeddac5dc52acfee43ab0f14cab88c04aa0524835f7893ca67669cbc40c09e854027edead0c52d61742ceee&aff=ebdsshios

The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival: LUV

Website

Deadline: November 20, 2026

SUBMIT AT https://shortplaynyc.com/submit/

Romance us, make us laugh with love, make us pine for lost love, remind us of our familial and friendship loves...all plays submitted must be centered on or revolve around the theme of love.
Plays run one weekend out of three in February 2027

• Thurs – Sat 7pm; Sun 3pm
• Week 1: Feb 4 – 7, 2027
• Week 2: Feb 11 – 14, 2027
• Week 3: Feb 18 – 21, 2027

We accept PDF, DOC, & DOCX

• Plays should be less than 15 minutes
• Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. This is a full production. If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required. There is NO SUBMISSION FEE.
• Anyone over 18 can submit.
• Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays.
• Plays must not be performed elsewhere in the NYC area 3 months before or after appearing in our festival.
• All submitters will be contacted via email up to three or four weeks after submissions close to let them know if their play has been accepted or not.

DATES & LOCATIONS: Feb 4 – 21, 2027 at The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre at The Players Theatre: 115 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012 – 3rd floor walk-up: 3 weeks, 4 performances weekly (Thursday through Sunday), 5 new plays featured each week. Each play performs four times in its selected week (Week 1, Week 2, or Week 3). 

 
ELIGIBILITY: Short Plays and Musicals with a performance time of 15 minutes or less, no more than 15 pages in length (not including title page). Writers are eligible to submit up to 2 plays. There is NO submission fee.

PRIZE: Each week an audience favorite is selected by audience vote. The winner of each week will receive $100 prize after the conclusion of the festival. If you are the winner, you must submit a PayPal account to receive your prize. THEME: “LUV” Romance us, make us laugh with love, make us pine for lost love, remind us of our familial and friendship loves...all plays submitted must be centered on or revolve around the theme of love.

** Note ** 1) Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. 2) If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required. Plays MUST be NO MORE than 15 minutes in length, which equals approximately 15 pages of script (not including title page). Submissions open: October 7, 2026. Submissions close: Nov 20, 2026. Play selection announced soon thereafter (it may take a few weeks after the close of the submission window). For more festival information visit: www.shortplaynyc.com.

Organization: Be Bold! Productions
Facebook: BeBoldProductions Instagram: @beboldtheatre

LoveNotes! seeks monologues for February 2027 show

Website

Deadline: October 24, 2026

LoveNotes! Real Stories. Real People. Real Love.® is thrilled to announce a submission opportunity for our upcoming storytelling show and companion anthology.

LoveNotes! is returning to the off-Broadway stage on Saturday, February 13, 2027 at the Triad Theater (shows at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM for the 4th Annual All Star Show. Storytellers will be paid $50 per show, plus an additional $50 for stories selected for the anthology (for 36-month exclusive rights).

We are seeking true, personal stories of romantic love—from first love and second chances to heart-breaking, hilarious, or against-all-odds tales. We strongly encourage diverse voices to submit.
 
Submission Requirements:

- Your story must be true.
- Your story must be 700 words or fewer for the live show.

Audition Details:

- In-Person Auditions: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1-4 PM at Ripley Grier Studios (131 W. 72nd St, Studio 3F). You must reserve your audition slot by signing up HERE.

- Self-Tape Auditions: Submit via WeTransfer to heather@lovenotesworldwide.com by Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 1 PM (find more details HERE)

If you prefer not to perform live but would like your story considered for our anthology or podcast, you may email your story (1,000 words or fewer) to heather@lovenotesworldwide.comwith "LoveNotes! Book/Podcast" in the subject line.

Umbrellas for Fish call for submissions: the lost and found of existence

Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Please send your submission to: ufjournal@aol.com
Subject line: SUBMISSION — THE LOST & FOUND OF EXISTENCE — [YOUR NAME
Please attach your manuscript as a PDF or Word document.

Umbrellas for Fish invites playwrights, dramatists, theatre-makers and writers from around the world to submit original three-page plays for a special international anthology exploring loss, identity, memory, time, desire, regret and the absurdity of existence.

WHAT IF YOU COULD CLAIM BACK SOMETHING YOU LOST?

THE THREE-PAGE CHALLENGE

Your entire play must fit within three pages.
In those three pages, give us:

A WORLD.
A CHARACTER.
A PROBLEM.
A TURN.

AN ENDING.The play should be complete in itself rather than an excerpt from a longer work.

We are looking for theatrical experiences in miniature.

STAGEABILITY

We particularly welcome plays that can be realised on stage with:

 Small casts
 Minimal sets
 Simple props
 Flexible locations
 Strong dialogue
 Economical stage directions

A play should not require an enormous production to create an extraordinary theatrical experience.

THE GOLDEN RULE DO NOT EXPLAIN THE ABSURDITY.

PLEASE INCLUDE
At the beginning of your manuscript:

Title of Play
Author's Name

At the end: 50–100 word third-person author biography

In the submission email, please include:

 Full name
 Play title(s)
 Country of residence
 Email address
 A brief description of each play

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Clockhouse opens for submissions for Volume 14 (summer 2027)

 Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

CLOCKHOUSE is a national literary journal published by Clockhouse Writers’ Conference, whose editors are MFA alumni of Goddard College.
​
We accept works of poetry, fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, and ​dramatic works for stage or screen. We also accept submissions for cover art. We encourage submissions from both established and emerging writers.

We’re looking for work that beckons us to listen, share, and engage. Send us your best!

Before submitting, carefully read the general AND genre-specific guidelines. 

• All submissions must be original, unpublished work written by the author or, if you are submitting artwork for cover consideration, original artwork created by the artist. We do not accept work generated in whole or in part by AI.
• Follow genre-appropriate formatting; Word documents preferred; double-spaced for fiction, memoir, and creative nonfiction​
• Include a bio of approximately 100 words or less
• Simultaneous submissions are welcome as long as you withdraw them if accepted elsewhere
• Submit only through Submittable. No email or mailed submissions will be accepted
• Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be discarded unread.
• If your work has been published in CLOCKHOUSE, please skip one issue before submitting again.

Dramatic Work for Stage or Screen

• Short plays and screenplays in traditional and experimental styles
• Standalone work only (not part of a longer work); no monologues
• Submitted work should be written with the audience in mind
• Submit up to 10 pages plus cover page with title and character breakdown
• Follow the industry-standard formatting guidelines appropriate for the plays/screenplays including paginations

THE VAMPIRE: 2025 Theatre Aspen Solo Flights Advancement Grant Winner

THE VAMPIRE
A new play by Alec Silberblatt

A lonely, young man yearns for purpose and place in a society that doesn’t seem to want him. When both are offered to him by a mysterious man who has all the answers, he begins a descent into a dark world. 

One part pulpy horror story filled with getting ghosted, club beats, and buzzy Adderall induced fights; one part potent metaphor exploring the seductive draw of the manosphere.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.theatre4thepeople.org/current/thevampire

Presented at IRT, October 30th and 31st at 7PM

Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Award 2027

Deadline: April 30, 2027

Send to info@premiocarloannoni.eu

Carlo Annoni International Award is dedicated to plays addressing LGBTQ+ themes and diversity in the sphere of love in the time of gender fluidity.

Plays of any length are accepted, full-length as well as 10-minute short plays, including those already performed.

Two plays will be awarded, one in Italian and one in English, in September in Milan.

Eclectic Full Contact Theater Company 6th Annual Patchwork Play Festival - A One-Act New Play Festival

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

To be presented at The Edge Theater, 5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL.
Feb. 26, 2027 - March 7, 2027

We are currently accepting submissions of New One-Act Plays that embody this years theme of: Alienation

Nine finalists will have their play produced in our festival.

A $250 Award will be presented for best production as adjudicated by a panel of Chicago Theater professionals.

​A $250 Audience Award will also be presented to the festival favorite as determined by our audiences.

Submission Requirements:​

• Play must be previously unproduced. (Staged Readings are fine)
• Play length not to exceed 30 minutes.
• Play must reflect the yearly theme. This years theme is: Alienation
• Play must be received by October 31, 2026
• Playwrights cannot submit more than 2 scripts per year for Patchwork. If more than 2 scripts are submitted by the same playwright, we’ll pick 2 at random. Only one play per playwright may be featured per Patchwork Festival per season.
• Scripts cannot contain copyrighted music unless the playwright owns the music’s copyright, or has written permission from the music’s copyright owner.
• We are not accepting musicals at this time.

She/NYC Arts 2027 Festival

Website

Deadline: November 5, 2026 at 11:59pm PST

We accept full-length plays and musicals during our open submissions period for our Summer Theater Festivals. In order to apply, you must be a playwright or composer of a gender marginalized group (including cis women, trans people, and non-binary people), or a writing team that is made up of at least 50% people from a gender-marginalized group.

SheNYC (New York) – Festival dates TBD, in July/August 2027

You’ll apply for all the cities you’re interested in in one form — there will be an option to select which cities you’d like to be considered for.

Note that we only accept script submissions during our submission window. If you would like to be considered for our summer festivals, you must submit your work during that time period. Read on below for more details on what you’ll need to submit!

AI Information

Our mission is to support human writers. Therefore, while using AI for background research is okay, we won’t produce anything that was written by AI. On the application, we’ll ask you to describe if and how you used AI. 

Examples include:
Used AI to find and organize research about the subject matter (✅ this is okay!)
Used AI to fact-check or spelling & grammar check my writing (❎ we don’t love this, but it won’t necessarily disqualify your show. Give us more details about how you used it.)
Used AI to write scenes or music (❌ this is not okay)
Used an AI program to automate vocals in the demo recordings included in this application (❌ this is not okay)
Used an AI program to automate instruments in the demo recordings included in this application (❌ this is not okay)

READING/PERFORMANCE INVITATIONS

Unfortunately, we do not have the staff capacity to see readings or performances, so do not accept invitations. However, the only way we would choose to produce your show is through the open submissions process listed above – so, send us your materials that way if you’d like to be considered for a production!

What You Will Need To Submit

1. The full script to your show, in PDF form. It must be at least 75% finished. If the rest is not finished, you need to provide a “treatment” (a detailed outline of the scenes that remain to be written, in order) along with the script. Bear in mind that you will have to send us completed script if you’re selected as a finalist.

IMPORTANT: Your script PDF must not have your name on it!

Why do we ask this?

Our model is based on giving writers an opportunity based on the quality of their writing, free from the types of bias that the entertainment industry normally considers, such as connections, having an agent, etc. Having your script anonymized to our readers ensures we can fulfill our mission of evaluating scripts without bias.

2. A completed application form with some basic information (see below for FAQs).

3. If your show is a musical, recordings of at least 3 full songs from the show, in mp3 or m4a form. The more you have, the better! A simple recording with just you and your piano is fine, though obviously you want to make your music sound the best it can. Please do not submit Finale or Sibelius files (or any other automated vocals).

* Note that we do not require that you send us a score or sheet music with your submission.

4. If your show is a solo show, a video of at least 5 minutes of your solo performer performing a cut from the show. This can be a video from a prior production or staged reading, or it can be a self-tape of your actor recording themselves at home.


Why do we ask this?

We’ve found that it’s incredibly hard to evaluate the quality of a solo show without knowing the performer who will be carrying it.

2027 Submissions Timeline

September 28, 2026: Submissions open for NYC, DFW, ATL, and LA Festivals.

November 5th: Deadline for all submissions. Submit your show before 11/5 at 11:59pm PST!

February 2027: If you’re a semi-finalist, we’ll notify you in February.

March 2027: Finalists for NYC & LA are chosen. 

April: All our festival participants are notified, and you’ll be given a deadline to accept your slot in the festival! We will also notify you if you are not selected. 

*This is SUBJECT TO CHANGE based on the Festival dates given to us by our venues.*

May: All the fun stuff starts! We’ll have a meet and greet and info sessions to make sure you feel 100% ready to produce your show in the Festival.

June/July: Start rehearsals for your show!

July/August/September: The Festivals run! Each show will get two set performances during these two weeks, as well as a tech and dress rehearsal slot. We will also leave a few empty performance slots in the schedule so that any show that sells out its first two performances can add extra performances. 

Black Women On Broadway Reading Series Submissions

Website

Deadline: October 14, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The Black Women On Broadway Reading Series is a development reading series dedicated to early career Black Women Playwrights. This readings series offers ONE playwright the opportunity to have a relaxed approach to development with a full day of rehearsal culminating in a public reading that evening.

The reading series is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, 2026 with the generous support and partnership with WP Theater.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- Any early career Black Woman playwright is encouraged to submit (NOTE: Early career = TWO or less professional productions in their career. Productions must have been at a non-profit, regional, commercial off-broadway or non-union theater only. Playwright cannot have been produced on Broadway. )

- The play submitted CANNOT have had a professional or workshop production. (Other developmental readings are fine) 

- Only ONE submission per playwright. 

- Playwrights CAN re-submit the same play if they have submitted to previous BWOB reading series

- Only FULL LENGTH PLAYS can be submitted. No musicals, no one act plays (i.e. 30 minutes or less,) no 10 minute plays. We are not accepting any solo/one person plays at this time. 

- Playwright must be available in person, in New York City for the full day of the scheduled reading series date: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026. We cannot make any exceptions or provide any hotel, flight or other travel arrangements or accommodations. 

- Playwright will receive $500 stipend

SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS WEDS, OCTOBER 14TH, 2026.

THE SELECTED PLAYWRIGHT NOTIFIED BY WEDS, OCTOBER 21ST, 2026

Queens Theatre’s Unbound Voices: New Play Development Series seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Submit your work to submissions@queenstheatre.org by October 31, 2026 with "Unbound Voices" in the subject line.

Queens (NYC) Theatre’s Unbound Voices: New Play Development Series (formerly New American Voices) is now accepting submissions for short plays for future readings. 

We are looking for original plays about characters experiencing a moment of change in Queens, NY. Let a Queens neighborhood, landmark, institution, event, or moment in the borough's history shape the characters’ journey.

We are looking for small cast plays (2-5), under 10 minutes running time. Compensation will be offered for the selected play.Submissions must be new, unproduced works. (Previous workshops and readings are permitted.)

One submission per writer.
Works in any theatrical style are welcome.
Bilingual works are encouraged.

Please submit files as PDF with the filename formatted "LastName_FirstName_PlayTitle.pdf" (please use only letters, numbers, and underscores in the filename omitting other punctuation or special characters.)

At Queens Theatre, we remain focused on plays which reflect contemporary issues from various perspectives including race, culture, language, disability, nationality and gender, and committed to providing opportunities for all writers, regardless of age or experience.

Mini Plays Review seeks short plays and monologues for December 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2026

How to Submit
Email: Send your script as an attachment to miniplaysmag@gmail.com
Subject Line: Submission: [Play Title] - [Your Name]
In the Body: Include a brief 50-word biography and your contact details.

Submission Guidelines

Length: Maximum of 2 pages per mini play/soliloquy/monologue.
Format: Standard playwriting format (PDF or Word document preferred).
Limit: Maximum of 5 submissions per playwright. Send all submission in single email.
Originality: Works must be original and unproduced in print format. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, provided you notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

Theme: Borrowed Time

This issue explores the strange arithmetic of time — what we owe it, what it owes us, and what happens in the narrow windows when it seems to bend, stall, or run out. We are looking for sharp, short scripts about waiting rooms, deadlines, deathbeds, time loops, inheritances, and the small negotiations people make with the clock.

Subthemes for Submission:

• The Waiting Room: Strangers thrown together in a liminal space, each counting down to something different.
• Borrowed Hours: A character who has "bought," "stolen," or been "loaned" time from someone else — literally or figuratively.
• The Last Good Day: A scene built entirely around someone who knows, but hasn't told anyone, that this is their final ordinary day.
• Rewind: A comedic or absurdist take on a character stuck reliving the same five minutes.
• The Inheritance Clock: A family conflict over what a dying or dead relative's "time" — a legacy, a promise, a debt — is now owed to.
• Fashionably Late: The quiet devastation or comedy of someone who has spent a lifetime arriving too late for the moments that mattered.
• Overtime: A workplace two-hander where the real conversation only happens after the shift should have ended.
• The Countdown: A high-stakes dialogue happening in the final sixty seconds before an irreversible decision.
• Aging in Real Time: A monologue or dialogue where a character watches themselves — or someone else — visibly change over the course of the scene.
• The Appointment: Two people meet for a reason neither will say out loud until time forces their hand.
• Daylight Saving: A small, strange dislocation — lost or gained time — that throws a relationship or routine into chaos.
• The Long Goodbye: A scene stretched across a departure that keeps almost-but-not-quite happening.
• Frozen Clocks: A survivalist or dreamlike drama in a place where time has visibly stopped working.
• The Second Chance: A character granted an impossible do-over, and the argument over whether to take it.
• Running Out: A ticking-clock two-hander where the stakes are ordinary, but the urgency is not.

Season 2 of The Human Side of Health seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS! The submission window for Season 2 of The Human Side of Health is officially open! This Winter 2026, we’re focusing on Black Health: health concerns and wellness within Black communities.

We are seeking short plays (10 minutes maximum) written by Black playwrights and created specifically for virtual performance. 

For your play to be considered, it must be written specifically for a virtual platform as the setting in the script. We will NOT select plays that require reimagining a play made for the live stage. The setting must be written for the virtual setting. Virtual format = Zoom, FaceTime video call or similar using a virtual modality as the setting. Any work submitted that does not incorporate use of a virtual platform will not be considered.

Theme: Black Health
Length: 10 minutes maximum
Format: Written for a virtual setting

If selected, playwrights also participate in an artist community conversation and receive an honorarium.
Full eligibility requirements and submission details:

ellipsis… literature and art open for submissions for the 2027 issue

Website

Deadline: December 16, 2026 2:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Please submit one English language drama piece per year, up to 8,000 Words. Use 12 point font.

ellipsis…is the annual literary journal published by the students of Westminster University since 1965. We sponsor a yearly poetry contest (all accepted poems are eligible for a $100 prize) as well as an annual student writing contest ($200 prize in each genre), judged by Laurie Ann Guerrero in 2021, Carolyn Forche in 2022, Brent Ameneyro in 2023, Matty Layne Glasgow in 2024, and Abraham Smith in 2025. 

Contributors to ellipsis... include well-known, up-and-coming, and never-before-published writers. We accept original English language submissions in poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, and art. Submit poems in one document, please. 

Our submission period is August 1 through December 15 for poetry, short fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. We accept art submissions from August 1 through January 31. 

Please include a 75 -word contributor’s note and your address, telephone number, and email address. 

Simultaneous submissions are welcome but withdraw your submission immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Note that we do not republish pieces, including work online.

 We usually pay $10 per poem and page of visual art, and $3 per page of prose, plus two free copies of the issue. We cannot pay international contributors. Submissions cannot be accepted via email.

Raise the Page / Uplift the Word Festival

Website

Deadline: November 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

The festival will take place February 2-3, 2027 at AMT Theater (345 West 45th Street) NYC

Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays Playwright Submissions
Seeking BIPOC playwrights for Abingdon Theatre Company's seventh annual Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays in collaboration with AMT Theater. Abingdon Theatre Company continues to be committed to creating opportunities for all voices to be heard. With this in mind, ATC is thrilled to open submissions for our seventh annual festival of short plays; a festival shedding light on stories by people of color.

Please read the following in full before submitting.

Short play submissions should be unpublished and no longer than 40 pages, written by BIPOC individuals.

Plays should not have been previously presented to New York audiences.

Please limit your submission to one play per playwright. If you have submitted to Raise the Page, Uplift the Word in the past, please do not re-submit work unless there have been significant changes to the script.

We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages.

Should you have any questions, please email info@abingdontheatre.org. 

Downtown Urban Arts Festival (DUAF) is seeking theatrical productions

Website

Deadline: October 26, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM ON THEIR WEBSITE

DUAF is seeking theatrical works (plays, musicals, and solo performances) for its 25th Annual season to be held in June 2027 in Manhattan, New York City. We support diverse, new and emerging voices from America’s burgeoning multicultural landscape. Over 200 playwrights have participated in DUAF and some have gone on to greater success on Broadway and have claimed top prizes such as the Pulitzer, Tony and Obie awards and nominations.

Submission Categories:

• Short-length play (under 45 minutes)
• Full-length play (up to 70 minutes) 

Eligible Projects: 

• Plays do not exceed 70 minutes
• Plays should be new or existing work with minimal exposure 
• Plays should not have any other production in New York City during the 30-day period before and after the 2027 festival 

Playwright Supports:

• No submission or participation fees 
• $1,200 (short) and $2,000 (full) playwright stipends
• Mentoring with an experienced theatre professional
• Actor and director stipends
• Casting support 
• Technical design and operation 
• Reimbursed rehearsal space rentals
• Actors' Equity Showcase Code application administration
• $1,000 awards for best full, short and audience

THINK FAST A virtual short play competition 2027

Website

Deadline: November 16, 2026

Email your script to OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org with the required acknowledgement:

You MUST include the following acknowledgement in the body of your email: “If my play is accepted and I choose to take part in the festival, I understand that I will be responsible for the casting and rehearsal of my play and that I will be charged a $100 participation fee. I also affirm that generative AI was not used to create my script.”

Title page should include author's name and email address/contact information.

One entry per writer ONLY.

Online submissions only.

Submission Requirements

Dramas and comedies accepted.

Maximum 15 minutes running time. Plays that exceed 15 minutes will not be considered.

Zoom Performances

Live talkbacks with playwrights follow the evening performances
All ticket buyers vote electronically for Audience Favorite Play at the conclusion of each performance and receive links to all talkbacks and the awards announcement.

Nominations and winners for Best Actor, Actress, and Director, Audience Favorite (Play), and Judges' $500 Prize are announced post-show Sunday afternoon at our virtual cocktail party (BYOB)

How It Works

If your play is selected, ​​​The Theater Project will supply a stage manager/technical director to oversee the Zoom recording process.
Individual playwrights supply the actors and directors and make their own agreements regarding actor and director compensation.

Production Fee: $100. Participating playwrights (finalists) will be charged a $100 fee to cover the $500 prize as well as the cost of hiring the stage manager/technical director.

Playwrights invited to participate must have plays that are ready to perform and supply their own actors and directors who are recorded via Zoom by The Theater Project.

Why a production fee?

The Theater Project does not charge a submission fee for its THINK FAST festival. We do, however, charge a $100 production fee to help cover the cost of the $500 prize as well as the hiring of a stage manager/technical director to work with the productions on their technical needs, supervise a rehearsal, and record the final performance on TTP’s Zoom platform.

While we’d rather not charge a fee, we would be unable to offer this showcase without help from participating playwrights. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

GAYDAR OFFENSIVE ONE-ACT PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL seeks NYC-based playwrights

Instagram

Deadline: November 1, 2026

To be considered for this festival, submit the following to againstthewall.nyc@gmail.com with "GAYDAR FESTIVAL" in the subject line. 

Each playwright may submit up to two scripts at this time. One-act plays: 30-60 minutes.

Please be sure to have all the following information listed in one pdf in submission

-Name of play
-No musicals
-Playwright name
-Playwright bio
-Synopsis
-Character Breakdown
-Script 
-Social media handles
-Any artist that may already be attached to said script

Against the Wall Productions is proud to announce the call for script submissions from gay playwrights based in NYC for their inaugural GAYDAR OFFENSIVE ONE ACT PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL set to be presented in June 2027 in New York City. Festival is produced and curated by B.Michael Peterson, the company's Artistic Director.

Six scripts will be selected for this festival, and each playwright will also act as a co-producer with Peterson. The festival does not charge a submission or participation fee. The co-producer will be responsible for rehearsal space, casting, supplying a director and be in charge of their own budget.

Against the Wall Productions will provide a tech time slot for each show with a technical director and performance space during the festival. They will also provide marketing on their social media and other advertising, but each show is responsible for promoting their show to their own networks. Each co-producer will receive 40% of each ticket sold.

Additional Information
-Playwrights must live in NYC
-Follow our Instagram page @atw.productions for future updates and announcements
-Scripts must be unpublished and unproduced at the time of the festival
-Scripts selected will be contacted by the end of January 2027

Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund

Website

Deadline: November 18, 2026 (11:59PM EST)

SUBMISSION FORM

The Emerging Playwrights Fund (the “Fund”) is calling theatrical visionaries who are ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.

This is storytelling without walls. Your words, world-class performers, and millions of listeners waiting to be transported.

Who Should Apply

We're seeking early-career theatrical writers who craft immersive fictional experiences that engage, entertain, and inspire. We value diverse perspectives, innovative approaches to form, and stories that harness the unique intimacy and immediacy of audio storytelling. Whether your work explores internal worlds through sound, creates vivid landscapes through language, or experiments with narrative structure—if it pushes boundaries and demands to be heard, we want it.

For this cycle, we're particularly interested in original audio dramas in the following genres:

Action & Adventure including Mystery, Thrillers, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Core Fiction including Contemporary Fiction, Romance, and Literary Companion Pieces


About the Fund

Audible is a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Since 2017, our theater initiative, which includes the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City, has been built on one mission: to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances.

The Emerging Playwrights Fund sits at the heart of that mission. We invest in and nurture self-identifying emerging playwrights—some of the most inventive, creative, and provocative storytellers working today. Through the Fund, we connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and bringing them to millions of listeners. To date, Audible Theater has commissioned 50 projects through the Fund. We support the creation of original dramatic work written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit—stories that live and breathe in the listener's imagination.


What the Fund Provides

Audible will select up to five applicants to receive a fee of $25,000 each to write and develop an original audio play. In addition to the fee, Audible may provide the selected applicants with creative and logistical resources to assist each artist and project, including but not limited to: development and production fees, casting expertise and talent budget, access to Audible’s state-of-the-art studio and production equipment.

Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our listeners and our world. We actively encourage submissions from emerging playwrights of all races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds.

Your voice, amplified.

Submission Guidelines

One full-length script for an original play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script”). Submitted as a pdf or word doc

A professional biography (up to 300 words)

A pitch or summary for an original audio play (Action & Adventure OR Core Fiction preferred)

Please note, by submitting an application you will be directed to a third-party website (hosted by Accubate) and you agree to the applicable Audible and Accubate privacy notice(s).


Eligibility criteria

Any applicant over the age of 18, resident in US or UK may submit an application. Employees or independent contractors, or immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and grandchildren) or those living in the same household of employees or independent contractors of Audible Inc., including any of its affiliates (collectively, “Audible”), or any entity involved in any aspect of the administration of the Fund may not submit a Script for consideration, unless it is determined by Audible in its sole discretion in accordance with Audible’s then current policies and procedures that no conflict of interest exists in connection with accepting the relevant submission for consideration.

Heartland Theatre Company 25th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2027

Normal IL

HEARTLAND THEATRE 10-MINUTE PLAY ENTRY FORM.

Heartland Theatre Company is seeking eight 10-minute original plays to be considered for production inJune of 2026 as part of our 25th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival, with the theme BOOK CLUB.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:All entrants must complete and submit the ENTRY FORM at the link below
All entrants must attach their play to the ENTRY FORM and submit.

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE RULES:

1. Your play must fit the theme – BOOK CLUB – or it will not be considered.
2. Your play must fit our theater and its performance space.
3. We require internet submissions in MS Word or PDF.
4. When formatting your play, we ask that you follow our style sheet.
5. We are looking for NEW plays. Please do not send us anything that has previously been produced.
6. Your play must contain at least two (2) characters, but no more than four (4).
7. Heartland Theatre Company has a pool of actors ranging in age from 18 to 80. Make sure that your characters can be played by actors within that range.
8. Your play should consist mainly of dialogue, not monologues.
9. No children’s plays, musicals, or plays which were previously chosen as winners in any Heartland Theatre playwriting competition will be considered.
10. Do not put your name on the play itself, as submissions are judged blind. Make sure your title and page numbers appear on every page of the play, however.
11. Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.
12. Those plays which win and are staged will be videotaped for archival purposes.
13. No contracts beyond the guidelines mentioned here will be offered.
14. Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.
15. Your play must be written in English.
16. Keep your play under ten minutes in length.
17. Remember that something has to happen in those ten minutes.
18. MAKE IT GOOD!

All entrants must attach their play to the ENTRY FORM and submit.
HEARTLAND THEATRE 10-MINUTE PLAY ENTRY FORM.

Your play must be in the theme BOOK CLUB or it will not be considered. There are NO fees. You must attach your script in MS Word or PDF format when you send the entry form.

If you have any questions, please email playfest@heartlandtheatre.org

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 1, 2027. Finalists will be notified approximately mid-March, 2026. Winners will be announced approximately mid-April, 2027.

YOU will be notified if your script is a finalist or selected for performance. Winners will be posted on this web page, but the playwrights of those scripts not selected will not be notified. We appreciate the efforts of all playwrights who submit their scripts.

2027 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES:

June 3,4,5,6 | 10,11,12,13 | 17,18,19* – 2027

*Two performances June 19

The Foundry: One-Act Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Canton NY

SUBMISSION FORM

The Foundry is a one-act play festival hosted by University Theatre at St. Lawrence University. The festival is designed to include plays by professional playwrights alongside plays by student playwrights.

University Theatre is currently soliciting plays for its inaugural one-act festival set to debut in March 2027.

Playwrights with questions can reach out directly to Dr. Angie Sweigart-Gallagher at asweigart@stlawu.edu

Spartan Theatre One Page Play Festival – “Haunting Holidays”

Website

Deadline: October 11, 2026 at 11PM PDT

Spokane WA

SUBMISSION FORM

Submit your one-page play in MS Word or PDF format 

Festival Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM

The Spartan Theatre at Spokane Falls Community College proudly announces our Third Annual Festival One Page Plays: Haunting Holidays!

We are seeking submissions from playwrights across the globe to be presented in a reader’s theatre format. Selected plays will be performed live at SFCC’s Spartan Theatre on Friday, December 4, 2026, at 7:30 PM.

Last year’s festival received over 100 submissions from playwrights all over the world, making it a truly global celebration of creativity. We are excited to build on that momentum and see how playwrights will haunt the holidays this year!

What We’re Looking For:

We want one-page plays that creatively explore the theme Haunting Holidays. Whether it’s a ghostly gathering at a festive dinner, a spooky twist on a traditional celebration, or a chilling winter tale, we encourage all kinds of imaginative interpretations.

All holidays are welcome: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Arbor Day, Talk Like a Pirate Day, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools, Cinco de Mayo, or any other day of cultural or personal significance you’d like to haunt with your imagination.

What to Expect:

• Selected plays will receive a staged reading in a reader’s theatre format, focusing on the script and storytelling.
• Playwrights will be notified of their selection by November 25, 2026.
• There is no submission fee, and no participation fee if selected.
• Length of Plays:Plays should be one page only (roughly 1–2 minutes of performance time).
• Guidelines:Open to all playwrights worldwide. There are no restrictions on age, nationality, or gender. All are welcome!
• Only ONE submission allowed per playwright. Send us your best work!
• Previously produced or published works are welcome, however scripts submitted to last year’s festival is ineligible.
• Plays must be primarily in English.
• No Musicals.
• Strong language is acceptable. 
• No Self-Production Required!

If your play is chosen, SFCC will handle all aspects of the production. You do not need to self-produce or cover any costs.

For questions, please contact our Festival Director, Rebecca Cook: racook321@gmail.com

Request for Proposals: *snap* Festival 2027

Website

Deadline: October 16, 2026 by 11:45pm

Burlington VT

SUBMISSION FORM

The Flynn is committed to using the arts to build connections and strengthen communities. The *snap* Festival is a celebration of the power of first-person narratives. We believe everyone has stories to tell and that sharing these stories teaches empathy by allowing us to recognize commonalities and learn about each other’s unique experiences.

From January 22 - 24, 2027, the Flynn will celebrate the power of storytelling and solo performance with a weekend-long festival that will include workshops and solo performances by professional and emerging artists.

Through a series of performances and workshops, we will create a dialogue between performers and the audience and provide opportunities for the community to join and support the conversation. Performances will include meaningful time for questions and thoughts from the audience. Our expectation is that performers will listen to audience feedback and have it shape their work and that our audiences will develop a deeper understanding of this important art form.

All writers, poets, rappers, songwriters, storytellers, and other solo performers from New England and New York are invited to apply and submit a proposal for a performance to be showcased in the 2027 *snap* festival. Selected works will be performed by the artist and told from the first-person perspective. We are interested in stories about your experience told from your perspective. 

Artists and Projects will be chosen based on the following criteria:

1. The work you submit illuminates your unique perspective.

2. Works must be new, original, and must not be previously produced. This festival offers the opportunity to showcase a piece that has not yet been performed in front of an audience. Scripts or the equivalent must be submitted as part of this application.

3. You will be performing your own work and will perform it with no other performers.

4. Your piece must be written and performed in the first person.

5. Performance length will be approximately 15 minutes. The performance may be a complete work, or a section of a longer work.

Resources

1. An honorarium of $500 will be provided.

2. Accommodations will be provided for the duration of the festival.

3. Up to $200 in travel costs will be reimbursed, upon submission of receipts.

4. The Flynn will cover the production costs of the festival including stage labor, sound equipment, security, ushers, and box office. All final production costs and expenses will be decided by the Flynn Center at its discretion. This festival is primarily about the development of a new work and requests involving other production elements (set, lights, costumes, etc.) may not always be accommodated.

5. The Flynn will actively market and publicize the festival and the public showing of your work on January 23, 2027 in FlynnSpace.

6. Your work may be selected for further development with an invitation to serve as an artist in residence.

Timeline

1. ‎September 21 – October 16, 2026: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

2. Final date to submit an application is Friday, October 16, 2026. Submissions close at 11:45pm.

3. A brief in-person or zoom interview will be scheduled as part of the selection process with select applicants. Interviews will take November 4-6, 2026.

4. Proposals will be chosen by the Flynn and a panel of judges.

5. Artists will be informed of their acceptance no later than November 10, 2026.

6. The *snap* festival takes place January 22 – 24, 2027 with performance of new works on January 23, 2026. You will arrive in Burlington on or around January 21 for a group dinner!

Schedule
The festival will take place at The Flynn Center from January 22 – 24, 2027. The performance of your 15-minute piece will be on January 23, 2027 in FlynnSpace.

THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT : An International Anthology of Three-Page Plays

Website

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Email all submission to: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com 

Please send your play as a Word document or Pdf.

Include:

Title
Author's name
Country
Short bio (50–100 words)
Email address

Email subject: SUBMISSION — THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT


Fresh Words invites playwrights, dramatists and writers from around the world to submit original three-page plays for a special Halloween anthology.

We are looking for short dramatic works that can create a complete theatrical experience in just two pages.

• The play may be frightening.
• It may be funny.
• It may be absurd.
• It may be tragic.
• It may be mysterious.
• It may be something we cannot easily name.
• The only requirement is that something happens when the door opens.

THE PROMPT: THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT

• Take the prompt literally—or don't.
• The door could be:
• The door of a house
• A hotel room
• A hospital
• A classroom
• A prison
• An apartment
• A theatre
• A train
• A dream
• Another world
• The past
• The future

And the person—or thing—on the other side could be anyone or anything.

MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE

Big Idea Theatre 2027 One-Act Festival Submissions

Website

Deadline: October 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT

SUBMISSION FORM

This is your chance to see your work come to life on stage and connect with new audiences. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to submit.

Some Guidelines:

• Unit Sets work best in our space
• We aren't equipped to do musicals or children's theatre
• Plays that run somewhere around or between 20 to 60 minutes are ideal
• We will choose 6 plays via committee of theatre lovers to be presented as part of the festival from 
• January 22rd - February 7th, 2026 in Sacramento, CA.

We have produced scripts from all over the world! However, since we are a community theatre, we do give special consideration to works from or connected to the Sacramento Region.

Please only submit one script.

We receive HUNDREDS of scripts! Please be patient while we read them all and get back to you!

Sesame Street Writers Room 2027

Website

Deadline: October 5, 2026 12PM EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

Fresh new writing talent that reflects our vast audience. Emerging storytellers who are selected to join the Writers’ Room will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other children’s entertainment and media industry leaders. Each participant will develop and write a pilot script for their own original kids’ concept.

• Up to 6 writers will be selected 
• Sessions are expected to take place virtually from February 2027 to June 2027.
• Learn from industry writers, producers, agents and executives 
• Learn and complete all steps of creating an original pilot episode script
• Learn and complete all steps of creating a 3-5 minute speculative script based on Sesame Street
• Includes 8 three-hour instructive sessions with an accomplished industry professional, 3 one-hour mentoring sessions with Sesame Street writer, and 15 one-hour office hours sessions on creating original children’s content.
• Up to two writers will have the exciting opportunity to see their script brought to life in a live table read featuring Sesame Street performers

Original script sample: 12-page maximum; should NOT contain Sesame Street elements, characters, or intellectual property;  can be an excerpt from a larger piece  wholly written by the applicant; must model a 3 act story structure; and be kid-friendly content for viewers up to age 12…we’re looking for great characters and stories that inspire kids to be smarter, stronger and kinder! 

Please submit only one script with your initial application. If you advance to the second round, you may receive an email with instructions on submitting a second script sample at that time.

Resumes: 2-page maximum. Anything longer will be disqualified.

More info on your script: what’s the bigger picture/idea of your script sample? (up to 100 words)

Personal statement: tell us about yourself, for example, why you want to write for children’s educational media, and how your lived experiences influence the stories you want to tell in children’s media, etc. (up to 250 words)

Eligibility Check List

• Participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent residen
• No extensive media writing experience, such as having written more than six episodes for a produced network or streaming scripted/narrative series
• Participants must be 21+ years old Participants must be able to attend and complete writing assignments for all 11 sessions, and attend the 15 office hours sessions, which will be held virtually from February 2027 to June 2027. The final session and showcase will be held in-person in New York City.

Smith & Kraus 2027 Annuals seeks 10-minute plays and monologues

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026

They have hit their limit for 10-minute plays -THEY ARE ONLY ACCEPTING MONOLOGUES NOW.

Submissions open October 1st-December 1st for the Smith & Kraus 2027 Annuals.

MONOLOGUE GUIDELINES

For The Best Men & Women’s Stage Monologue 2027

Monologues MUST BE FROM PLAYS. They cannot be stand-alone pieces.
They must be from plays produced between August 2025 through November 2026

*Monologues from plays that only had Virtual Productions are NOT eligible.

Monologues should be 1-3 minutes long.

Monologues should be pieces that have onstage action and work well for auditions.

**You may submit to both the Women's and Men's Anthology, but only ONE submission per book.

Do not submit any monologue that has been submitted previously in the past year.

IF YOU SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE MONOLOGUE PER ANTHOLOGY, THEY WILL NOT BE READ!

To submit for Men's Monologues, CLICK HERE.

To submit for Women's Monologues, CLICK HERE.

They have hit their limit for 10-minute plays - do not send.

10-MINUTE PLAY GUIDELINES

• Submissions will close when we reach 250 scripts or end of day on December 1st, whichever comes first.
• Plays must be produced between August 2025 through November 2026.
• Plays with only virtual productions are not eligible.
• Plays produced as staged readings are eligible ONLY if the reading was performed LIVE in front of an audience, not virtually.
• No Radio Plays. No Musicals. No Children's Plays. No solo shows. No Zoom plays.
• Plays should run approximately 10 minutes.
• Please include a cover page with a brief synopsis.
• Please include a page with Character Breakdown, Setting/Place, and Time.
• Only ONE submission is permitted per playwright. If you submit more than one play, they will not be read.

Ninth Annual Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2026

APPLICATION FORM

All submissions must be sent through the online application form. Only one submission per playwright/librettists will be accepted.

The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists is a juried cash and production grant given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. It commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H. Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Outstanding Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, which earned Priscilla a Drama Desk Award.

The winner will receive $2,000 to help with cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2027 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, culminating in an Amas Lab production with New York theatre professionals. Amas was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals, including the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three.

The winner of the Award is announced in Spring 2027.

Amas Musical Theatre will not ask for any fees for entry or for any fiduciary involvement

from the playwright/librettists at any point of the process.

Submission Requirements

The Musical must:

• Be a full-length show (at least 80 minutes)

• Have no more than eight actors (actors may play multiple roles; if so, please include a suggested breakdown of role distribution)

• Be complete and ready for readings, workshops and/or productions

• Have a demo that is an accurate representation of the music and style of the show (at least five songs)

• Have full underlying rights clearance of any pre-existing material used in the script (music, source material, etc.)

• Not have had a full production or be published in any way, even if with a different name.

What to Submit

All documents must be submitted as PDF files and they should be named with the part of the submission it refers to and the title of the show in the format of

1. Biography and resumes of the creative team, including writer, composer, lyricist (if applicable)

2. History of the musical'ss development, and any previous titles it has gone through (if applicable, maximum one page)

3. Brief synopsis (maximum 150 words)

4. Brief artistic statement on the piece itself, including all source material, inspiration, goal, message, etc. (maximum one page)

5. Proof of rights (if applicable)

6. Demo and track listings (Demo selections to be posted as a Dropbox or Google Drive link)

7. PDF document of the full-script and sheet music, if available (no writers named)

​​

Guidelines for Materials

All submissions must adhere to the following or your application will be disqualified before reaching our selection committee.

Proof of Rights

If the musical contains any copyrighted material, please submit a signed letter from the authors and/or underlying rights representative stating that underlying rights have been secured.

Full Script

The full script must include:

1. Title page (which should only have the title on it and absolutely no other information)

2. Character breakdown (maximum one page)

3. The complete script with page numbers

For the anonymity of your submission, the full script and sheet music cannot include any information on playwright/ librettist or contractually attached people, previous casts, or any agents. All submissions will go through a blind evaluation process, any personal information you provide will only be available to Amas Musical Theatre staff.

Demo Tracks

The recording should be a significant representation of the songs in the show that accurately highlights the style and character of the score and lyrics.

• Demo tracks should:

1. Include at least one song from the first 25 pages

2. Have at least five recordings available – they do not need to be professional or studio quality, but they must be clear enough to hear lyrics, melody, and accompaniment

3. Have singers of appropriate vocal types for their respective roles

4. Be full songs only, no medleys of spliced songs

For the anonymity of your submission, tracks cannot include any personal identifiers for playwright/librettist(s), the performers recorded, or contractually attached people.

The Selection Process

Scripts will be read and evaluated through a blind submission process by Amas Musical Theatre’s literary team. A group of finalist plays will be read and evaluated by a selection committee, comprised of distinguished artists and playwrights, using a blind evaluation process. Committee members will not be given any additional information beyond the title of the show, the script, and the demo tracks.

Any personal information you provide in the application is seen by the Amas Musical Theatre staff only, not the selection committee. 

Our process is based on the quality of the work submitted.

Round 1 (September-December)

1. Our literary team reads the first 25 pages of the book and listens to the demo for any track related to these pages.

2. The team fills out evaluations for each show, which determine the submissions that continue to Round 2.

Round 2 (January-April)

1. The selection committee reads the scripts in full and listens to all demo tracks submitted.

2. Committee members write their evaluations to determine which one is best suited for the Award.

3. The winner is announced in the Spring of 2027.

4. The application’s primary contact is notified and a development schedule is created with the winner.

We will not be able to provide feedback regarding why a particular piece was or was not selected.

The Winner will:

• Receive $2,000 to help pay for cost-of-living expenses.

• Receive development assistance in the 2027 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre.

• Have the selected show rehearsed and performed by New York theatre professionals in an Amas Lab production.

• Be present in New York City for the development process.

The Gallery Players 30th Annual Black Box New Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

The Gallery Players in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York, is seeking plays for its 30th Annual Black Box New Play Festival to be presented from June 10th through June 20th, 2027. Each play selected will be paired with a director and given a black minimally designed box production (lighting designer working in rep plot, sound designer, and sets created by directors from available theatre stock), with non-equity actors.

Playwrights must be available, if not in person, via Zoom or other virtual venue to work with directors to create another draft of their play. This process will take place from January 2027 through May 2027. The degree of revision will be dependent on the needs of each play and the collaboration between yourself and the director.

Submission guidelines:

1). Plays must be un-produced (readings are ok); must be the play’s world premiere

2) Length of Plays: Plays should be 10 - 50 minutes. Plays must have at least 4 characters, more is even better. No one-character plays. No period costume pieces (period plays that use modern dress are OK). You may submit up to two (2) plays for consideration.

3). Format: Pages must be numbered; A cover page with Title of the play and playwrights contact information is required, along with a page that gives plot synopsis of the play and a character breakdown. DO NOT write your name anywhere else on the script.

4) Submit a copy of your playwriting resume

5) Provide a brief written statement that addresses what you are hoping to get out of the experience and revision process (aside from having your play produced)

6) Send a digital copy of your play(s) along with your resume and statement letter to: info@galleryplayers.com

We will only contact you if your play has been accepted into the Festival. We will confirm that we received your digital copy via email. All playwrights chosen will be notified by DECEMBER 2026.

Please note that playwrights CANNOT direct their own work for this festival and will be paired with one of the 2027 Black Box cohort directors.

Any scripts not chosen for the Festival will be deleted to protect your copyright.

Playing Ace: A New Asexualities Play Festival seeks short and full-length plays

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Madison, Wisconsin

SUBMISSION FORM - PDF files preferred

• Staged reading and inclusion in an anthology proposal
• Plays must be connected to concepts of asexuality or aromance. Further descriptions of how that is defined can be found on our website.
• Playwrights may submit only one play
• Plays must not be previously published.

The “Playing Ace” play festival is an opportunity for folks who are interested in showcasing and exploring asexual worldmaking to connect and share their work! We aim to provide opportunities for playwrights to produce and then publish their work, to expand the reach of these important stories. Over the next year, we will be collecting and carefully reviewing play submissions to be showcased in a staged reading held in Madison, Wisconsin in spring 2027. Playwrights will have the support of a dramaturg during the play rehearsal process and will see how live audiences react to their play. After the play festival, playwrights will have an opportunity to join a proposal to publish their play in the first anthology of asexual plays!

Overall, we recognize that there is a growing need to share stories about asexual lives, experiences, and perspectives. As asexuality becomes more of a topic for discussion in the world, it is important that we create spaces where stories and perspectives can be shared. We believe that theatre is a fantastic place to come together and create new communities, and with the proposal for an anthology, we want to ensure that these stories are shared with as many people as possible.

Call for Submissions for the Making It Happen Festival of 10 Minute Plays

Website

Deadline: October 12, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Making It Happen: 10 Minute Plays is a new play festival presented by The Theater Center, created to give writers, and creative teams the opportunity to present original theatre work on an Off-Broadway stage in the heart of Times Square.

We are now accepting submissions for fully original 10-minute plays. Selected plays will perform at The Theater Center on one of three preliminary performance nights: Wednesday, November 4, Wednesday, November 11, or Wednesday, November 18. Each evening will feature 4 plays, with audiences and judges voting to determine one winner from each night. The three nightly winners will advance to the Finals on Wednesday, December 2.

All submitted material must be fully original. Teams must have the rights to perform all submitted material.

This is a non-union festival. All casts, creative teams,, and production personnel must be non-union.

We strongly urge that your cast size is 6 or less.

Play must be 10 minutes or less.

Selected teams will be responsible for providing their own cast, director, and stage manager. If you don't have a director, one can be provided. No microphones will be used or provided, so plays must be able to be performed acoustically in the space.

Productions should be simple, flexible, and festival-ready. Selected teams will receive performance space, basic technical support, box office services, festival-wide marketing, and a technical rehearsal slot on the day of their performance.

Please only submit if you and your team are available for the preliminary performance dates and, if selected as a finalist, the final performance on December 2.

Savage Wonder seeks 10-minute plays or musicals

Website

Deadline: July 3, 2027

SUBMISSION FORM

Savage Wonder (Beacon, NY) prides itself on opportunities for veteran writers. Savage Wonder offers on-going playwriting competitions as well as the Savage Wonder literary blog. You may select which opportunity interests you below.

Savage Wonder is accepting submissions for our 10-minute playwriting competition. 

Submissions may include plays or musicals. 

Playwrights must meet one of the following criteria:

Current or former: US military, law enforcement, fire service, EMS, foreign service, intelligence service, DoD employee, DoD Contractor; or Immediate family of the service member.

We are looking for work that is whimsical, intimate, absurd, and surprising. Unlike some past competitions, we are not looking for straightforward dramatic realism or non-fiction storytelling. Bring us something that takes a risk — something that could only have come from you.

The competition winner will receive a $1,000 grant.

The second-place finalist will receive a $750 grant.
The third-place finalist will receive a $500 grant.

All winners and finalists also receive feedback from the panel of judges. In addition, winners and finalists may be invited to become Savage Wonder Resident Artists where they will have the opportunity to develop and submit plays and musicals for commissioning and production at Savage Wonder.

Plays and musicals can be any genre and any subject matter. 

Playwrights may submit more than one work. 

Submissions should not have been previously produced and/or published. 

Winners and finalists will be notified via email no later than Sunday, July 4, 2027 (note: we will make every effort to have results back to submitters ASAP; however, in order to ensure fair treatment of each submission and to plan for any contingencies which may arise, we are providing a worst-case scenario for our timeline). 

There is no participation or submission fee. 

There is no guarantee that winners' or finalists' work will be produced by Savage Wonder. 

HerStories Monologue open for submissions

Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Or until they reach 250 submissions

SUBMISSION FORM

Nomad Theatre, located in Normal, Illinois, seeks 8 monologues to be a part of our upcoming HerStories Detour in March 2027. This series of monologues is performed in a real library, within the book stacks. Submissions will close on November 15th, 2026, at midnight or until we reach 250 submissions. Semi-finalists will be announced in January 2027. Auditions will be held in mid February 2027, and based on auditions, eight finalists will be chosen for production. If your play is selected for production, writers will receive a $25 honorarium for their work.

Nomad Theatre Company proudly presents their fourth installment of Pop-Up HerStory, an immersive theatrical experience that brings the stories of remarkable women and nonbinary people from history to life. As part of Nomad Theatre’s Detour projects, this unique production spotlights real women who have left an indelible mark on history, sharing their stories through original monologues and scenes.

Call for female-identifying or nonbinary writers, including actors who can write:

Selected monologues or scenes must feature one or two historical woman or non-binary person, living or not, with a runtime of five to six minutes. Monologues and scenes must be rooted in historical accuracy. 

We encourage you to use the space creatively. The monologue or scene must be unpublished at the time of submission. Please review the list titled "HERstory 2027 Ideas" for suggested historical figures. While you are not limited to these suggestions, Nomad Theatre has a particular interest in featuring these women in upcoming years. Please avoid someone who has already been performed. You will find them in the linked document titled: Previously featured women.

Please confirm the originality of your script, and your ability and willingness to give permission to use it for auditions, promotions, and live and privately-recorded performances by Nomad Theatre.

Preferences:

--direct address of audience, with good audience engagement

- rooted in historical accuracy. Please include sources in your submission

--a reason for speaking or dramatic moment for character/s to engage with each other or audience

--as much humor and audience engagement as possible, or such drama, poignancy, etc as befits chosen character/s

--minimum use of props or furniture, or none at all!

--ability to set in library and use library furnishings for any set or prop needs

Final script selection depends on who comes to auditions! (12-15 semi-finalists may be chosen for auditions.)

This call is open to all female and nonbinary identifying playwrights worldwide. Selected playwrights receive full production of their scene and an invitation to attend. We encourage anyone to submit, even if you’ve never written a monologue. We want to support underrepresented playwrights, including women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disabled, neurodiverse, etc, and encourage you to submit.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Overall writing quality (informative, interesting, compelling)
• Historical accuracy (please include at least one credible source)
• Suitability for our actors and spaceSubmission Guidelines:
• One submission per playwright
• A running time of 4-7 minutes long
• A cover page should include the title, the playwright’s name, contact information, a brief synopsis, at least one credible source, and character description.
• Pages should be numbered.
• A monologue or two person scenes only.
• Label your document as TITLE OF PLAY_LastName
• No musicals.

We suggest formatting similar to the Dramatist Guild Guidelines: https://www.dramatistsguild.com/sites/default/files/2020-01/General-SFI-Formatting-Guidelines-Complete.pdf

If you have questions or need any accommodations for submission, please email nomadtheatresubmissions@gmail.com or visit us https://nomadtheatre.org/

Nomad's mission is to provide an immersive theatre experience by exposing audience members to eclectic and moving stories, taking theatre outside of a traditional theatre space and into site-specific locations.

DRURY UNIVERSITY ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Send scripts to:

Drury University One-Act Play Competition
c/o Dr. Mick Sokol, Professor of Theatre
900 North Benton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802

FIRST PRIZE: $300 TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS: $150 each

Winning plays will be considered for production by Drury University.

COMPETITION RULES:

1. Competition is open to all playwrights. Scripts are to be original, unpublished, and unproduced. Staged readings or workshop productions will not disqualify a script. Musicals, monologues, adaptations, film and TV scripts are ineligible.

2. Preference will be given to small cast, one-set shows with running times of no less than twenty and no more than forty-five minutes.

3. No more than one script from any playwright. Scripts entered in this contest in previous years are ineligible for re-submission.

4. All scripts are to be typewritten and firmly bound (staple, clips, etc). Because of the nature of distributing scripts to readers, we do NOT accept electronic submissions.

5. Scripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage. For confirmation of receipt, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. For results of your script, please include self-addressed stamped envelope. If possible, please include an e-mail address; we can send you contest results via email.

6. No written or verbal critiques will be tendered.

7. The decisions of the judges are final. Drury University reserves the right to produce any of the three winning plays royalty-free during our 2027-2028, 2028-2029 or 2029-2030 seasons, to withhold production, and to modify cashawards as deemed necessary by the judges.

8. Drury University does not assume any responsibility for the loss, damage, or return of scripts. All reasonable care will be taken.

9. Deadline for entries is a postmark of December 1, 2026.

10. Address scripts to Drury University One-Act Play Competition
c/o Dr. Mick Sokol, Professor of Theatre
900 North Benton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802

11. Winners will be notified by mail (or e-mail) no later than April 1, 2027.

NYPSI's Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic ~Affordable Treatment For Theater Artists

THE HOROWITZ-SONDHEIM CLINIC FOR THEATER ARTISTS at  New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute offers affordable treatment to playwrights, composers, and lyricists of the theater. *

The Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic was launched in September 2025, and offers affordable treatment to playwrights, composers, and lyricists of the theater. *

This clinic owes its creation to a generous grant from the Stephen Sondheim Foundation, reflecting the profound gratitude Sondheim held for his psychoanalyst, Milton Horowitz, an esteemed NYPSI member. As Sondheim himself expressed: "to find you're not the only one in the world, which is of course what everybody goes through... Every time I would tell Milton something I'd expect him to be shocked and he'd say, Yes...' And after about five sessions I realized, He's heard everything!

And I'm just another ordinary neurotic fellow." (Secrest,1998, p. 229)

The Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic offers psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and psychological testing.

The Clinic does not provide psychotropic medication. Psychotherapy and psychological testing are provided by a variety of licensed mental health practitioners, Clinical Psychology Doctoral students, and Licensure-Qualifying trainees in Psychoanalysis, all under the supervision of highly trained psychoanalysts. Psychoanalysis is conducted by psychoanalytic candidates, all of whom are supervised by psychoanalysts especially qualified for the training of psychoanalysts. On occasion, psychoanalysis is offered by a graduate psychoanalyst.

Theater playwrights, composers, and lyricists interested in sliding-scale treatment at the Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic are encouraged to apply (link below). While treatment is not free, no one will be turned away as a result of financial limitations. The fee will be mutually agreed upon after a review of the individual's financial situation. Please indicate whether you are interested in obtaining psychotherapy (once or twice a week, typically), psychoanalysis (four or five times a week), oi psychological testing. Note that for psychoanalysis, at least two of the sessions must be conducted in person.

You may download a printable application for Adult Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, and/or Psychological Testing.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

[1] Secrest, Meryle. (2011). Stephen Sondheim: A Life. Penguin Random House.

* Those who are not lyricists, composers, or playwrights of the theater can still receive affordable treatment by applying directly to the NYPSI Treatment Center at https://nypsi.org/find-treatment/