The annual McLaren Memorial Comedy 2026 Festival

Website

Deadline: March 12, 2026

Please send submissions to AChris@mctmidland.org

Midland Community Theatre (Midland,TX) invites playwrights to submit a 30 to 40-minute one-act, or a cutting by the playwright of the same length for the McLaren Memorial Comedy Festival 2026. Submissionsshould gravitate toward the inherently comedic.  

Our selection committee will choose three finalists to be performed at the festival in a reader-style performance in our main proscenium theater.

With permission, each play will be filmed for archival purposes for the playwrights' portfolio. Each play will receive a 15-minute moderated talk back following the performance, in which playwrights are welcome to submit questions for actors and audience, and the audience is encouraged to ask questions of the actors/directors/present playwrights.

All submissions should be sent to: achris@mctmidland.org

Submission requirements:

• Seeking plays that are mostly comedic in nature
• Seeking works that have yet to be published
• Script length –
• Approximately 40 minutes
• Scripts that exceed 50-minutes will be disqualified
• Playwrights may send a 40-minute excerpt of a
• longer play, if desired

TYPE! Open for short plays

Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMISSION FORM

Thank you for considering sharing your work. TYPE! is free to read — we cannot pay for submissions or chosen work, but we will work with authors to promote the piece and their other writing. We also require written confirmation that submissions are original work.

Please note – due to the high number of submissions we receive we will only respond to those we wish to publish, however we do read EVERY submission. Submission also carries no guarantee of inclusion or feedback. Read this to find out what happens when you submit.

Seeking  Micro-plays - 1-2 pages long

Please send in your writing via the submission form.

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace video excerpt

GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace was chosen as the winning selection for the NYCPlaywrights BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project. 

You can learn more about Kenndall Wallace and her work at New Play Exchange and on her Instagram.

The selected excerpt, performed by Linda Obasi.

Linda Obasi is an actor born in Nigeria and raised in the United States. Her acting credits include theatre, film and voice over projects such as Waking Kya, Uniform Justice, The Breakpoint, Overseas and The Fufu Diet. She studied acting at The Theatre School at DePaul as well as Western classical music at DePaul and Cornell Universities. Linda appreciates the privilege of collaborating with artists across cultures to bring life to stories that entertain, inspire and enlighten. 

Full credits at LindaObasi.com and IMDb.

Bread & Wine 2nd Annual Christmas Short Play Competition

Website

Deadline: April 10, 2026

Or when 120 scripts have been submitted

Email scripts to breadandwinetheatreco@gmail.com

• Seeking scripts between 1 & 13 pages (3-25min runtime) 
• Can be Performed in the Round with no minimal set & 1 to 5 actors 
• Some relationship to Christmas or Christmas Themes 
• Aligns with Bread & Wine's Mission of promoting the Beauty of a Virtuous Life. We hope our audiences come away from every show having fallen in love with something good 
• Original Plays Only (no previous productions) 

Submissions open Feb 1st close Apr 10th or on the 120th submission
Finalists will be selected for a Zoom table read the weekend of May 16th/17th. They will then have until June 7th to resubmit a revised version to the panelists. 

1-3 winners will be chosen, compensated, and performed as part of Bread & Wine's Christmas Short Play Festival 

1 script limit per playwright. Note finalists may be asked to make certain revisions to make plays suitable for Bread & Wine's audience, 

Babes with Blades Joining Sword & Pen 2026-27 Competition

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2026 at midnight CDT

Please email your JS&P pitch submission in a PDF file to swordandpen@babeswithblades.org. 

(The filename must start with “Pitch for -” and the title of the proposed play (ex. “Pitch for – Patchwork Drifter.pdf”). If the title of the play begins with “the,” “a,” or “an,” please place that article at the end of the title (ex. “Pitch for – Last Daughter of Oedipus, The.pdf”). We understand in many cases these will be working titles.)

For this round of the competition, we’re looking for submissions from playwrights of underrepresented genders. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and those who are otherwise marginalized based on gender.

Inspirational Image for JS&P 2026-2027 Competition:

We’ve chosen a new inspirational image to be incorporated into the 2026-27 contest and this year we’re seeking commissions and asking for script pitches.

IMPORTANT: This will be a BLIND SUBMISSION PROCESS.

THE PITCH:

• Please send us a pitch for your script. Full length scripts will not be accepted this year.
• Please include the following in your pitch:What is your idea for this play?
• How will you incorporate the contest image into the play specifically?
• How does your idea fit Babes’ mission?
• A 10 page sample of a currently existing play (not previously submitted to BWBTC) that you think best showcases your work and style*. Please do not include any self identifying information (ie. Name, email, website, etc.) as this is a blind submission process.

*If you would like to submit some actual exploratory/rough draft pages of the moment where the contest image occurs, rather than describing it, you may do so, but it is not required to write new pages at this point of the contest.

Script submissions for JS&P accepted between March 2, 2026 and May 1, 2026.
Want more info? Contact swordandpen@babeswithblades.org.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. The moment depicted in the inspirational image (above) must be physically dramatized/incorporated into the play. We want to (literally) perform that moment on stage. We will not accept pitches that do not include the imagery and we will not contact you.

2. Pitches/stories must be inclusive of the BIPOC community. Whether the story lends itself to characters being played by actors of any race/ethnicity or whether it includes stories that are race-specific, BIPOC characters must not be limited to secondary or background characters. “Open gender” is an option. If it’s important that a character is cisgender or transgender, please specify this in your pitch. If it’s important that a character is of a particular racial/ethnic background (including white), please specify this in your pitch. Characters of unspecified racial/ethnic background will not be automatically assumed to be white. If you choose to include a list of potential characters in your pitch, please follow these guidelines.

3. Joining Sword & Pen (JS&P) submissions are due NO LATER than midnight (CST) on May 1st, 2026.

4. All JS&P pitch submissions must be for new, full length, original works, inspired by the artwork that is the focus of the contest. Previously written, workshopped, published or performed submissions will not be considered for the contest and we will not contact you. Please do not insert the contest image into an existing script.

5. Please email your JS&P pitch submission in a PDF file to swordandpen@babeswithblades.org. The filename must start with “Pitch for -” and the title of the proposed play (ex. “Pitch for – Patchwork Drifter.pdf”). If the title of the play begins with “the,” “a,” or “an,” please place that article at the end of the title (ex. “Pitch for – Last Daughter of Oedipus, The.pdf”). We understand in many cases these will be working titles.

6. The winner of the contest agrees to participation in the Fighting Words new plays program (workshops and festival reading – dates TBD), and grants Babes With Blades Theatre Company rights to produce the world premiere production of the winning play. Production dates are TBD for 2028 (subject to change).

Things to consider:

• Our mission statement: Babes With Blades Theatre Company uses stage combat to tell stories that elevate the voices of underrepresented communities and dismantle the patriarchy. Through performance, script development, training and outreach, our ensemble creates theatre that explores the wide range of the human experience, and cultivates broader perspectives in the arts community and in society as a whole.
• We do not accept or produce musical scripts.
• Both our venues and our budgets tend to be small.
• If your play does not pass the Bechdel Test, it is unlikely to fit our mission.
• If your play does not include stage combat, it does not fit our mission.
• Characters fight as a realization of high narrative stakes. Scenes of characters training to fight are usually lacking in stakes.
• If your script includes sexualized violence, consider whether the sexualization is truly necessary to the story. Sometimes it is; often it’s not.

Click here to learn more about Joining Sword & Pen

Black Girlz Productions Call for Submissions: Love Letters to Black Women

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Submission Method: Email entries to blackgirlzproductions@gmail.com.

Theme: Love Letters to Black Women

This call celebrates the beauty, strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women everywhere. Writers, poets, and creatives are invited to submit heartfelt love letters that honor, uplift, and affirm Black women in all their forms—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, lovers, leaders, and dreamers.

*Letters will be read at our virtual event. Small honorarium for selected writers and readers*

Format: Letters, poems, monologues, short prose (no word count)
Tone: Authentic, loving, and empowering.
Eligibility: Open to everyone.
Submission Limit: 2

Follow us on twitter and Instagram @blkgirlz12
www.blackgirlzproductions.com

Gi60 NYC & Gi60 Houston: Call for Play Submissions 2026

Instagram

Deadline: May 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

• Submissions must not last longer than 60 seconds
• Your submission needs your name, play title, geographic location, and contact information in the document as well as filled out in this form
• You may submit as many one minute plays as you wish, but only one submission per form entry
• All work must be totally original and the author's own work
• Plays should not have been previously produced
• Please do not submit plays that have been submitted to Gi60 prior to 2026 for consideration
• Entries from schools should include a teacher's contact and the school name, as well as that of the author
• For consideration in Gi60 Houston and Gi60 NYC, plays must be submitted by May 1, 2026

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• There is no submission fee, prize or payment for Gi60 participation
• Copyright remains with the author
• Plays lasting longer than 60 seconds may not be considered
• The organizers may use individual plays to promote the Gi60 festival
• Final play selection will be announced on the Gi60 city websites and social media
• Gi60 NYC is staffed and created by professionals who are volunteers and give their time free of charge
• The organizers reserve the right to cut scripts without notification where necessary. (E.g. if a play is running significantly longer than 60 seconds, we may delete some small lines if their intention is communicated elsewhere in the script)
• Gi60 festivals may be recorded and made available for viewing on the Gi60 International YouTube Channel. To view past plays: Gi60 Channel YouTube or the Gi60 International Channel YouTube.
• Gi60 is a Screaming Media Production (c) 2004
• PLEASE NOTE: We annually receive between 700-900 submissions. Due to the high volume of plays we receive each year we are unable to write to individual playwrights to notify them if their play has not been selected. 

We look forward to reading your play!
--Gi60 NYC & Gi60 Houston

Nomad Theatre seeks 6-10 short plays set in a bar

Website

Deadline: April 27, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Nomad Theatre seeks 6-10 short plays to be a part of our upcoming show in August 2026. Submissions will open on March 2nd and closes on April 27th, 2026, at midnight. Selected playwrights will receive notification by June 30th. If you have not received notification from us by that date, we did not choose you for the production.

Nomad Theatre returns to its roots with the Bar Plays.

A bar is a special kind of crossroads...a place where strangers become confidants, where regulars guard their favorite stools, where celebrations and heartbreaks unfold under the same low light. It’s a sanctuary, a confessional, a stage for small truths and big revelations.

Pull up a chair and take a glimpse into the lives of characters navigating conversations, secrets, and emotions within the intimate confines of a local watering hole. Belly up to the bar for an evening of short plays that all take place in “The Bar”, where anything can happen, and often does.
Selected plays must take place in a bar. We encourage you to use the space creatively. They must be unpublished and unproduced at the time of submission.

This call is open to all playwrights worldwide. Selected playwrights receive a $25 honorarium, full production of their show and a ticket to attend. We encourage anyone to submit, even if you’ve never written a play. 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:

• How well it meets the theme of the Bar
• Overall writing quality (Plot - we like different or quirky, weird, out-of-the-box theatre; Character Development; Dialogue)
• Suitability for our actors and space - low tech, 1-4 characters, flexible castingSubmission 

Guidelines:

• One submission per playwright
• A running time of 10-12 minutes long, or roughly 8-15 pages
• A cover page should include the title, the playwright’s name, contact information, a brief synopsis, and character descriptions.
• Pages should be numbered.
• Minimum of 1, maximum of 4 actors (characters may be double cast)
• Label your document as TITLE OF PLAY_LastName
• Must take place in a bar.
• 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

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.

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.

There’s something for everyone at The Playwrights Group!

  

Script Consultations

If have a script you want feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

Richard Caliban has worked with individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

Online One-on-One Courses 

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

• The Art of Playwriting
• Write a Play in 10 Weeks
• 3 Hour Short Course

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience.

The Weekly Workshop 

Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end. You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit).

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EST

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates:

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Contact us at

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com

Think Tank TYA Playwrights Festival 2026

Website

Deadline: March 4, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

In this sixth season of our TYA Playwrights Festival, ThinkTank seeks to provide a platform for forward-thinking and innovative work for Young People and Family Audiences. ThinkTank believes young people and family audience material should reflect the world our young people currently experience and, as such, we do not shy away from mature topics, subject matter, and language. Please feel free to submit plays that might fit this genre. 

Play Content: Plays that represent a variety of human experiences and characters of a younger experience (to be played by actors aged 14-18) will be given special consideration. Alongside our collaboration with the Tampa JCC’s and Federation, special consideration will also be given to plays that represent Jewish life and culture in a modern day setting. We are not currently accepting submissions of musicals at the festival this year.

How to Submit:

Please submit your play via this form to be considered for our 2026 Play Festival by Wednesday, March 4, 2026. This year we're choosing to bypass the NPX tagging system as, in the past, it has recommended TYA works that haven't aligned with the needs of our festival. We recognize the additional step required here to submit and we appreciate you taking the time to share your work with us as a potential component of our TYA PlayFest.

For Round One, please submit the full-length draft of your play as a pdf. .

Plays should have had no prior Florida Professional Productions. (If the play has had a workshop production, please include this information on your form, as well as information about the company, # of performances, and contact information, if applicable.)

Playwrights moved into Round Two for TYA Festival Showcase will be contacted around March 15th . All Playwrights will be contacted by May 1, 2026 regarding their submission.

Dallas College Mountain View Campus Theatre Department seeks 10-minute plays

 Instagram

Deadline: April 5, 2026

Please send all submissions to amyjackson@dcccd.edu

Questions? Email or text/call my 214-908-4082.

The Dallas College Mountain View Campus Theatre Department is looking for ten-minute plays to produce for the tenth annual ROD WILSON 24-HOUR TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL, May 29-30, 2026

Student and/or local actors along with MVC alumni will join professional DFW directors for twenty-four hours to present a Saturday evening, May 30 @ 7 pm performance. Six or seven staged ten-minute plays will be followed by an audience/actor/director/playwright talk back. There is no limit on how many plays you can submit, no theme for the festival-just keep in mind that many of the actors are teens and twenty-somethings!

PlayZoomers Seeks 10-20-minute Scripts for Online Production

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2026 

PlayZoomers, a live, online theatre company, seeks short (10-20 min.) scripts for online production in 2026 and 2027. We seek humorous or serious, clever plays on the following themes:

• Imperfect love
• Winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve/Day)
• Comedies (any subject)
• Theatre

Scripts should be suitable for online production. No script submission fee is required. If we produce your play, you will receive a small stipend. Scripts can include up to six characters. 

Please email scripts (PDFs only) to playzoomers@gmail.com. In the email’s subject line, put “(Theme) play submission: [title of play] by [playwright].” If you are submitting multiple scripts, send each one in a separate email. Please do not submit a script you have previously submitted to us. 

On the first page of your script, include the title, playwright name, estimated run time (no longer than 20 minutes), and contact information. On the next page, include a logline/synopsis, a detailed character breakdown, production history, and a short playwright bio. At the end of the script, describe production details, such as backgrounds, costumes, props, music, and sound effects. For additional script formatting guidance, go to https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats 

The deadline for this round of submissions is April 30, 2026. As we read through scripts, we will acknowledge your submission and reach out to you only if your script is selected for production. 

With 147+ professionally produced plays since 2020 - involving hundreds of playwrights, directors, designers, and actors - PlayZoomers is a national online theatre company and an international theatre community. 

We feature plays of different genres and lengths, work closely with playwrights to adapt their work to a digital platform, and welcome theatre artists and audience members of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. 

Black Men Talk Festival 2026 seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT

SUBMISSION FORM

The 10-minute play festival will be a celebration of the voices, stories, and perspectives of Black male playwrights and showcase the works of new and emerging Black male playwrights telling authentic stories of the Black experience.

The Black Men Talk Play Festival, the first of its kind, aims to honor the contributions of Black male playwrights - initiated by a Chicago-based Black playwright. The event will host three performances in Chicago in July 2026.

• Script submitted must be the final version in proper play format.
• Playwrights must submit plays that run from 8-10 minutes or 8-10 pages. Your cover page should have: title of play, your name, email address, and phone number.
• Plays should feature two to four actors.
• Scripts should be written with minimal set and costume requirements.
• One entry per person (if more than one play is submitted, we will review the first play submitted).
• Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a professional. production.
• Plays must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
• No musicals, screenplays, or monologues will be selected for this festival.
• Your submission should be your own work. 

Crowname seeks submissions for Issue #8

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Please email crownamestudios@gmail.com to submit.

Please submit writing and art you feel represents a topic, item, people, etc. that is often overlooked, censored, or pushed into the footnotes. 

Examples: disability, LBGTQIA+, homelessness, women’s rights, underserved and neglected communities, etc. If you are part of any of these communities, you are strongly urged to submit!

Guidelines (Please Read)

Please note that at this time we cannot offer payment for publication. We hope this changes in the future, but until then, publication in Crow Name is unpaid. Contributors will always, however, receive a high-quality PDF of our magazine for their own printing/admiring/saving pleasure.

We are committed to a safe and positive environment for our community. This means that we do not tolerate racist, sexist, bigoted, antisemitic, homo/trans/bi/queer/acephobic, Hinduphobic, Islamaphobic, ableist, violent, or otherwise hateful or discriminatory pieces and practices. Please note that we will not tolerate anyone who submits anything of this nature, and our no-tolerance policy extends to any hateful and/or unsafe practices not listed.

We are also committed to making sure people of all different backgrounds and abilities are able to enjoy our site. We encourage people from all different backgrounds to submit.

We will NOT accept anything created with or with help from artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT or any other generative AI model. Any author or artist found to have used AI in the creation of their submitted piece will be rejected and banned from submitting to Crow Name in the future, and your name may be shared with other literary magazines and publications, who may make their own determinations on whether or not to accept submissions from you. Your submission constitutes an unwritten agreement that your piece was not created wholly or in part by any generative AI software.

We are accepting submissions from December 19th to March 1st, and submissions will be considered based upon the current theme listed above. If we have already announced our decisions for the current theme, please re-submit if you would like to be considered for the next one. Please feel free to re-submit and withdraw.

We also accept previously published pieces so long that you, the writer/artist/maker, have full legal rights to the piece. 

Do:

• Submit via Microsoft Word or PDF. 
• Submit funky, fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, poetry, script, comics, podcasts/audio essays, nonfiction, eccentric, playful formatting, art, short film, animation, and anything weird and cool.
• Submit excerpts.
• Submit 1-5 pieces at a time, up to 20 pages total. 
• Submit to other magazines, papers, and journals simultaneously (but tell us if you’ve been accepted elsewhere).
• Submit revisions.
• Submit art in CMYK color mode, in at least 300 dpi, and in TIFF or PNG files.
• Submit audio in the MP3 file format, and video in MP4.

Don’t: 

• Submit racist, sexist, bigoted, antisemitic, homo/trans/bi/queer/acephobic, Hinduphobic, Islamaphobic, ableist, violent, or otherwise hateful or discriminatory pieces not listed. 
• ABSOLUTELY NO AI ART, WRITING, OR OTHERWISE. 
• Try to send something to us via snail-mail (we don’t have an actual address).
• Send us things that don’t follow our “Do’s”
• If You’re Accepted:We will send you confirmation of your acceptance or rejection via email. 
• By accepting our acceptance, you give Crow Name permission to publish your work. 
• You will retain all ownership and copyright to your work.
• We will copy-edit your work, and/or may ask for small revisions. 
• We retain the right to remove any work from our site at any time with or without notification. 

Submit:

Please note that submission constitutes an acceptance of our guidelines.
Please email crownamestudios@gmail.com to submit. Thanks!!

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival seeks short plays & one-acts

Website

Deadline: April 3, 2026

Send all required materials to: GeneFrankelTheatrePlayFestival@gmail.com

Early submissions are encouraged.

Subject line: Gene Frankel Theatre Festival – Title of Play

The Gene Frankel Theatre Festival is accepting submissions for its summer edition running from July 27th through August 16th, 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, 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 Aug. 16, 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.

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 play has been selected, will be contacted by April 10th.

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 Aug. 16th, 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 July 27th through August 16th.

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 Aug. 16th, featuring guest performances and an awards ceremony.

@genefrankeltehatrefestival

Perlberg Festival 2027 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The 2026 Perlberg Festival of New Plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks is accepting submissions through May.

What are we looking for?

• Comedies and Dramas (no musicals)
• Cast sizes between 2 and 5 (doubling is okay)
• Plays that really explore relationships/deeper ideas/the human condition
• Plays between 70 and 120 minutes (full-length but not epically long)
• One submission per writer -- if you're trying to decide which to send, send the one that seems like the best "fit" for Palm Beach Dramaworks
• UNPRODUCED, with no productions scheduled before April of 2027

TRC Postdramatic Script Award 2026 (নাট্য গবেষণা কেন্দ্র – TRC)

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Deadline: March 15, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

On the occasion of World Theatre Day, the Theatre Research Centre (TRC) presents TRC Postdramatic Script Award 2026 – an international script competition.

This award encourages innovative, experimental, postdramatic, and abstract theatre scripts.

Scripts may be submitted in Bangla, English, or both languages.

বিশ্ব নাট্য দিবস উপলক্ষে “নাট্য গবেষণা কেন্দ্র (TRC)” আয়োজন করছে TRC 

Postdramatic Script Award 2026।

এই প্রতিযোগিতা আধুনিক পরীক্ষামূলক নাট্যরূপ, পোস্টড্রামাটিক নাট্যচর্চা, বিমূর্ত ও নতুন আঙ্গিকের নাট্যস্ক্রিপ্টকে উৎসাহিত করার জন্য।
পাণ্ডুলিপি জমা দেওয়া যাবে বাংলা, ইংরেজি বা দুই ভাষাতেই।

📌 জমা দেওয়ার শেষ তারিখ: ১৫ মার্চ ২০২৬

📌 ফলাফল প্রকাশ: ২৭ মার্চ ২০২৬

📩 যোগাযোগ: theatreresearchcentre@gmail.com | +8801332735301

📌 Submission Deadline: 15 March 2026
📌 Results Announcement: 27 March 2026
📩 Contact: theatreresearchcentre@gmail.com | +8801332735301

Audacious Owl Theater Festival for NYC-based playwrights and producers

Instagram

Deadline: March 6, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The 2nd annual Audacious Owl Theatre Festival from June 16th-June 21st at the Chain Theatre as a part of their Factory Series.

We are seeking "bold stories that investigates the nuances of what it means to be alive".

Any genre is acceptable, as long as it is new work. 

In the application please send the most up to date script, as well as a short biography of yourself and what type of art you are committed and interested in putting into the world. 

You will be informed of your acceptance by March 14th at which time you will then send the agreement and “Participation Fee.”

 Each show is guaranteed 2 performances and a portion of the ticket sales. You will act as your show’s lead producer, with us providing the space and personnel, so you will need to be based in NYC or have a producer based here. 

Due to limited time, we can only accept one play per playwright at this time. 

Plays can be 10 pages maximum and have 2-4 actors. Submissions due by March 6th.

RiffRaff NYC and Rogue Theater Festival seek short plays

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Email your 15–20 minute script (PDF) and a brief playwright bio to:

RiffRaff NYC

riffraff.nyc@gmail.com

Subject Line: I’m In Love With An Immigrant – [Play Title] – [Playwright Name]

RiffRaff NYC and Rogue Theater Festival invite playwrights to submit original short plays for our fourth festival showcase, I’m In Love With An Immigrant.

We welcome stories that explore love in all its forms: romantic, familial, platonic, cultural, or community love. Plays should center immigrant experiences in America and highlight the emotional bonds that shape belonging, identity, and home.

Length: Plays must run 15–20 minutes

Cast Size: No more than four actors on stage

Theme: Stories must center on immigrant experiences in America connected to the theme I’m In Love With An Immigrant

Production Responsibility: If accepted, playwrights are responsible for casting, securing a director, and coordinating rehearsals (RiffRaff NYC producers are happy to assist if needed)

Participation Fee: $250, payable only if the play is accepted

Performance Dates: August 10–16

Venue: American Theatre of Actors

At the conclusion of the showcase, a panel of judges will present:

Best Play
Best Original Script
Best Director
Outstanding Performance Awards (3 recipients) – Recognizing exceptional acting, regardless of gender

Rogue Theater Festival Production Award – One selected piece will be invited to fully produce their play with the Rogue Theatre Festival at The Flea Theatre in 2027, participation fee waived

This marks RiffRaff NYC’s second collaboration with Rogue Theater Festival, continuing our shared mission of uplifting bold, diverse theatrical voices.

RiffRaff NYC is a New York–based theatre and film company dedicated to championing immigrant artists and global perspectives. Through festivals, showcases, and original productions, RiffRaff creates platforms for underrepresented voices while building an international artistic community in the heart of NYC.

Rogue Theater Festival is an independent New York theatre festival committed to supporting bold, original work from emerging and established artists. Known for fostering creative risk and providing production opportunities beyond the festival itself, Rogue helps new plays and artists grow their work on New York stages.

Social Justice Shorts 2026

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm

Submission Form

Please complete this form to submit your unpublished 10-minute play or monologue for consideration in our 2026 Social Justice Shorts Festival, produced by A Call to Conscience Interactive Theater for Social Change and Bread & Roses Missouri. Our deadline for submissions is March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. 

The Social Justice Shorts Festival will be June 4-7 in St. Louis, Missouri at a venue to be announced. You must use this form to submit your play, email submissions will not be reviewed.

Seeking 10-minute short plays and monologues centered around the following suggested themes:

● LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Rights
● Healthcare Justice (including Mental Health)
● Economic Justice/Workers’ Rights
● Immigrant/Refugee Justice
● Reproductive Justice

Storytelling must be rich in self-expression and theatrical imagination. Playwrights may live in
any part of the country, and St. Louis-based playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit.

Plays featuring a cast of one to three actors will be accepted (plays with more than three actors will not be considered). Playwrights are welcome to submit solo performance pieces. Plays longer than 10 minutes will NOT be considered. Published plays will also not be considered. Limited set, props and technical requirements are strongly preferred.

Only one submission from a playwright may be submitted, please do not submit multiple plays for consideration.

Please direct all questions to Fannie Lebby, Artistic Director of A Call to Conscience at fanniec2c@gmail.com.

Abingdon Theatre Company Is Searching for Emerging, Full Length, One-Person Plays

Website

Deadline: April 17, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Abingdon Theatre Company is excited to invite both established and emerging artists to submit their full length one-person plays to continue our mission of developing brave new work. We encourage one-person plays that cover a diverse ground in genre, performance type, and subject matter.

Abingdon Theatre Company is proud to be a champion of and provide a place for one-person plays to flourish. We are particularly interested in narrative focused plays. Past one-person plays at Abingdon include Queens Girl In The World by Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Robin and Me by Dave Droxler, and Get On Your Knees by Jacqueline Novak.

Please read the following in full before submitting.

Playwrights
Play submissions should be unpublished. Plays should not have been previously presented to New York audiences. We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages. Please limit your submission to one play per playwright. Please be sure to submit a headshot and writing resume.

Playwright/Performer
Guidelines above apply. If you are also a performer of your play please be sure to submit your writing and acting resume and headshot along with a 2 minute reel in the indicated submission boxes.

All Submissions
Please submit a 250-500 word artistic statement to tell us more about your play and your mission as a playwright. Please also include a short bio.

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

2026 Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize (9th Edition)

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Send your submission to info@premiocarloannoni.eu

The Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize is now open for submissions with topics concerning the LGBTQ+ community, including love, diversity, and identity in a time of gender fluidity

Submissions of any length are accepted: full-length plays, as well as short plays, 10 minutes, including those already performed.

1000 € Awarded to the two best plays (English and Italian), ceremony in Milan, September 2026, and special jury mentions on multiple categories.

FIRST DRAFTS STUDENT EDITION @ 54 BELOW

Website

Deadline: April 7, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

In an industry that usually takes years to bring work in front of an audience, musical theatre songwriters and teams are called to submit their newest material.

Last October, Showpeople brought its premiere iteration of First Drafts to the Green Room 42, where it proved to be the company’s greatest success in the cabaret space, bringing in a packed audience to witness 19 singers and 4 musicians perform the never-before-heard work of 23 extremely-talented songwriters.

Now, we want to do it all again, but with a focus on bringing to life the work of student musical theatre writers with eligibility open to high school (though we won’t turn away a very talented middle schooler!) and undergraduate students.

So, if you’re in high school or pursuing an undergraduate degree, are writing a musical either alone or with a team, and would like to see a song of yours performed at 54 Below, we’re looking for you!

If interested, please use the form to submit one or two of your best songs that fit the criteria (only one per writer/team would be chosen). This can be through YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, or any easily accessible link (and don't forget to triple check the privacy settings). Include a demo(s) (obviously, it doesn't have to be highly produced) and/or ideally a PDF(s) of the sheet music.

As student writers, we understand creating both a demo and sheet music may be beyond your capabilities at this stage of your writing development, so if only one is possible, we understand, and, if you song is chosen and you are interested, part of the experience will involve working with members of the Showpeople team on how to make demos and scores of your original music that sound and look professional.

Chosen songs will be orchestrated (if they are not already) for a band of four musicians (piano, guitar, bass, and drums), rehearsed, and ultimately performed at 54 Below by professional NYC theatre performers. The writers will be encouraged (but not required) to take part in as much of this as they’d like. With our last First Drafts concert, the writers played an important part in the rehearsal process, giving great insight to the singers and music director about how to best bring their stories to life, and some even performed themselves! Additionally, writers will be asked to introduce their songs (briefly) at the concert.

Selected writers who choose to have some part in the actual performance (either presenting before or performing their song) will be considered part of the show and will therefore get in for free. However, due to the large number of writers and limited number of comps provided by the venue, if you choose to not be part of the performance in any way but only wish to attend as an audience member, you will have to purchase a ticket(s).

The deadline to submit is April 7st, 2026, and all writers will hear by May 5th, 2026 whether their work is selected or not. Writers whose work isn’t selected will be given the feedback of the selection committee.

Best of luck!

Contact showpeoplecollective@gmail.com with any questions or visit showpeopletheatrecollective.com
DURATION

Pages in Paris Writing Residency seeks one-act plays

Website

Deadline: February 28, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Six 1 Acts will be selected and produced in a black-box theatre production in Los Angeles by the Sixty-Six Theater Co.

And then what?

One playwright will be selected by a committee to attend a 2 week Writing Residency at the Le Studio D’Art in Paris, France!

Details:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to qualify.
• Play length cannot exceed 30 minutes.
• Writers can submit up to two 1 Acts for consideration.
• Submitted plays should be unpublished work. 
• Selected 1 Acts will be staged in a black box theatre production in collaboration with selected Writers, Directors, and Actors.
• Writers must be available for the duration of the development workshop in Los Angeles (more details to come).
• Residency selection will be based on writing, collaboration, and development potential.

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: February 28th, 2026
Selected One Acts Announced: March 13th
Development Workshop: March 13th-April 13th
Tech Rehearsal: April 13th
Show Dates: April 14, 15, 16.

Residency Dates: Fall 2026

The selected writer will receive round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris, plus two weeks accommodation during their stay.

The writer will collaborate with Le Studio D'Art and continue to develop their 1 Act in a 2 week writing residency with actors and directors.

NEW PLAY WORKSHOP FACILITATED BY PLAYWRIGHT JOHN. J. CASWELL, JR.

NEW PLAY WORKSHOP

FACILITATED BY PLAYWRIGHT JOHN. J. CASWELL, JR. 

Kickstart your creative process by joining me for this four-week intensive that considers individual experience levels and the specific needs and challenges of your unique artistic voice/project. A fifth session is scheduled by consensus of the group for sharing of our work.

The workshop includes practical discussion of structure and theory, unexpected generative exercises that revitalize process, weekly office hours and one-on-ones to discuss your struggles, triumphs, and questions, and a supportive environment to commune and commiserate with other writers in this world on fire.

TUESDAYS MARCH 3, 10, 17, 24, 2026

6-9PM EASTERN on Zoom

$250

Enrollment and more information can be found at

www.johnjcaswelljr.com/workshops

About the instructor: 

John is a playwright from Arizona, a recent fellow at Juilliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program, and the recipient of the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award at the Vineyard Theatre. His play Jerome will premiere in 2026 at Playwrights Horizons.

His play Wet Brain (Playwrights Horizons + MCC) won the L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award as well as the Obie Award for its creative team and director, Dustin Wills. It was the most nominated play of the 2024 Lucille Lortel Awards and took home the prize for Best Scenic and Projection designs. Wet Brain also received nods from the Outer Critics Circle, The Drama League, and Relentless Award. 

Other plays include Man Cave (Obie for Direction by Taylor Reynolds) and Scene Partners (Obie for Performances by Dianne Wiest and Johanna Day).

Additional honors include the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, the Rita and Burton Goldberg Playwriting Prize, a MacDowell Fellowship, a SPACE on Ryder Farm Creative Residency, and the Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship.

Previously (2007-2017) he produced and created devised performances using in-process text on queer themes with PTW, his non-profit theatre company, presenting both in Phoenix and NYC shows including CREAM!, God Hates This Show: Shirley Phelps-Roper in Concert Live from Hell, and SHOTS: A Love Story.

Pronoia Theater seeks new works related to the USA public domain

Website

Deadline: March 9, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Works must be based on, in conversation with, or inspired by work in the USA public domain. 

International writers welcome.

Ours, Reimagining the Public Domain! We are accepting new works inspired by expression in the public domain for a staged reading on May 9th.

“Public Domain” covers a wide swath of material (items correct as of America in 2026):

• Anything first published in USA in 1930 or earlier
• Anything published between 1931-1977 which did not have its copyright renewed
• Most documents created by the United States Government
• Recipes, game rules, etc. (Things which are ruled to not have enough authorship to be protectable)
• Property whose copyright was relinquished by its owners.
• For the purposes of this festival anything created under the Creative Commons license with proper attribution will also be considered.

Staged reading, no stipend, no restriction on previous productions or number of works that may be submitted, playwrights are not responsible for production after submission.

Works of any length will be considered, but works longer than fifteen minutes may be excerpted. The excerpt will be sent to you for approval before acceptance into the festival.

Anything which is appropriate to perform in front of an audience is fair game. As a theater we are especially interested in scripts formatted for the stage, but prose, poetry, and other similar expressions will be considered.

instagram: @pronoiatheater

There’s something for everyone at The Playwrights Group!

Script Consultations
If have a script you want feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

Richard Caliban has worked with individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

Online One-on-One Courses
If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

• The Art of Playwriting
• Write a Play in 10 Weeks
• Hour Short Course

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience.

The Weekly Workshop
Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end. You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit).

 

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EST

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates: 

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Contact us at 

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com