Glass Ceiling Breakers 2025: A Festival of Short Plays and Films by Women Artists

Website

Deadline: January 17, 2025 at  11:59 PM

Plays must be submitted here: https://forms.gle/ieLvz8pZbwpQUgz68

GCB 2025 is scheduled for June 6, 7 and 8, 2025 at the Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison NY.
Submission guidelines for plays:

Plays must be written by female or female identifying playwrights.

They can be produced or unproduced plays. Feel free to send us plays that were produced years ago that you'd like to revisit! Plays that are currently being workshopped are also welcome.

Plays should be no more than 10 minutes (we mean it!) 12 pages max (excluding the title page) in standard play format. Type size (12) with 1” margins.

If the play is 12 pages but longer than 10 minutes (lots of text) playwright may be asked for revisions if selected.

Save File as follows in PDF only: LAST NAME_TITLE OF PLAY_GCB25

Monologues are accepted but we prefer plays. Monologues should not be more than 3 pages.

BIPOC playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit.

Theatre and/or Playwrights will be informed in Early March.

If selected, playwrights and/or theatre companies are responsible for producing their play. There is no compensation for plays. Theatre Revolution may provide some production assistance (not financial) by connecting producers to possible actors, directors, and props. Only non-union actors may be cast in plays.

In all cases, Theatre Revolution will provide limited set pieces, lighting and sound equipment, and production staff. There will be a mandatory pre-production meeting via ZOOM for all playwrights or their representatives in March 2025. Questions? Email us. theatrerevolution1@gmail.com We are looking forward to reading your work!

Heartland 2025 10-Minute Play Competition

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

When next summer comes around there are two things you can count on—Heartland Theatre’s long-running annual 10-minute Play Festival and people having sales to get rid of stuff. In 2025, Heartland brings these summertime staples together on stage for “The Rummage Sale”.

We’re inviting playwrights to send us short plays that answer a simple question–if one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, what happens when those people come together? Well, that’s for playwrights all over the world to figure out. The Rummage Sale—Heartland Theatre’s 10-minute Play Festival for 2025. Now we’re accepting scripts and we’re looking forward to reading yours.

PERFORMANCES: May 29, 30, 31 & June 5, 6, 7, 8 | 12, 13, 14 – 2025

1. Your play must fit the theme – THE RUMMAGE SALE– or it will not be considered.

2. Your play must fit our theater and its performance space.

3. We require internet submissions in MS Word or PDF.

4. When formatting your play, we ask that you follow our style sheet.

5. We are looking for NEW plays. Please do not send us anything that has previously been produced.

6. Your play must contain at least two (2) characters, but no more than four (4).

7. Heartland Theatre Company has a pool of actors ranging in age from 18 to 80. Make sure that your characters can be played by actors within that range.

8. Your play should consist mainly of dialogue, not monologues.

9. No children’s plays, musicals, or plays which were previously chosen as winners in any Heartland Theatre playwriting competition will be considered.

10. Do not put your name on the play itself, as submissions are judged blind. Make sure your title and page numbers appear on every page of the play, however.

11. Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.

12. Those plays which win and are staged will be videotaped for archival purposes.

13. No contracts beyond the guidelines mentioned here will be offered.

14. Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.

15. Your play must be written in English.

16. Keep your play under ten minutes in length.

17. Remember that something has to happen in those ten minutes.

18. MAKE IT GOOD!

13th ANNUAL COLUMBUS BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL (CBTF)

Website

Deadline: February 28, 2025

Submission form

Mine 4 God Productions is accepting monologues and one-act plays that have diversity, inclusion, and equity of Black and Brown characters for our 13th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival (CBTF) that will be held July 5th-6th 2025, at The Columbus Performing Arts Center Van Fleet Theatre, located in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The theme for 2025 is Still Standing Strong. 

Our Founder/Artistic Director, Julie Whitney Scott, was given this theme, as usual, through prayer. It’s a theme that inspires hope, resilience, and love for each another. It’s about standing strong as an individual, couple or group of people before, during, through and after adversity comes into their lives. It’s about how to stay strong during difficult times. It must be a story that is a story and not a lecture to push your views on others. It must be about everyday people and their everyday lives and how they stand strong during adversity. Submissions are accepted December 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025.

The entries need to meet the following criteria:

1) No more than 4 to 6 characters (Actors can play double-roles.)

2) No derogatory, hate based, sexually explicit work will be reviewed or accepted.

3) Have minimal set/light requirements.

4) If required, play can be rehearsed/performed effectively by virtual means.

5) 15 to 20 minutes long for one-act plays. 5 to 10 minutes long for monologues.

6) Written blocking notes of the play can be rearranged by the Director to meet venue space.

7) Must submit a titled script and a blind script without any identifying information other than the title.

8) Only one play submission per playwright.

*Due to the number of plays received each year, you will not be notified unless your play is accepted. However, you can email us after February 28, 2025, for feedback on your submission at www.mine4godproductionsllc@aol.com 

 Go to our website at www.mine4godproductions.com to keep up with our festival notices.

Julie Whitney Scott, Founder/Artistic Director

Sound Balance commission for women and nonbinary writers and composers

Website

Deadline: January 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM ET

SOUND BALANCE is a new musical developmental reading and commissioning initiative, exclusively for women and nonbinary writers and composers. The initiative is a partnership between GLG, the first (and only) U.S.-based organization dedicated to developing and producing musical theater by women and non-binary writers and composers, and leading creative and producing professionals across theater, film and television whose work is related to musical theater. The program is a direct extension of GLG’s mission: To close the gender gap in musical theater authorship, and connect early career creators with those successfully developing musical content both in theater and other mediums.

Sound Balance is open to women and nonbinary integrated musical theater writers (meaning those individuals who write book, music and lyrics solo) or writing teams (consisting of composer, lyricist, bookwriter, or some combination of the above). 

To apply, applicants must submit the following work samples from a musical theater piece. Submissions will be open until 11:59 PM ET on January 15, 2025, or when 250 submissions are received:

A 20-25-page script excerpt (PDF format)
5 song demos (.mp3, .mp4, or .wav format)
Lyric sheets for the selected songs (PDF format)
Full script (PDF format)

Work samples from musical podcasts, musical film or TV scripts, musical video games, or any other content forms that the creator(s) would call a "musical," in addition to stage musicals, are entirely welcome. ​Submissions will reviewed by a panel of industry members. The selected writer or writing team will receive a $3000 commission for the first draft of a piece of their choosing from GLG's slate of projects in development, culminating in an industry reading in late 2025. 

Finalists will be selected by early February 2025, and all applicants will be notified of their status.

"Ampersand VI" New Works 10 Minute Play Festival Submission

Facebook

Deadline: December 9, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

"Ampersand VI" New Works 10 Minute Play Festival Submission - Stoic Theatre

Please submit your 10 minute play via the submission form in PDF format. Have a cover page with the title, playwright name, contact information (email and/or phone number), and a copyright date. Please have your pages numbered.

The theme of the festival is "New Beginnings".

There is no submission fee nor any production fee if your play is chosen. You will receive a $100 award if your play is chosen as the audience favorite.

Stoic Theatre is a professional theatre connected with the University of St. Thomas - Houston Drama Program. Selected plays will be notified by February 28, 2025.


REQUIREMENTS:
1. A maximum of 5 actors for your play. You may have actors play multiple parts. Please stipulate this in your script.
2. Your play must be currently unlicensed.
3. We ask that your play have had no previous productions. Previous readings and staged readings are fine.
4. Please keep the scenic requirements to a minimum.
5. The play must be 10 minutes long. A small variation of this time is acceptable.

Your play will only be shared with our reading committee. We will never use your play for anything other than the festival without your prior consent. We value the rights of playwrights.

Performances are at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX. April 10, 11, & 12, 2025. Selected plays will be notified by February 28, 2025.

Quantum Egg Oracle Callout

Instagram page

Deadline: January 10, 2025

Manchester UK

For our second anthology night, we are accepting short plays responding to the stimulus of ORACLE.

Scripts should be no more than 30 minutes in length and require no more than 3 actors (actors can multi-role). No more than 2 pieces should be submitted per writer.

While we encourage creativity in response to the prompt, please make sure your play responds to the theme!

We especially encourage submissions from trans, non-binary, disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergents, and ethnically diverse writers.

Scripts chosen will undergo a short period of development with the team. If chosen, please be prepared to make the time for up to two re-drafts.

Writers will be paid profit-share.

Please email submissions to quantumeggtheatre@gmail.com.

Catskill Public Theater “Beyond Woodstock”

Website

Deadline:  January 1, 2025

Please send submissions to catskillpublictheaternewplays@gmail.com

As the Catskill Public Theater (CPT) approaches our Summer 2025 season, we plan to present a series of skits that expand on the themes and messages that still resonate with the Woodstock phenomena. We envision this production of vignettes being dramatic as well as comedic, presented in a format that will include original content, dynamic multi-media sequences, music of the day, along with visual projections of iconic and previously unseen images taken by the recently discovered photographer, Mark Goff, whose collection is represented by CPT creative director Nick Clemente.

To support this production, we are sponsoring a “Call for Submissions” for original ideas that could be part of the short scenes, sketches, and mini-plays, amplifying the Woodstock Festival message. We invite the public to share their direct experience or even their imaginative experiences for inclusion in this play. Any length will work. 

We encourage expansive, unexpected, and surprising connections to the Woodstock festival. Let your creative flag fly!

Imagine expanding on themes such as:

> Getting there…Not getting there

> Being there, and being transformed while there

> Car trouble on the way. Calling parents with fabricated excuses.

> Be transformed from patient to doctor in the medical tents

> Discovering Max Yasgur’s farm as a catalyst for your own farming aspirations

> Falling in love while there and starting lifelong relationships

> Getting sick and tired there then laughing about it

> Recalling Psychedelic experiences there

> Experiences spiritual awakenings there

> Discovering the magic of nature there and after

> Imagining that you are an artist and music while there

Submissions will be curated by Jessica López-Barkl and Nick López, Professors of Theater and Speech at SUNY Sullivan. They will chair a jury that will include Nick Clemente and Marshall Shnider, Founding Director of CPT.

Selected submissions will be a part of the final production of “Beyond Woodstock” and will be paid an honorarium of $200. All submissions will receive three free reservations for any CPT production during our 2025 season.

Our mission at Catskill Public Theater is to present Free, Pay-What-You-Wish theater productions, Free acting classes, along with sharing our rentable state-of-the-art mobile stage, for more information, visit www.CatskillPublicTheater.com.

Peace: January 1, 2025: Submission Deadline

Love: February 14, 2025: Winners announced.

Summer 2025: Beyond Woodstock Performances.

Seventh Annual Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists

Website

Deadline: December 2, 2024

Submission Form

The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists is a juried cash and production grant given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. It commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H.

Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Best Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, which earned Pricilla Lopez a Drama Desk Award nomination.

The winner will receive $2,000 to help with cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2025 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, culminating in an Amas Lab production with New

York theatre professionals. Amas, which is administering the Award, was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals, and which produced the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three.

With the many setbacks in the theatre industry over the past few years, we are grateful to be afforded this opportunity to continue making theatre and creating an impact in our community. We are excited to begin work with our 2024 winners Daniel and James Cullen on their piece Dubbo Championship Wrestling and welcome a new wave of inspiring voices to our musical theatre family.

Submissions open September 12, 2024 and will close December 2, 2024. All submissions must be sent through an online application that can be found HERE.

Only one submission per playwright/librettists will be accepted. The winner of the Award is announced in Spring 2025.

 

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

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

APPLY HERE

Submission Requirements:

The musical must:

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

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

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

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

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

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

​​

What to submit

All documents must be submitted as PDF files and they should be named with the part of the submission it refers to and the title of the show in the format of PART_TITLE, i.e.: for Tea for Three; BIO_TEA-FOR-THREE, SYNOPSIS_TEA-FOR-THREE, etc.

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

2. History of the submission’s development, and any previous titles it has gone through (if applicable, maximum one page)

3. Brief synopsis (maximum 150 words)

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

5. Proof of rights (if applicable)

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

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

NYCPlaywrights seeks monologues and 10-minute plays on the theme "Resisting Fascism"

NYCPlaywrights seeks monologues and 10-minute plays.

DEADLINE IS SUNDAY DECEMBER 1 at 11:59 PM.

The theme is "Resisting Fascism."

When Trump was elected in 2016, excuses were made for Trump voters: "they didn't really understand how bad he was" and "they had concerns about the economy."

NYCPlaywrights responded by seeking monologues and 10-minute plays on the theme of Women in the Age of Trump.

But in 2024 anybody who voted for Trump knew who he was - a rapist. A felon. A racist who uses the same "blood and soil" rhetoric as Hitler. A racist who tried to get legal Haitian immigrants killed by lying about them. His VP pick, J. D. Vance, admitted it was a lie.

Trump voters voted for a traitor who tried to overthrow American democracy on January 6, 2021.

So this time NYCPlaywrights is looking for scripts about resisting fascism, whether resisting Trump directly or resisting fascist organizations or pro-fascist friends and family. 

We encourage scripts from first-time playwrights as well as experienced writers, from anywhere in the world.

SEMI-FINALIST SCRIPTS

NYCPlaywrights will select as many of the scripts that we like and which meet the submission guidelines to be semi-finalists.

The semi-finalists will be listed on this blog and an excerpt from each script (if permission is granted by the playwright) will be displayed in a blog post, one per day, along with any website links or other contact information the author wishes to share. 

The deadline is Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM. 

The semi-finalist script selections will be announced Saturday, December 7, 2024 - Pearl Harbor Day, the worst date of infamy until the 2024 Presidential Election.


FINALIST SCRIPTS

The finalist scripts will be selected from the semi-finalist scripts. Three scripts will be chosen. Video-recorded excerpts of those scripts, read/performed by actors will be displayed on NYCPlaywrights.org (if permission is granted by the playwright) along with contact information and links to author web sites, author biography and a summary of the script. 

One script will be chosen from the three finalists scripts, its author will receive an award of $25. 

The finalists and award-winner will be announced Sunday, January 19, 2025. 

Excerpts from the semi-finalist scripts will begin posting the next day.


THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Failure to follow guidelines will result in your script being rejected.

As always, there is no fee for submissions. 

All rights will remain with the playwright. 

Yes, you can use a pen name instead of your real name if your work is posted online.

• The deadline is December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Send only one play per author to resist@nycplaywrights.org. 
• The script must be submitted by the author of the script, no agents or others may submit. 
• The script submission should be sent by email, with the script itself as a file attached to the email. File format should be .pdf because it will retain your original script formatting. 
• Make sure you have your name and your email address on the script. 
• Plays can be submitted by anybody, from anywhere in the world but must be primarily in English (a few non-English phrases are acceptable, but the phrases must include English translations in production notes or stage directions.) 
• A play that has had a production is acceptable.
• A play that has been published is not acceptable.

• 10-minute plays must be no more than 10 dialog pages (not counting the title page, list of characters, etc.) using standard script formatting. See guidelines and a template here. 
• If you submit a 10-minute play you cannot also submit a monologue.

• Monologues must be only one page long, using standard text size and spacing.
• If you submit a monologue you cannot also submit a 10-minute play.

• There will be no money awarded for selected scripts except for the selected finalist script.

• The NYCPlaywrights' decisions are final.

Any questions email info@nycplaywrights.org

PLEASE NOTE: when you submit your play, you should get an automatic response that says:

***

Thank you for sending.

The semi-finalist script selections will be announced Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The finalists and award-winner will be announced January 19, 2025.

Nancy at NYCPlaywrights

***

If you don't see the response, it's likely because you have sent your piece via a Yahoo or AOL email account, which are hyper-sensitive about group emails, which they consider spam. You would have to "whitelist" the resist@nycplaywrights.org email address to receive the response.

Consider getting a gmail account, you won't miss emails that way.

Plays about fascism

• The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 
• Fear and Misery of the Third Reich
• A Bright Room Called Day
• It Can't Happen Here
• Rhinoceros
• The Fire Raisers
• Watch on the Rhine
• Winter Solstice 
• The Camp

UPDATE: thanks to Trump voters, American foreign policy will now be dictated by a South African immigrant: JD Vance says US could drop support for NATO if Europe tries to regulate Elon Musk’s platforms

MORE EVIDENCE: Trump voters know Trump is a fascist - they don't care! 

And of course they won't even get economic help, once Trump's tariffs kick in. 

Trump voters sold out democracy on a false promise to save a few bucks.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The latest Trump atrocity: Trump picks liar and puppy killer Kristi Noem to lead Homeland Security

Loved Ones Audio Fiction Podcast seeks plays

Website

Deadline: December 30, 2024

BLIND SUBMISSIONS ONLY
email submissions@brokenartsentertainment.com or 

brokenartssubmissions@gmail.com

RULES:

• Length: 10-30 minutes
• Cast Size: 2-5
• Theme: Loved Ones
• How Many: You can submit up to 3 plays
• Type: Blind submission - Remove all personal identifying information from the script (instead put in the body)

Must Have: A Cast List

WiiFM (What's in it for me?): You will get IMDb credit as well as a royalties contract.

NOTE: We do cinematic podcast ear candy. There will be SFX (up to 200), there will be cinematic music, risers, and more.

Ready to become and Art Breaker? Submit!

A FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACTS III

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

A FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACTS III
March 28 & 29, 2025
7:00 PM
March 30, 2025
2:00 PM

Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library
475 Moe Rd
Clifton Park, NY 12065

A weekend of stage readings of original short plays.

Plays MUST be 20-25 pages long (not including Title Page, Character/Scene Descriptions, etc.) and must be submitted in Standard Play Format.

Plays must feature no more than 5 characters and be in one setting.

Works must be solely original and not based on or contain any previously copyrighted material.

Writers are asked to submit only one play to help limit the number of submissions that our selection team needs to read.

The plays will be presented at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library over the weekend of March 28-30, 2025.

Genesius Theatre of Reading, PA 2025 Staged-Reading Series

Website

Deadline: December 8, 2024

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Entries are limited to ONE (1) script per playwright.
• There is no entry fee.
• Scripts submitted can be of any length.
• We are only accepting NON-MUSICAL scripts at this time.
• Attach and send your script to genesius.submission@gmail.com

The subject line must read -
[FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] GTSR 2025
The body of the email must read -
[TITLE]
[BY]
[# OF CHARACTERS]
[GENRE(s)]
[ESTIMATED RUN TIME]
[3-5 SENTENCE DESCRIPTION]
EXAMPLE SUBMISSION
SUBJECT: JOHN DOE GTSR 2025
I Thought It Was A Fart
John Doe
3m 4f (could also say 7)
Comedy, Farce
45 minutes
Tony joins his girlfriend in a three-day food fast. He is unprepared for what happens to the body during a fast. He risks losing a big client for his company after an embarrassing meeting.

Submissions are now open and will close DEC 8, 2024. You will receive an automatic reply upon entry.
Final decisions will be made in LATE FEBRUARY 2025.
Thank you in advance to all that submit. We look forward to reading your scripts!

Theatre Southwest is NOW accepting short plays for its Annual Readers' Theatre Matinee

Website

Deadline: January 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM

This year the TSW-RTM will happen on Sunday, Jan. 19th, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. and our event producer Brian Heaton will be accepting 5-10 minute scripts from NOW until Jan. 3rd, 2025.

Selected plays will be read and voted on by the audience in attendance and the Audience Favorite will receive a $100 cash prize.

Guidelines for this this year's event are as follows:

Scripts will be accepted via snail-mail and email.

Scripts entered should be in PDF format for email. Printed entries should be in standard play format and bound in a 3-hole punch folder or with brads.

Limit of 1 entry per playwright of original works that are unpublished, and unproduced.

There is NO ENTRY FEE.

ALL scripts should be numbered with title, list of characters, brief synopsis of play and playwright's contact info on title page.

No Monologues or one man/woman plays will be accepted.

ALL genres of plays will be accepted.

ALL plays should be able to be read within 5 to 10 minutes, no longer, no exceptions. If using standard play format a good gauge would be if the play's text is 4 to 11 pages long (excluding title page).

Please make sure the play you are submitting is conducive to Readers' Theatre, simple stage directions, story mostly expressed through dialogue, not action.

Approximately 8-12 plays will be selected to be given a performance level read, and the playwrights selected will be informed prior to the event.

Please email scripts to: heaton_it_up@hotmail.com
By 11:59 p.m. on January 3th, 2025.

Please mail scripts to:

Theatre Southwest
8944 Clarkcrest St.
Houston, TX 77063
Attn: TSW-RTM
Postmarked by: January 3th, 2025

To learn more about Theatre Southwest of Houston, Texas please click on the link below to visit their website: https://tswhouston.com/

Call for Plays – Amphibian Stage’s SparkFest 25

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2024 

Only 100 submissions will be accepted. 

The application window will close once the cap is reached or on December 31, 2024 – whichever occurs first.

SUBMISSION FORM

Amphibian Stage, a non-profit professional theater based in Fort Worth, TX is pleased to accept plays from professional playwrights from all across the nation to be considered for our New Works portion of SparkFest.

Amphibian Stage honors the Indigenous People of this nation who, for generations, were the stewards of our lands. We respectfully acknowledge that our theatre resides on the ancestral home of the Comanche, Wichita and Kickapoo People.

We’re currently accepting plays for our next SparkFest. In 2025, SparkFest, Amphibian Stage’s annual performing arts festival, will celebrate Native Americans and peoples indigenous to Turtle Island (or the North American continent) and Hawai’i.

Who are seeking:

We are seeking plays specifically by US-based Native American and Indigenous playwrights. Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawai’ian, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, and First Nations playwrights authorized to work in the U.S. are invited to apply.

What this opportunity is:

Three selected playwrights will receive a 20 hour development workshop followed by 2 staged readings at Amphibian Stage. Rehearsal and readings of the three selected plays will take place between June 14-22, 2025 (exact schedule is TBD). Playwrights will receive a professional stipend of $500 each, plus airfare and housing during the development time in Fort Worth.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. You are a playwright who identifies as Indigenous to Turtle Island or Hawai’i. Plays by Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawai’ian, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, and First Nations playwrights authorized to work in the US will be considered.
2. You must still be developing and working on the script.
3. You must be available to join us for SparkFest 2025 during the development week between June 14-22, 2025 (exact schedule is TBD).
4. The play may not have had more than one fully-staged production.
5. Your work is full-length. Plays will be prioritized. Musicals with a cast size of 6 or less will be considered. Musicals must be able to be accompanied by piano only and/or provide their own tracks for the development week.
6. Only one script per playwright.
7. The playwright must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

No agent submissions, please. Only 100 submissions will be accepted. The application window will close once the cap is reached or on December 31, 2024 – whichever occurs first.

Queens Short Play Festival Winter 2025

Website

Deadline: December 20, 2024

Winter Festival: February 19 - March 16, 2025

PLEASE NOTE: PLAYS ARE ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS. WAITING UNTIL THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS NOT ADVISED.

Queens Short Play Festival is now accepting plays for its Winter 2025 festival. The Secret Theatre seeks to promote new work and emerging playwrights through our biannual One Act Festival. Last year's festivals were a success and this year we are excited for more!

Tech week starts on Feb 4th The first show is on Feb 12th and the Grand finale is on March 9th.

No fee to submit or produce.

• $250 Cash Prize for Best Play

• $100 Cash Prize for Best Director

• $75 Cash Prize for Best Actor

• $75 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 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 instance includes a swimming pool, a large amount of sets and props, or anything else too elaborate or is impossible to cast we may reject it.)

• Excerpts limited to 15 mins 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 for participants

Apply HERE: https://form.jotform.com/242618481627967

OR via QR: 

The Secret Theatre
38-02 61st St, Woodside Queens 11377
nearest subway 61st on the 7 or one stop from 74th E, M, 7, F, & R secrettheatre.com

Seeking Scripts for “New Works New Writers” Virtual One Act Festival

Facebook page

Deadline: December 18, 2024 at 11:59pm PST 

Theme: Short One Act Plays or Excerpts from longer works that have never been produced before, written by playwrights that we have never produced before (note: if you have only written for us for a flash festival, but have never had other work produced by us, you may still submit).

There are no geographic restrictions as to where playwrights can submit from.

We ask that playwrights refrain from submitting scripts that are above a “PG-13” in rating (i.e. no nudity, excessive violence, or sexually explicit material.) 

Please reach out with any questions.

Since our festival will be performed 100% virtually, plays that are specifically written for virtual performance, though not required, are a plus. Pieces that do not translate effectively from stage to screen may not be selected. Not required but helpful: if your piece is written originally for a “traditional stage,” you may include suggestions with your submission on how it might translate.

The festival will be broken into two blocks, each of which will have two performances.

Block A will perform: Friday January 24 at 6:30pm PST and Saturday January 25 at 2pm PST.
Block B will perform: Saturday January 25 at 6:30pm PST and Sunday January 26 at 2pm PST. 

Scripts should have an approximate runtime of 8-15 minutes with 2-3 speaking characters total. 

Excerpts from longer plays are permitted, as long as they are able to be performed independently with minimal added context.

All pieces will be performed 100% live, i.e. on livestream and not pre-recorded, unless otherwise arranged. RDAC has adopted a policy where, in the interest of providing a live theater experience, we do not present any pre-recorded pieces except in unavoidable circumstances.
No experience required and no submission fees. Unfortunately we are not able to provide a stipend of any kind at this time, though we are working towards this as our top financial goal for future festivals as we (slowly but surely) grow and expand our operations.

TO BE CONSIDERED: Please email a BLIND COPY (no identifying information whatsoever in the document) to us at rainydayrevue@gmail.com by no later than 11:59pm PST on December 18, 2024. 

Limit of one play per playwright - if we receive multiple submissions from the same playwright, none will be considered. 

LATE SUBMISSIONS OR THOSE THAT DO NOT FOLLOW ALL OF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS EVENT.

The 4th Annual Patchwork Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2024

Eclectic Full Contact Theater Company announces the opening of submissions for the 4th annual Patchwork Play festival.

To be presented at The Edge Theater, 5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL.
Feb. 21, 2025 - March 2, 2025

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

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 Reading are fine)
• Play length not to exceed 30 minutes.
• Play must reflect the yearly theme. This years theme is: Redemption
• Play must be received by November 30, 2024
• Playwrights cannot submit more than 2 scripts per year for Crashbox! 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 Crashbox! 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.
Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

PMRP SEEKING RADIO THEATRE SCRIPTS

Website

Deadline: December 15, 2024

PMRP SEEKING RADIO THEATRE SCRIPTS FOR SPRING 2025 ADVENTURE ANTHOLOGY
The Post-Meridian Radio Players, based in Eastern Massachusetts, is seeking submissions of one-act, adventure-oriented plays that would pair well with "The Most Dangerous Game" for our Spring 2025 show. PMRP’s work pays homage to the golden age of radio, and our productions take place as staged readings before a live audience, with sound effects performed live. Since 2006, we have brought original and public domain radio plays to life in our distinctive format, which includes script-in-hand actors and live foley artists. We are committed to EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion).

Our 2025 Spring show, with the working Title of "Tales of Adventure," aims to take the audience on an adventurous journey to exciting places. Danger, daring, and harrowing risks are the order of the day. The selected play(s) will be paired with headliner "The Most Dangerous Game." Your play can either be fully original or an adaptation of a public domain work of fiction. Submission is free, and playwrights can submit more than one play.

Guidelines are as follows (please read carefully):

Deadline is December 15, 2024. Scripts must be submitted via email to info@pmrp.org in either PDF, DOC, DOCX, or Google Doc format. If all you have is a paper script, please scan it into PDF. 

We won’t be accepting submissions via physical mail.

Plays should be 20-30 minutes in length.

Scripts must be in English. No musicals, please. Your play can be set in any time period.

Scripts should be free of most blocking or other stage direction meant for a fully staged production. Our shows are performed at microphones, with the full cast and foley team visible to the audience at all times. If you’ve never adapted for radio theatre before, please don’t worry about getting the format right the first time. If selected, we’ll work closely with you to turn your script into a radio script (we’ve even adapted silent films for radio!)

Please avoid sending scripts that contain characters or music under copyright from different fictional universes/franchises. As an example, we don’t want to see mash-ups containing characters from Rocky Horror, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, nor published music under current copyright.

Playwrights whose work is selected for production will be paid a royalty of $15 per performance. We most often have 5-6 performances per run. Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world, but you must be able to legally accept your royalty payment in US funds. You will also receive a comp ticket to see a performance, should you wish.

If you're sending multiple submissions, please send each submission in its own email, with your name and the name of the play in the subject line.

Please send submissions to info@pmrp.org.

Missouri is seeking submissions for its second annual “Social Justice Shorts” one-act play festival

Website

Deadline: January 1, 2025

A Call to Conscience Interactive Theatre for Social Change in collaboration with Bread & Roses Missouri is seeking submissions for its second annual “Social Justice Shorts” one-act play festival. 

The company is seeking 10-minute short plays, monologues, musicals or plays with music centered with the following suggested themes (this is not an exhaustive list. Feel free to submit a piece featuring a social justice issue not mentioned here):

● LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Issues

● Mental Health

● Economic Justice/Workers’ Rights

● Police Brutality/Gun Violence

● Healthcare Equity

● Immigrant/Refugee Struggles

● Homeless/Unhoused Issues

● Age Discrimination

● Reproductive Justice

● Racial Justice

● Gender 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 characters will be accepted (plays with more than three characters will not be considered). Playwrights are welcome to submit solo performance pieces. Plays longer than 10 minutes will NOT be considered.

A pianist will be provided for musicals or plays that include music. However, plays that require a full band will not be accepted. Please note: All music must be original and not previously copyrighted by another party. The company is not liable for any copyright infringement.

Limited set, props and technical requirements are strongly preferred.

Playwrights please email: 

1) a bio or resume (100 words or less); 

2) entire play with original score if musical; 

3) title page/synopsis; and 

4) cast breakdowns 

to A Call to Conscience Artistic Director Fannie Lebby: fannie.c2c@gmail.com

Submissions will be accepted now until January 1, 2025.

Plays will be judged on the following criteria:

● Plot

● Character Development

● Dialogue

● Clear social justice theme

● Overall writing quality & theatrically

● Can be produced within budgetary constraints

Kindly submit only one play; please choose your favorite. The play must not have had any productions or be published. Playwrights who submit will be informed of the results, regardless of the outcome, by February 1, 2025. There is no submission or participation fee. Playwrights will receive a $100 stipend if your play is accepted.

We look forward to the privilege of reading YOUR play soon!

Hunter College MFA Playwriting Program is accepting applications

The Hunter College MFA Playwriting Program is accepting applications through January 15th! Please visit https://theatre.hunter.cuny.edu/mfa for more information.

Artists' Exchange seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: December 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST

OR once 120 submissions have been received

Cranston, Rhode Island

Seeking original, unpublished 10-minute plays

Playwrights can submit up to 2 plays

Email submissions to theatre@artists-exchange.org

Artists' Exchange is excited to announce a 10-minute play festival featuring 6 short original plays to be presented on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, May 16-18, 2025.

We are seeking submissions from playwrights 18 years and older of all ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, and orientations for plays that meet the following criteria:

• Unpublished works only
• Around 10 minutes in length
• Between 2 and 6 performers
• Gender-flexible characters are encouraged but not required
• Minimal set, lighting, props, & costumes

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays in a digital-friendly format. (PDF, MS Doc, etc.)
Submissions must be emailed to Theatre@artists-exchange.org by 11:59 PM EST on December 7, 2024.
Once 120 submissions have been received no more submissions will be accepted.
Playwrights will receive a notice of submission receipt by email. If a playwright does not receive a receipt confirmation they may email Theatre@artists-exchange.org to follow up.
Submissions will be reviewed by a committee for selection in the festival.

Playwrights will be contacted regarding selection status no later than January 15, 2025. Selected plays will be announced no later than January 22, 2025.

PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES

• The playwrights are encouraged to be part of the production process and performances but are not required.
• We will host a virtual meeting with playwrights and directors the week of February 17, 2025. This will be prior to directors' play assignments and gives the playwrights an opportunity to talk about their plays.
• Once directors are assigned, playwrights may communicate directly with them but are asked not to communicate with actors.
• Part of the performances will include an audience discussion afterward with directors, actors, and any playwrights who wish to attend.

PERFORMANCES

Dates: Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17 at 7:00 PM. Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 PM.
Location: Artists' Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston, RI 02910
For further information, please contact Theatre@artists-exchange.org

Submission Call for Female Playwrights: Lincoln Park Theatre Festival 2025

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2024

Submit to izzymartinez@bfatheatre.org

Presented by Bilingual Foundation of The Arts

We invite talented female playwrights to submit their original, unpublished works for consideration in the upcoming Lincoln Park Theatre Festival. This festival aims to celebrate diverse voices in theatre, highlighting the unique perspectives of women in the arts.

**Guidelines for Submission**

-Eligibility: Open to all female playwrights.
-Play Length: Submissions should be between 30 to 60 pages.
-Content: We are seeking new, unproduced works that showcase creativity, innovation, and compelling storytelling in Spanish, English or Bilingual of any genre. Must be multi-characters plays (No monologues).
-Format: Please submit your work in a standard play format (PDF preferred).
-Cover Letter: Include a brief cover letter with your contact information, a short bio, and a synopsis of your play.
-Submission Deadline: All entries must be received by December 31st, 2024.
-Selection Process: A panel of industry professionals will review submissions, and selected plays will be announced by March 31st, 2025.
-Festival Dates: The festival will take place from June 20-22th, 2025, offering playwrights the opportunity to have their work showcased in a vibrant and supportive environment.

We encourage all female playwrights to share their voices and stories with us. We look forward to discovering your innovative works!

During the festival, the top 3 selected playwrights will have a staged reading held by a selected group of actors in front of a live audience.

For more information, please contact www.bfatheatre.org or izzymartinez@bfatheatre.org.

Abingdon Theatre Company Raise the Page 2025

Website

Deadline: December 20, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

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

Playwrights: Short play submissions should be unpublished, no longer than 40 pages and written by BIPOC individuals. We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages.

Festival will take place:
February 15-16, 2025 at the AMT Theater (354 W. 45th Street)

Should you have any questions, please email 

omannion@abingdontheatre.org and 

kbell@abingdontheatre.org.

Theatre Now Soundbites seeks 10-minute musicals

Website

Deadline: January 3, 2025 at midnight

SUBMISSION FORM

Theatre Now defines a 10-minute musical as any piece that can be performed in 10 minutes or less; has a beginning, middle, and end story arc; and includes music. Having produced nearly 100 pieces, we want musicals that are diverse and current, that test the musical form and communicate a well-crafted story. We accept musicals across all styles and genres and are happy to consider foreign language and/or bilingual scripts. We strongly encourage submissions from female writers, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers.

As Theatre Now is an artist service organization and the producer of SOUND BITES, we cover the majority of your expenses and costs. We're the only short musical theatre festival that offers artists honorariums and rehearsal reimbursements for each piece. That being said, there are some out-of-pocket costs depending on your show's requirements (cast & creative team size, number of rehearsals, size of rehearsal space, etc.) and personal choice. Most of these costs relate to specific set-dressing, props and costumes for your show and additional personnel such as musicians.

Please review the following criteria thoroughly before sending your submission:

Ten-minute musicals will be accepted from September 1st, 2024 - January 3rd, 2025 at midnight.

Submissions won’t be considered before or after the deadline.

Musical theatre writers can only submit up to two scripts.

The story must have a beginning, middle, and end.

We accept submissions in foreign languages or that are bilingual. Although the application process is in English, the work itself may be submitted and performed in any other language if selected.

Each piece must include music.

All submissions must be submitted via this website. No physical copies.

Each musical must not exceed ten minutes when performed. If accepted, cuts may be required.

Longer one-acts or full-length musicals will not be considered, although the submission may be a 10-minute portion of a longer piece as long as it tells a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end story arc.

A musical may be a previously-produced work with a production history.

We have no formal script formatting guidelines, but all scripts should be easy to read.

The volume of submissions prevents us from providing feedback on all submissions.

If your piece is visual (i.e. choreography-heavy), please include video footage or detailed descriptions.

We expect to contact all writers by mid-February, 2025 on the status of their submission with one of the following emails:

An acceptance email into the festival that will include additional information to confirm their involvement. 

A waitlist email. In the event an accepted musical declines their participation, a selected waitlisted musical will be notified to serve as a replacement.

The remaining musicals will receive a "not selected" email and are encouraged to submit again next year.

Grosse Pointe Theatre 12th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2024

Grosse Pointe Theatre announces their 12th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival June 12, 13 and 14, 2025. 

Ten minute scripts will be accepted, starting November 15 but before the deadline of midnight, December 31, 2024. 

Plays should be sent by email to playfestival@gpt.org.

The winning plays will be presented on a black-box stage without doors or windows. In addition to a list of characters, the title page should include a three-sentence synopsis of the action of the play.

The theme for 2025 is Rockin’ Through Life. Each play should involve a rocking chair on stage throughout the play. The rocking chair must be significantly involved in the play. Plays that do not contain a rocking chair will be disqualified without notice.

Thomas W. Stephens Playwriting Competition 2025 seeks one-act plays

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

This competition honors the memory of Thomas W. Stephens, PhD, playwright and PlayZoomers Board Member Emeritus.

PlayZoomers, a live, online, nonprofit theater company, seeks one-act scripts (20 – 30 minutes) suitable for online production, on any subject, related to any genre, with no more than six characters. No submission fee is required.

Two playwrights will each receive a $100 prize. We plan to produce the two, winning one-act plays (together) on a Friday andSaturday evening in the spring of 2025.

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

On the first page of your script include the title, playwright name, estimated run time, 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 Dec 1, 2024. As we read through scripts, we will acknowledge your submission andreach out to you only if your script is selected for production.

With 117+ professionally produced plays since 2020 - involving more than 285 playwrights, directors, designers, and actors - PlayZoomers has become a national online theatre company and an international theatre community. We feature plays of different genres and lengths, with cast sizes typically ranging from two to six. We work closely with playwrights to adapt their work to an online platform. We welcome theatre artists and audience members of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Learn more about ourtheatre company at https://www.playzoomers.org.

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.

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

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.

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.
​
Please note that submissions that exceed word counts or maximum amount of material will be disqualified from consideration.
​
Submissions are only accepted through our website. Any submissions sent directly to our email will be deleted without response.

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.

EPIC is seeking scripts written by playwrights who identify as disabled or neurodivergent

Website

Deadline: December 13, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

At EPIC, we are dedicated to creating performance opportunities and elevating the voices of neurodivergent actors, playwrights, creators and artists. A key part of this mission is elevating original work by neurodivergent playwrights through producing new plays at EPIC.

EPIC is seeking fully written theatrical scripts written by playwrights who identify as disabled or neurodivergent. We are so excited to further elevate the voices of the neurodiverse community through original work. If selected, EPIC will collaborate with you to prepare for a public reading of your script and possibly even elevate the piece into a fully produced performance.

If you’d like to submit your original work for consideration, please hit the button below to fill out our submission form. 

All submissions will be evaluated by our team in 2025, with the piece(s) chosen to be produced in late 2025 or 2026.

Artistic labs at Amoeba ~ The Emerging Playwrights Lab

Website

Deadline: December 15th, 2024 at 11:59PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

Over the course of three months, each playwright will have three cold readings performed by a community of actors. After each reading there will be structured discussion from a rotating board of theatre artists and their fellow lab members. Between each of their cold reads, the playwright will have a one on one meeting with the facilitator to set individual goals for their next reading. The lab will culminate in fifteen minutes of each play being presented at a festival of new works at a Manhattan venue with invited industry guests, friends, and fellow artists.

Go Try PlayWrite November 2024

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

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!

The prompt for November 2024 is:
A liar’s prompt. Write a 10-page maximum scene about a childhood incident in a politicians life that teaches them to lie to get what they want. This is the opposite of the Washington myth of chopping down the cherry tree. The lie should echo in future lies in the politician’s life without outright stating the future lie. For example, “I didn’t let the dog out of the yard. The new kids stole it. I don’t know why. Maybe those kids…”

Village Playwrights seeks playwrights for its monthly reading

Facebook page

Deadline: none given

Village Playwrights will be having its next monthly play reading on December 2nd, 2024 @ St Johns , 81 Christopher St NYC 6:45-9pm

All playwrights are welcome to have excerpts of their works read by actors in a safe and supportive environment.

MadLab Theatre 26th Annual Theatre Roulette Festival

Website

Deadline: December 15, 2024

Submit to andyb@madlab.net

MadLab Theatre is seeking short play submissions for the 26th annual Theatre Roulette festival. 

• Scripts should be 5-30 minutes in length.

• Email all submissions to andyb@madlab.net.

• Put "Theatre Roulette Submission" in the subject line.

• Scripts must be in .pdf or .docx format.

• Playwrights may submit more than 1 script

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

• The production will take place in May of 2025

• All playwrights will be notified of our decisions no later than February 1st, 2025.

Chain Winter One-Act Festival 2025

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

Plays are chosen for the Chain Winter One-Act Festival based on originality, inspiration, and innovation. The background or experience of the playwright is taken into consideration, but submissions will be judged on the quality of the play. All themes or genres are welcome. One-Act Play runtime must be no shorter than 10 minutes and no longer than 1 hour. Shows will be performed in person.

NON UNION shows will have the ability to LIVE STREAM for at least one performance.

Chain Theatre is curating the event, not producing it - each production is responsible for staffing their own director, design team and cast.

PLEASE INFORM US IN THE APPLICATION IF YOU PLAN ON APPLYING FOR EQUITY SHOWCASE. 

All Equity Showcase paperwork is the responsibility of the producer, not the Chain Theatre. It is crucial that we have this information in advance because it affects our scheduling of the productions for streaming. If you do not plan on applying for Equity Showcase you cannot use Equity Actors.

You will assign a contact person for the piece; that person will be considered your play’s producer should it be part of the Festival. That person will receive all information and is responsible for passing it onto the rest of your team.

Though we will be doing overall festival promotion, you are responsible for the marketing of your piece.

Your entire team must be from the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut). We will not be accepting playwrights from any other areas of the country.

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for submitting to the 2025 Chain Winter One-Act Festival will be Dec 1, 2024. There are no submission or participation fees for the Chain One-Act Festivals. Complete the following application and you will be directed to information on submitting your play.

After completing the application form you will need to email a PDF (no Word, Pages, or Final Draft files, please!) of the script, and a brief cover letter explaining your goals for the play.

Applications ask for a contact name, address, phone, and email. Show contacts will be the one contact point between Chain Theatre and your production. The email given will be the sole email address that Chain Theatre will use to contact you regarding acceptance, any issues regarding participation, and festival communications.

We will need an estimated running time of your piece that will be factored into the programming. As such, we will enforce this time limit. If during your dress rehearsal or performance the play runs significantly over, we may insist that you revise or forfeit your participation in the festival and any ticket split revenue.

Applications that are not complete will not be accepted. No materials will be returned.

ONLY ONE SUBMISSION WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR EACH PLAYWRIGHT.

If any false information is given in the application the Chain Theatre will not accept any future submissions from the applicant. Your address, email, name must be accurate.


ACCEPTANCE

Notification of acceptance status will be sent by email on or about Dec 8, 2024.

If you are accepted into the festival, your email will inform you of the location of the organizational meeting to be held on Dec 12, 2024 at 6:30pm. IT IS REQUIRED AND MANDATORY THAT SOMEONE REPRESENTING YOUR SHOW BE AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. This meeting is where you will receive your performance schedule and meet your fellow participants.

Each accepted ONE ACT show will be given 5 free hours of rehearsal space at one of the Chain Theatre rehearsal rooms. Availability and scheduling of these hours is at the Chain Theatre’s discretion. They must be used to rehearse the show in the festival and cannot be gifted, sold or used for other purposes. Additional rehearsal hours/locations are the production’s responsibility. If you choose to rehearse at one of the Chain Rehearsal studios you can book subsidized rehearsal space for this production for $10 an hour.

Each accepted show will receive a code for ticket tracking. Each show will receive 20% of the net box office for every ticket purchased using their code. (Code use for online sales is mandatory to receive this box office split. No exceptions.)


SCHEDULING

Each One-Act show will be guaranteed at least three performances. The precise number of shows is TBD, based on number of submissions and running lengths. However, depending on the schedule there may be more. Performance blocks will be at 6:30pm and 8:30pm during the week and will run throughout the weekend between 12-10pm.

There will be limited time between shows for changeovers. Keep in mind that when you are striking or setting up your show, another show is also likely striking or setting up. Minimalism rules. PLEASE FACTOR THIS TIME INTO YOUR TECHNICAL PLANS. Houses will be opened 5 minutes before the start time and will start promptly.

BOX OFFICE and TICKETING

Chain Theatre handles all aspects of ticketing and box office. Tickets will be $22.

TECHNICAL

You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple. There will be no projection in shows. The Chain is equipped with a full light board and sound system, however the board will be shared by several shows and we will maintain a standard rep lighting plot. Keep light and sound cues as simple as possible. No show will be able to refocus lights. Each company will have only one cue-to-cue technical rehearsal in the venue which will be run by a Chain Theatre hired PSM. The Chain Theatre PSM will be running lights and sound for all shows at no cost to participants. Storage space/dressing room space is also limited and will be shared by all shows. You will be given a small, unlocked area to store your props, set pieces, and costumes, which must be completely cleared at the conclusion of your performances.

Any additional equipment your show requires should be listed on your application and will be need to be approved by Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre has the right to disqualify any shows that bring in unapproved technical elements. If approved, this equipment will be provided for your show by you. Chain Theatre assumes no liability for this equipment; it is your responsibility.

PUBLICITY

Chain Theatre will publicize the festival and coordinate overall press relations, including interviews and critic attendance. You may be asked to submit publicity photos and PR materials. You are also responsible for publicizing your own show through your own press releases, mailers, handbills, busking and/or posters. Should a critic accept your invitation to see a performance, this information must be forwarded to Chain Theatre so we may coordinate this. Chain Theatre will provide a blanket press kit to help all shows promote.

EXCLUSIVITY

If you are accepted to the Chain Winter One-Act Festival, part of our agreement prohibits the performance of your show anywhere in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut any time from acceptance into the festival through April 2026. Please keep this restriction in mind when accepting other invitations to perform your show during these months, particularly before you have received acceptance status notification from Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre is making an investment in you and your production. We are not previewing your show to take to other festivals and want our mutual efforts of promotion to bring an audience to this production.

If you can no longer participate in the Chain Winter One-Act Festival, you must notify us before Dec 1, 2024. If the production drops out after you are accepted, you will be disqualified from participating in future Chain Festivals.

WHAT TO DO NOW

1. Choose your show.

2. COMPLETELY fill out the application form.

3. REVIEW your completed application to make sure it is complete and correct.

4. EMAIL PLAY as per instructions received upon submitting application. Make sure that the PDFs of your script and cover letter are included in your submission email.

If there are technical issues, contact us at info@chaintheatre.org to discuss them.

5. Include the title of your show in the subject line of the email and on all relevant materials.

Should they become separated, this is how we will reunite them.


CONTINUE TO APPLICATION

If you still have questions, we are available to help you in advance of the deadline at info@chaintheatre.org. You may want to print and keep or bookmark these instructions and your original application for your reference.