Secret Theatre FLYING SOLO 6

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Please submit as soon as possible, we accept plays on a rolling basis.

SUBMISSION FORM

FLYING SOLO 6 September 2026

Festival Dates: SEPT 14th-20th Call for Submissions for Flying Solo 6! 

READ THIS FIRST : This an application for a solo show of any length up to 60mins please do not fill this out for any other submission - there are separate systems for full length and short plays featuring more than one character

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. 

Playwrights First submission window open

Website

Deadline: September 30, 2026

Overall, we look for:
- Imagination and originality in both style and subject or point of view.
- Characters that intrigue and move us.
- A compelling action revealing the human condition.
- Theatricality inherent in the above.​

Rules:
One, single full-length play per playwright in English from anywhere in the world.
Not produced full-scale prior to submission. Readings, workshops, and college productions are acceptable.
No joint authorships, adaptations, translations, musicals, or shorts.​

​Award:

$1,000 first place.
Award listing of playwright and play title on our website.
Professional reading in NYC when feasible.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

In a single email provide the following 3 documents described below (Items A, B & C). Please make sure each document is its own separate PDF document, and include all 3 PDFs in the same email (as file attachments) to:
Playwrightsfirst1st@gmail.com
Note: This address is for submissions only.

Item A) Playscript in PDF format. The play should follow standard playwrighting convention and include a cover page, a character list/breakdown, page count, etc. Please, name your file using this format:Your Last name TITLE OF PLAY.pdf (Example: Shakespeare TWELFTH NIGHT.pdf)Note: The TITLE of the play is in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

Item B) Playwright/Production Resume, CV, or Narrative Biography in PDF format. Name your file like this:Your Last name RESUME.pdf (Example: Shakespeare RESUME.pdf)Note: RESUME is in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

Item C) Brief (3 paragraphs max) Summary of play in PDF format. At the top of your page, please provide your full name and the full title of your play. Name your file like this:Your Last Name SUMMARY.pdf (Example: Shakespeare SUMMARY.pdf)Note: SUMMARY is in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Paper copies will not be accepted. PDF format ONLY.

PLEASE, BE CERTAIN TO USE THE CORRECT NAMING CONVENTION FOR EACH FILE (follow examples above). THIS YEAR, SUBMISSIONS NOT FOLLOWING OUR REQUESTED NAMING CONVENTIONS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

Each file MUST begin with your last name. Please leave one space after your last name -- do NOT use a dot, a dash, an underline. Please do NOT abbreviate the name of your play. Please do NOT use your first name. Please do not use your initials. We appreciate your attention to this detail as it helps our staff keep your materials organized.

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.

Winters Theater Company 10-minute 2027 Play Festival

 Website

Deadline: August 15, 2026, 5:00pm PDT 

Submission form on the bottom of the page

he popular annual 10-Minute Play Festival returns to Winters Theatre Company for the 2027 season! To submit your original 10-minute play to be considered for the 2027 Festival, please review the festival requirements and then complete and submit the application form below.

Rules and Requirements: 

Any play submission must come directly from the original playwright/author of the play. 

Every play must be fully performed in 10-minutes or less.

Script should not rely on more than minimalist props.

You must be 18 years of age or older to submit an application for the 10-Minute Play Festival. 

There is a limit of 1 play submission per author for the 10-Minute Play Festival.

If the selected play runs over 10 minutes, the director and producers reserve the right to edit the script to meet the 10-minute requirement.  Author will be contacted in advance. 

General Information: 

There is NO THEME. 

There is NO FEE for the author to submit a play or to participate in the 10-Minute Play Festival.

There is NO COMPENSATION for author/director/cast member(s).

The festival will consist of 8 play selections (all 10-minutes or less) in 2 acts.

The festival performance dates will be weekends in late February / early March 2027

We will announce the plays selected for the festival by 11/01/2026.  Given the volume of submissions, we will only contact the authors whose plays have been selected. 

 Winters Theatre Company will select directors for each selected play.

Winters Theatre Company will advertise for the 10-Minute Play Festival via their website, social media, printed media, and press releases.  The website will include a short synopsis of each play, author bio and link to author website and/or social media.

 Plays will be selected, in part, based on their portability, overall length, transition time, and the ability of the script to tell the story without excessive reliance on props or costumes.

We're looking forward to reading your play submission!

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.

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 Dramatists 7-Year Residency

Website

Deadline: August 10, 2026 at 11:59 EDT
Or until a maximum of 700 submissions is reached, whichever comes first

UPDATE: As of 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, we have received 588 complete submissions. Please do not delay if you intend to apply.

APPLICATION FORM

This cycle, New Dramatists will recommend to the panel that they select a group of no more than 5 incoming writers, managing the size of the resident company in order to provide robust support.

ELIGIBILITY

Any playwright who is a U.S. citizen or who resides in and has the legal right to work in the United States may apply for the 7-year residency at New Dramatists as long as they can meet the submission requirements of 2 full-length plays and a biography or resume.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

HOW TO SUBMIT

Before beginning your application, please download and read the Guidelines for Resident Company document at the bottom of this page.

It is in your best interest to gather the documents required to upload to the application—two "blind" scripts and your bio/resume—early in the window, and submit your application in one session. You may be able to pause and return to your application as long as you continue working in the same browser, but this is not our recommendation. Once you complete the final step to “Submit Your Application”, you will no longer have access to your application.

Please email our Literary Services Manager Connie Hall admissions@newdramatists.org with any questions.

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.

The Harbor New Musical Initiative

Website

Deadline: August 30, 2026

Or until 40 eligible submissions have been received

SUBMISSION FORM

The Harbor New Musical Initiative was created to discover, develop, and produce exceptional original musicals by emerging and established writers from around the world. Each year, one musical will be selected to receive a fully staged production as the Season Finale of Harbor Theatrics, along with a $250 honorarium, a guaranteed run of at least six public performances, and collaborative support throughout the production process.

Unlike many submission opportunities, every accepted musical will receive personalized written feedback from our Literary Team. We believe every writer deserves thoughtful consideration, constructive feedback, and the encouragement to continue creating.

To ensure every submission receives the attention it deserves, only 40 eligible musicals will be accepted each year.

Whether this is your first musical or your fiftieth, we invite you to share your story with us.

1. Eligibility

Submitted musicals must be original, full-length works that have not received a previous full

professional or community theatre production. Workshop productions, staged readings,

developmental presentations, concerts, and festival performances are eligible. Submitters must

own or control all necessary rights.

2. Submission Window

Submissions will be accepted from August 1, 2026 through August 30, 2026, or until 40 eligible

submissions have been received, whichever occurs first. Incomplete submissions may be deemed

ineligible.

3. No Submission Fee

There is no fee to submit. Submission does not guarantee selection.

4. Ownership

Authors retain all copyright, publishing, licensing, and intellectual property rights.

5. Review Rights

By submitting, authors grant Harbor Theatrics permission to distribute materials to its Literary

Committee solely for evaluation and to retain copies for internal review and archival purposes.

6. Feedback

Every eligible submission accepted into the initiative will receive personalized written feedback from

Harbor Theatrics' Literary Team. Feedback is constructive artistic commentary and does not

guarantee future production.

7. Selection

Harbor Theatrics has sole discretion regarding eligibility, finalists, and selection, and reserves the

right not to select a musical if no submission is deemed suitable.

8. Production Agreement

Selection does not constitute a binding production contract. A separate production agreement will

be negotiated with the selected author(s).

9. Script Revisions

Any suggested revisions will be collaborative and require the approval of the author(s).

10. Honorarium

The selected musical will receive a $250 honorarium according to the production agreement.

11. Production Rights

The selected author(s) agree to negotiate in good faith for the non-exclusive rights needed for the

Summer 2027 production. All future rights remain with the author(s).

12. Marketing

The selected author(s) grant Harbor Theatrics permission to use approved promotional materials

solely for marketing the Summer 2027 production.

13. Withdrawal

Authors may withdraw their submission at any time before selection by providing written notice.

14. Cancellation

Harbor Theatrics reserves the right to postpone, modify, or cancel the initiative due to unforeseen

circumstances.

15. Acceptance

Submission constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

16. Confidentiality

Harbor Theatrics and its Literary Committee will treat all submitted materials as confidential and will

not distribute or publicly discuss them outside the official review process without the author's

permission.

17. Contact

Harbor Theatrics

St. Louis, Missouri

www.harbortheatrics.org

info@harbortheatrics.org

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.

The Bite Sized Theatrical Spooktacular 2026

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We are looking for original short plays (or other theatrical pieces) that are 10 minutes or less. 

This production is on Halloween, and we encourage any submissions that may resonate thematically, whether they directly relate to Halloween or not. 

While we will consider anything and everything, we especially want to see submissions that are comedic or spooky, as this fits best with the tone of the evening! 

Have something that isn’t quite a play, but you think fits? Send us a video link! 

Because we are small and have limited tech, easy-to-produce pieces are more likely to be selected. We also recommend submitting plays with a smaller cast size. 

You may submit up to three plays, but please note we will only accept one play from each playwright for the event, and we may only be able read one script in your submission. 

Scripts that have not been been accepted in previous years will only be reconsidered if they have undergone revisions. Please note this in your submission!

About the event:

The event will take place the evening of October 31st, in New York City. Exact time and  location TBA.

Playwrights are encouraged to submit from anywhere, and local playwrights may be as involved in the process as they would like!

We work to match plays that need them with directors and actors, and help to coordinate rehearsal space.

This is an unpaid event, as we are not profiting from it. 

To submit, please send your script and/or any supporting materials by August 31st via the form on the submission page! 

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.

Classics in Color (CiC) is a new play development for BIPoC writers

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Classics in Color (CiC) is a new play development and public engagement program for BIPoC writers developing plays that blend the BIPoC lived-experience with global classics.

CiC is conducted via Zoom and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format with the goal of working constructively toward advancing each matriculant’s vision for their play.

Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the CiC experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in CiC are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for CiC, you must identify as BIPoC, have an early draft of a play that fits the description above, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their plays, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statement, resumes, etc.)

Classics in Color will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks from 6:00-9:00pm (EST) each Monday between October 12 – November 30. DQT is proud to announce this season's CiC instructor will once again be OBIE Award winner and recent Guggenheim Fellow recipient Caridad Svich. 

DRURY UNIVERSITY ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Send scripts to:

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

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

Winning plays will be considered for production by Drury University.

COMPETITION RULES:

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

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

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

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

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

6. No written or verbal critiques will be tendered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Website

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

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

Online registration required to submit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASF TRANSLATION AWARDS 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15 by 11:59 pm EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

The prizes are for outstanding English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in a Nordic language.

Translations must be from the writing of one author, although not necessarily from a single work.

The online application will require the following materials:

• Your CV
• A brief description of the author whose work you are translating and the significance of the original work
• One copy of the translation, including a title page and a table of contents for the proposed book of which the submitted manuscript is a part. If prose, manuscripts must be 25-50 pages, double-spaced; if poetry, 15-25 pages. *Note: Manuscripts must have numbered pages, and the translator’s name should not appear on any page of the translation manuscript. Submissions containing the translator’s name will be disqualified
• A letter or other document signed by the author, the author’s agent, or the author’s estate granting permission for the translation to be entered in this competition and published in Scandinavian Review

Restrictions:

The translation submitted in the competition may not have been previously published in the English language by the submission deadline. (If the submitted translation is also under consideration by a publisher, you must inform us of the expected publication date.)
Translators may submit one entry only and may not submit the same entry in more than two competitions.
The Translation Prize cannot be won more than three times by the same translator.

The Dramatic Question - DQT American Woman 2026-27

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Submission Form

American Woman (AW) is a solo show development and public engagement program for Female-identifying writers living in the United States.

AW is conducted online and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format to advance each matriculant’s vision of their solo show.

Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the AW experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in AW are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for AW, you must be Female-identifying, have an early draft of a solo piece, and submit the required materials by the deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their solo pieces, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statements, resumes, etc.).

American Woman will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks from 12:00-2:30pm (EST), each Sunday between October 4 - November 22.

DQT is proud to announce this season's PT instructor will once again be Raquel Almazan.

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.

Playwright Commission Opportunity: A New Play About Shays' Rebellion

Website

Deadline: August 20, 2026

Please submit all application materials as a single PDF (when possible).
Email submissions to:
Sue Dziura
Producing Artistic Director
Majestic Theater
Email: sue@majestictheater.com

Subject Line: Shays' Rebellion Playwright Submission – Your Name

Questions regarding the commission may also be directed to Sue Dziura at the email address above.

Please submit the following:

• Cover letter describing your interest in the commission
• A 1–2 page proposal outlining your artistic vision for the project
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• One sample of a previously produced full-length play
• Production history (or equivalent evidence of at least one fully mounted production)
• Two professional references

The Majestic Theater invites submissions from playwrights interested in developing an original full-length play about Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787)—a defining yet often underrepresented event in American history that began in Western Massachusetts. Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, this commission will bring to life the true story of Daniel Shays, the thousands of farmers, veterans, and residents who joined the uprising, and the profound impact their actions had on the young nation.

Rooted in historical research and community engagement, the commissioned play will explore the rebellion through the voices and lived experiences of those who shaped it, creating a work that is both historically grounded and theatrically compelling. Developed in conjunction with the national America 250 initiative, the project seeks to reflect on our nation's past, honor the contributions of those whose stories have too often gone untold, and invite audiences to consider the enduring themes of economic hardship, civic responsibility, power, resilience, and the future we hope to build together.

About the Commission

The selected playwright will spend approximately one year researching, writing, and developing a new full-length play in collaboration with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team. Throughout the process, the playwright will work closely with Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, participating in regular conversations, script development sessions, and dramaturgical support as the work evolves.

The project is designed to be highly collaborative. Research will be enriched through conversations with local historians, educators, artists, and community members, allowing the playwright to engage deeply with the people and places that shaped this pivotal moment in American history.

A small curatorial committee representing a diverse cross-section of theater artists, historians, educators, and community members will review submissions and select the commissioned playwright.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a playwright who is excited by the challenge of transforming historical events into compelling theater. Rather than simply recounting history, we hope to commission a writer who can uncover the human stories within Shays' Rebellion, creating vivid characters and emotionally resonant drama grounded in historical truth.

Applicants should demonstrate:Excellence in dramatic writing.
An interest in history, biography, or stories inspired by real events.
A collaborative spirit and openness to feedback.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
Curiosity, imagination, and a desire to engage meaningfully with community history.

Playwrights from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have had at least one full-length play fully produced.
• Demonstrate the ability to complete projects on schedule.
• Be available to collaborate regularly with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team throughout the commission period.
• Be willing to participate in weekly meetings (in person and/or via Zoom) over approximately twelve months.
• Be interested in conducting research and engaging with community members as part of the writing process.

Commission Process

Following selection, the playwright will embark on an approximately year-long development process that includes research, outlining, drafting, revision, and script development.

Working alongside Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, the playwright will receive ongoing artistic support while maintaining their own creative voice. Throughout the process, the Majestic Theater will facilitate opportunities to connect with historians, educators, and community members whose perspectives will help inform and enrich the work.

As the script develops, the Majestic Theater will host staged readings with professional actors, giving the playwright the opportunity to hear the work, receive feedback from the artistic team, historians, community members, and audiences, and continue refining the play throughout the commission.

The goal is to create a powerful new American play that honors the history of Western Massachusetts while speaking to audiences through timeless themes of community, democracy, resilience, and the complexities of the American experience.

Submission Materials

Please submit the following:Cover letter describing your interest in the commission
A 1–2 page proposal outlining your artistic vision for the project
Résumé or curriculum vitae
One sample of a previously produced full-length play
Production history (or equivalent evidence of at least one fully mounted production)
Two professional references

Compensation

This is a paid commission made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Commission fee and project details will be discussed with finalists.

The Majestic Theater is a professional producing theater in West Springfield, Massachusetts, whose mission is to create and maintain performance opportunities for Pioneer-Valley-based theater artists and professional productions for local audiences at accessible prices. Through this commission, the Majestic seeks to foster the creation of a significant new American play that celebrates the rich and complex history of Western Massachusetts.

The Majestic Theater is committed to creating an inclusive artistic environment and welcomes submissions from playwrights of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

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.

Wicked Cat Productions is seeking short plays for a new evening of work exploring kink, fetish, and/or desire

Instagram

Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

SUBMISSION FORM

We are looking for plays that are bold, curious, theatrical, and respectful of the communities they engage with. The hope is to build an evening that surprises the audience, subverts expectations, and treats desire as something complex, funny, strange, tender, powerful, awkward, joyful, dangerous, sacred, unserious, deeply serious, or all of the above.

Plays may be any genre: comedy, drama, horror, romance, fantasy, or something harder to name. We are especially interested in work that moves beyond cliché and refuses easy assumptions about kink, fetish, fantasy, and the people who participate in them.

Come for the fantasy. Stay for the humanity inside it.

We are seeking:

• Short plays between 10 and 15 minutes
• Plays up to 20 minutes may be considered, but longer pieces may affect how many plays we are able to accept
• Plays with 1 to 4 characters
• Plays centered on or meaningfully engaging with kink, fetish, and/or desire
• Any genre or tone
• Newly written work
• Work that can be staged with minimal technical needs

Content and Representation

Because this evening centers kink, fetish, intimacy, and desire, we ask that submitted plays engage with their subject matter thoughtfully and respectfully.

We are not looking for work that treats abusive relationships as healthy BDSM, presents consent violations as romantic, or uses kink/fetish communities only as a punchline or shock device. Conflict, discomfort, danger, bad behavior, and complicated power dynamics can absolutely exist in the work, but the writing should understand the difference between consensual kink and abuse.

In short: no Fifty Shades of Grey. No Joker/Harley Quinn dynamics presented as aspirational kink. We are more interested in work that approaches kink with curiosity, specificity, humor, care, and complexity, closer in spirit to pieces like Secretary or Bonding, where kink can open the door to character and vulnerability.

Nudity and intimacy are welcome, but anything staged must be something that can be rehearsed and performed safely with appropriate coordination. This will be a consent-forward rehearsal process.

No performer will be asked to do anything intimate or physically exposing that has not been clearly discussed, choreographed, and agreed upon.

Due to venue restrictions, submitted plays should not require:

• Glitter
• Confetti
• Fire
• Haze/fog
• Smoke
• Sand
• Open flame
• Any unsafe or difficult-to-clean materials

If your play includes a restricted element that could be adapted or suggested theatrically, please feel free to note that in your submission.

Production Details

Selected plays will be produced as part of a three-performance short play evening at The Tank in New York City.

Performance dates:
Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

The evening will likely include four to six plays.

There is no submission fee and no participation fee.

Wicked Cat Productions is committed to paying artists whenever possible. Selected playwrights will receive a guaranteed $50 stipend, with the hope of increasing stipends depending on the production budget and fundraising.

Scripts will be read without playwright names attached during the first round. Please remove your name, email address, bio, and any other identifying information from the script PDF and file name. You will still provide your contact information through the submission form, but that information will be kept separate from the script during the first round of review.

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.

Princeton Arts Fellowship 2026

Website

Deadline: September 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT

Apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship

The Princeton Arts Fellowship, funded in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will be awarded to artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching.

Eligible applicants are early career composers, conductors, musicians, choreographers, playwrights, designers, directors, and performance artists. We are only accepting applications for the Program in Dance, Program in Theater and Music Theater, and the Department of Music for this cycle.

Successful candidates would find it beneficial to spend two years teaching and working in an artistically vibrant university community. The department is committed to fostering an academic environment that acknowledges and encourages community. The successful candidate will pursue academic excellence in University settings.

Non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

There is no age limit to apply.

Those who hold a Ph.D. degree from Princeton University are not eligible. This fellowship cannot be used to fund work leading to an MFA, Ph.D., or any other advanced degree.

Past recipients of the Hodder Fellowship and individuals who have had a sustained and continuous relationship with Princeton University are not eligible to apply. Those who have had an occasional and sporadic relationship with Princeton may apply.

Princeton Arts Fellows may not hold concurrent teaching positions at other institutions for the duration of the fellowship.

MORE INFORMATION

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)

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.

PGE’s 8th Annual Faces of America Monologue Festival

Website

Deadline: August 17, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

On November 21, 2026, we will host the 8th Annual Faces of America Monologue Festival at The Marjorie S. Deane Theater in NYC.

We created the Faces of America Monologue Festival in 2019 in response to the inequality of opportunities available to marginalized communities.

Each year we celebrate the diverse stories that make up America by inviting writers to submit two minute monologues that showcase the broad spectrum of what it is to live, work and play in America. Our aim is to collect unique, captivating and beautiful stories and share them so that we learn, grow and hear each other.

We can’t wait to hear the incredible stories that will be submitted for this year’s festival.

To submit your monologue for consideration there are 4 few simple rules:

Your monologue must fit in the theme Faces of America.

Your monologue should represent America's incredible diversity. (BIPOC, AAPI, Latine, and LGBTQIA+ artists are all strongly encouraged to apply). Monologues can be historical or futuristic, cultural or political, comedic or tragic, spoken or signed!

Your monologue must be less than two minutes in length.
We can't stress this one enough. If your monologue is longer it will not be considered.

Include the word "REACTION” somewhere in your monologue.
If this word does not appear in the monologue it will not be considered.

Send your submission to us between July 6th - August 17th, 2026.
Late entries will not be considered. Submissions are limited to two per writer.

How Selection Works:

Our selection committee is made up of past alumni of our festival, they will read all submitted monologues that meet the above requirements in multiple rounds until we reach the final 25.

Submitted monologues remain anonymous to our readers throughout the selection process.

All submissions will be contacted by early October as to your status.

What do I get if selected?

Selected writers will receive a small honorarium.

Your monologue will be be performed by a brilliant actor from The PGE casting pool at the eighth festival November 21, 2026 in NYC.

You will receive a ticket to the Festival and Roundtable Panel.

We will published your monologue in The PGE Faces of America Monologue Festival Anthology #8. (All monologue copyrights are retained by the author)

A Copy of The PGE Faces of America Monologue Festival Anthology #8.

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.

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

Facebook
Instagram

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.

2027 Lamoise New Works - MOXIE Theatre seeks plays by women

Website

Deadline: August 25, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

San Diego, California

Seeking 

- Four (4) ten-minute plays

- Two (2) full-length plays that will receive a workshop and undergo a short development process with the actors and creative teams.

- And one (1) full-length play that will be performed as-is, will be selected for a staged reading.

- All playwrights of full-length works will be provided travel and housing for the duration of the festival weekend (not including the workshop process).

Play must be written by women+ playwright(s).

Works submitted must be unpublished, unproduced, and available for production.

Only one (1) submission is allowed per playwright.

Character/Casting Limit:

Festival selections are limited to works that can be performed by a maximum of six actors total: five actors covering principal roles and one actor covering stage directions and/or minor cameo roles. Plays with larger character lists are still eligible, provided the material can reasonably be performed within this casting structure through doubling or multi-role casting. If you are considering multiple works for submission, we encourage you to keep this limitation in mind. Writers are still welcome to submit works that exceed this structure if they feel strongly the piece should be considered.

Every playwright who submits to the festival will receive a response by email, regardless of the outcome.

We anticipate notifying playwrights of their semi-finalist status by September 2026, with final festival selections informed in November 2026.

Submitting is free and playwrights are not required to self-produce. Production of selected works happens in-house with MOXIE, and there are no participation fees for festival selections.

See the FAQ for more information.

Woodward/Newman Award 2027/28

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The Woodward/Newman Award is an exclusive honor offered by Constellation Stage & Screen, started through the support of Joanne Woodward, Newman’s Own Foundation, and the Newman family, celebrating Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward’s tremendous history of work on stage and screen. It presents the best unpublished play of the year with a cash prize of $3,000 and a full production as part of Constellation’s Mainstage season.

Please note that there are significant changes to our submission and selection process from previous years. In order to make the Woodward/Newman Award accessible to all, we have eliminated submission fees as well as the contest format. The Woodward/Newman Award will continue to be awarded to an unpublished new play once per year and come with a $3,000 cash prize and a full production. 

Submissions will be accepted and reviewed by our literary team on an ongoing basis, and will be considered for the award as well as for all 7 production slots in our season. So a play that is not selected for the Woodward/Newman slot in our season, may still be considered and selected for production. 

This will allow us to now accept open submissions for all types of plays (including TYA shows). Plays submitted by midnight, August 31st, 2026 will be considered for the 2027-28 season, while plays submitted beyond that date will be considered for the 2028-29 Season. All submissions will be kept on file for 2 years after submission.

If you have questions regarding submissions to the Constellation Stage & Screen, please contact the Literary Manager at literary@seeconstellation.org.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS

We are currently accepting submissions for the 2027-28 Woodward/Newman Award. The award recipient will be announced by May 15, 2027. 

The winner will be awarded $3,000 and a full production.“Full-length” plays should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes). TYA shows should have a complete running time of over 40 minutes.

Plays submitted must be unpublished at the time of submission (independently published is acceptable).
Each play should be individually submitted at the following link: CONSTELLATION STAGE & SCREEN PLAY SUBMISSION.

You will be asked to submit your play as an attachment and all other information (bio, history, synopsis, character breakdown) will be entered into a form. Musical submissions may upload demos as an attachment or include a link to a shared folder.

Limit of 2 play submissions per year.

$3,000 cash prize is in lieu of royalties for the full production. Housing & transportation will also be provided.

Any unpublished play submitted to Constellation regardless of method (e.g. online form, agent submission, direct contact) may be considered for the Woodward/Newman Award.

Please note that we are moving away from a “finalists” model in lieu of keeping all plays under consideration for extended periods (2yrs). We will only announce a winner.

If you have any questions, please email literary@seeconstellation.org.

ASTORIA NEW PLAY FESTIVAL READING SERIES seeks full-length plays

Instagram

Deadline: August 1, 2026 by 1:59pm

or until we hit 60 submissions

THEY HAVE HIT THEIR SUBMISSION CAP - DO NOT SEND

If you’re ready to submit, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com with Full-Length Submission in the subject line. Please attach blind copies in PDF form (no contact info anywhere on the document) to the email, and include in the body of the email your contact info and a short playwright bio (and if you are not available for either performance night, if applicable).

The Astoria New Play Festival will present readings of up to 2 full-length plays and up to 6 short plays for the 2026 staged reading series by local playwrights.

PLEASE READ OVERALL GUIDELINES in addition to the guidelines for whichever length of play you’re interested in submitting for!

All playwrights should be current or former residents of Astoria! We will not require proof of residency at this time, but trust all submitting playwrights to respect the festival mission to give a platform to local playwrights.

There is no restriction language or adult content for submissions. We do want you to be aware that if there is potentially triggering material, ANPF may list a content warning on performance nights as well as director and performer submission notices. ANPF will not produce material that promotes hate speech or violence.

Scripts written with any usage of AI are not permitted!

Playwrights may submit to both opportunities

Playwrights from the 2025 reading series are welcome to submit for the ten-minute play reading series; we ask that you refrain from submitting for the full-length play reading series at this time

All submitted plays should be blind copies with no contact information anywhere on the document.

We are not accepting musicals at this time. Hopefully one day soon!

We aim to update everyone on their submission status by the second weekend of August.

If you have any questions before submitting, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @astorianewplayfest

FULL-LENGTH PLAY READING SERIES - Friday, November 6th, and Saturday, November 7th, 7:30pm, at Q.E.D., 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

Full-length play submissions should be new, meaning no prior publications or full productions. Prior readings or developmental workshops are permitted. You will not be requested to credit Astoria New Play Festival as a premiere in future materials, publicity, announcements, etc.

Full-length playwrights will receive a stipend of $75 on performance night

Playwrights must be available in person for at least one night of the reading series, which will run November 6-7 at Q.E.D. in Astoria. Please indicate in your submission email if either performance night does not work for you.

Playwrights must be available for a talkback with the audience after the show with the audience, moderated by ANPF.

We are seeking plays that read for an estimated run time between 1-2 hours. We understand that since these are new works, a best guess is fine! 

Somerset Community College seeks short plays

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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

ASTORIA NEW PLAY FESTIVAL READING SERIES seeks 10-minute plays and monologues

Website

Deadline: August 1, 2026  by 11:59pm

or until they hit 75 submission

If you’re ready to submit, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com with Short Play Submission in the subject line. Please attach blind copies in PDF form (no contact info anywhere on the document) to the email, and include in the body of the email your contact info and a short playwright bio.

The Astoria New Play Festival will present readings of up to 2 full-length plays and up to 6 short plays for the 2026 staged reading series by local playwrights.

PLEASE READ OVERALL GUIDELINES in addition to the guidelines for whichever length of play you’re interested in submitting for!

All playwrights should be current or former residents of Astoria (Queens)! We will not require proof of residency at this time, but trust all submitting playwrights to respect the festival mission to give a platform to local playwrights.

There is no restriction language or adult content for submissions. We do want you to be aware that if there is potentially triggering material, ANPF may list a content warning on performance nights as well as director and performer submission notices. ANPF will not produce material that promotes hate speech or violence.

Scripts written with any usage of AI are not permitted!

Playwrights may submit to both opportunities

Playwrights from the 2025 reading series are welcome to submit for the ten-minute play reading series; we ask that you refrain from submitting for the full-length play reading series at this time

All submitted plays should be blind copies with no contact information anywhere on the document.

We are not accepting musicals at this time. Hopefully one day soon!

We aim to update everyone on their submission status by the second weekend of August.

If you have any questions before submitting, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @astorianewplayfest

THEMED SHORT PLAY READING SERIES - Thursday October 8th, 7:30pm, and Saturday, October 10th, 7:30pm at Our House Queens, 23-71 31st St, Astoria, NY 11106

All submitted works must somehow involve this one word theme: NEIGHBORS. How you follow this theme is entirely up to you!

There is no restriction on previous productions or publications; we welcome brand new scripts, ones performed multiple times, and everything in between.

Up to 6 playwrights will be presented in one night of performances. ANPF reserves the right to select fewer than 6 for the presentation!

Playwrights will receive a stipend of $50 on the first performance night

Submitted plays must be no longer than an estimated 15 minutes (or about 15 pages) and no shorter than an estimated 5 minutes

Monologues are welcome for submission

Playwrights are not required to be present in person for performance or tech rehearsal, but will be asked to be available via email for any questions from the creative team, and are welcome to participate more as they wish!

Theatre Now - Verse into Cabaret

Website

Deadline: July 24, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Verse Intro Cabaret is a monthly basement bash of bold new musical theatre! Held at the historic SoHo Playhouse, our series showcases fresh work by emerging musical theatre writers in a fun, low-pressure, and ultra-supportive environment.

Theatre Now is a non-profit theatre company dedicated to supporting musical theatre writers. We launched this cabaret series with a simple goal: give new voices a space to be heard without drink minimums or stuffy vibes. Each month we feature two musical theatre teams. Each team will be guaranteed a stipend of $75 rather than being reliant on the box office. That amount may increase as we build the program and grow a larger audience.

Whether you're testing a few new songs or trying something riskier, Verse Intro is a space to experiment, connect, and be celebrated.

Things to Know:We strongly recommend attending a Verse Intro show before performing. Get a feel for the space and community!
Each act is limited to four performers max (including instrumentalists).

To Submit, Please Provide:Your Name(s)
A Headshot or Professional Photo
A Short Bio (200 words max)
Social Media Handles
Your Availability for 2026 Performance Dates Sep 13, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6 and in 2027 Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 4 and May 2

Performance Materials:One Required Link or File Upload (video or audio) to a song from a musical you’ve written (music and/or lyrics).
One Optional Link or File Upload for a second piece.
For each, please include a short description of the song’s context and the names of any co-writers (if they are not part of the team you are applying with).

You’ll also be asked to review and acknowledge our F.A.Q. sheet with event info and artist agreements before submitting. CLICK HERE to read our F.A.Q. sheet.

We can’t wait to hear your work. Thank you for sharing your voice with us!

Neukom Literary Arts Award for Playwriting 2026

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Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 5PM

The Neukom Institute for Computational Science at Dartmouth College – in collaboration with Northern Stage – is excited to announce the 2026 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards for Playwriting, for full-length plays and other full-length works for the theater addressing the question “What does it mean to be a human in a computerized world?”. The award comes with a $5,000 honorarium as well as a weeklong workshop and public reading produced by Northern Stage (https://northernstage.org/) in early 2027. Note that works that have received a full production are NOT eligible for the competition.
Details are as follows:

Questions? Email Sarah Wansley at swansley@northernstage.org.

The submission form will be accepted until 5PM, July 31, 2026.

Submissions must include

• An anonymized (blinded) sample of 15 pages of the play.
• Playwright resume/bio
• A short summary of the full play.

We will contact the playwrights of pieces that are a fit for the award for a full draft of the play in early August.

Masque & Spectacle seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2026

Send drama submissions to masqueandspectacle@gmail.com. Attach written submissions in a single Word doc or docx file, and include the word “DRAMA” in the email subject line.

Playwrights may submit one previously unpublished 10-minute play for consideration. The script should be accompanied by a cover letter, which includes your name, address, phone number, and email address. Proper playwriting format should be used. If you are uncertain about this format, several examples can be found online.

Masque & Spectacle reads submissions for its bi-annual issues November 1 – January 31 and May 1 – July 31. Submissions received outside of this time period will be automatically deleted. Responses can be expected within a month. Acceptance rate is around 10%. Submissions not titled/tagged or formatted or properly under the Submissions Guidelines will not be considered for publication. We only consider one submission per author/format during any given reading period. We generally avoid publishing authors in consecutive issues.

The theme for our September Issue is harvest.

We do not accept previously published work, and we ask for First Electronic Rights and Non-Exclusive Archival Rights upon acceptance. Unfortunately, we are unable to pay contributors at this time.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Additionally, we do not typically publish the same authors in back-to-back issues.

For any queries, please contact us at masqueandspectacle@gmail.com.

We welcome 10-minute plays (up to approximately 10 pages in length). No full-length plays will be considered at this time. Shorter plays are also welcome.

While traditional plays are welcome, we are particularly interested in innovative and/or interdisciplinary texts that break new ground, either in relation to their subject matter, or in how the text itself is performed/written/represented on stage.

South Street Players seeks original, short plays

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Deadline: August 2, 2026, 11:59pm

Call for original, short plays by playwrights CURRENTLY living in the Tri-State area only (NJ, NY, PA).

South Street Players (southstreetplayers.org) is seeking original, short (10 mins preferred, 15 mins maximum) plays for its 16th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival. The event will take place November 6-8, 2026 in Spring Lake, NJ.

The festival, which receives more than 300 scripts annually, is committed to presenting the finest and most unique original, short plays written by local playwrights from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The event also serves as an artistic fundraiser, with all proceeds going to SSP to help maintain its commitment to producing high-quality, extremely engaging theatrical experiences for our audiences.

Submission Rules and Process:

Plays must be 15 pages or less. Submissions of longer than 15 pages will not be considered.

Plays should include no more than 4 characters and be in standard playscript format.

Playwrights may submit more than one play, but please be sure your name and email address is on the title page of each script.

SSP is a family theatre – no excessive swearing, no nudity.

No royalties or payment will be provided to playwrights should their play be chosen for the festival.

Plays will only be accepted via email: southstreetoneacts@gmail.com

Ghostlight Ensemble seeks short plays set in a bar

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2026

Electronic submissions only, please. Please submit a brief synopsis of script in the body of your email, along with contact information, and attach a copy of the full script to Maria Burnham at scripts@ghostlightensemble.com. Please use the following format in the email’s subject line: Happy Hour Script Submission: [play name] - [playwright name]

Chicago's Ghostlight Ensemble is gearing up for its third installment of the immensely popular Happy Hour series. We are seeking short scripts (under 30 minutes) for a staged reading series in the back room at My Buddy’s.

The only requirement is that the scripts are set at a bar. (Please do not send in scripts set in living rooms, high schools, an office, etc. They will not be considered and will show that you didn’t bother to read the requirements.)

This is open to playwrights in any geographic area, though writers in the greater Chicago area will receive priority. There is no payment for selection, but there is also no fee to submit.

Selected plays will be presented in a series of staged readings during late August/early September (exact date TBD). Pieces can be previously produced, and playwrights may submit more than one play.

The deadline for submissions is July 31, but we will be begin selecting scripts as they come in, as this is not a competition. Depending on length, we expect to choose six to eight scripts.

Ohio Valley Theater Group is seeking original theatrical works

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Deadline: August 5, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Questions? Contact: kat.fowler.arts@gmail.com

The Ohio Valley Theater Group is seeking original theatrical works to be presented during our November festival. We welcome works at a variety of stages of development, including monologues, scenes, ten-minute plays, one-act plays, and excerpts from larger works.

Selected playwrights may participate in the OVTG Playwright Development Series, which may include workshops, table reads, facilitated feedback, revision support, and festival performances.