Sarasota Jewish Theatre is accepting full length plays

Website

Deadline: May 15, 2026

Email scripts to Malsandra@comcast.net

Sarasota Jewish Theatre is accepting full length plays with Jewish themes or by Jewish playwrights for the Newish Jewish Plays summer play reading series. 

Door is a Jar literary magazine seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: none listed

SUBMISSION FORM 

Following the Standard American Format 

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

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

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

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

Submit all work in Times New Roman font size 11

We only accept new, unpublished work.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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

We do not publish translations.

We do not publish craft essays.
​


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

Manhattan Theater Mission Festival of New Musicals

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2026

WHO: Manhattan Theatre Mission

SEEKING: The Manhattan Theatre Mission is accepting submissions for our Festival of New Musicals.

REQUIREMENTS: Submissions must include:

• A Brief Cover Letter from the Playwright/Composer/Lyricist. Your cover letter should introduce yourselves and give us some insight into how your play came about. Please also address specific technical requirements should the play be produced in its entirety.
• A Brief Synopsis of the entire play.
• A 20 minute selection of material from the script. Excerpts may be chronological, or a selection of scenes. At least 2 songs should be submitted in selected material. Please include links or attachments of recordings and/or sheet music. Submissions with lyrics only will not be considered.

Up to 5 shows will be selected for Staged Readings of their submission in New York City. Several Awards will be given to those selected. The First Place Musical will be produced in its entirety by the Manhattan Theatre Mission in its following season.

*All submissions must be unpublished, original works.

WHEN: Submission deadline is May 1st. Those who are admitted into the festival will need to submit the entire script by September 1st for judging.

PAY: N/A

HOW TO APPLY: Please send all materials to: manhattantheatremission@gmail.com, with the subject: New Musical Submission.

Passage Theatre Seeks One-Person Plays Centering Untold American Stories for Summer 2026 Festival

Website

Deadline: April 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

Passage Theatre is holding a WORD ON FRONT 250 Solo Performance contest. A “Solo Performance” means a one-person show, written and performed by YOU. Give us your uniquely Trenton American Story. What does it mean to be YOU? What does it mean to be an American, a New Jerseyan, a Trentonian, or from whatever patch of land you call home. Show us your untold America.

Playwright/Performers must be local to travel to Trenton, NJ (a direct train ride from New York City) at their own expense and self-produce their one-person show.

Seeking submissions of one-person shows to run between 30-60 minutes.

The top 5 plays will be selected to premiere at Passage Theatre’s WORD ON FRONT 250 festival on the following dates:

Saturday, June 27th
Thursday, July 2nd
Friday, July 10th

Plays will be adjudicated by a panel of judges selected from Passage Staff and the Trenton Community.Passage Theatre is holding our WORD ON FRONT 250 Solo Performance contest. 

A “Solo Performance” means a one-person show, written and performed by you. Give us your uniquely Trenton American Story. What does it mean to be YOU? What does it mean to be an American, a New Jerseyan, a Trentonian, or from whatever patch of land you call home. Show us your untold America.

The top 5 plays will be selected to premiere at Passage Theatre’s WORD ON FRONT 250 festival on the following dates:

• Saturday, June 27th
• Thursday, July 2nd
• Friday, July 10th

Plays will be adjudicated by a panel of judges selected from Passage Staff and the Trenton Community.

Plays will be adjudicated by a panel of judges selected from Passage Staff and

the Trenton Community.

• All submissions must include a complete fully-finished script. Passage Theatre will NOT make any edits to your script before winners are announced, it must be ready for performance at the time of submission.

• Scripts should adhere to standard playwriting format: 12-point Courier New font, 1-inch margins, and 1.5-inch left margin. Key elements include centered, all-caps Scene Headings, indented and italicized Stage Directions, and centered character names above dialogue. The script is single-spaced with double-spacing between speakers. Here is an example of a properly formatted page.

• Scripts must be 30-70 pages in length. Scripts that are under 30 pages or over 70 pages will be disqualified. Your final performance should be roughly 60 minutes or less.

• Filmed clips of your performance work in addition to your script is strongly preferred.

• The script must be of your own authorship, it is preferred that the performer and author are the same person. If you choose to use a different performer than yourself you are accepting full responsibility and guidance over that performer. If you do not have a performer and are unwilling to perform yourself, your script will be disqualified.

• Passage Theatre will not be responsible for the direction of your script. If a director is needed, you must provide them. Passage Staff may give minor directorial consultation during rehearsals, upon request of the performer.

• Performances selected will occur during late June and early July 2026. Passage Theatre will provide your technical sound and lighting elements. Technical rider must be attached:
• In a separate document explain your TECH: Lights, Sound, Costumes,
• Props, and Set. Passage will facilitate and produce your technical elements to the best of our ability. The author/performer must have these elements designed and guide the creative vision.
• The author/performer must provide props and costumes.
• No firearms of any kind, including props, can be included in these performances.
• Video projection must be limited to 10 minutes or less throughout the entire script.
• Passage Theatre will not be constructing any full scenery pieces beyond the WORD ON FRONT tableau.

SPRING 2026 Online Classes in Writing the Ten-Minute Play with Arianna Rose

Online classes in Writing the Ten-Minute Play are open for enrollment.

"Writing for the Stage: The Ten-Minute Play"
Six Sessions, 3 hours each:

1. Thursdays, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
OR 6:30 – 9:30 pm EDT
April 23 – May 28

2. Mondays, 1:00 – 4:00 pm OR 6:30 – 9:30 pm EDT
May 4 – June 15 (no class 5/27)
Tuition: $299 early bird through 4/19 (Thursdays) 4/30 (Mondays); $349 after

Course Repeaters Tuition: $175

Minimum 3 participants per section; maximum 8.

Recent Participant Testimonials:

“Arianna’s mastery of the 10-minute play form is undeniable, and her passion for the craft is contagious… The “writer’s group” portion of the class became a highlight for me; it created a supportive space to share work, give and receive feedback, and learn from one another. Arianna’s organization and commitment to equity in the Zoom room created a safe, thoughtful, energizing space that didn’t just help me write a play—it helped me grow as a writer.”

~ Laura Thoma

“I’ve taken more than a few playwriting classes, both in-person and online, and your class was by far the most productive and useful…I have a newfound appreciation for the plays I’ve read and how to write them, thanks to you.“

~ Tom Cocklin, 2-time participant

“I enjoyed the class immensely and learned a lot. I would definitely recommend it to playwrights of all levels. The course was well organized, it's clear you are passionate about the subject, care for your students and have deep knowledge that you are so generous to share…

~ Jeff Perlman

“Arianna is extremely skilled at sharing insightful, individualized feedback in a supportive environment. Her focus on dramatic structure was particularly helpful, and the course also offered invaluable and specific real world advice for writing and submitting short plays to festivals…

~ Donna R. Boyd, 2-time participant

Course Description:

Ten-minute play festivals dominate submission opportunities. While short-form plays share similarities with full-lengths, the dramatists who excel in this form write into the differences. You’ll learn the tools to write to the highest level of craft and make your work more producible.

The course combines lecture, reading, discussion, and in-class sharing of your writing for feedback. Topics: elements of a successful 10-minute play, dramatic structure, generating ideas, character development, giving and receiving constructive feedback, effective rewrites, formatting your play, submissions, and log-keeping.

Arianna has taught this course since 2023 at the Dramatists Guild Institute, PlayPenn Theatre, Delray Beach Playhouse, and independently. Her short plays have been presented in 37 states and 11 countries to date; won numerous awards; published in Smith & Kraus Anthologies, Applause Books, Ghostlight Publications, Theatre Odyssey Publications, Purple Light Publications.

Contact Arianna Rose at rockawayrose@gmail.com, or via the website where there is more information:

https://ariannarose.net/playwriting-classes-and-other-workshops

Interested but not available?
Email rockawayrose@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.

One-on-One Private Dramaturgy/Script Consulting
Prefer one-on-one coaching? Member, Dramaturg and Literary Managers Association of the Americas (LMDA) and the Dramatists Guild Plays-in-Progress Mentor Program. More information:
http://ariannarose.net/dramaturg-for-hire

The Democracy Cycle Commission 2026

Website

Deadline: April 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Over a 5-year period, The Democracy Cycle – a collaboration between the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) and Civis Foundation – will commission and develop a total of 25 new performing arts works across the fields of theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performance that express themes related to the nature and practice of democracy, particularly as it is practiced in the United States. This is a national and international open call.

Purpose

• Our hope is that the commissioned projects will enrich and expand discussion of and participation in democracy – be it in the national, state, regional, or hyperlocal community realm – as it is practiced within the United States and worldwide. The Democracy Cycle project is inspired by the following beliefs:Democratic values are a global expression of humanity’s striving to live with one another with respect and in peace.
• Democracy, as practiced in the United States, includes a history of founding exclusions. It has been, and must continue to be, the ongoing work of our society to expand upon the ideals of inclusivity embedded in our founding documents.
• Democracy faces significant perceived and actual threats in the current moment, both domestically and internationally.
• The Intersection of capitalism and democracy creates both opportunities and tensions.
• Artists are the beating heart of democratic values because of their ability to imagine new worlds, envision new possibilities, and provoke meaningful discourse across divides.

The primary focus of The Democracy Cycle will be on democracy as it is currently being practiced in the United States. However, commissioned projects may include references to democracies worldwide provided they have potential for informing and deepening our understanding of American democracy.

The Commission

Each selected artist will receive $60,000 in support, consisting of a commission of $30,000 to create the new work as well as an additional $30,000 in support of the work’s development process (research, readings, workshops etc.).

• May-September 2026: Applications are screened for eligibility by TDC staff. Eligible proposals are reviewed by a minimum of two Readers. Using Readers’ evaluative scores, a list of finalists is developed.
• Fall 2026: A peer panel drawn from the fields of performing arts, and the study and practice of democracy reviews finalists’ proposals and selects 8 projects to receive the 2026 commissions.
• Winter 2027: All 2026 Open Call applicants notified of their project’s status

Eligibility Requirements

• Eligible applicants must:Be generative artists who are currently creating new work in theater, dance, music, opera, or multi-disciplinary performance
• Have created, completed, and premiered at least 2 full-length prior works of live performance publicly, as evidenced by their bio, CV and/or work samples (Note: Staged readings and/or workshop showings are not premieres.)
• Propose a new live performance work which may be at any stage of development, but may not be planned to premiere before May 1, 2027. (Remounts of previously completed/premiered works are ineligible.)
• Propose a new live performance work which is planned to be completed in 2027 or 2028.
• Be prepared to manage the income-tax implications of accepting a commission from a U.S.-based arts organization. (U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, this is a national and international open call.)
• Proposals are not eligible ifThe lead artist is enrolled as a full-time student in a degree-granting program. Ph.D. candidates need to have completed their course work by the application deadline to be eligible
• The lead artist is under the age of eighteen
• The main purpose of the project is the curation or documentation of existing work(s)
• The proposed work advocates by name for the success or failure of a current partisan candidate for office or a political party
• The lead artist or any of the main collaborators are employees or immediate family of employees of PAC NYC or Civis Foundation

Selection Criteria

• Readers and panelists will consider the following in selecting the commissioned projects:
• How does the proposed work expand, critique, or celebrate democracy, the practice of democracy, and democratic ideals?
• How has the artist or artists identified and responded to ideas or themes related to democracy, including core democratic principles and values (ex. political equality, majority rule, minority rights, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, among others.)
• Does the work demonstrate clear potential for generating meaningful reflection and discourse on democracy as demonstrated by project narrative, samples of prior work, and artistic history of its collaborators.

SkyPilot Seeking One-Act Submissions

Website

Deadline: May 20, 2026

 (Fee waived for members of the Dramatist Guild with proof of membership)

Theatre Company Welcomes Submissions for Chosen Theme,

“It’s The Holiday Season”

SkyPilot Theatre Company, a non-profit ensemble company of actors, directors and designers producing provocative, compelling and challenging new works for the Los Angeles theatre-going audience, will once again present a selection of original one-act plays this Winter. Playwrights are invited to submit works based on the theme “It’s The Holiday Season”.

The holiday season is a busy, festive, often emotional time of tradition, family gatherings, and gift giving across many cultures. It can be joyful and nostalgic as well as hectic or stressful. Whether with friends and family or alone, this time of year brings up many emotions both positive and negative. Comedic or Dramatic. Playwrights are asked to submit one-acts based on any December holiday.

• Length – 25 minutes maximum
• 6-8 characters maximum (no children)
• Original, never produced material only, no adaptations
• No musicals 
• Minimal location and set pieces/props 

Submission fee is $10 (Through PayPal or Venmo: SkyPilotSubmissions@gmail.com) (Fee waived for members of the Dramatist Guild with proof of membership)

Once again this year, there will be two awards given out to playwrights. The Audience Award and the Producers Award will include a cash prize of $50 each and will be voted on and awarded to two of the overall plays selected for the festival at the end of the run.

Please submit plays with “One Act Festival” in the subject line to SkyPilotSubmissions@gmail.com by May 20th. In your submission, please include a synopsis, how it fits the theme, and any performance history. For more information on SkyPilot and its upcoming productions, visit www.skypilottheatre.com.

The Peoples Improv Theater seeks productions for Spring/Summer 2026

Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMIT VIA GOOGLE FORM

The PIT is holding an open call for scripts to program in one of its four spaces. Available for readings, workshops, or fully staged plays/musicals!

The length of plays wanted: 10 minutes to 90 minutes

Access to venue, tech time marketing, front of house team, and ticketing. Space to present your latest work and invite your community

We also recommend you include the following: 

The playwright may submit more than one play.

Instagram

The Boost Commission 2026

Website

Deadline: April 13, 2026

or until 150 applications are received

SUBMISSION FORM  you will have to create a free account at  Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

The Boost - submissions for the second cycle are now open.

An eligible applicant for The Boost is a woman, trans, and/or non-binary playwright age 40 or over who has had at least one production performed in front of a paying audience OR a script published by an established/known publishing/licensing house.

Application Opens: February 16, 2026

Application Deadline: April 13, 2026, or until 150 applications are received.

Winner announced: June 1, 2026

First draft delivered: June 1, 2027

Reading of the commissioned play: Fall 2027

Application materials:
-A two-page project summary in which the writer describes the play they intend to write, and answers the question: what about Leah’s play Debt inspired your idea for this play?

– CV / production history

– Fifteen pages of a work that best represents the writer’s voice. (This does not need to be the first fifteen pages of the work, just the pages you feel are the strongest).

– One reference – someone who can speak to your work as a playwright and theater maker (no letter is needed.)

The winner will receive:

—$10,000 to be received $6K at time of commission, $4K on completion

—A reading in Fall 2027

About Leah’s play Debt
Debt is a one act comedy about unpaid bills, endorphins, band practice, Marvin Gaye, and even more unpaid bills . . . something for everyone.

Hardscrabble Theater seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: April 15, 2026

Send your script as a PDF or Word document to Linda@hardscrabbletheater.com 

Hardscrabble Theater is seeking original one act plays for our Fall 2026 One-Act Play Festival!

The festival will take place Friday, October 16th through Sunday, October 18th.

We invite playwrights from all backgrounds to submit their work for consideration. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or making your first submission to a festival, we want to hear your voice!

Plays must meet the following criteria for consideration:

• Running time of no less than 5 minutes and no more than 15 minutes
• Single set with no special effects
• Simple lighting and sound/music cues only – all sound must be rights free.
• Maximum of five characters
• All scripts must be royalty-free
• Previously unpublished and unproduced in the NY tristate area

What We’re Looking For

Hardscrabble Theater celebrates stories that are raw, honest, and human. We welcome plays across all genres — drama, comedy, dark comedy, slice-of-life, and everything in between. We are especially drawn to work that is character-driven, emotionally resonant, and stageable within our production constraints.

How to Submit

Send your script as a PDF or Word document to Linda@hardscrabbletheater.com by April 15, 2026. Please include your name, contact information, and a brief synopsis of your play in the body of your email. Scripts should have a title page with name, address, phone, and email.

Questions? Reach out to us at the submission email above.

Hardscrabble Theater is committed to inclusive storytelling and encourages submissions from writers of all backgrounds.

Jersey Central Theatre Company seeks plays involving New Jersey history

Website

Deadline: May 29, 2026

Please email scripts along with a short cover note by May 29th to jerseycentraltc@gmail.com

Jersey Central Theatre Company seeks new scripts of plays or screenplays (finished or in progress) involving New Jersey history for consideration for a staged reading, to be presented in celebration of the country’s Semiquincentennial, on Sunday afternoon, August 2nd at the Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center in Fanwood, NJ. 

The reading will be produced with professional actors under the AEA 29-Hour Reading Agreement. Ideally, scripts should be full-length or long one-acts (approximately 30 – 60 minutes) with a cast of 5 or less. 

We are especially seeking new works by regional area writers, as we prefer to have authors in attendance to participate in a talk-back/Q&A with the audience following the performance. 

There will be a $50 stipend paid to the selected author. 

Applications for the 2026-27 PlayGround-NY Writers Pool are being accepted

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2026

– 25 early-career playwrights as well as 3 alternates will be competitively selected from applications to form the Writers Pool.

– Members of the Writers Pool may submit scripts to be considered as part of the Monday Night PlayGround-NY staged reading series. Four times each season, September through March (see tentative schedule below), PlayGround-NY will announce a prompt and Writers Pool members have just four-and-a-half days to generate an original short script (max. 10 pages) inspired by the prompt. The top six scripts each round will be staged publicly with leading local directors and actors. Those not selected may submit their scripts to Recess for cold readings via zoom (see below).

– From the plays staged throughout the season, up to six will be selected for Best of PlayGround-NY (produced in April 2027).

– Writers Pool members can gain peer feedback on their work by participating in Recess cold readings (one week after each Monday Night PlayGround-NY and generally via Zoom) as well as through a staff one-on-one session (available upon request). New this year, Writers Pool Alternates will have full access to Recess.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
– Writers must reside within the five boroughs of New York City
– Writers Pool members must commit to submitting for ALL FOUR Monday Night PlayGround-NY events in a given season (see below for schedule, subject to change). Writers failing to meet the eligibility requirements must sit out the remainder of the season and one additional full season. Alternates are asked to submit each round and may be admitted to the Pool should there be an opening during the season.
– The submission of a script to Monday Night PlayGround-NY grants PlayGround-NY the exclusive option to stage the play as part of the Monday Night PlayGround-NY and, should it be so selected, to present the world premiere as part of Best of PlayGround-NY and non-exclusive option to publish the script in a “Best of PlayGround” anthology.
– Current members of the Writers Pool must reapply in order to be considered for the following season.


WHAT TO SUBMIT
– Playwrights must submit a 10-page max, properly formatted script as PDF attachment. Both previously produced and unproduced scripts are eligible. See below for formatting examples.
– The script must have the playwright’s name, address, email and phone number at the top of the first page and include a detailed cast breakdown, and all pages must be numbered.
– The script title must be labeled by Lastname, Firstname_Title (e.g., Shakespeare, William_The Tempest).
– Excerpts from longer works are not accepted but short plays that meet the above requirements and are derived from a longer work are accepted.
– BIPOC, trans/gender-non-conforming & playwrights with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
– Applications must be received by 11:59pm PT on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

To view sample script formats, click the link(s) below.
Submission Format #1
Submission Format #2

WRITERS POOL ANNOUNCEMENT
– Applicants will be notified of selections on or before August 1, 2026.
– Selected writers must attend a mandatory company meeting on Sunday, August 16 (time tbd).

2026-27 SCHEDULE (subject to change)
MNP1 Topic Announced: September 18, 2026
MNP1 Scripts Due: September 22, 2026
MNP2 Topic Announced: October 30, 2026
MNP2 Scripts Due: November 3, 2026
MNP3 Topic Announced: December 18, 2026
MNP3 Scripts Due: December 22, 2026
MNP4 Topic Announced: January 29, 2027
MNP 4 Scripts Due: February 2, 2027

SHANGRI-LA-LA ~ new comedy musical inspired by the true story of Siegfried & Roy

Shangri-La-La is a funny and unconventional new comedy musical inspired by the true story of Siegfried & Roy and the transformation of Las Vegas into a spectacle-driven family destination. 

Blending original music, magic, comedy, and a boldly theatrical visual world, the piece examines the delusion, ambition, and excess behind that cultural reinvention. Beneath its sequins and absurdity, the musical tells a real American story about illusion, image-making, and the business of fantasy.

The show will appear in New York City in April as part of the Back Door to Broadway Festival:

Shangri-La-La
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM
American Theatre of Actors, Sargent Theatre
314 W. 54th Street, New York, NY 10019

https://hangingcowproductions.com/index.php/2025-one-act-festival/

The 2026 CWP Evolution Festival

Website

Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

The 2026 CWP EVOLUTION FESTIVAL will present original works of theater, dance, music, comedy, and interdisciplinary performance by NYC-based artists at venues across Manhattan.

In response to overwhelming demand, CWP's fifth annual Evolution Festival will host 16-20 performances in September 2026, and new this year, an additional 6-10 performances in June 2026!

Participants receive free performance & rehearsal space, marketing & technical support, a guaranteed artist fee, performance photography and archival videography, and more.

A Classic Theater seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: June 30, 2026

You may submit either by email to act@aclassictheatre.org
or by US Mail to Cindy Alexander, 600 Nautical Way, St. Augustine, Fl 32080

Format should be in MS Word or PDF.

A Classic Theatre in St. Augustine, Florida is seeking submissions for full length new plays for our Staged Reading Series. Plays chosen will be presented in Season 2026-2027 which begins in September, 2026.

We are looking for plays within the following parameters.

Full length, with or without intermission

No longer than 90-105 minutes

No more that 6 characters

No children or teens

Plays will be selected to be performed over the course of the 2026-2027 Season. They will be presented as a Staged Reading, with one performance, and minimal rehearsal. There will be the opportunity for audience feedback.

You may submit any number of plays but it must be a new work that has not been fully produced elsewhere.

You will be notified via email by September 30, 2026. Selected playwrights will receive a stipend of $100 for the performance.

A Classic Theatre is a 501c-3 non profit community theatre. www.aclassictheatre.org For any questions, please email Cindy at calexander@aclassictheatre.org

Sapphest NYC V Play seeks short plays

Instagram

Deadline: April 4, 2026 at 11:59 ET

Or once they reach 200 submissions 

SUBMISSION FORM

Sapphest is NYC's premier sapphic playwriting competition and play festival. The fifth installment of Sapphest will take place on 7/31/2026 + 8/1/2026 at Brooklyn Art Haus.

Eligibility:
Submissions are open to playwrights who:

• Are 18 years of age or older
• Live anywhere in the world
• Identify as Sapphic**In our context, we use “Sapphic” as an inclusive term for those who identify as women, nonbinary, trans, two-spirit, genderqueer, or agender and who experience love or attraction for others within these communities. Sapphics may identify as queer, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, lesbian, or use another term that resonates.

Please write an 8–10 minute piece inspired by a sapphic song (think Good Luck, Babe, Honey, Lunch, Slumber Party, Where Does the Good Go, Her Body is Bible, Lipstick Lover, Fast Car, etc.). The play should have no more than four actors (you may include more than four characters, but they must be played by a maximum of four actors).

The audience will guess which song inspired each play. Please note: the play should not be a direct retelling of the song, but rather inspired by the title or lyrics. Each playwright/writing team may submit one play per submission cycle. Plays that have been submitted in previous cycles may not be resubmitted unless they have undergone substantial revision.

Plays will be selected by a committee of queer judges. All plays will be read blind. The other questions in the form will help us get to know you as an artist and understand who we are reaching, but will not be shared with the readers. Selected playwrights will be notified by the end of May and will receive a $100 stipend after the festival has completed.

Submissions close April 4th at 11:59 PM ET, or once we reach 200 submissions — whichever comes first. Please submit early!

Helpful reminders/tips:

• Make sure the title of your play is not the same as the title of the song that inspired it.
• Remove your name and any identifying information from the play and title of the document before submitting - (submissions that include identifying details may not be considered)
• Your play must not exceed 11 pages, 12pt font, standard margins.
• You cannot submit a play you've submitted in the past unless it has been significantly revised
• Only one submission per playwright or writing team.

If you have any questions, email us at sapphestnyc@gmail.com.

FIRST DRAFTS STUDENT EDITION @ 54 BELOW

Website

Deadline: April 7, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best of luck!

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

Vineyard Arts Project 2026 Open Call Artist Residency | Request for Proposals

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Location: Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Vineyard Arts Project (VAP) invites applications from small budget organizations (under $1 million), collectives, or individual artists for its 2026/27 Artist Residency Program. VAP is a performing-arts residency and creative incubator dedicated to supporting the development of innovative new work in dance and theatre by emerging and established artists from around the world. The program provides dedicated time, housing, and studio resources in a collaborative environment designed to foster experimentation, artistic dialogue, and meaningful engagement with audiences.

Residents are hosted on VAP’s Edgartown campus, which includes multiple rehearsal studios and shared living facilities, enabling artists to focus intensively on the creative process while in residence.

Selected artists/teams will receive:

• Exclusive use of VAP residential and studio facilities for one residency week
• On-site housing accommodations for project participants
• Access to shared kitchen, living, and gathering spaces
• Administrative and logistical support from VAP staff
• Opportunity for an informal public sharing or presentation (format determined by project needs and conditions)

VAP is committed to accessibility and will work with selected residents to accommodate reasonable housing or caregiving needs where possible.

Please note that selected organizations and artists will be responsible for their own travel to and from Martha's Vineyard for their residency period.

Residency Structure

Residencies are typically one week in duration, though this can be flexible depending on the needs of accepted applicants.

Proposed 2026 Residency Periods:Summer Sessions: Limited availability June–August 2026
Fall Sessions: September–November 2026
Spring Sessions: April–May 2027

Applicants will indicate availability and preferred session windows.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be developing a new or in-progress work in dance, theatre, musical theatre, or multidisciplinary performance
• Demonstrate a clear artistic process and contextual grounding of their work
• Show interest in collaboration and artistic exchange
• Be able to commit fully to selected residency dates
• Show a high level of artistic excellence in their proposed work

Priority considerations:

Collaborative teams (solo artists welcome but may receive secondary priority)
Projects engaging diverse audiences or perspectives
Organizations that do not have their own space

Equity Statement

Vineyard Arts Project does not discriminate in program access or participation on the basis of identity, background, or protected status. Applications are welcomed from artists of all perspectives and experiences.

Timeline (Proposed 2026 Cycle)

Application Opens: March 1st 2026
Application Deadline: April 1st 2026
Notification of Decisions: Late May 2026

For any questions about this application, please contact:

Sam Hood Adrain

Associate Producer & General Manager

sam@vineyardarts.org

Vineyard Arts Project

Vocal Bodies: Monologues of Disabled Experience seeks monologues for publication

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Smith & Kraus seeks monologues that speak to the experience of disability in some way.

 

Please note that scripts with disabled characters do not necessarily need to focus on disability as the main topic. Additionally, the featured character does not need to be disabled, so long as disability is meaningfully explored in some way. 

We are particularly interested in informed works that highlight the complexities (good, bad, or otherwise) of the disabled experience. 

Disability is diverse, and we are looking for monologues that reflect that diversity in content, tone, and form. Special consideration will be given to monologues that are audition-ready. Pieces that “other” disabled people or rely on stereotypes will not be considered. 

Multiple submissions are fine. 

Work cannot have received previous publication. 

Payment for contributing playwrights will be a split of the net income from sales of that book with the publishers and editors. 

Questions may be directed to: mpoblete@tamu.edu and krothman@tamu.edu

Tiny Beautiful Letter Project

Website

Deadline: May 11, 2026 by 7:00 PM (PDT)

SUBMISSION FORM

We invite you to take part in a meaningful, community-wide initiative inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire and our production of it, as part of our Immersive Experience program, which seeks to highlight and explore the key themes of each production.

Through the Tiny Beautiful Letter Project, we are collecting anonymous letters that are raw, vulnerable, and honest, exploring the feelings most people don’t know how to express: grief, death, heartbreak, loss, identity, loneliness, love, and everything in between. Selected letters will be part of a culminating special event, where some may be read aloud to an audience or shared in creative ways.

Submission Guidelines

Stay Anonymous: Do not include personal identifying information; you may sign with a pseudonym or phrase.

Word Count: While there is no strict limit, we encourage letters of at least 500 words.

Be Honest & Thoughtful: Share your truths while being mindful of your words.

Themes We Seek: Grief, loss, resilience, identity, vulnerability, or questions seeking guidance.

Why Participate?
The Tiny Beautiful Letter Project celebrates the beauty and depth of human experience. Your unique contribution will help highlight the small yet powerful connections that sustain us all.

Regardless if you submit or not, we invite you to join us on Saturday, June 6 for the live reading of selected letters and encourage you to also attend a performance of Rabbit Hole and engage with our immersive events.

Together, let’s celebrate the power of storytelling, honesty, and connection.

Together, let’s celebrate the power of storytelling and connection.

Bread & Wine 2nd Annual Christmas Short Play Competition

Website

Deadline: April 10, 2026

Or when 120 scripts have been submitted

Email scripts to breadandwinetheatreco@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

Happy World Theatre Day

 

How to Celebrate World Theatre Day

Who can celebrate?

Celebrations open to everyoneThe main pillars of ITI – the ITI Centres and Cooperating Members – are the driving force behind the celebration of World Theatre Day in their country or region.
A celebration on the day itself or around it can be organized and promoted by anyone and everyone. Theatres, theatre and dance institutions, theatre and performing arts universities, government institutions, ministries of cultures, theatre and dance makers and theatre and dance lovers all over the world are invited to celebrate World Theatre Day.
ITI recommends that individuals or institutions who want to celebrate a day coordinate it with the ITI Centre or Cooperating Member in their country or region. The list of member addresses can be found in the directory online at www.iti-worldwide.org.

More at the World Theatre Day website.

The Voices of Democracy: A Festival for Ten-Minute Monologues

Website

Deadline: April 20, 2026 11:59 PDT

SUBMISSION FORM

In Samuel Beckett's groundbreaking play, Waiting for Godot (1953), Lucky, enslaved by Pozzo, remains silent throughout. But with one exception: when allowed by his master, Lucky utters a long, incoherent monologue that sheds light on his experience with unfreedom. Lucky is no exception in the history of playwriting and theater: Monologues have been used across history to give voice to the unheard and remain one of the most common genres for expressing challenges to free expression.

In the United States, there has been a long tradition of organizing festivals for ten-minute plays that gather actors, directors, and playwrights from across the country each year. This project, funded by the Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement (or VOICE) Initiative of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, will organize the first festival of this kind in the University of California system.

Three monologues will be selected for staging at UC Irvine in May 2026. Each author will receive a $500 stipend to participate in the in-person event (date to be determined).

The call is open to all, not only members of the University of California community.

Ten-minute monologues can be submitted by April 20th, 2026 (11:59 PST) using the form above.

Guidelines:

1. Length: Length is flexible, but monologues are expected to be suitable for a ten-minute performance.

2. Theme: Monologues should broadly explore the festival's theme, The Voices of Democracy.

3. Formatting: Please follow these formatting guidelines.

4. File: Please submit a .docx or .pdf version of your monologue.

5. Multiple submissions: Each author may only submit one (1) monologue for the contest.

6. Language: Pieces in both English and Spanish will be accepted.

7. Cap: Submissions are capped at 100 monologues. We advise authors to submit their work earlier rather than later.

For any questions, please contact Eraldo Souza dos Santos (eraldo.souzadossantos@uci.edu)

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.

Lyrics & Lyricists Jr., a special opportunity for ten emerging composers and songwriters

Website

Deadline:  April 6, 2026

To submit, composers and songwriters should email Megan Doyle with:a short bio
a demo of the song they are submitting in a Google Drive or sharable link (please do not email large files)

The 92nd Street Y is thrilled to invite submissions for this year’s Lyrics & Lyricists Jr., a special opportunity for ten emerging composers and songwriters to have their work presented on the 92NY stage.

For more than 50 years, 92NY’s celebrated Lyrics & Lyricists series has honored the art of songwriting and brought audiences together with extraordinary artists to explore the Great American Songbook.

Presented through 92NY’s Theater for Young Audiences Department, this production of Lyrics & Lyricists Jr. is created with family audiences in mind and is partnered with our Discover Musical Theater Residencies, which bring musical theater education into the NYC public school system. This exciting initiative connects emerging songwriters not only to performance, but also to 92NY’s broader mission of arts education, access, and inspiring young audiences through new musical storytelling.

Selected winners will have their song featured in this year’s concert on May 16 and 17, will be highlighted with a bio on the 92NY website, and will receive professional footage of their number performed on our stage. It is a meaningful opportunity for emerging writers to share their work as part of a long-standing 92NY tradition while also contributing to programming that serves young people and families.

Please note:All songs must be family-friendly
Songs may be either from a new, unpublished musical or a stand-alone song

We look forward to hearing new voices and celebrating the next generation of musical storytellers.

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

Website

Deadline: April 27, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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

Nomad Theatre returns to its roots with the Bar Plays.

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

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

This call is open to all playwrights worldwide. Selected playwrights receive a $25 honorarium, full production of their show and a ticket to attend. We encourage anyone to submit, even if you’ve never written a play. We want to support underrepresented playwrights, including women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disabled, neurodiverse, etc, and encourage you to submit.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

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

Guidelines:

• One submission per playwright
• A running time of 10-12 minutes long, or roughly 8-15 pages
• A cover page should include the title, the playwright’s name, contact information, a brief synopsis, and character descriptions.
• Pages should be numbered.
• Minimum of 1, maximum of 4 actors (characters may be double cast)
• Label your document as TITLE OF PLAY_LastName
• Must take place in a bar.
• No musicals.

We suggest formatting similar to the Dramatist Guild Guidelines: https://www.dramatistsguild.com/sites/default/files/2020-01/General-SFI-Formatting-Guidelines-Complete.pdf

If you have questions or need any accommodations for submission, please email nomadtheatresubmissions@gmail.com

Nomad's mission is to provide an immersive theatre experience by exposing audience members to eclectic and moving stories, taking theatre outside of a traditional theatre space and into site-specific locations.

OUT/PLAY Presents: Summer Shorts - Short Play Festival 2026

Instagram account

Deadline: April 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Announcing the 2nd annual Summer Shorts, a short play festival endeavoring to produce new LGBTQ+ voices!

Theme: Queer This Year! OUT/PLAY's current season has moved forward in time, telling stories of queer experiences from the 1940s to 2010. By concluding our season with Summer Shorts, we aim to center stories that explore and depict themes and experiences that the LGBTQ+ community is having today, right now, in 2026. Submissions will be considered based on creative interpretations of this theme. While we appreciate interpretations of classic and pre-existing material, OUT/PLAY will select only new and original short plays for the Summer Shorts Festival 2026.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

For your short play to be considered, please complete this form with the following materials:

• Photo/Resume and/or Artistic Bio (1 page PDF file)
• 1 PDF file including the following:
• Artist’s Statement: explanation of your play and its meaning, in your own words (100 words).

Character Breakdown: list of characters and useful descriptors to help Directors with casting. Please note: OUT/PLAY is an equal-opportunity organization, and while we understand some scripts require demographic specificity, we appreciate work that can be performed outside restrictions of age, sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, body-type, and ability.

Script: should not exceed 12 pages (excluding the title page and character breakdown). Format the document with 1-inch margins, font Times New Roman (or equivalent), font size 12pt. When read out loud (including stage directions) the play should not exceed 15 minutes in length. Plays that do not meet this guideline will not be considered.

Plays should be original, unpublished, and never before produced. This can be new work specifically for this festival or pulled from your archives.

Scripts should be frozen by its 1st rehearsal, with minimal changes made during the rehearsal process.

Playwrights must be residents of New York City area and available for the kick off meeting and the duration of the festival (see dates below).

If a Playwright has specific people in mind for Directors and/or Actors, please inform us below.

Playwrights, Directors, and Actors will be expected to promote the festival via social media and personal networks. Each play will be given a discount code for online ticket purchases.

Submissions are being accepted on a rolling basis between March 13 - April 1, 2026.

Playwrights will be contacted in mid-April 2026, with formal selections announced on May 1, 2026.

OUT/PLAY SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL OFFERINGS

Assignment of a Director to each short play (or a pairing of your choice, as indicated in field below).

1 Dress/Tech Rehearsal and 3 live performances between June 8-14, 2026 at The Chain Theatre (located at 312 West 36th Street, Floor 4, New York, NY 10018).

Video footage of 1 performance provided to the Playwright and Director.

Programs will be live streamed, 1 night each.

Each production will get 1 tech rehearsal (Date TBD) in the theatre during the week of the festival.

OUT/PLAY producers are available to support in casting and promotion via photos and video assets, social media, invitations to our mailing list, and a formal press release to theater and media contacts.

OUT/PLAY will offer 2 complimentary tickets per play to Industry Professionals—names and emails must be provided to OUT/PLAY by the Director of the play.

Any questions should be directed to outplaynyc@gmail.com.

Babes with Blades Joining Sword & Pen 2026-27 Competition

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2026 at midnight CDT

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

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

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

Inspirational Image for JS&P 2026-2027 Competition:

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

IMPORTANT: This will be a BLIND SUBMISSION PROCESS.

THE PITCH:

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

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

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

REQUIREMENTS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Things to consider:

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

Click here to learn more about Joining Sword & Pen

Village Playwrights Annual June Pride Festival 2026

Website

Deadline: April 10, 2026

Send to villageplaywrights@gmail.com

Village Playwrights is accepting one-act plays for the annual June Pride Festival.

Playwrights from NYC and surrounding areas are welcome to submit a one-act play up to 30 minutes in length. 

The plays chosen will be fully produced in NYC.

Oswego Players seek one-act plays from New York State residents

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT

Submissions can be sent either electronically to osweplay@yahoo.com or through the mail, Donald J. McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest, P.O. Box 183, Oswego, NY 13126. 

The Oswego Players were established in 1938 as a non-profit community theater organization dedicated to live theater productions and theater education for New York State residents. Consistent with those goals, a playwriting contest was established to promote the creation of original, one-act plays by contemporary authors.

PLAYWRITING CONTEST GUIDLINES 

The contest is FREE and open to playwrights 18 years and older residing or attending college in the state of New York. 

All plays must be based on original concepts (no adaptations of any works or no verse plays), unpublished and unproduced. 

Only the first 100 submissions received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, May 1, 2026, will be considered for this year's contest. The Oswego Players, Inc., is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, postage due or illegible entries.

Playwrights can submit one play per contest year.

By submitting a play, playwrights grant permission to Oswego Players, Inc., to produce said play at the organization's discretion with no remuncration to the playwright beyond the contest cash prize. While it is the intention of the organization to produce the winning play, it does not guarantee a staged production.

The content, theme, and time-period of the play are at the discretion of the playwright.
Since a live production of at least one of the prize winners is planned, simplicity is highly recommended:

One act, single set, with a run time of 20 to 30 minutes.
Written so it can be staged with minimal set, props, lighting and sound effects, and limited period costume design.
The play should require no more than eight actors. One actor playing multiple parts is acceptable.

All entries must include a cover page which includes the name of the play, name of the playwright, and a street address, phone number, and email address.

Provided there are enough entries, the following cash prizes will be awarded:
- 1st Prize: $250.00 - 2nd Prize: $150.00 - 3rd Prize: $75.00 

The prize-winning authors automatically give permission to the Oswego Players, Inc. to make copies of the script for rehearsal purposes. 

Submission of an entry will constitute agreement by the playwright to the terms described herein.

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.

Go Try Play Write - March 2026

Website

Deadline March 31, 2026

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 March 2026 is a chicken rebellion prompt:

Write a 10-page maximum scene of a chicken fight where the roosters fight back against their masters. It could take place in ‘Ewa, Waipahu, wherever really. The police could even arrive to help the people being attacked. Anything goes.

THE TENS FESTIVAL 2026 seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: May 23, 2026 at midnight EDT

Email Scripts to: Pancho@ParishPlayers.org 

Email Subject Line: Use the title of the play as the subject line of your email. 

File name: Name your PDF with the title of the play, a hyphen, and your own last name,
e.g. Hamlet-Shakespeare.

Types of Plays: Comedies or Dramas must be no more than 10 minutes in length.

Setting: Simple; the festival will offer 6 to 8 plays, and minimal set changes are required.

Notification of Selection: No later than June 20th, 2026.

Performance Dates: October 2026.

Producer: Beata Isaacs Randall

How to submit your script:

File format: PDF ONLY!

Please Note: No more than one script per playwright. We prefer new, unproduced plays; however previously produced and already published original plays will be considered. We will also give preference to "local" (New England) playwrights.

Questions? Email Pancho@ParishPlayers.org using the subject line: TENS QUESTION.

The Andrew Conti Workshop seeks one-act and full-length plays

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Submit to: wayne@sfbh.org

For questions or additional information, please contact: wayne@sfbh.org 

Sonoma Foundation for Behavioral Health (SFBH) is seeking writers to submit original scripts for consideration in this year’s Andrew Conti Workshop (ACW) — a performance art
program dedicated to helping people process challenging emotional experiences through deeply human, character-centered storytelling.

The ACW Workshop supports new and emerging voices and embraces work that explores the full spectrum of human experience — from the challenging to the absurd, from the disturbing to the beautiful. We are particularly interested in scripts that engage with themes such as mental health, addiction, recovery, identity, connection, and resilience.

The selected script will be developed and presented as part of the three-month ACW Workshop, culminating in multiple theatrical performances. This process offers writers the
opportunity to see their work brought to life in a collaborative and supportive creative environment.

ACW and its Director, Dr. Senadhi Parakrama, intend to maintain the original work of the chosen script to the best of their ability. The workshop’s ultimate goal is to allow the ensemble actors to help heal the personal narratives they have been unable to voice. During the 12-week workshop
and rehearsal period, participants will write their own monologues drawn from their personal experiences, marrying them with the characters they are playing in the script. These monologues will be woven into the script, while maintaining the original storyline.

Who Should Submit:
Playwrights, screenwriters, and writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply.

What Selected Writers Receive

• Script development within a supportive ensemble environment
• Collaboration with directors, actors, and creative staff
• The opportunity to see your work staged as part of the ACW Workshop

What to Submit (2 Attachments):

• Blind Script Submission
• Script Length
• Scripts must 40 – 60 pages in standard theatrical format (12-point font)Intended for an approximately one-hour production, with an average of 5-10 actors, some primary some secondary.
• Your name and identifying information must be removed from the script

2. Writer Information (Separate Attachment)

• Brief writer bio
• Contact information

This will be a blind submission process. Individuals reviewing scripts will not have access to identifying or contact information for writers during the selection process.

We look forward to reading your scripts!

Perlberg Festival 2027 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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

What are we looking for?

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

The Players Theatre – Short Play Festival - NYC

Website

Deadline: March 25, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

New York City is like no other place in the world! We are seeking plays that get to the heart of the Big Apple and explore what makes this town tick. Unique New York – it’s more than a tongue twister – it is a way of life!

All plays submitted must be centered on and revolve around this theme.

ELIGIBILITY: Short Plays and Musicals with a performance time of 15 minutes or less, no more than 15 pages in length (not including title page). Writers are eligible to submit up to 2 plays.

Plays run one weekend out of three in June 2026
June 4 – 7
June 11 – 14
June 18 – 21
Thurs – Sat 7pm; Sun 3pm

DATES & LOCATIONS: June 4 – 21, 2026 The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre at The Players Theatre: 115 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012 – 3rd floor walk up: 3 weeks, 4 performances weekly (Thursday through Sunday), 5 new plays featured each week. Each play performs four times in its selected week (Week 1, Week 2, or Week 3). 

PRIZE: Each week a audience favorite is selected by audience vote. The winner of each week will receive $100 prize. If you are the winner, you must submit a PayPal account to receive your prize. THEME: “NYC” Make it all about life in NYC! All plays submitted must be centered on and revolve around this theme. ** Note ** 1) Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. 2) 

If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required Plays MUST be NO MORE 15 minutes in length, which equals approximately 15 pages of script (not including title page). Submissions open: Feb 11, 2026 Submissions close: March 25, 2026 Play selection announced soon thereafter (it may take a few weeks after the close of the submission window). F

For more festival information visit: www.shortplaynyc.com 

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

Thank you – we can’t wait to read your work!