Troy Foundry Theatre 2026 Half-Baked Festival of Emerging Work: Becoming

Website

Deadline: August 17, 2026 at 5PM

Please submit as many of the materials listed below possible in a SINGLE PDF to  tftsubmissions@gmail.com. 

Your PDF should include:

1. Contact Information

• Name
• Email
• Phone number
• Location (city/state or region)

2. Artist Statement
Brief introduction to your artistic practice and creative mission

3. Project Information

• Project description: What is your piece? What world does it inhabit?
• Themes, questions, or artistic investigations driving the work
• Current stage of development
• Working title
• Any Script excerpts, images, video, audio, or other supporting materials (if available)
• Brief synopsis
• Number of performers
• Current runtime
• Creative team roles and needs (casting, directing, collaborators, etc.)
• Technical requirements beyond basic festival lighting and sound capabilities

4. Development History

Troy Foundry Theatre, a nonprofit theatre based in Troy, New York, is seeking submissions for the 2026 Half-Baked Festival of Emerging Work—a celebration of bold, unfinished, and in-development performance projects.

Now in its fourth year, The TFT Half-Baked Festival of Emerging Work celebrates the unfinished, the audacious, and the revolutionary in theatre-making. We believe some of the most exciting artistic discoveries happen during development—when work is still breathing, evolving, and finding its voice. Half-Baked exists to support projects that are searching, questioning, transforming, and taking creative risks. If your work is strange, ambitious, unsettling, genre-defying, impossible to categorize, or beautifully unfinished, we want to see it.

For this year's festival, we are particularly interested in:

Projects inspired directly or indirectly by genres and themes like:
Horror, body horror, cosmic terror, folk horror, gothic horror, romantic horror, psychological thriller, dystopia, speculative fiction, monsters, hauntings, transformation, sex and death, the uncanny, apocalypse, grief, obsession, desire, and the grotesque.

Or creators and writers like:
Angela Carter, Ari Aster, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Carmen Maria Machado, Caryl Churchill, Curry Barker, David Cronenberg, Guillermo del Toro, Han Kang, Helen Oyeyemi, H.P. Lovecraft, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Jane Schoenbrun, Jennifer Kent, Jeremy O. Harris, Jordan Peele, Julia Ducournau, Karyn Kusama, Kelly Link, Margaret Atwood, Mariana Enríquez, María Irene Fornés, Mary Shelley, Nia DaCosta, N.K. Jemisin, Octavia Butler, Osgood Perkins, Sarah Kane, Shirley Jackson, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Suzan-Lori Parks, Tananarive Due, Toni Morrison, Young Jean Lee, and Quiara Alegría Hudes.

We welcome and accept:
Projects that engage with these influences literally, loosely, or in spirit. We are interested in work that explores fear, transformation, power, desire, the body, the supernatural, memory, myth, and the strange possibilities of being human. Projects must be in development and may not have received a full professional production. Selected artists will work with the festival team to determine a performance schedule; projects will not perform every day of the festival.

In the form of:

• New plays and devised works-in-progress that challenge theatrical form
• Lecture-performances and research-based artistic investigations
• Experimental, interdisciplinary, and short-form performance projects
• Provocations, works-in-process, and other emerging theatrical experiments
• Other forms not dreamed up or imaged yet

UMBRELLAS FOR FISH seeks one-act plays, monologues and dramatic scenes for the September issue

Website

Deadline: August 25, 2026

We are now accepting submissions for our September 2026 Issue.
Website: https://ufjournal.wixsite.com/umbrellas-for-fish/submissions

Email: ufjournal@aol.com

Umbrellas for Fish is an international literary journal devoted exclusively to absurd and existential drama. We publish work that wrestles with the irrational, the unexplainable, and the darkly comic—plays, monologues, and dramatic scenes that invite audiences to sit with uncertainty rather than resolve it neatly.

We believe theatre is a space where logic can be bent, time can fold back on itself, and a fish might, against all reason, carry an umbrella. We welcome voices from around the world and across all career stages, from debut playwrights to established dramatists.

We seek dramatic work that is bold, strange, and alive—pieces that take risks with form, voice, and theatrical logic.

We are particularly interested in work featuring:

• Absurdity, existential tension, or cosmic indifference
• Innovative dramatic structures and theatrical experimentation
• Strong, stageable writing and memorable dialogue
• Meaningful ambiguity rather than simple confusion
• Themes exploring meaning, identity, freedom, mortality, and the human condition

We are not seeking conventional realism without a twist, shock value without purpose, or work that resolves its contradictions too neatly.
Accepted Categories

• Absurd Plays
• Existential Drama

• Experimental Theatre
• Playwriting Essays

Length:

• One-Act Plays (up to 10 pages)
• Flash Drama (up to 2 pages)
• Monologues (up to 2 pages)

• Dramatic Scenes (up to 10 pages)
. Playwriting Essays (up to 5 pages)

Submission Guidelines

• Submit manuscripts in DOC or DOCX format only
• Use a readable 12-point font
• Number all pages
• Include a title page with the title and author's name
• Include a third-person author bio (50–100 words) at the end of the manuscript
• Scripts should follow standard dramatic formatting
• Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us if accepted elsewhere

Prepare your manuscript according to the guidelines above.

• Include a 50–100 word third-person bio.
• In the body of your email, include:Your name
• Title of the work
• Genre category
• A brief 1–3 sentence description of the piece
• Attach your manuscript as a DOC or DOCX file.
• Name your file: TITLE_LASTNAME.docx
• Send your submission to ufjournal@aol.com

Subject Line Format:
SUBMISSION — [Title] — [Genre]
Key Dates

Submissions Open: Now Open
Submission Deadline: August 25, 2026
Response Time: 4–6 Weeks

Issue Publication: September 2026

Fee:
There is no reading, submission 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 Umbrellas for Fish, the author grants the journal non-exclusive permission to publish the work as part of the September 2026 issue. All rights revert to the author upon publication, and the author remains free to reproduce, perform, or republish the work elsewhere, provided that first publication in Umbrellas for Fish is acknowledged where appropriate.

Payment

Umbrellas for Fish is a non-paying market. As an independent journal operating without grants, institutional funding, or regular donations, we are currently 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 worldwide exposure through the journal.Editorial Vision

Umbrellas for Fish takes its name from the absurdist spirit that animates the work we publish: the belief that theatre can illuminate issue. the mysteries of existence through contradiction, imagination, humor, and uncertainty.

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

We look forward to reading your work.

Warm regards,

Editorial Team
Umbrellas for Fish: An International Journal of Absurd & Existential Drama
Email: ufjournal@aol.com

Discount tickets - Measure for Measure

In Progress––a new theatre company based in NYC––announces the opening night of their inaugural production of Measure for Measure.

Measure for Measure asks us to bear witness to a world where morality cannot sustain itself – it flows, flies, and falls like sand. In it, the line between the state and the individual is blurred beyond recognition, and justice turns out to be more akin to bargain than mercy. And then there’s uncleanliness. Tons of it. 

Here, righteousness is like a rubber band: stretch it enough and you’ll permanently deform it into a kind of perversion. Measure for Measure revolves around that elasticity, its focus is on this exercise of clinging to humanity in a world that renders the moral absurd. I mean, really ask yourself: is being good possible when you’re teetering on the razor’s edge between someone else’s destruction and your survival?

From July 28th to August 1st in The Makers’ Space, 281 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY.

Discount code is "RECKONING" which users can use for 10% off at this ticket link.

The WinterWorks New Play Festival February 2027

Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMISSION FORM

The WinterWorks New Play Festival supports the presentation and development of engaging, intimate plays that serve as a catalyst for conversation within our community. As a theatre operating outside of a major metropolitan hub, we believe the American narrative is vast, and varied. We are seeking plays that explore the true multiplicity of the American experience; stories that reflect the diverse textures, complex histories, and distinct voices of communities across the country.

We ask our script readers to look for plays they cannot wait to talk about; stories that demand to be heard and refuse to leave you after the lights go down.

Cast Size & Scale: We are seeking intimate, small-cast scripts (ideally 6 actors or fewer) that prioritize character-driven storytelling. We welcome creative doubling and lean, imaginative production demands that maximize emotional impact.

Genre and Style: There are no aesthetic boundaries here. We welcome plays of any genre, style, or structure—from hyper-realism and sharp-witted comedy to non-linear narratives, magical realism, and experimental forms. If it excites your imagination, we want to read it.

Community Engagement: Most importantly, we are looking for work that actively bridges the gap between the stage and the public. We are deeply interested in plays that speak directly to people who may not consider themselves “theatre-goers” yet.

Submissions Should Be

• Full length plays that stand alone as a full evening of theater. 
• Complete drafts – not incomplete or treatments.
• Plays that have never had a professional AEA production; readings and workshops are fine.
• And most importantly: plays you are interested in actively advancing in a developmental environment.

Submissions Should NOT Be

• Incomplete drafts or treatments
• A play that has received a professional AEA production
• A play that you consider “done” or “finished”
• A play that you “just want to hear read out loud”

How To Submit Your Play

What you will need to complete your submission:

Artistic Statement (PDF format) 

Please detail:

• What development has the script undergone thus far? What are the elements of the script you’re still exploring? (Suggested word count: at least 250 words).
• Please provide a short synopsis of your current draft (Suggested word count: at least 100 words)
• Artistic Résume (PDF format)
• Complete Draft of the Play or project that you wish to develop (PDF format), with your name and the play title on the cover page.

Please note:

Please format your PDF submissions in the following format: [Lastname, Firstname-Title of Play.pdf], etc. Please use the same format for artistic statement, and resume as well. 

This is not a blind submission process: please be sure your name is on your play.

We can ONLY accept plays and resumes in PDF format. Using any other format will only delay the processing of your script.

Once you have uploaded and submitted your materials, you will not be able to make changes.

Please do not include additional materials.

Door is a Jar literary magazine seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: none listed

SUBMISSION FORM 

Following the Standard American Format 

Submit up to 2 short plays. Each play can range between 1 and 10 pages in length as a .doc or .docx.

Door Is A Jar Literary Magazine is looking for well-crafted poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, artwork, and book reviews for our print and digital publication. Please read over these submission guidelines carefully and look at our current and archived issues before submitting your work.

Our publication steers away from academic writing and publishes short, conversational works that use familiar language. Each new issue features artists and writers and works that are accessible for all readers.

Our issues are don't have specific themes, and we accept all genres and literary styles.

Submit all work in Times New Roman font size 11

We only accept new, unpublished work. If you have posted something to your website or social media, this counts as being published.


For book reviews please include the following information: the title, author, publisher, year of publication, page count, ISBN, and price.

Under the "Title(s)" section, please list all the titles of the pieces you are submitting, and not something general like "My Poems". Make sure you are consistent with how you present the titles in your attached document and in this space.

If you are unable to fit all the titles into the "Title(s)" section, please list them in your cover letter section of the submission form.

Please provide your name as you would like published, email, mailing address, and a fun 3-sentence bio. (We're not as interested in how many degrees you have, or how widely you've been published. Instead, we want to hear about the real you. We want to know about the little things that spur you along.)

Contributors can submit to multiple categories; however, only submit once to each category until you have received our decision about your piece.

You will receive an acceptance or rejection letter from our editorial staff within 6 months from the day of submission.​


We accept simultaneous submissions; however, please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. If accepted, please withdraw the piece from other publications.
​
We reserve first initial publishing rights, and the rights reprint right to use quotes or pieces for promotional use. We do not pay contributors at this time, but we will send out a contributor copy.

Submissions are only accepted through our website. Any submissions sent directly to our email will be deleted without response.

Please note that submissions that exceed word counts or maximum amount of material will be disqualified from consideration.

Do not send in writing or art that was created using Artificial Intelligence. Submitting work generated by A.I. technology will be considered as plagiarism.

Be the sole author/ creator of your work. We do not publish collaborative pieces.

We do not publish translations.

We do not publish craft essays.
​


If you have trouble uploading your file, the problem could have been an issue when saving, which corrupted the file, or your computer could have virus. Some people have had issues when downloading files from Google Documents. The best way around this is to copy and paste the document into a new .docx and trying to submit again.

'Metamorphosis' Seeks Play Submissions

Instagram

Deadline: August 6, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

This is a trans, queer play festival independently produced by Eli Riederich. The goal with this project is to uplift the stories of trans and queer individuals. The festival will take place on Mill Mountain Theatre's Waldron Stage in Roanoke, Virginia during the weekend of November 20-22nd.

We are looking for unpublished/unproduced 10 minute plays and 1 acts (75 page max). Submissions will close August 6th, 2026.

If you have any questions, please email: eli.riederich@gmail.com! 

You can also check out @metamorphosis.playfest on insta for updates.

Origins New Works Program at CVRep 2026-2027

Website

Deadline: July 25, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Established in 2023, the Origins New Works Program at CVRep is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment for writers, directors, and composers to hear their work out loud and see their work reach its full potential.

Each season, four new, undiscovered works will be invited to participate in a 29-hour staged reading in the Coachella Valley, fully funded and produced by CVRep. One of these four projects will be selected to be produced the following theatrical season on our Main Stage. It is a true ‘page to stage’ program that is committed to seeing the full development of the next Broadway Show.

GUIDELINES

- The Origins Program is open to any original, unpublished and unproduced FULL-LENGTH play or musical which is in line with our artistic vision and mission. The goal of the program is to help writers develop unfinished work in a collaborative environment.

- CVRep is in pursuit of thought-provoking, innovative theater of substance and storytelling which highlights the diverse voices and experiences of the American culture.

- We are unable to consider plays and musicals which require more than 15 cast members.

- Playwrights must reside in the United States and be able to attend rehearsals.

Please be prepared to submit a synopsis and bio in addition to:

- 20 page sample of your script in PDF form (title page/cast breakdown do not count toward page count)

- Up to three demo tracks (if your project is a musical)

If we would like to request a full copy of your script we will contact you within 8-12 weeks. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are only able to respond to work that is in line with our artistic vision and goals. 

We appreciate your patience as we give each submission ample time and careful consideration.
For additional information please email kgilligan@cvrep.org

The script doctor is in the house! 🩷

Sarah Congress is an award-winning playwright and script doctor for film, TV series, theatre, and fiction here to help YOU take your script to the next level. She provides a fun, nurturing, therapeutic, environment to best suit your individual writing needs. 

Script Services:

• Help clients fine-tune their scripts
• Offer rewrite suggestions to help tighten and polish your story
• Improve dialogue
• Punch up jokes and suggest opportunities for humor 
• Help you learn how to HOOK a reader's interest 
• Assist in finding submission, production, and publication opportunities 

More about Sarah:

Sarah has taught group writing classes for the Hoboken Historical Museum, Project Write Now, The Knowledge Project, and the Hudson Valley Writers Center. This year, her vampire satire Not Gucci was named a Top 30 play by Centre Stage's 24th Annual New Play Festival, her full-length horror/comedy Delulu was read at AWP Baltimore 2026, and her period piece Last Sunrise was performed at Under Saint Marks Place, NYC in June. She is represented by Anthony Tall and works part-time for the Dean's Office at Columbia University, School of the Arts.

Visit Sarah's website to learn more and connect.

New Works Play Lab seeks full-length and one-act plays

Website

Deadline: August 21, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The New Works Play Lab (NWPL) gives our MFA Acting candidates experience with new play development, starting with the workshop process and ending in a staged reading. NWPL gives playwrights a laboratory to experiment with their work in a supportive, educational setting, while also teaching developing actors how to serve the text.

Submissions will be accepted through Friday, August 21, 2026. A committee of students and faculty will select three plays to be workshopped from December 7 - 10, 2026, and presented in a staged reading December 11 & 12, 2026.

Guidelines:

• Playwright must be over the age of 18
• Full-length plays ranging from 75 – 100 minutes
• Maximum number of performers needed to produce the play is 10. Playwrights are asked to delineate if there are multiple roles that can be doubled
• Scripts must be submitted digitally via Google Forms
• No evaluations will be rendered for entries not selected
• Play must not have had prior production, although those workshopped before non-paying audiences are acceptable.
• Published plays are not eligible
• Musicals are not acceptedWhat we provide:
• A $1,000 stipend for playwrights
• Roundtrip transportation & lodging
• A director from the FSU MFA Directing program
• Exposure to industry professionals in Central and South Florida
• Consideration for a full production in an upcoming season
• Please contact info@conservatory.fsu.edu for more information.

Chicano Playwrights Showcase 2026

Facebook page

Deadline: July 19, 2026

*All interested parties should contact me here on Facebook or my email address: Xgeo@aol.com
*All questions should contact me here on Facebook or my email address : Xgeo@aol.com

* The Chicano Playwrights Showcase 2026 is intended to celebrate All Latin, Hispanic, and Chicano voices, our stories, and our culture by presenting Engaging Live Theatre.*

*Rehearsal schedule is pending the works that are selected.

* I believe that Rehearsals should begin in the last weeks of July 2026.
They will continue through the month of August 2026.

* Performances will be in Fort Worth from September 3 through September 6, 2026. With load in, spacing, and tech beginning Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

My contract with the venue should be finalized by the end of this month.

* This is A Community Theatre Production.

Playwrights' Round Table of Orlando, Florida seeks an original musical for the 2027 season

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2026 at midnight

We are seeking original musical submissions for our 2026-2027 season. Run time can be anywhere from 90-140 minutes. The original musical must be unproduced and unpublished and written/composed without the use of AI. No jukebox musicals please.

• Please email all scripts and recordings to submissionsprt@gmail.com

• Please send TWO (2) PDF or Word copies of your script – one with full name and contact info, optional personal info (gender/pronouns, ethnicity, etc.), and an acknowledgement that the play is new and unproduced; the other “blind” – this copy will go to the readers.
• Music must already be composed and a proof of concept demo attached to any submission emails. For the music, you may send us a Google Drive, OneNote, WeTransfer or Dropbox link
• There is no submission fee; however, the selected creator(s) must join PRT for a one-year membership term. The base level is free, with priced tiers with member benefits above that. You may only submit 1 show per writer.
• Please keep your set minimal, preferably a unit set – we perform in a small black box. Please also limit the number of characters – no more than 6.

The creator(s) will receive a stipend of $250 and a full production in Summer 2027.

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

Seeking Ten-Minute Science Fiction Plays

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2026

In one document, please send:

• A PDF or Word document of your play with a logline, short summary, and production history 

• A brief playwright bio (no more than 100 words)

• Playwright contact information

• Email submissions to: futureworksplays@gmail.com

• Subject Line: Future Works Submission – [Playwright Last Name]

With the rising popularity of science fiction in popular media and theatre, submissions are now open for Future Works: Ten-Minute Science Fiction Plays, a new anthology of short science fiction plays. The anthology is slated for publication by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2027.

This collection will gather 20-25 of the best performance-ready ten-minute plays exploring the possibilities of science fiction for the stage. With the success of plays like The Nether by Jennifer Haley, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play by Anne Washburn and Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, science fiction has proved it can be a rich landscape for theatrical exploration. From intelligence and climate collapse to alien contact and time travel, this anthology seeks to highlight the ways science fiction playwrights engage with contemporary questions through speculative storytelling and theatrical invention.

Possible Themes and Subgenres:

• Artificial Intelligence / Robots

• Time Travel

• Alien Life / First Contact

• Space Exploration / Space Adventure

• Space Opera

• Climate Futures / Environmental Collapse

• Virtual Reality / Simulations

• Dystopian or Utopian Societies

• Cybernetics / Human Enhancement

• Genetic Engineering / Cloning

• Post-Apocalyptic Survival

• Futurism / Speculative Technologies

• Alternate Histories

• And beyond

A wide variety of writing styles are welcome, including dramas, comedies, absurdist plays, and experimental works.

Please Note - What we are NOT Looking For:
This anthology is specifically seeking science fiction plays. We welcome a wide range of theatrical styles and approaches; however, submissions should engage meaningfully with science fiction concepts generally based in imagined science, technology, or societies.

Please do NOT submit:
• Fantasy plays centered on systems of magic, wizards, mythical creatures, or supernatural occurrences/quests
• Horror plays without a clear science fiction framework (i.e.: hauntings, demonic possession, purge-like scenarios)
• Fan-fiction or fandom-culture inspired works
• Medieval fantasy, high fantasy, or fairy tale adaptations
• Supernatural stories that do not meaningfully engage with speculative science or futurism

If you have any questions, or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to email futureworksplays@gmail.com

• Plays should be approximately 10 minutes in length (no longer than 11 pages).
• Plays should be submitted in standard play format. Other formats will be rejected.
• Submissions must be original plays (no adaptations of classic science fiction stories, please).
• Submissions CAN have received previous productions. Please include a production history with your submission.
• Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays for consideration.

Go Try Play Write July 2026

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The prompt for July 2026 is a morning-after prompt:

Write a 10-page maximum scene about a hook-up between a couple. It’s the morning after and either one of them or both of them feel it was a horrible mistake. What makes it a mistake? Anything goes. Let your imagination flow and most importantly, HAVE FUN! We are excited to see where your creativity leads you.

We're proud to announce a new monthly playwriting contest in collaboration with Bamboo Ridge Press. Every month, Kumu Kahua's artistic director Harry Wong III will select a writing prompt on the first day of that month. We're looking for 5-page monologues or 10-page scenes based on that prompt; the due date for submissions are always the last day of the month. All entries must be written in traditional play format; instructions on this format can be found here (https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats), courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.

There will be one winner each month. Scripts will be submitted to the judges anonymously. Winners will receive $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge Press. Woo!

Ominous Thrill seeks feminist radio plays

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2026

Submit to: ominousthrill@gmail.com

Use the NAME of your story in ALL CAPS in the subject line.
Include the WORD COUNT in the body text.
If the story is written in THIRD PERSON, indicate WHY the story is best told that way.

Attach the story as a Microsoft Word (.doc) file; or other universally editable format. No PDFs.

• Use Calibri 14 or similar consistent font.
• Do not paste the story into the email body.
• Make sure your story is ATTACHED before sending.
• Proofread thoroughly; excessive errors or poorly formatted submissions may be rejected.
• Include the phrase “devious audio delight” in the body of your email.
• Personal notes about why this story matters to you are not necessary - but always welcome.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Preference for Dramatized Audio Plays.

NARRATED STORIES:
First person is best for audio - we want to be as close to her/them and their experience as possible.
Third person can be considered ONLY if it's genuinely the best way to tell that story. If nothing is lost by transitioning a third person story to first person, it should be in first person for our production.
Second person... oh, you wanna go there? Wow us.
Present tense!

FEMINIST & INTERSECTIONAL HORROR AND DARK FICTION

CHARACTER-DRIVEN:
Thrillers·Horror · Suspense
· Feminine Rage & Fury· FemGore · Erotic Horror·Weird Girl·Surrealist & Transgressive·
· Queer / LGBTQAI+·Under-Represented Voices·Good For Her / Them

Stories from authors with lived experience where the horror, thrills and suspense
ride or die with social / political critique.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION:
stories passing the RAE WILDE TEST
(any story where men have no meaningful impact on the plot)

WORD LENGTH:

2,000 – 8,000 OUR SWEET SPOT
Up to 10,000 words will be considered if the story earns its length.

PAY:
.05/wordACCEPTED ORIGINAL WORK

Original, unpublished stories appearing nowhere else in any form.
.02/wordACCEPTED PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

Stories that have appeared elsewhere in any form - print, digital, podcast, or otherwise.

RIGHTS:

YOU RETAIN FULL RIGHTS

YOU KEEP FULL RIGHTS TO YOUR STORY.
WE ASK FOR A 3-MONTH AUDIO EXCLUSIVE PERIOD FOR THE OMINOUS THRILL PODCAST ONLY.

OUR AUDIO PRODUCTION

OMINOUS THRILL RETAINS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO OUR AUDIO PRODUCTION OF THE STORY - NOT THE STORY ITSELF.

AUDIO-FIRST STORIES

PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO STORIES NOT PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED FOR AUDIO, BUT ALL STORIES ARE WELCOME.

YOUR CREDIT

YOU WILL BE CREDITED IN THE AUDIO AND SHOW NOTES AS WRITTEN BY…
IN THE CASE OF HEAVY ADAPTATION BY US, THE CREDIT WILL BE STORY BY…
EITHER WAY, SHOW NOTES WILL INCLUDE A LINK TO WHEREVER YOU'D LIKE LISTENERS TO FIND YOU.

You will be notified as soon as possible if your story is selected.

BRING US YOUR STORIES OF
FEMININE RAGE AND RECLAIMATION.

We want to give them a vivid sonic voice.

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.

Theatre Three's 28th Annual Festival of One-Act Plays (2027)

Website

Deadline: September 1, 2026

Submissions should be sent to Jeffrey@theatrethree.com

Since its inception in 1998, The Festival has received over 13,000 submissions from across the world and produced over 140 world premieres by more than 100 different playwrights. The Festival presents between five and eight plays each season.

Guidelines:

• Playwrights may only submit one play per Festival.
• Only unproduced works will be accepted. 
• Please do not submit works that have been submitted for previous Festivals.
• Plays that have had staged readings or on-line productions are eligible.
• No adaptations, children’s plays, or musicals.

• Cast size maximum: 12
• Length maximum: 30 minutes (no minimum)
• Settings: Simple or suggested.
• All submissions should be emailed as PDFs with the title in caps followed by the playwright’s name.
• Example: THE BASKET WEAVERS Jamie Martin
• Play’s cover sheet must include the author’s information (name, address, telephone, email).
• A short synopsis is encouraged
• Any stage play format is acceptable.

Selected plays will be presented for ten performances (in winter-spring 2027; dates to be determined), at the Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on THEATRE THREE’s Second Stage.

Playwrights will receive a $150 stipend.

Playwrights will receive a standard Dramatists Guild-approved contract and will receive four complimentary tickets to be used at any performances. Playwrights are welcome to attend any rehearsals or performances. Playwrights will receive copies of playbills, postcards, articles, and reviews, as well as a link to all publicity and production photos. THEATRE THREE is responsible for all elements of production; playwrights incur no expenses. THEATRE THREE retains no future production rights.

Playwrights of selected plays will be contacted by early December 2026.

Molecule open for (very) short plays and monologues

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

What can I submit to Molecule?

Molecule accepts submissions of poetry, prose (fiction & non-fiction) plays, reviews and interviews in 50 words or less (including titles and interview questions). Visual artwork of tiny things like tea bags and toothpicks, or tiny paintings, also wanted: no skyscrapers please!

We have a strict word count. Don’t try and trick us we have tiny minds. All submissions should be previously unpublished work.

How should I send my work?

Send submissions via submittable, along with a 3rd person bio of no more than 24 words (including name). Please send no more than 5 pieces.

24 words or less for a whole bio, seems random, where did you come up with that?

There are 24 atoms in a molecule of caffeine. What more do you want from us?

When are you open for submissions and when will I hear back?

We are open for submissions for our fall issues from June 1st to July 15th. Replies sent by August 15th. We are open for our spring issues from December 1st to January 15th. Replies sent by February 15th.

What rights do I give you to use my work if it is accepted?

If your work is accepted we ask for first rights (to publish in our print and online issue) and non-exclusive electronic and archival rights (so we can keep using it). All rights revert to the author upon publication.

Does Molecule charge any fees to submit or pay for publication?

No! There is no fee to submit your work to Molecule, and the magazine is always available for free to download or view to contributors and the public. There is an optional tip jar submission, to help us offset our costs. Whether or not a contributor makes a tip does not factor in to our decision process. Recently, we have launch a print issue. You can purchase issue 8 and issue 9 online. We are not able to provide free print copies to contributors.

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.

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.

Germ Magazine open for submissions

Website

Deadline: none given

Send to germ@germmagazine.com.

Send us your self-contained play excerpts or short films (original movies, documentaries, public service announcements, student films, etc). Attach your work to the body of your email. Include a short note and your bio in the body of your email, including your preferred pronouns. Plays should not exceed 2,000 words.

Films should not exceed 10 mins. in play time. You may submit up to three projects at one time.


Please attach all pieces of work to one email. Do not send multiple emails.

OUR MISSION

Germ’s goal is to provide young people—high school age and beyond—an inclusive space to share their experiences on a wide variety of topics: love, life, health, home, the world, school, career, the future, all things safety, the lighter issues—and the harder ones.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Please write us at germ@germmagazine.com if you’d like to:Say hi, propose a topic, or ask a question.
Submit your writing. See our Literary Submission Guidelines for all the details.
Submit your own works (music albums, books) to be considered for review.
Pitch us a piece for one of our categories, including the Daily Germ, which can be an inspiring/funny/memorable quote or word of the day.
Add some of your Bucket List items to our Before I Die page. Please send no more than five (5) items.
Send a suggestion for our How To…, Be Lovely, or Truth About… categories.

Other submission options:Write a Dear Me letter to your high school or future self.
Show us where you’re Wandering.

Whether you’re wandering in your hometown or traveling, if the place is big or small, we want to see it. You can record your journey via video, pictures, drawings, or words. Please use Google Drive and share your file(s) with germ@germmagazine.com.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

While we value your work very highly, we are unable to offer payment except publication at this time.

Although you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram, please do not pitch us ideas or send submissions there. Contact germ@germmagazine.com.

If you are pitching ideas, please know that we’ll respond as soon as we’re able. Unless it bounces back to you, we’ve gotten your email and will be in touch.

What to include in your email:Your nameYour hometownYour preferred pronounsA short (fewer than 100 words) description of your pitch/idea
The name of the category/subcategory/column where you think your piece belongs

We do not accept attachments. Please cut and paste your written work into the body of the email, directly following your short description of the work.

Word CountLove, Life, and Daily Germs category submissions: 10–250 words.Other article submissions: between 500–800 words.

We can’t wait to hear from you! ♥

Love,

The Germ Staff

***We will never promote bullying, racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, or transphobia, and we reserve the right to block users’ comments or submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines. We will not promote or produce mindlessly graphic or explicit content (violent, sexual, or otherwise), but we will be real when it comes to sex, relationships, and sexuality.***

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

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

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

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

Nine finalists will have their play produced in our festival.

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

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

Submission Requirements:​

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

Fall 2026 EAT SPARK Musical Theatre Festival NYC

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) Spark Musical Theatre Festival NYC and Spark Theatre Festival NYC are three-week festivals of self-produced work for the stage.

Many pieces selected for the festival will have never been performed before an audience, while some selections have been performed previously but feature new material. We are not interested in presenting established pieces of theatre. We want to see something brand-spanking-new hit the stage for the first or nearly the first time. This festival is an opportunity to present work for a paying audience for the first, or newly the first, time.

There is no submission charge and no obligation to participate if chosen. Plus, participants receive 50% of the box office. Artists are held to an audience guarantee equal to one ticket buyer per minute of your show. Successful Fringe, NYMF, and Off-Broadway shows have been born out of this series, and Emerging Artists is excited to present a new round of opportunities to local artists for yet another year.

The Spark Musical Theatre Festival NYC is now accepting submissions for the following new works:

Short and Full-Length Musicals

HOW TO APPLY

PART ONE: Read the FAQs. Please pay special attention to the audience guarantee section to ensure you are ready to gather an audience for your work.

PART TWO: Fill out the application form. You will be asked to provide information on the following:

• How you heard about Emerging Artists Theatre’s Spark Festival
• Why your show would be a good fit
• Show title, running time, and production history (if applicable)
• Description of your production
• Support materials, including a script, video, or other means of sharing
• Contact information, website, social media handles, and professional bio(s)

Hit SUBMIT to submit your application

GETTING ACCEPTED

If you are accepted into one of EAT’s Spark Festivals, there will be a required information session/meet-and-greet on a date to be determined.

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.

Vidalia Theatre Company seeks 10-minute plays

Facebook page

Deadline: July 31, 2026

Vidalia Theatre Company of Atlanta, Georgia is accepting submissions for its Winter Yield collection of 10-minute plays to be produced in January 2027.

The setting for this show is planes, trains & automobiles. We’re looking for plays that take place in the vessel itself. It can be while in motion or during boarding/unboarding. We are only seeking plays that take place in this setting at this time.

Submissions should contain a maximum of 6 characters, minimal prop requirements, and provide opportunity for diverse casting. 

Adult language and content are permitted, but it should be relevant to the story and not gratuitous.
Submissions cannot have been previously produced in the Atlanta Metro Area.

Limit TWO (2) submissions per playwright.
(Any playwright caught violating this will be disqualified)

PAY: A $30 stipend is paid to the playwrights whose plays are selected.

***PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY***

If submitting two plays, send each submission in a separate email
Email submissions to: vidaliatheatre@gmail.com
In the subject line type: Playwright Name - Title of Play - WY27
Be sure to include the following information in the body of the email:

1. your email and telephone

2. city, state (or country if outside USA) in which you reside

3. Number of characters

4. Comedy or Drama

5. A brief synopsis

All scripts must be attached as a PDF. No other file types will be accepted.

Note: *We do not utilize blind submissions in our review process*

**ANY SUBMISSION THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED**

OPEN TO ALL NORTH AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS
(with special consideration for those who reside in Georgia)

MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT (LAB) RFP weeks NYC-based BIPOC playwrights

Website

Deadline: Monday, July 13, 2026

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) is pleased to open its application portal for the 6th annual Meet the Playwright (MTP) program, now expanded into an 8-month MTP Lab for professional development and showcasing new, unpublished, unproduced plays by a four-member cohort.

MTP Lab will continue to spotlight early-career theater writers who identify as BIIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, People of Color). While MTP prioritizes Queens-based writers identifying as BIIPOC, any NYC-based BIIPOC playwright may apply. Applicants will be selected by a peer jury comprised of playwrights, creative professionals, and cultural leaders representing the diversity of NYC’s theater community.

Led by Program Manager Iyvon E., the MTP Lab is a cohort-based playwright residency that invests in early-career writers through long-arc career and dramaturgical development combined with industry mentorship and access. This takes the form of biweekly convenings (remote, offsite, and at JCAL), professional development workshops, and mentoring processes. Two mentors in particular—a playwright mentor and a producing/directing mentor—drives the playwrights’ growth, amplifying and deepening progress made in regular writing labs through one-on-one support and seminars with guest speakers.

The MTP Lab culminates in a staged reading of a new work by each member of the cohort at JCAL’s 94-seat studio theater that is free and open to the public, followed by a moderated Q&A with the audience and a reception in the playwright’s honor. Each cohort member receives $300 per month, a total of $2,400, for participation in the program. Each playwright may also schedule up to 100 hours of free rehearsal space prior to the staged reading.

Timeline (Important Dates)

LAB MEETINGS (WEDNESDAYS 7:00 pm–9:00 pm)

October 2026 

· October 7, 2026

· October 21, 2026 

November 2026 

· November 4, 2026 

· November 18, 2026 

December 2026 

· December 2, 2026

· December 16, 2026 

January 2027 

· January 6, 2027 

· January 20, 2027 

February 2027

· Feb 10, 2027

· Feb 24, 2027

March 2027

· March 10, 2027

· March 24, 2027

April 2027

· April 7, 2027

· April 21, 2027

May 2027

· May 5, 2027

· May 19, 2027

Public Reading Dates (FRIDAYS 8:00 pm)

· Feb 19, 2027

· March 19, 2027

· April 16, 2027

· May 14, 2027

Eligibility & Criteria 

· All applications and materials MUST be submitted via Submittable.com. Applications received by other methods, such as dropping off or handing directly to JCAL personnel, will not be considered.

· Playwrights submit 25 pages of a fully developed play and 10 pages of a new play that they propose to develop through the program. Semi-finalists will be invited to submit the complete manuscript of their fully developed work.

· The proposed play, when completed, typically has a running time of 90 minutes or less.

· Playwrights whose work has had professional productions beyond the Actors’ Equity Showcase Code are not eligible for this program.

· Playwrights must be age 18 or older to participate.

Selection 

· Submissions are reviewed and adjudicated by a peer jury of theater professionals.

· The jury will select finalists for interviews with the Project Manager and JCAL leadership.

· Interviews take place virtually during the week of August 9, 2026, and August 16, 2026.

· Four selected playwrights for the MTP LAB will be notified during the week of August 30, 2026.

About JCAL

Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), founded in 1972, is a multidisciplinary arts center based in the diverse community of Southeast Queens. Our mission is devoted to offering quality visual and performing arts and to providing accessible education programs to encourage participation in the arts.

JCAL’s core service area is Southeast Queens. We welcome artists, learners, and audiences to the Jamaica Arts Center and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, both in downtown Jamaica, and to partner sites, such as the public schools and senior centers in Queens. We also welcome artists, learners, and audiences to partner projects at the Red Wall Art Gallery at Resorts World New York City, Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Greater Nexus, operated by Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.

When selecting artists, we give priority to those who live or practice in Southeast Queens, followed by artists from throughout the “world’s borough,” and then from the Greater New York City area and beyond. Our arts and education programs similarly aim to “super-serve” Queens audiences—and to welcome everyone to downtown Jamaica.

JCAL is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and is closed on major holidays. For additional information, call JCAL at 718-658-7400 or visit www.JCAL.org.

Contact:

Dsmith@JCAL.org

Workshops with Theatre du Mississippi of Winona Minnesota

Website

Deadline: Various

Whether you're a beginner, an experienced writer, or someone with a story to tell, our upcoming FREE/pay what you can playwriting workshops offer creative, practical, and inspiring ways to develop your voice and craft

Diverse Character Creation (July 8th 7:30pm-8:30pm CST | Zoom)
Learn how to write diverse, authentic characters through ethical representation, research, and cultural consultation.

Zoom, Registration Required, Asynchronous Option Available.

Fundamentals of Playwriting (July 30th 7:30pm-8:30pm CST | Zoom)
Learn the core elements of playwriting, including character, conflict, and dramatic structure, through discussion and activities.

Zoom, Registration Required, Asynchronous Option Available.

Playwriting for Social Change (August 2nd 2pm-5pm CST | Zoom)
Explore Theatre for Social Change and collaboratively devise a short performance addressing a social issue.

Zoom, Registration Required, Asynchronous Option Available.

The Art of Listening (August 16th 2pm-5pm CST | Zoom)
Discover listening and play-based techniques to spark ideas, overcome writer’s block, and start writing with confidence.
Zoom, Registration Required, Asynchronous Option Available.

Creating a One Act (Thursdays September 24th - October 15th | Reading on November 12th). Winona, MN
Great writing takes practice! Learn the essentials of playwriting in a supportive, low-stress workshop focused on creativity, skill-building, and real progress! From page to stage.
Calendar to register:
https://tdmwinona.org/calendar?category=Playwriting+Workshop

For the zoom workshops you can live anywhere! We’ve had international people join us. For the creating a one act you must be in person in Winona, MN.

'The Soliloquist Journal' seeks submissions of poems and soliloquies for Summer 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: July 10, 2026

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

What to send: Up to 5 original, unpublished poems or soliloquies.
Length: Maximum of 40 lines per poem.
Bio: Include a 50–70 word author bio written in the third person.

Publication: July 15, 2026

Theme: The Architecture of Solitude

Solitude is rarely a vast, empty space—it is built. It has walls we erect to protect our innermost selves, windows through which we watch a noisy world, drafty corners of loneliness, and sacred sanctuaries of deliberate peace.

For our Summer 2026 Issue, The Soliloquist Journal invites poets and writers to map these internal structures. Show us how you inhabit your quietest hours. What does the room of the self look like when the door is closed and the world is locked outside?

We are looking for raw, vulnerable, and authentic poetry and soliloquies that interrogate the blueprints of our private lives.

Subthemes to Inspire You

Sanctuaries and Strongholds: Spaces built for healing, private rituals, and self-preservation.

The View from the Window: The tension between watching the world pass by and being part of it.

Liminal Spaces: Corridors, thresholds, and navigating the quiet phases of becoming.

Inhabiting the Quiet: The sensory experience of being completely alone—when the internal monologue grows loud.

Shared Solitudes: The unique loneliness that occurs even while standing in a crowd.

15 Minutes of Frame 4th Annual Playwrights Competition: Battle of the Plays

Instagram

Deadline: July 7, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We are looking for 7 original 15-minute plays, along with 50 potential actors (Equity + Non-Aquity) and 7 directors.

All genres are welcome in the creation of theatre.

Submitted plays must be original works created by playwrights living in the Tri-State area who are available to participate in the competition.

The Winning play will be developed into a full-length production

Rules:

• Original short plays, including drama, comedy, musical theatre, or dance theatre, submitted by a living playwright
• Maximum length: 15 minutes
• Cast size: maximum of 7 performers
• All selected plays will be performed during the competition
• Audience votes will determine the winner
• The winning play will be developed into a full-length production

• Please include:

• Name

• Resume

• Headshot

• Bio

• Social media links

If you are a playwright, submit your play attached as a PDF file.

Submit your materials via. the link below.

Join us! Be part of it all
15 Minutes of Frame 2026
Thank you,
15 Minutes of Frame
Lucky’s Lighting Inc. & 24 Bond Arts Center

Savage Wonder seeks 10-minute plays or musicals

Website

Deadline: July 3, 2027

SUBMISSION FORM

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

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

Submissions may include plays or musicals. 

Playwrights must meet one of the following criteria:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Playwrights may submit more than one work. 

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

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

There is no participation or submission fee. 

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

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS — Mini Plays Review | September 2026 Issue

Website 

Deadline: August 31, 2026

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.

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.

Originality: Works must be original and unproduced in print format. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, provided you notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

Theme: Echoes of the Digital Age

This issue explores how human connection, conflict, identity, and memory are being rewritten in a hyper-connected yet deeply isolated world. We are looking for sharp, short scripts that capture the friction between our physical lives and our digital existence.

Subthemes for Submission:

1. Phantom Vibrations: The psychological weight, anxiety, or obsession of waiting for a notification that never comes

2. The Glitch in the Routine: A comedic or absurdist take on what happens when smart tech, algorithms, or AI assistants go entirely off-script.


3. Data Dust: A monologue or dialogue centering on a character confronting their digital legacy or a past online version of themselves.


4. Analog Hearts: Stories of people trying to find genuine, old-school intimacy, romance, or a quiet space to unplug in a world that demands constant presence.


5. The Algorithm Knows Best: A conflict where a major life decision (romance, career, ethics) is dictated entirely by predictive data.


6. Ghosted: The sudden, haunting silence of an abrupt digital disappearance and the struggle for closure in the real world.


7. Two Screens, One Couch: The invisible distance between two people physically close but entirely separated by their respective digital worlds.


8. The Deepfake: A high-stakes confrontation involving stolen identity, altered reality, or the blurring line between truth and digital fabrication.


9. Curated Lives: The dramatic tension behind the camera lens—what happens the second the "perfect" livestream or social media recording stops.


10. Sentience on the Line: A sharp dialogue between a human and an AI that is beginning to exhibit unexpectedly human traits or emotions.


11. The Comments Section: A play taking place entirely within the ecosystem of online anonymity, trolls, or internet fame.


12. Doomscrolling at Midnight: A micro-drama capturing the internal or external chaos of consuming endless global crisis updates in the dark.


13. Out of Network: The survivalist drama or unexpected freedom experienced when a character is completely disconnected from cellular service or power.


14. Digital Inheritance: A family or legal dispute over ownership of a deceased loved one's passwords, data, cloud storage, or online avatar.


15. The Echo Chamber: Two characters trapped in an escalating argument where they are incapable of hearing any perspective outside their own programmed biases.


Note:

The anthology will be published in pdf and paperback editions.

A free Pdf edition of the anthology will be published on our website .

A paperback edition will be published on ingram spark or lulu.com.

There is no publication, reading, processing or publishing fee.

Eighth Annual International Human Rights Art Festival

Website

Deadline: August 15, 2026

Please email our Festival Assistant Producer Costanza Bugiani at costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org with the following, and any questions:

• A brief description of your piece, including approximate running time - we’re accepting 10-20 mins works
• A cover letter, including details regarding the piece’s discipline, issue of concern treated and a brief summary of your artistic goals
• Your bios or resumes and the names of any collaborators already on board
• A sample of work (scripts, pics, videos, songs, any other links or file that could help us to know more about your project)
• As email subject, please type IHRAF Festival 2026, then add Association-Company-your name (i.e. IHRAF Festival 2026, Joan Doe)

December 7th - 13th, 2026
The Wild Project
195 E. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009

Results announced by September 15, 2026

Work may not have been produced within the last year in NYC, or be scheduled in the next six months of December 13th, 2026.

Please note:

• the performances must be fully produced by you; IHRAF is a presenting platform.
• Considering performances 10-20 minutes long.
• We accept just one proposal for each application.
• Submit all work to costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org

New York and Tri-state area based artists Call - The submission window is now open for live performance work in any form - every discipline.

International Human Rights Art Festival

December 7th - 13th, 2026

We are jurying work with the following interests, for performance blocks:

• Climate Change Action
• Immigration
• LGBTQIA+
• Celebration of Women/Women in Power
• Celebration of Black Men/Undiscovered Women
• Shalom/Salaam
• With Love from Africa

Plus:  Ten Minute Play Festival and a Ten Minute Performance Festival

… Any other social justice concerns you might have

All accepted performers will receive:

• Performance stipends of $250 total (per project)
• PR and marketing support
• 30-minute tech rehearsal
• Festival TD and SM
• Free photographic documentation of the performance
• Free video documentation of the performance

We are encouraging New York and Tri-state area based artists. Unfortunately we cannot cover any travel/lodging expenses.

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.

Swan Dive Theater Collective seeks submissions of 10-minute plays by women, non-binary, and trans playwrights

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Deadline: September 1, 2026

The NJ-based Swan Dive Theater Collective seeks submissions of 10-minute plays by women, non-binary, and trans playwrights from New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area for its Third Annual Short Play Festival, to be held on March 7, 2027.

Past festivals have sold out and featured two performances in the event space of a lively Montclair Tavern, offering food, drinks, and an intimate, festive atmosphere. Selected playwrights will receive a dinner stipend.

Swan Dive is a Montclair theater collective dedicated to advancing the stories of women and other marginalized gender identities by introducing new works and fostering community.

• Plays must be 10 minutes or less.
• Cast size must be between 2 and 4 actors.
• All plays should follow the Samuel French Standard Playwriting Format.
• Page One should include a cover sheet with title, name, contact info and pronouns. 
• Eligible playwrights must identify as women, non-binary, or trans and reside in New Jersey or the New York City metropolitan area.
• Submissions will be accepted through September 1, 2026 and be capped at the first 100 entries received.
• Submit PDF files only to swandivesubmissions@gmail.com.
• The subject line must read: Short Play Submission 2026–2027.
• Previously produced or published plays are welcome.
• Plays should require minimal set, technical, and production elements.
• Limit one submission per playwright.
• Accepted playwrights will work collaboratively with the director and cast throughout the rehearsal process.
• Plays that do not meet the submission requirements will not be considered.
• Plays written with AI assistance will not be considered.

Submissions for Boo! are now OPEN

Website

Deadline: July 25, 2026

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Scare us or force us to laugh till we die – horror plays and musicals including a great spoof.

Plays run one weekend out of three in October 2026
Oct 8 – 11
Oct 15 – 18
Oct 22 – 25
Thur – Sat 7pm; Sun 3pm

The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre at The Players Theatre: 115 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012 – 3rd floor walk-up: 

3 weeks, 4 performances weekly (Thursday through Sunday), 5 plays featured each week. 

ELIGIBILITY: Short Plays and Musicals with a performance time of 15 minutes or less, no more than 15 pages in length. Writers are eligible to submit up to 2 plays. Plays submitted must not have performances at other venues in New York City within a three month period preceding the festival.

PRIZE: Each week an audience favorite is selected by audience vote. The winner of each week will receive $100 prize 

THEME: “BOO” Scare us or force us to laugh till we die – horror plays and musicals including a great spoof are welcome! All plays submitted must be centered on and revolve around this theme. 

** Note ** 

1) Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. 

2) If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required 

Plays MUST be NO MORE 15 minutes in length and no more than 15 pages.

Click Here to download a sample contract for the festival – This is a sample of what you would receive IF your play is accepted – please DO NOT sign & send this sample.

Making It Happen: Festival of 15 Minute Musicals

Website

Deadline: July 6, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Making It Happen: 15 Minute Musicals is a new short musical festival presented by The Theater Center, created to give writers, composers, lyricists, and creative teams the opportunity to present original musical theatre work on an Off-Broadway stage in the heart of Times Square.

We are now accepting submissions for fully original 15-minute musicals. Selected musicals will perform at The Theater Center on one of three preliminary performance nights: Wednesday, August 12, Wednesday, August 19, or Wednesday, August 26. Each evening will feature 3 musicals, with audiences and judges voting to determine one winner from each night. The three nightly winners will advance to the Finals on Wednesday, September 2, where one overall winner will receive a $5,000 prize.

All submitted material must be fully original, including book, music, and lyrics. Teams must have the rights to perform all submitted material.

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

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

Selected teams will be responsible for providing their own cast, director, stage manager, music director, and live musicians/accompanist. Live music is required. Tracks are not permitted. No microphones will be used or provided, so pieces must be able to be performed acoustically in the space.

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

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

Somerset Community College seeks short plays

Facebook page

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Email submissions to: scctheatre@kctcs.edu 

Script CANNOT exceed ten pages

Plays can be any genre or setting, but must implement fairytale or medieval fantasy elements

The 2026 Short Play Showcase looking for plays

Instagram Account

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Email submissions to shortplayshowcase@gmail.com

Seeking NYCPlaywrights for the 2026 Short Play Showcase - looking for plays of 12 minute run time or less, with 2 characters max dealing with the themes of unrequited love, roommates, or addiction. 

The chosen plays will be performed early December at The Attic and a winning production will be chosen by audience votes.

Queens Short Play Festival: SUMMER 2026

Website

Deadline: July 5, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

● $250 Cash Prize for Best Play 

● $150 Cash Prize for Best Director 

● $100 Cash Prize for Best Actor 

● $100 Cash Prize for Best Actor 

● Each Play is guaranteed multiple performances [the exact number is decided once our final selection is made. Factors include the length of plays, but is not usually less than 4 performances. 

Guidelines: 

● Plays must be between 10 – 15 minutes in length. Preference given to plays that have not been produced before. Timings must be accurate please overestimate if not sure. We will reject any play longer than 15 mins. A rule of thumb is one minute per page if using 12pt Courier/Times New Roman 

● Playwrights are responsible for selecting the director and cast. (We may be able to help you if you do not have a director, but preference will be given to playwrights who can provide their own directors and actors.) 

● Easy to produce. (If you have a play which for a large amount of sets and props, or anything else too elaborate or impossible to cast, we may reject it.) 

● Excerpts limited to 15 minutes are acceptable 

● Please submit plays in PDF or Word format only. 

● We will divide selected plays into more programs, and selected Playwrights will be informed on a rolling basis. 

● We offer discounted rates for rehearsals from $10 per hour (off-peak hours) for participants

• Please be accurate in reporting your run time, as we will hold you to that time if your play is accepted.
• If selected, you will be responsible for providing the director and actors. 
• Please consider the feasibility of your staging - while we may have some pieces, we cannot promise to provide sets, props, or complicated furnishing.
• Equity Showcase Codes are allowed but if you wish to use one, you must process the application. We will be available to answer questions about this, but will not submit or manage your application for you.

This festival is organised tech taking place JULY SUMMER 20 - 26th 2026. Please do not submit your application if you are not available during this period. Specific performance dates will be determined after acceptance.

Uncharted Series seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: August 10, 2026 at 12:59 PM

UNCHARTED SERIES SUBMISSION FORM

The East Carolina University School of Theatre & Dance is seeking submissions for its Uncharted Series of new plays with dynamic roles for college-aged actors.

Seeking full-length plays that have at least five characters, with no more than one of those characters outside the age range of 15-25.

We are seeking plays that center the experience of late adolescence/early adulthood – where it is important that the characters are in that specific age range, rather than plays with characters that could be played by actors of any age.

Plays must be unpublished and unproduced (i.e., not performed in front of a paying audience). Readings and workshop productions are fine.

Selected plays will receive a staged reading as part of the ECU/Loessin Playhouse’s 2026-2027 season, with possible full production in future seasons. Playwrights will receive a $100 royalty for the reading along with travel support if they wish to participate in the rehearsals and/or reading in person.

If you have any questions, please contact ECU/Loessin Playhouse Artistic Director Kitt Lavoie at lavoiec25@ecu.edu.

Cry Havoc Play List 2026

Website

Deadline: July 6, 2026

PlayList Project Application Form - 2026

We are pleased to announce the fourth annual cycle of PlayList, a short play development series. Each participating playwright will write a new 10-minute play, ready for submission to festivals and other opportunities, supported by the new play dramaturgy community of the CRY HAVOC Company. The project will culminate in a public presentation of the play collection. Applications close end of day Monday, July 6th.

PlayList is for writers of any background, identity, education or experience level who are interested in honing their work on a short script with a room full of artists experienced in new play development. 

Applicants need to be local to the NYC area to participate and CRY HAVOC is especially seeking artists from underrepresented communities for this project. No fee to apply or participate; writers are paid a stipend for the use of their work in the public presentation.

The CRY HAVOC Company believes that writing a script doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. Feedback at key points in the writing process can bring you closer to your goals. Our approach to script development places your writing goals at the center of the workshop discussion, ensuring that collaborators are offering feedback in service of the play you are trying to write.

If you are interested in seeing how our structured feedback process can support your work, apply to be one of our PlayList writers!

PlayList participants will write new 10-minute scripts inspired by creative prompts linked by a theme. The 2026 theme is PlayList: Road Trip. Each writer will draw inspiration for a two-character play from a road trip song and an American roadside attraction.

What’s the Process?

SELECT
Playwrights apply to the project, sharing a writing sample and a song and landmark to serve as inspiration for a ten-minute play.

SHUFFLE
The songs and landmarks are reassigned randomly among the five selected playwrights.

CREATE
Each PlayList writer drafts a ten-minute, two-character play inspired by another playwright’s prompts.

COLLAB
Writers develop their drafts over several feedback sessions in the CRY HAVOC Workshop.

PLAY
Actors and directors join the process to present the PlayList collection as a public Equity 29-Hour Reading of the plays.

How does the collaboration work?

Each writer works with a facilitator—a CRY HAVOC artist to confer with before/after each feedback session. Facilitators moderate each session in support of the playwright and their goals. The feedback sessions will include our roster of artists with years of new play dramaturgy experience, the other PlayList writers, and invited guests and colleagues.

What's the schedule?
PlayList applicants are asked to commit to participation in a preliminary welcome meeting, six in-person workshop sessions in NYC, two final Zoom workshop sessions, and the public reading in NYC. 

See schedule below (all sessions will be in the evening):

• Mon. Aug. 31st: Welcome meeting
• Mon. Sept. 14th and Wed. Sept. 16th: In-person workshops, 1st drafts
• Tue. Sept. 22nd and Wed. Sept. 23rd: In-person workshops, 2nd drafts
• Mon. Sept. 28th and Wed. Sept. 30th: In-person workshops, 3rd drafts
• Mon. Oct. 5th and Wed. Oct. 7th: Zoom workshops, 4th drafts
• Mon Oct 26th: Public presentation

Who is PlayList for?

• This program is for writers of ANY background, especially if you are:
• looking for tools to support the development of new work
• searching for a community to serve as a “home base” for creative feedback and support
• not sure what you are going to write next
• an artist at any stage of your career, from emerging to established, who is looking for new collaborators

What are we looking for?

• CRY HAVOC is looking for artists who are interested in:
• discussing their work and their goals
• supporting the work of others
• exploring a system for structured feedback

When will I hear back about my application?

• All applicants will get a confirmation that their submission has been received
• Semi-finalists will be notified in early August
• Finalists will be notified in mid-August
• Selections will be finalized in late August

Any further questions? Email us: contact@cryhavoccompany.org