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

Theater Noir Blanc seeks full-length plays on the gay interracial experience

Website:

Deadline: October 5, 2026

Dallas TX

We are dedicated to discovering original new works that explore the gay interracial experience, and it is our vision to elevate these bold, untold stories by national and international playwrights, reflecting the richness of a diverse world.

Eligibility

• The play explores our mission statement
• We do not accept screenplays, novels, poetry, or radio plays
• Your play must be in either the Dramatists Guild Modern or Traditional Stage play format
• Please send your script in .PDF format only
• Original full-length plays and plays with Limited Production (1-2) at least 65 page
• Only one play can be submitted by the writer
• We accept submissions from September 6 – October 5
• We will respond to all submissions within 6 months

We are a new theatre company focused on fulfilling our mission statement. We encourage you to reach out to us at literary@theatrenoirblanc.org with any questions you may have about submitting your play.

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

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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

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.

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

The Jokes On Her Annual Comedy Prize seeks full-length comedies by women

Website

Deadline: October 1, 2026

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

The Jokes On Her Annual Comedy Prize awards the winning playwright a $5,000 grant, an industry reading of her play in New York City in partnership with WP Theater and New Georges, and a featured appearance in a “Women Writing Comedy for the Stage” Q&A at The Drama Book Shop.

Jokes On Her will further support the playwright by identifying and facilitating future development opportunities.

Submissions are now open for original full-length comedies that have never been produced or published. Developmental readings and workshops are acceptable; however, plays under option or scheduled for production, licensing, or publication are not eligible. 

The Jokes On Her Comedy Prize is open to women (identifying & femmes inclusive) playwrights residing in the United States or Puerto Rico who are 21 years of age or older at the time of submission. Plays must be the author’s own work.

FAQs

Qutub Minar seeks short plays for its October 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: September 28, 2026

For our October 2026 issue, we are looking for original and engaging literary works in the following genres:

DRAMA
• Submit up to 3 one-minute plays at a time.

Every submission must include a cover letter and a short literary bio of approximately 70 words.

Submissions are accepted by email only.

Submit your work to:
editorqutubminarreview@gmail.com

Please include the following information with your submission:

Full Legal Name:
Pen Name (if any):
Postal Address:
Email Address:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

October 2026 Issue
Last Date: 28 September 2026
Publication: First week of October 2026

NO SUBMISSION OR READING FEE

There is absolutely no submission or reading fee.

USAGE RIGHTS

By submitting your work, you confirm that you hold the copyright to the work and that no third-party permission is required for its publication.

After publication, all copyright in the work reverts to the author.

NOTIFICATIONS

Authors will be notified regarding the acceptance or rejection of their submissions.

PAYMENT

Unfortunately, Qutub Minar Review is currently unable to offer payment for published contributions.

We look forward to reading your work and discovering new literary voices.

Obsidian seeks short work for publication

Website

Deadline: Oct 16, 2026 1:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages in the Samuel French format. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.

Obsidian cultivates, through publication and critical inquiry, Black imagination, innovation, and excellence—supporting Black, African, and African Diaspora creatives globally.
Obsidian celebrates over fifty years of continuous publication and is dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art biannually in print and year-round online.

AUTHENTIC 10 SHOWCASE seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Atlanta GA

SUBMISSION FORM

Length: Submissions must be between 8 and 12 minutes in performance time and a maximum of 15 pages in length.

Format: Scripts should be formatted in standard playwriting style and submitted as a PDF.

Eligibility: Submissions must be original works. Preference is given to works not previously produced or performed.

Cast Size: Scripts must feature a cast of no less than two and no more than three actors.

Staging Requirements:

Scripts should be suitable for a minimalist staging format.

Minimal use of props, lights, sound, or other technical elements is strongly encouraged and will be considered in the selection process.

Preference given to scripts with little or no scene changes.

Originality: Scripts must be original; works with no other rightsholders than the author submitting the work for consideration. and not generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence.

Content: Consideration will be given to scripts that align with Authenticity Theater's mission. We seek content that speaks to relevant societal themes such as mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, LGBTQ issues, poverty, domestic violence, immigration, sexual abuse, aging, grief, relationship issues, loneliness, and more.

Maximum: Submissions are limited to no more than two (2) scripts per playwright. Additional submissions will not be considered.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters seeks drama submisisons

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

 Submissions must be made in PDF file format only.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters will consider fee-free submissions of drama whose effects can be experienced either on the page or in production.

Submit a file with up to 5000 lines, including title, byline, dramatis personae, and stage direction.

O:JA&L will consider several formatting options for drama: 1) conventions of formatting published by Gordon State College, 2) suggestions for formatting published by The Dramatists Guild, or 3) play formats in specialized software programs for writers like Final Draft or Movie Magic. Submissions which deviate by degrees of magnitude from these conventions of form will be declined.

Submitters should include a cover letter. This cover letter should contain, in the manner of a screenplay, a HEADER for the work, a LOGLINE of up to 30 words, and a SYNOPSIS of the work (without spoilers) of up to 150 words. This cover letter should also include a third-person professional biography of the playwright in 100 words, more or less.

OTHER THAN YOUR NAME, DO NOT INCLUDE PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE SUBMITTED PDF. IT IS THIS PDF THAT WILL BE LINKED TO THE PUBLISHED POST.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters will only consider plays that have never before been produced or published. Submissions must be made in PDF file format only.

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.

Prism Community Players 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026

Maineville, OH

SUBMISSION FORM

Prism Community Players, formerly Lumos Players,  is thrilled to announce our 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027!

We know that writing a play is a journey—and we’re here to support yours.

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear your script read aloud and receive constructive, thoughtful feedback in a supportive community of theater artists. Whether you’ve written a 10-minute play, a one-act, a full-length, a musical, a comedy, a drama—or something in between—we want to hear from you!

Chosen scripts will be announced before December 5th. The series runs once a month over Zoom, February–May 2027.

Pegasus PlayLab 2027

Website

Deadline: September 18, 2026 11:59 pm

Or after they receive 200 submissions

SUBMISSION FORM

Pegasus PlayLab is a new play festival hosted every summer at the University of Central Florida. This festival is dedicated to developing new works by MFA Playwriting candidates or emerging playwrights. 

We are seeking three full-length plays, including Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) pieces, which we will rehearse for two weeks in collaboration with the playwright and subsequently present as workshop productions in addition, the finalists of Pegasus PlayLab will be entered into consideration to be a fully produced show at UCF.

The Pegasus PlayLab spans six weeks, starting mid-May through the end of June. Selected playwrights are expected to commit to a two-week in-person residency within that time frame.

Eligibility

• Unpublished or un-produced (has not received a fully-staged production)
• Full-length play/musical: 50-100 pages
• TYA: 20-100 pages
• Musicals: Please provide a sample track for at least one song. 

Submission Requirements

An excerpt (20-30 pages) of your play or musical. Submissions should be blind - please remove personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.) from your script pages.

A brief statement articulating your goals for the two-week workshop. This might include: dramaturgical and structural questions; work on specific moments of dialogue; getting answers about big questions in your script; gaining perspective on specific aspects of the script.

No late submissions will be accepted. Playwrights may only submit ONE play, and scripts previously submitted to Pegasus PlayLab in prior years are not eligible. 

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

If you have any questions, please email ucfpegasusplaylab@gmail.com.

Queer Scare 10-minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: September 30, 2026

New York NY

Send submissions to villageplaywrights @gmail.com

Seeking 10-minute plays from playwrights based in NYC and surrounding areas. 

Chosen playwrights must be willing to participate in the process. 

Plays must be themed for LGBTQ audiences.

Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

-Please send two hard copies, bound or stapled, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and all contact information) with page numbers and the name of the play on each page to:
Sundog Theatre, “Scenes 2026”, PO Box 10183, Staten Island, NY 10301.

-Submissions should include a brief play synopsis (2-3 sentences at most), a 70-word bio, and a full resume of the writer.

Sundog Theatre in NYC is seeking one-act plays for “Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026”

This is Sundog Theatre’s 25th presentation of new and original, one-act plays about our favorite boats.
This year’s theme: Anniversary!

Plays can be comedies or dramas. However, humor is always appreciated.

Writing Guidelines:

-Original plays not previously produced or published, with a signed note affirming that.

-10-25 minutes in length and set on the Staten Island Ferry.

-Set in a contemporary time period. Strong priority will be given to plays with 2 characters, however, 3-character plays will be considered. No special set pieces other than benches or railings found on the Ferry, as well as limited and easily accessible props/costumes, and no unusual sound or lighting effects.

-Avoid overt and unnecessary sexual/violence situations and language since we cater to a broad audience.

-No musicals, long monologues, poetry, rants or verse.

Theme: Anniversary!

Submission Guidelines:

-We are not accepting plays electronically. Reasons: hard copies are easier to pass around/make notes on; protects your work; can’t get lost in email chains; and…easier on reading eyes. We will let you know by email that we have received it.

-NO SUBMISSION FEE

-6 plays are chosen by a reading team; writers each receive $200 and plays are produced in five November 2026 performances in Staten Island, NY. Plays are cast in NYC, rehearsed, and performed on stage.

-Playwrights of selected plays will be contacted in September and their names/play titles listed on Sundog Theatre’s website in Fall 2026.

Please direct questions to: info@sundogtheatre.org/Susan Fenley, Producer.

Mouths of Babes Theatre Company (MoB) is now accepting submissions for the Scotopia Festival 2027

Website

Deadline:  Oct 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT

Festival Dates: Scotopia runs March 12th - 21st
Festival Location: Various venues in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

For any questions about the submission process, please contact our team at literary@mobtheatre.com with the subject line “Literary.” Contact name: Karina Patel, Literary Associate, & Megan Parlett, Artistic Producing Associate

APPLY HERE

Scotopia is an annual new works festival produced by MoB Theatre that welcomes both fresh voices and seasoned artists, providing a platform for bold, risk-taking theatre-making and fostering creative exchange across all levels of experience. The festival is a platform for original works that engage with the community and seek to grapple with the social issues of today. MoB Theatre is a process-driven theatre company, and we are interested in providing opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate with our ensemble.

The Scotopia Festival gets its name from the word describing “the ability to see in dim light or darkness.” The festival illuminates stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

Submission Categories:
Applicants should only submit one submission per category.

Short Play Fest: A central feature of Scotopia, our Short Play Festival, offers playwrights the chance to workshop material and see their work fully produced by MoB Theatre. We welcome short (10 minute or less) play submissions that explore themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. While all plays with these themes will be considered, we are particularly excited by bold, genre-blending works with unique inspirations. We encourage material inspired by diverse theatre traditions and non-traditional forms such as commedia dell'arte, folk tales, kitchen sink realism, verse, ghost stories, magical realism, anime/manga, absurdism, and more!

Full-Length Plays (For Staged Reading): Scotopia is dedicated to developing new works through workshops and staged readings. We are seeking unproduced, full-length plays that engage with themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. Stories that illuminate real-life experiences and amplify overlooked or untold truths are especially encouraged. The chosen submissions will receive dramaturgical support, workshops and the culmination of this work will be a staged reading at the festival.

Self-Produced Performance Proposals: We welcome proposals for experimental or devised works that move beyond traditional script formats. While we will consider any play that addresses social issues, we are particularly interested in innovative forms such as solo performances, performance art, devised pieces, immersive theatre, and more. Projects suited for non-traditional spaces are encouraged but not required. Proposals are ideal for emerging artists looking to expand their audience base or explore opportunities for developing and touring their work. Selected artists should be “show ready” for the festival. Venues will be provided (with limited rehearsal time), but production support from MoB Theatre will be limited.

Producing Priorities: While plays of any subject and theme will be considered, MoB is looking for pieces which speak to the political climate and topical issues of the moment, as the purpose of the Scotopia Festival is to illuminate stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

We also encourage submissions which would be challenging to produce or are experimental, as we are focused on the process of developing plays, rather than fully recognizing every complicated aspect of production.

Submission Requirements: In the submission form (attached here and above), you will be asked to submit a blind copy of your play (without identifying information), along with a current resume/CV. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a panel. Additional submission elements will only be taken into consideration in the final round of evaluation.

Confirmation: Selected works will be announced in mid-December, around or before December 18th

Self Produced Logistics: We offer to cover all venue costs. Tickets will be divided between MoB Theatre and the partnering artist, but the ticket split percentage will vary depending on the venue rental cost.

We recognize and affirm each artist’s right to their own work. Submissions will be shared with a small internal panel, and files from submissions not accepted to the festival will be deleted.

While we are open to submissions from artists from everywhere and anywhere, we strongly encourage theatre-makers based in North Carolina and the Southeast to submit scripts and proposals. We encourage BIPOC artists and communities underrepresented in theatre to submit work to our festival.

We are primarily drawn to plays that are compatible with MoB’s mission and values, and feature roles suitable for our associates. However, we also welcome the opportunity to be challenged to cast roles outside of our acting pool and hire actors that are historically underrepresented in theatre.

About Mouths of Babes Theatre (MoB): MoB Theatre is a grassroots, ensemble-driven company based in Wilmington, NC. Known locally for productions such as Wilmington Reconstructed; Out, NC; and A Remarkable Fraternity, MoB specializes in documentary theatre and new work development, with a focus on collaborative theatre-making that centers community voices and lived experiences. We are committed to devising theatre projects that address the social, and Scotopia is one of the key events that drives our mission forward.

46 Minutes Collective Mixed Bag show

Website

Deadline: September 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT

Brooklyn NYC

SUBMISSION FORM

Mixed Bag is a variety show for first drafts. We provide artists working in a variety of mediums with a low-tech space and audiences to further develop their works. We hope this will be an opportunity to learn about your piece and discover the next steps in your process. 

What we are looking for: 

In-development work that has not yet premiered. One or two developmental readings or showings is okay, but we are looking for work in the earlier stages of development. 

Works in any medium: performance art, dance, theater, film, music, poetry, multi-media, interactive art, magic, mime, juggling, etc. (these can be excerpts of longer works).

Artists who are looking to investigate or discover something about their work.

Cast: Up to 10 performers

Length: Up to 15 minutes

We Can Offer:

A low-tech performance space at Brick Aux to share your work - 628 Metropolitan Ave Brooklyn

One, 20-minute spacing rehearsal/tech the hour before the show.

A Stage Manager to assist with the run of show.

Photos and video of your piece.

An audience of fellow artists and creatives to share in your developmental process with the option for feedback from the audience if that is helpful for your process.

Marketing through the 46 Minutes Instagram and mailing list. If selected, we will ask for additional marketing materials from you/your team.

Brick Aux space capabilities (basic sound system, clip lights, projector, tables and chairs) (learn more here).

A $100 stipend for your work and time.

What You Bring:

Collaborators and creative team.

Any desired props, costumes, lights, design elements, etc. beyond what exists in the Brick Aux space.

An understanding of what you need to present your own work at whatever stage it's at in your process.

An openness to the liminal space that is in-process work and a desire to discover what can be learned when presenting a rough draft.

Please Note: The artist is responsible for all rehearsal process needs. We are unable to provide any rehearsal space or financial assistance at this time. This is designed to be an in-process showing, so we encourage you to come as you are with whatever you have created at this point in time. 

Each artist may only submit one piece per Mixed Bag showing.

If you have any questions please reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com 

We at The 46 Minutes Collective are committed to making our programming accessible to all who wish to participate, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com with any ways we can support you.

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival seeks one-act and short plays

Website

Deadline: October 3, 2026

Deadline: September 26, 2026

New York NY

Send all required materials to: GeneFrankelTheatrePlayFestival@gmail.com
Subject line: Gene Frankel Theatre Festival – Title of Play

The Gene Frankel Theatre Festival is accepting submissions for its winter edition running from November 30 through December 20, 2026.

The applicants will need to produce the work — director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Eligible Work

• Short plays (maximum 15 minutes)
• One-act plays (up to 60 minutes)

All genres are considered, including drama, comedy, musicals, movement-based work, and experimental forms. Submitted work should be New York premieres. (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.) All work MUST be unpublished.

Each play should have 1 - 5 actors. No more than 5 actors will be permitted. Cast and crew should be non-union and 18 and older. The applicants will need to produce the work - director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Selection Criteria

Pieces will be selected based on artistic merit, originality, clarity of vision, and suitability for festival programming. The goal is to present a high-quality, varied lineup. Submission does not guarantee selection.

Playwrights, whose plays have been selected, will be contacted by September 29.

Submission Materials

Full script in PDF format

Brief synopsis

Character breakdown (Each play should have a maximum of 5 actors)

Indication of category: short play (up to 15 minutes) or one-act (up to 60 minutes)

Production history, if applicable

Please confirm this is a New York Premiere (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.)

Limit two submissions per applicant.

Optional: Playwright bio, director, cast, brief tech/staging notes, prior production photos or media (if available), and social media or website links may also be included to support your submission.

Participation Details

No submission fee. All participants must be available for all festival dates from November 30 through December 19. 

A $100 participation fee for short plays and a $150 participation fee for one act plays for selected works will apply.

Awards

Selected productions will be eligible for awards, including Best Play, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director. Awards will be given in both short play and one-act categories.

Festival Format
Each selected play will be presented in one of several curated blocks. Each block will run approximately 90 minutes (including intermission) and receive three performances during the three-week performance schedule. The Festival will conclude with a Gala event, on December 20, featuring guest performances and an awards ceremony.

The 29th Magazine seeks short plays for February 2027 issue

Website

Deadline: October 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We're drawn to writers and artists who came up on their own — no formal training, no mentors greasing the wheels, no built-in network. We'll never ask where you studied, or if you did.

We prioritize women, the queer community, the mentally ill, the chronically ill, and the neurodivergent. If you belong to any of these groups, we want to hear from you first.

Submission Guidelines

• Plays: Short plays, one act, intended to be read in a single sitting (Up to 20 pages - soft limit).
• Formatting: 12 pt Times New Roman or Courier. Single-spaced dialogue, with a line break between speeches. Character names in caps above their lines; stage directions in parentheses or italics. PDF/doc/docx formats.
• Please include your name, the piece's title, and page count on the first page.

Note: We don't store your personal data beyond your submission. We will only use your email to contact you about the status of your submission.

Free tickets - THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Daria Miyeko Marinelli’s This is Not Not a Drill

directed by Dominique Rider

Kicking off The Playwrights Realm’s 20th anniversary season, this interactive experience will take you deeper into the history of Downtown Manhattan, and then pull you into the current moment. 

What do you do in these five-alarm fire days? Every time you look there’s another news alert about something terrible. Your to-do list is overflowing, and you want to help but… how and what exactly can you do about it anyway?!? You know what, let’s take a walk.

GET TICKETS VIA THIS FORM

This is Not Not a Drill is an audio-guided walking tour of Downtown Manhattan’s rebellious past meets interactive resistance training. And by resistance training, we mean an offering to help you strengthen the muscles needed in this flood-the-zone semi-fascist mess. Explore the tactics used by this city’s past activists and practice a skill (aka a drill) to add to your tool belt in these very Not a Drill times. Lace up your sneakers, baby. This is a go.

To learn more about This is Not Not a Drill, or to buy tickets, visit our website.

A TICKET FOR EVERY BUDGET: Tickets are available at three different price levels:

Welcome, Regular, and Pay it Forward but all levels grant entry to the same experience. Please select the price level that best suits your budget.

For Parents & Caregivers: As part of the Realm’s Radical Parent-Inclusion project, qualifying attendees are offered reimbursements toward caregiving costs incurred by coming to this event.

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.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2026

The Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest invites playwrights to submit original works inspired by, connected to, or thematically centered on the history, architecture, culture, or personal stories associated with the Northern Michigan Asylum (also known as the Traverse City State Hospital). Works may be dramatic, comedic, historical, speculative, or musical in style, but all submissions must honor or explore the site in a meaningful way.

Contest is hosted by Old Town Playhouse (OTP), a community theater serving Traverse City, Michigan, and The Minervini Group LLC (TMG), redevelopers of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the original site of the Northern Michigan Asylum.

The contest opens January 19, 2026, and all submissions must be received by December 31, 2026.

Eligibility

• Open to writers of all experience levels.
• Writers must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Co-authored works are permitted.
• Submissions must be written in English.

Content Requirements

Subject Matter: The play must contain significant themes, settings, characters, or plot elements directly related to the Northern Michigan Asylum/Traverse City State Hospital.

Allowed Formats:

o One-act plays
o Two-act plays
o Musicals

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Length Guidelines:

o One-act: 20–60 minutes
o Two-act: 60–150 minutes
o Musicals: 45–180 minutes

• Originality: Only original, unpublished, and unproduced works are eligible.

Prohibition on AI-Generated Content

To preserve artistic integrity and honor the spirit of the competition:

• No portion of the script may be generated by artificial intelligence tools (including ChatGPT, other LLMs, AI story generators, or automated scriptwriting tools).

• Writers may not use AI to draft, plot, or produce dialogue or lyrics.

• AI-assisted proofreading (e.g., spelling/grammar checks) is permitted, but no AI content generation may be used at any stage.

• Entrants will be required to attest that all creative content is human-authored.

Submission Requirements

• Format:

o PDF file only
o Standard script formatting preferred (12-point font, standard margins)
o Include a title page with:

▪ Play title
▪ Author’s name
▪ Contact email
▪ Contact phone number
▪ Whether the play is one-act, two-act, or a musical
• Page Header: Include the play title and page numbers on each page.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines Page 2• Synopsis: Include a 150–300 word synopsis at the beginning (separate page).

• Character Breakdown: Provide a list of characters, including vocal ranges for musicals.

• Optional: A brief (100-word) playwright biography.

Submission Process

• Submissions open January 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM EST.

• All entries must be submitted by December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

• Submissions must be sent by email to contest@oldtownplayhouse.com either as a PDF attachment or unrestricted link to cloud storage.

• Each entrant may submit up to two plays.

Evaluation Criteria & Winning

Entries will be judged on:

• Quality of storytelling and dramatic structure

• Creative integration of Northern Michigan Asylum themes

• Originality and artistic vision

• Character development

• Stage feasibility

• Musical quality (for musicals)

One work will be chosen to be fully workshopped and produced in late 2027 or early 2028 by Old Town Playhouse. The performance will take place at Kirkbride Hall located in one of the original Northern Michigan Asylum buildings. [Note: A staged reading may be presented in lieu of a full production if material warrants such].

Judges panel will be comprised of two representatives from Old Town Playhouse, two representatives from The Minervini Group LLC and one outside representative designated by Old Town Playhouse to serve on the panel.

Winning playwright will be notified no later than February 28, 2027.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Rights and Permissions

• Playwrights retain all rights to their work.

• By entering the contest, playwrights grant the organizers permission to excerpt, read publicly, or stage readings for purposes of event promotion from the time the winning script is selected and announced until the closing performance of the OTP production produced in late 2027 or early 2028.

KNOW THEATRE 23RD ANNUAL PLAYWRIGHTS AND ARTISTS FESTIVAL seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

 

This submission must include 2 copies of your play in either word or PDF, one “blind” version without name but including which artwork you were inspired by and one with a full title page. If you could paste the painting onto the cover page that would be great. They must be submitted to playwrightsfestatknow@gmail.com. 

Please use the title of your work in the file name and whether it is the blind or named copy Sample file name: Title_ artwork _blind or Title_ artwork_ name. This makes it easier on the person coordinating the files and sending them on to the adjudicators. 

Each year we take three works of art and ask writers to fashion a play, and musicians to compose a piece as they are moved or inspired by the artwork. 

The play must be inspired by one of the works of art below.

We blind-read the submissions, select the best and produce them. The art is exhibited, we perform the plays on the KNOW Theatre stage and ask the audience for feedback. 

It is our annual mixed media event that draws inquisitive art and theatre lovers to KNOW. 

The prizes are awarded are: 

• The Edward Allan Baker Prize for Best of Festival ($300), 
• Artistic Merit ($200) and A
• Audience Favorite ($100). 

Each night from Friday through Sunday we will feature one artwork and the pieces associated with it.

The artwork will follow a refresher on the rules. 

• The play length needs to be between 15 - 20 minutes
• Cast size maximum, 4 characters. Set should be implied.

Plays submitted MUST be a complete play and must include a beginning, middle and an end and contain a conflict. Our judges will be adhering to strict parameters during the adjudication process.

Playwrights may only submit one play for the festival.

The playwright would need to attend at least one of the two weekend performances (which take place in November). In person is preferred but we have in the past Zoomed with playwrights. As our festival is starting to reach a greater number of people in wider locations, we feel that we must take this into consideration. We always hope our playwrights can attend in person and feel the energy and excitement of having their work performed onstage for the first time, but we understand that sometimes this is not logistically possible.

KNOW Theatre Facebook submission event page

The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers Fellowship 2027

Website

Deadline: September 25, 2026, 5 p.m. EDT. 

Applications cannot be accepted after this deadline.
Notification: March 2027
Award Period: September 7, 2027–May 26, 2028
Stipend: $90,000

Online registration required to submit

The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers supports projects that draw on the research collections of The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (formerly the Humanities and Social Sciences Library). The Center seeks top-quality writing from academics as well as from creative writers and independent scholars. Visual artists whose projects require extensive use of Library collections are also encouraged to apply. Visit www.nypl.org/research-collections for detailed information about the collections of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

The Library expects Fellows to work at the Cullman Center five days a week, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the Fellowship term, which runs from September through May. Successful candidates will need to work primarily at the Schwarzman Building rather than at other divisions of the Library. Applications from those working in languages other than English are welcome; however, the applicant must be conversant in English, and application materials must be in English. Fellowships will not be granted for academic projects to post-doctoral fellows or to applicants doing graduate-school dissertation research.

The Center seeks diversity in race, ethnicity, age, gender, field, and type of project. The Center aims to promote dynamic conversation about the humanities, social sciences, and scholarship at the highest level—within the Center, in public forums throughout the Library, and in the Fellows' published work.

In order to avoid real or apparent conflicts of interest, the Cullman Center does not accept applications from New York Public Library staff members or their partners, or from people active on the Library’s Board of Trustees, Board Advisory Committees, or Library Council.

Fellows may not accept other major professional obligations during the term. Fellows may have a few prior commitments but must limit research trips, attendance at scholarly meetings, and speaking engagements to short periods of time. Anyone who needs to be away for more than two days must notify the Center's Director or Deputy Director. The Library will pro-rate stipends for Fellows who spend excessive time away from the Center.

The Cullman Center will not accept dossier letters in place of new letters of recommendation.Completed applications and supporting materials—research proposal, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and creative writing sample or art work sample—must be submitted by September 25, 2026, 5 p.m. EDT.

The Cullman Center is made possible by a generous endowment from Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman in honor of Brooke Russell Astor, with major support provided by Mrs. John L. Weinberg, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Estate of Charles J. Liebman, The von der Heyden Family Foundation, John and Constance Birkelund, and The Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, and with additional gifts from Helen and Roger Alcaly, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Arts and Letters Foundation Inc., William W. Karatz, Merilee and Roy Bostock, and Cullman Center Fellows.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowship 2026

Website

Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET

The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program offers scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists a rare chance to pursue ambitious projects for a full academic year in a vibrant interdisciplinary setting amid the resources of Harvard University.

We welcome applications proposing innovative work that confronts pressing social, scientific, and policy issues and seeks to engage audiences beyond academia. Reflecting Radcliffe's unique history and institutional legacy, we welcome—but do not limit eligibility to—proposals that focus on women, gender, and society or draw on the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections.

We also invite proposals relevant to the Institute’s multiyear focus area, which for 2024–2029 is academic freedom and connecting across difference. Proposals should address intellectual virtues, free and open inquiry, and diversity of thought, as well as political polarization, inequality, religious pluralism, religion and public life, and other policy issues as they relate to institutions of higher education. Within this focus area, we also welcome proposals that constructively challenge disciplinary orthodoxies or advance new and potentially transformative perspectives or approaches.

In addition, we welcome proposals in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics directly impacted by federal research funding cuts.

Get Started

The application for 2027–2028 fellowship program is now available. Please visit our application portal to access the application.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for applications in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, and nonfiction and journalism is September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET.

The deadline for applications in science, engineering, and mathematics is October 1, 2026, at 5 PM ET.
How to Apply

To begin an application, you will need to register as a new user by creating a new account with your name, email address, and password. Once you have registered, you may log in to the Online Fellowship Application Portal and select an application area: Humanities and Social Sciences; Creative Arts; Nonfiction and Journalism; or Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Eligibility Criteria

We accept applications in a wide array of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and creative arts and applicants must meet discipline-specific eligibility criteria. This fellowship program is not intended to serve as a postdoctoral fellowship, and those currently enrolled in a degree program are ineligible to apply. We accept applications from individuals across career stages and do not require academics to have tenure to apply.

Former Harvard Radcliffe fellows (1999-present) are ineligible.

Application Materials

The fellowship application consists of an application form, curriculum vitae, 1,400-word project proposal (with bibliography when appropriate), a writing or work sample, and the contact information of three references who will be prompted over email to upload letters of recommendation in support of your application. All materials must be submitted via our online application portal.

Black Cat Theatre seeks full-length scripts

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

THEY ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Chicago, IL

Full-length scripts, ideally 75-100 minutes in length

aligned w/ BCT values, especially those:

• from queer playwrights
• telling queer stories
• playing with form and/or language

Playwrights from anywhere may submit, but this season we will be prioritizing submissions from Chicago-based writers. Playwrights may submit one script for this opportunity.

The Staged Reading+ process has typically comprised of 4 virtual table-work rehearsals, 4 in-person rehearsals, and 4 hours of tech. Depending on the needs of the individual script, this process could shift slightly. Ideally, the playwright will be able to attend all rehearsals. Performances will take place in Spring 2027 at The Edge Off-Broadway, on the set of Idle Muse Theatre Company's Spring production.

If you have any questions, please contact BCT's Literary Manager, Cori Lang, at literary@blackcattheatrechi.com

Utah Shakespeare Festival Words Cubed seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: when they receive 200 submissions
THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR LIMIT - DO NOT SEND

Our Mission

As part of an ongoing commitment to create a diverse body of work, Words Cubed, the new play program at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, nurtures and develops openly-submitted and commissioned-based new plays by providing a professional platform for readings, workshops, and fully realized productions.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Unproduced scripts ready for development. We are not looking for the ‘best’ play submitted, rather a great one that will benefit from our process.

We love big epic casts, but we’ve found the streamlined development process is best suited to smaller cast shows (6 actors or less). We are open to Shakespeare-adjacent works, however, we are interested in all genres. If you are submitting a Shakespeare-adjacent work, it must be able to stand on its own for audiences that don’t know the original.

Part of our selection process is how the two selected plays complement one another and the season of which they are a part (in this case, the 2027 season). Additionally, a play that is similar in theme or plot to recent Words Cubed selections is less likely to be chosen.

WHAT WILL WORDS CUBED DO FOR YOU?

Words Cubed and the Utah Shakespeare Festival will provide travel to Cedar City, Utah and offer a stipend, lodging, and tickets to our currently running shows. We will provide you with a cast, director, and stage manager, four days of concentrated script work (12 hours total), and four public readings with audience feedback.

WHAT WILL THE READING LOOK LIKE?

Words Cubed readings are simple in scope. This choice is both artistic, as the goal is to focus on the story and allow the playwright to hear it in front of an audience, and practical, as there is limited rehearsal time. We encourage teams to utilize stage directions to paint the fuller picture for the audience. These are “music stand readings”, so lines are not memorized. There are no design elements.

FINE PRINT

No fees. The only thing we require is a signed contract with the following agreement: After your play leaves our process, any subsequent production or workshop will contain the following language: “PLAY TITLE was developed, in part, through Words Cubed, Utah Shakespeare Festival’s new play development program.”

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION

You will be notified by July 1, 2027, whether or not your play was selected. 

FAQ

• You may only submit one play per year.
• If a script was submitted to Words Cubed in the past, it cannot be re-submitted. 
• We only accept unproduced plays.
• Straight plays only, please. Words Cubed is not designed to support a sufficient development process for musicals.
• We only accept updated script drafts if your play makes it to the finalist pool. We will notify you if you become a finalist.
• The two selected playwrights must be available for the Cedar City in-person workshop during the week of August 2 or 9, 2027.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to words3@bard.org.

Runway Theater seeks Vignettes for Valentines

Website

Deadline: September 25, 2026

Grapevine Texas

SUBMISSION FORM

Runway Theatre brings back a beloved tradition with Vignettes for Valentine's, an evening of original short plays celebrating love in all its forms. Selected works will be presented as part of a special Valentine's Day fundraiser on February 13, 2027, with both a matinee (3pm) and evening performance (7:30pm). Whether your story is funny, romantic, bittersweet, heartwarming, awkward, or completely unexpected, we want to read it! Submitted plays should explore themes related to:

• Love
• Relationships
• Romance
• Friendship
• Heartbreak
• Family connections
• Dating
• Marriage
• Second chances
• The many ways people connect with one another

Writers are encouraged to think creatively. Not every story must be a traditional romance. Authors retain ownership of their work. By submitting, playwrights grant Runway Theatre permission to produce
the piece as part of Vignettes for Valentine's should it be selected.

The submission deadline is September 25, 2026, and authors will be notified of their acceptance status in November.

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.

Propsect Musical Theater Lab seeks writers for annual musical theater developmental program

Website

Deadline: September 10, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Since 2008, Prospect has offered an annual musical theater developmental program which brings together 8-10 teams of writers, challenging them to create short (10 minute) musicals in response to a curated assignment. The Musical Theater Lab is a high-impact generative opportunity for writers that serves a broad network of artists, providing a platform to share work, create in community, and build professional relationships. In Fall 2026, we celebrate the 20th lab cycle!

From the start of the lab process, writers have one month to write the first draft of their piece. During this month, they meet with Prospect's Associate Artistic Director, Dev Bondarin, and fellow lab writers to discuss their project and the culminating lab performance. This is followed by a two-week process during which each piece is developed and rehearsed with a cast. The short pieces are presented in a culminating concert performance for the general public.

What is Prospect's Musical Theater Lab?

• Monday, September 28: First group meeting of writers in evening (please hold this evening open.)
• Friday, October 2: Show concept pitches due.
• Wednesday, October 7: Cast breakdown due.
• Monday, October 12: Second group meeting of writers in evening (please hold this evening open)
• Thursday, October 15: Libretto first draft due 
• Between Thursday, October 15–Thursday October 23: Individual writer team meetings with director to be scheduled
• Monday Oct 26: Completed rehearsal drafts of script and score due
• Between Wednesday October 28–Wednesday November 11: Rehearsals for each piece scheduled during this period
• Thursday, November 12: Afternoon technical rehearsal & sound check at Symphony Space, 7:30pm performance

COMPLETE LAB TIMELINE:

Lab participants are selected through an open application process. A panel of Prospect's artistic staff members review each application. Applications are open now through Thursday, September 10 at 11:59pm.

Selected Lab writers will be invited to pitch three show concepts. With curatorial input, writing teams will select one of these ideas to develop into an 8-10 minute long musical. The short, new works will be written between September 28 and October 26, workshopped and rehearsed between October 28 and November 11, and presented as a single evening's concert which will take place at Symphony Space on Thursday, November 12. The culminating Lab presentation will be directed by Dev Bondarin, Prospect's Associate Artistic Director.

​How It Works

THE FINE PRINT

• Writers receive a modest honorarium for their participation in the Lab
• Writers retain all copyright/ownership of their work
• Writers may only be part of one lab application
• Writers who have previously participated in the Lab are welcome to re-apply, but not in the cycle immediately following their participation. (Ie: Writers may not participate in two back to back Labs, they must take one year off before re-applying.)

The culminating concert presentation will be performed by a versatile and diverse cast of actor-singers, drawn from Prospect’s network of alumni performers and other recommendations. 

For the Fall 2026 Lab, cast size will be targeted to 1-4 principal performers for each piece. Actors will be shared amongst the projects and appear in two different 10-minute pieces. Additionally, there will be a large chorus of voices available to be shared across the projects, through a special partnership with musical theater students at Manhattan School of Music. Writers are encouraged to attend rehearsals, which take place over a two week period at studio locations in Manhattan. The rehearsals will be a combination of day and evening time slots based on availability schedules submitted by the writing teams.​

The Logistics

Prospect's Musical Theater Lab intentionally operates on a compact timeline and incorporates random, playful elements in order to encourage writers to make bold and in-the-moment choices in their creative process. We invite writers to be as fully engaged with the Lab process as possible. As a first step, please review the timeline to confirm your team’s availability for this project. If you or your collaborators will be unavailable for much of the planned process, it is best to wait for a future cycle to apply. Teams will be notified of the application process outcome by Mon 9/21/26.

This fall, Prospect is celebrating the 20th Cycle of our musical theater lab. We've connected with more than two-hundred emerging writers through the lab... who have generated as many new short musicals featuring the talents of many more hundreds of performers, which have been experienced by thousands of audience members! It's an expansive community.

This year's theme centers storytelling through the use of many voices. Lab participants will be invited to explore how the concept of a "chorus" or ensemble of voices can be used dramatically. In each short musical, this year's writing cohort will be challenged to incorporate the use of a chorus (8 or more voices) in a compelling dramatic context, alongside a core of principal cast members. Whether evoking an ancient Greek chorus, an anthropomorphic concept, a philosophical abstract, or a group of many humans changing the tide of history -- we are excited to see how this creative assignment comes to life on Thursday, November 12, at Symphony Space!

We strive to keep our open application process simple and efficient with a quick turnaround.

Please submit the name, role (composer, lyricist, bookwriter) and a brief bio / info for each member of the writing team.

Writers should apply with their intended collaborator(s). Individual "team of one" writers who wear multiple hats may also apply. New collaborative teams may also apply. (Prospect doesn't create teams or pair writers.) Also, writers may only be part of one application.

Writers are asked to include links to 3 sample songs (either mp3s or videos are acceptable) along with a brief scene sample. Work samples that are representative of the collaborative team applying are best. If the application marks a new collaboration, please be clear in describing the relevance of each sample to the application.

Apricity Magazine open for short play submissions

Website

Deadline: January 4, 2027 at 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

We accept submissions from the performing arts, including but not limited to original music, short film, short play, and dance. Scores, scripts, and screenplays count although live versions are encouraged. Please upload or include a link (of a Youtube video, a webpage, or a Google Drive file) to your submission as well as a brief description of your piece and how you arranged your performance. The maximum time allotted for videos is 15 minutes each. Simultaneous submissions are permitted. 

We welcome comprehensive use of English and other languages. If your piece contains non-English languages, please include an English translation. Though we are an international magazine, our staff’s common language is English.

Before you submit, please note the following:

NOTIFICATION: You may expect notification of your acceptance or rejection within three months of submitting your piece. As our staff is composed entirely of university students, however, we do not operate from the end of May through the end of August. Any pieces submitted in April and May may not receive a response until August. 

 NON-PROFIT: We are a non-profit student organization. We intend to direct all net proceeds towards publication improvement and charitable donations focused on education.

FEES: There is no submissions fee, nor is there any payment for publishing your work (currently). However, should you be published in the print publication, you will receive a free contributor’s copy. If you are published online and would like to receive a print edition, you will receive a 60% discount.

UMBRELLAS FOR FISH seeks one-minute plays

Website

Deadline: October 2, 2026

Submission email:  ufjournal@aol.com

HOW TO SUBMIT

1. Prepare your manuscript according to the guidelines above.

2. Include a 50–100 word third-person author bio.

3. In the body of your email, include:

Your full name
Title of the play
Country of residence
The subtheme your play most closely relates to
A brief 1–3 sentence description of the play

4. Attach your manuscript as a DOC, DOCX or PDF file.

5. Name your file:

YOURNAME.docx

6. Send your submission to:

ufjournal@aol.com

SUBJECT LINE FORMAT

ONE-MINUTE PLAY — [TITLE] — [AUTHOR'S NAME]

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submit original work only.
Submit manuscripts in DOC, DOCX or PDF format only.
Use a readable 12-point font.
Number all pages.
Include a title page with the title of the play and author's name.
Scripts should follow standard dramatic formatting where appropriate.
Include a third-person author bio of 50–100 words at the end of the manuscript.
Multiple submissions are welcome (in a single email).
Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Please submit only work for which you hold the necessary rights.

UMBRELLAS FOR FISH
An International Journal of Absurd & Existential Drama

Umbrellas for Fish is pleased to announce a special international anthology of Absurd and Existential One-Minute Plays: ONE MINUTE BEFORE NOTHING HAPPENS

What can happen in one minute?

• A lifetime can end.
• A universe can begin.
• Someone can forget why they entered a room.
• A chair can refuse to be sat upon.
• Two strangers can wait for something that never arrives.
• A person can discover the meaning of life—just in time to forget it.
• Or, perhaps, nothing happens.

We are seeking original one-minute plays that explore the strange, comic, unsettling, irrational, and deeply human experience of existence.

This anthology celebrates the extraordinary possibilities of theatrical brevity. We invite playwrights to create worlds in miniature—moments of revelation, confusion, silence, contradiction, catastrophe, comedy, and cosmic indifference.

Your play has approximately one minute.

What will happen before nothing does?

THEME & SUBTHEMES

All submitted plays should engage broadly with absurdist, existential, surreal, experimental, or philosophically unsettling theatre.

Writers may interpret the following themes freely and imaginatively.

1. Waiting for Something That Never Arrives
Characters wait—for a person, an answer, a bus, God, death, an announcement, or something they cannot name.

2. The Meaning of Life Is Temporarily Unavailable
A search for meaning meets bureaucracy, confusion, technical difficulties, silence, or an unexpected customer-service representative.

3. One Minute Until the End of the World
The apocalypse is imminent—or perhaps it has already happened, and nobody noticed.

4. Conversations with the Universe
The universe may finally respond. Unfortunately, it may have misunderstood the question.

5. Time Has Stopped, but Everyone Is Late
Clocks malfunction, time repeats, yesterday returns, or characters remain trapped inside a moment.

6. Nobody Remembers Why We Are Here
Identity, memory, purpose, and location dissolve into increasingly uncertain explanations.

7. Instructions for Existing
Characters receive rules for life, consciousness, happiness, breathing, or being human—but the instructions may be incomplete.

8. The Last Ordinary Thing
A familiar object, habit, conversation, or everyday action becomes suddenly strange, impossible, or profoundly significant.

9. Silence Has Something to Say
What happens when silence becomes a character—or when words become less trustworthy than what remains unspoken?

10. The Wrong Person Has Been Chosen to Exist
A bureaucratic, cosmic, or administrative error has occurred. Someone may have been given existence by mistake.

11. Exit Signs Point in Different Directions
Characters attempt to escape a room, a relationship, a memory, a role, a system, or existence itself.

12. Everything Is Fine, Except for Everything
Ordinary life continues despite an unnamed catastrophe, an impossible situation, or the slow collapse of reality.

13. A Small Eternity
One minute becomes endless. A brief moment expands into repetition, memory, regret, anticipation, or infinity.

14. The Things We Cannot Explain
Something impossible happens, and everyone attempts to explain it—making the situation increasingly incomprehensible.

15. One Minute Before Nothing Happens

• The central theme of the anthology.
• Something is about to happen.
• Or perhaps something has already happened.
• Or perhaps nothing is happening at all.
• The characters may be waiting for a beginning, an ending, a revelation, a disaster, or a moment that never arrives.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We seek original one-minute plays that are:Absurd, existential, surreal, experimental, or darkly comic
• Theatrically imaginative and stageable
• Concise but emotionally, intellectually, or philosophically resonant
• Bold in form, structure, voice, or theatrical logic
• Strange for a reason—not merely random
• Open to ambiguity, contradiction, uncertainty, and unanswered questions
• Memorable enough to leave an impression long after sixty seconds have passed

We welcome:Monologues

• Dialogues
• Ensemble pieces
• Experimental dramatic fragments
• Non-linear theatre
• Surreal theatrical situations
• Dark comedy
• Minimalist drama
• Meta-theatre
• Unconventional forms of dramatic writing

We are particularly interested in plays that take creative risks and demonstrate a strong sense of theatrical possibility.

SUBMISSION LENGTH
Each play should be designed to be performed in approximately one minute.

Maximum Length: 2 pages

There is no minimum or maximum number of characters.
A play may contain dialogue, silence, movement, stage directions, or any combination of theatrical elements.

Response Time
Approximately 1–2 weeks

Publication Date
OCTOBER 15, 2026

FEE
There is no reading fee, submission fee, or publication fee.


RIGHTS

If a work is selected for publication, the playwright retains all intellectual property, copyright, and performance rights to the work.

By accepting publication in ONE MINUTE BEFORE NOTHING HAPPENS: A Special International Anthology of Absurd & Existential One-Minute Plays, the author grants Umbrellas for Fish non-exclusive permission to publish the work as part of the anthology.

All rights remain with the author following publication. Authors remain free to reproduce, perform, publish, or republish their work elsewhere, provided that first publication in ONE MINUTE BEFORE NOTHING HAPPENS is acknowledged where appropriate.


PAYMENT

• Umbrellas for Fish is currently a non-paying market.
• As an independent literary journal and publishing initiative operating without grants, institutional funding, or regular donations, we are presently unable to offer royalties, honoraria, or other forms of monetary compensation to contributors.
• Authors whose work is selected for publication will receive publication credit and international exposure through the anthology.

EDITORIAL VISION

Umbrellas for Fish is devoted to theatre that embraces uncertainty.
We believe that theatre does not always need to provide answers.
Sometimes a question is enough.
Sometimes a contradiction is enough.
Sometimes a person standing in an empty room, holding an umbrella over a fish, is enough.

With ONE MINUTE BEFORE NOTHING HAPPENS, we want to explore what theatre can accomplish in the smallest possible spaces.

A minute can contain:
A beginning.
An ending.
A joke.
A catastrophe.
A confession.
A silence.
A universe.
Or nothing at all.

We welcome playwrights from all countries, backgrounds, and stages of their careers. We are especially interested in amplifying voices and theatrical perspectives that have been underrepresented in the dramatic canon.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
OR DON'T.

ONE MINUTE BEFORE NOTHING HAPPENS

A Special International Anthology of Absurd & Existential One-Minute Plays

PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2026

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.

Madlab Theatre Roulette 2027 seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Or until they receive 500 submissions

Email all submissions to andyb@madlab.net.

Scripts should be 5-20 minutes in length.

Include a short synopsis and production history in the body of the email.

If you are an Ohio playwright, please put "Theatre Roulette Submission - Ohio" in the subject line.
If you are a Columbus college student playwright, please put "Theatre Roulette Submission - College" in your subject line.

All other playwrights, please put "Theatre Roulette Submission" in the subject line.Scripts must be in .pdf or .docx format.There is a limit of 2 submissions per playwright.

MadLab Theatre is seeking short play submissions for the 28th annual Theatre Roulette festival.
Theatre Roulette has 3 separate nights of plays. One night will be reserved for Ohio based playwrights. One night will be reserved for Columbus based college playwrights. And the third night will be reserved for anyone and everyone else.

Submission deadline is November 1, 2026 or until we reach our 500 submission cap.

The production will take place from March 18-April 3 of 2027.

All playwrights will be notified of our decisions no later than December 1st, 2026.

The Soliloquist Journal seeks soliloquies

Website

Deadline: October 20, 2026

Where to send: Email your work as a single Word or PDF document to thesoliloquistmag@gmail.com. 
Subject Line: Fall 2026 Submission – [Your Name] 

"Share Your Soliloquy"

For our Fall 2026 Issue, The Soliloquist Journal invites poets and writers to dissect the mechanics of memory loss— chosen and unchosen. What do you let go of on purpose? What slips away against your will? What do you misremember, and why does the misremembering feel like its own kind of truth?

We are looking for raw, vulnerable, and authentic poetry and soliloquies that trace the edges of what has been lost, blurred, or deliberately buried.

SUBTHEMES:

Selective Erasure — The things we choose to forget on purpose: a face, a
betrayal, a version of ourselves we've outgrown.

Phantom Memory — The ache of a memory that lingers after the thing
itself is gone—like sensation in a missing limb.

The Unreliable Archive — Misremembering as its own act of creation: when
the story we tell replaces the thing that actually happened.

Inherited Forgetting — Family silences, generational gaps, and the things
left unspoken until they simply cease to exist.

The Slow Fade — The involuntary kind of forgetting: aging, illness,
distance, and the quiet grief of watching a memory dissolve in real time.