KOTA is accepting submissions of new plays and musicals for young audiences

Website

Deadline:  none given

SUBMISSION FORM

At KOTA, we believe new work keeps theatre fresh, relevant, and reflective of young people today. We’re drawn to original stories, new voices, and meaningful ideas that give young performers the chance to help bring something new to life.

We are specifically seeking WORLD PREMIERES and works that have not previously received a full production in NYC. A small out-of-town workshop, developmental presentation, reading, or similar early-stage presentation is absolutely fine.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Feature a cast made up primarily of child and teen actors
• Estimated running time of 60–90 minutes
• Ready for a workshop, staged reading, or full-scale production in NYC
• Achievable with extremely simple scenery, costumes, and props
• World premiere, with no previous full-scale production

HOW TO SUBMIT

Please be prepared to provide:

• Show title
• Writer(s) / creative team
• Contact information
• Number of cast members and approximate ages/age ranges
• Brief synopsis or description of the show
• Estimated running time
• For musicals, approximate number of musical numbers
• Development, reading, or workshop history, if applicable
• Script and/or other available materials
• Any additional information you feel would be helpful for KOTA to know

HerStories Monologue open for submissions

Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Or until they reach 250 submissions

SUBMISSION FORM

Nomad Theatre, located in Normal, Illinois, seeks 8 monologues to be a part of our upcoming HerStories Detour in March 2027. This series of monologues is performed in a real library, within the book stacks. Submissions will close on November 15th, 2026, at midnight or until we reach 250 submissions. Semi-finalists will be announced in January 2027. Auditions will be held in mid February 2027, and based on auditions, eight finalists will be chosen for production. If your play is selected for production, writers will receive a $25 honorarium for their work.

Nomad Theatre Company proudly presents their fourth installment of Pop-Up HerStory, an immersive theatrical experience that brings the stories of remarkable women and nonbinary people from history to life. As part of Nomad Theatre’s Detour projects, this unique production spotlights real women who have left an indelible mark on history, sharing their stories through original monologues and scenes.

Call for female-identifying or nonbinary writers, including actors who can write:

Selected monologues or scenes must feature one or two historical woman or non-binary person, living or not, with a runtime of five to six minutes. Monologues and scenes must be rooted in historical accuracy. 

We encourage you to use the space creatively. The monologue or scene must be unpublished at the time of submission. Please review the list titled "HERstory 2027 Ideas" for suggested historical figures. While you are not limited to these suggestions, Nomad Theatre has a particular interest in featuring these women in upcoming years. Please avoid someone who has already been performed. You will find them in the linked document titled: Previously featured women.

Please confirm the originality of your script, and your ability and willingness to give permission to use it for auditions, promotions, and live and privately-recorded performances by Nomad Theatre.

Preferences:

--direct address of audience, with good audience engagement

- rooted in historical accuracy. Please include sources in your submission

--a reason for speaking or dramatic moment for character/s to engage with each other or audience

--as much humor and audience engagement as possible, or such drama, poignancy, etc as befits chosen character/s

--minimum use of props or furniture, or none at all!

--ability to set in library and use library furnishings for any set or prop needs

Final script selection depends on who comes to auditions! (12-15 semi-finalists may be chosen for auditions.)

This call is open to all female and nonbinary identifying playwrights worldwide. Selected playwrights receive full production of their scene and an invitation to attend. We encourage anyone to submit, even if you’ve never written a monologue. 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:

• Overall writing quality (informative, interesting, compelling)
• Historical accuracy (please include at least one credible source)
• Suitability for our actors and spaceSubmission Guidelines:
• One submission per playwright
• A running time of 4-7 minutes long
• A cover page should include the title, the playwright’s name, contact information, a brief synopsis, at least one credible source, and character description.
• Pages should be numbered.
• A monologue or two person scenes only.
• Label your document as TITLE OF PLAY_LastName
• 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 or visit us https://nomadtheatre.org/

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.

Eclectic Full Contact Theater Company 6th Annual Patchwork Play Festival

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

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

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

Nine finalists will have their play produced in our festival.

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

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

Submission Requirements:​

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

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. 

Dreamscape Theater Company seeks short plays for Women's History

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026 11:59 pm PDT

2027 PLAY FESTIVAL SUBMISSION FORM.

Dreamscape Theater Company (dreamscapetheater.com) in Corvallis, Oregon, is seeking original short plays (no longer than 15 minutes) to be considered for production, March 6-7, 2027.

PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WHEN SUBMITTING. Plays that do not adhere to the following will not be considered.

Plays must reflect women’s history. Characters can be real or fictional as long as the play is in keeping of the theme of the festival: Celebrating Women’s History: Stories of Creativity, Change, Courage.

Submissions will be accepted September 20-October 31, 2026. Deadline for submissions is midnight, Pacific Time, October 31, 2026, 11:59 pm. The top-ranked plays will be produced March 6 and 7, 2027. All playwrights will be notified of the status of their play no later than January 15, 2027.

Please ensure that your play can be performed in 15 minutes or less. Plays that take longer than 15 minutes to perform will not be accepted.

Plays should have at least two characters but no more than five. Monologues will be accepted. They should be NO LONGER than 5 minutes.

Plays should be able to be staged with a simple set (black boxes/chairs/stools/small table) and minimal light/sound/prop requirements.

Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright. There is no residence requirement. However, preference will be given to playwrights who live in the Pacific Northwest.

If your submission has been previously staged, please provide a production history.

Please do not include your name or contact information anywhere in the script you submit.

No children’s plays or musicals will be accepted.

Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.

Plays must be written in English. Acceptable formats are documents or PDFs.

By submitting to this contest, you agree to accept the decision of the judges as final.

There is no fee to submit to Dreamscape Theater’s Play Festival.

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

Playwrights whose plays we produce will be asked to submit a headshot and short bio for publicity purposes.

Use this link to submit: 2027 PLAY FESTIVAL SUBMISSION FORM. If the form does not work for you, please submit your play as an email with an attachment to info@dreamscapetheater.com. In the email include your name, where you reside, phone number and that your play adheres to the guidelines.

Questions? If you have any questions, please email info@dreamscapetheater.com.

Apricity Magazine open for short play submissions

Website

Deadline: January 4, 2027 at 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

We accept submissions from the performing arts, including but not limited to original music, short film, short play, and dance. Scores, scripts, and screenplays count although live versions are encouraged. Please upload or include a link (of a Youtube video, a webpage, or a Google Drive file) to your submission as well as a brief description of your piece and how you arranged your performance. The maximum time allotted for videos is 15 minutes each. Simultaneous submissions are permitted. 

We welcome comprehensive use of English and other languages. If your piece contains non-English languages, please include an English translation. Though we are an international magazine, our staff’s common language is English.

Before you submit, please note the following:

NOTIFICATION: You may expect notification of your acceptance or rejection within three months of submitting your piece. As our staff is composed entirely of university students, however, we do not operate from the end of May through the end of August. Any pieces submitted in April and May may not receive a response until August. 

 NON-PROFIT: We are a non-profit student organization. We intend to direct all net proceeds towards publication improvement and charitable donations focused on education.

FEES: There is no submissions fee, nor is there any payment for publishing your work (currently). However, should you be published in the print publication, you will receive a free contributor’s copy. If you are published online and would like to receive a print edition, you will receive a 60% discount.

Go Try Play Write October 2026

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

The prompt for October 2026 is an Ionesco prompt:

This prompt is based on the play Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco (you do not need to know the play to write the prompt). It’s the day after the 2026 midterm elections, and everyone voted for the person or party you despise. You know this because they’ve all turned into an animal with whom you can’t really communicate with. Write a 10-page maximum scene of you dealing with this event. Pick one animal that everyone turns into. Have fun.

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 REVOLUTION STAGE COMPANY FOURTH Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival

Website

Facebook

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Palm Springs, CA

Email submissions by Friday, October 30th, 2026 to: 10minfest@revolutionstagecompany.com

The REVOLUTION STAGE COMPANY in Palm Springs is now accepting submissions for its FOURTH Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival to be held January 9th & 10th, 2027.

Deadline for submission of your original plays is Friday, October 30th, 2026. Submissions must be in doc or pdf format with pages numbered. Each selected play will receive $300 at the end of the festival.

If your play is accepted for this festival, it must arrive at the theater PRODUCTION-READY.

• You are responsible for all casting, rehearsing, etc. prior to bringing it to our stage. 
• Playwrights may submit more than one play (up to three)
• All plays must run no more than 10 minutes when staged. 
• All plays must be original and not yet performed in the Palm Springs area. 
• All plays must be suitable for a general audience. 
• All plays should have no more than 5 characters, with limited props and/or costumes. 
• You will need to be able to provide, set-up and remove all props within two minutes. 
• All plays should have no special tech requirements. 
• Once accepted, there can be no changes that would alter the nature of the play. 
• No scripts on stage except in the case of last minute emergencies 
• No fee required for submissions. 

Author's name should be left off of any pages of the script so that we can evaluate anonymously. The author's name should appear only on the title page, which will be removed from the script before distribution to judges.

Please put "Ten-Minute Play Festival Submissions" in the subject line.

We will be making our decisions by November 15th and notifying playwrights by November 18th.

For the first time this year, those attending the Festival will be able to vote for:

FAVORITE PLAY, FAVORITE CAST, FAVORITE ACTOR, FAVORITE ACTRESS & FAVORITE DIRECTOR.

On Monday, January 18th at 2pm, the RSC will present a program called BEST OF THE FEST featuring anywhere from 3 to 6 of the

FAVORITE plays from this year's festival as determined by RSC. The program may also include memorable plays from previous Festivals. IF YOUR PLAY IS SELECTED for the BEST OF THE FEST program on January 18th, you will receive an additional S100.

The Breaking Ground New Works Festival seeks plays

Website

Deadline: November 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

The Breaking Ground New Works Festival at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre (Jupiter Florida) aims to elevate underrepresented playwrights. We want to open our doors and share our resources to develop creators who have historically been excluded from stages. Breaking Ground will showcase straight plays and musicals by playwrights of all identities and backgrounds. Projects of varying styles, varying lengths and in varying stages of development will be considered. Our Festival's purpose is to nurture diverse voices in script development and production. Launching for one week in early June 2027, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre will showcase a curated selection of original works across multiple performance spaces within our Theatre. This event offers an opportunity for playwrights to collaborate and workshop their scripts in an environment where unique voices can fully bloom on stage.

Length of Plays: We are accepting all plays and musical of varying lengths, from 10 minute to full length works.

Opportunity: Acceptance into the festival and staged reading at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Eligibility: Must reside in the US

How many: Playwrights may submit more than one piece of work

Work Restrictions: We will only accept work that has not been published or has not had a fully realized production

Notification: Submitters will be notified via email by November 30, 2026 regarding the selection of their work

Participation: Playwrights will be required to attend the festival (June 1, 2027 through June 6, 2027) and all workshops regarding their piece which could range a week before the festival. Travel assistance will be a case by case basis.

Native Voices 2027 Playwrights Retreat and 33rd Festival of New Plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We at Native Voices believe stories are medicine. We believe many plays live inside every one of us. We believe representation matters, and for far too long, our stories have been absent from the American Stage.

Native Voices is dedicated to the development and production of new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights.

The Playwrights Retreat brings artists to Los Angeles to work on a select number of plays over a week in the summer, with rigorous directorial and dramaturgical commitment. The Retreat culminates in the Festival of New Plays, public staged readings at Los Angeles and La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. Selected playwrights receive artistic support, including a director, dramaturg, stage manager, and actors, as well as an honorarium and space to write. Out-of-town artists receive round-trip airfare plus lodging in Southern California.

Selection Process:
Full-length plays (60+ pages) received by October 31, 2026, will be read and evaluated by the entire Native Voices team, as well as a pool of outside readers. Native Voices will select several playwrights to submit formal proposals detailing their developmental goals should their play be chosen for the shortlist. Our literary team will then send the scripts to a committee of nationally recognized theatre artists for further evaluation. With their help, Native Voices selects up to three plays for the Playwrights Retreat and Festival of New Plays. Playwrights will be notified in March 2027.

*Due to budget constraints, we are unable to select plays that require more than 6-8 actors to produce. Doubling is encouraged if necessary to realize your vision.

A Note About the Native Voices Distance Dramaturgy Process:
Months before the Retreat and Festival, selected playwrights participate in dramaturgical conversations with an assigned director and dramaturg. Workshops with these creative teams and a cast of professional actors commence once the playwright arrives on-site. It is important to note that these conversations and workshops are playwright-driven, allowing the writer to shape their developmental path. Selected playwrights should be prepared to dedicate adequate time to this process before arriving on-site.​

MUSE Collective seeks 10-minute plays by female-identifying playwrights

Website

Deadline: January 15, 2027

or when 300 submissions have been received

SUBMISSION FORM

Inspired by the nine Muses of Greek mythology, this opportunity invites female-identifying playwrights to explore creativity, inspiration, and storytelling through original short plays and monologues.

Selected scripts will be included in NINE MUSES, an anthology of short works which will be available on the MUSE Collective website.

Open to all female-identifying playwrights.

Only one submission per playwright.

Genre and Length: Original monologues or 5–10-minute plays inspired by one of the nine Greek Muses. Writers may also creatively incorporate all nine Muses into a single piece.

Page Limit: Short plays must not exceed 10 pages or 1,500 words, excluding the title page.

Original Work: All submissions must be original, unproduced, and unpublished.

Formatting: Scripts must be submitted as blind PDFs, with identifying information removed from the script.

AI Policy: Plays written using generative AI are not eligible.

Notification Date: Selected playwrights will be notified by April 16, 2027.

Rights: Playwrights retain all rights to their work.

They can be contacted via their Facebook account.

Theatre Revolution seeks short plays by women for self-production

Website

Deadline: January 23, 2027 by11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

Theatre Revolution is proud to announce submissions are open for

Glass Ceiling Breakers: 2027 A Festival of Short Plays and Films by Women Artists!

GCB 2027 is scheduled for June 11, 12 and 13, 2027 at the

Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison NY.

● Plays must be written by female or female identifying playwrights.

● Plays should be no more than 12 pages (excluding the title page) in standard play format. Type size (12) with 1” margins. (longer plays will not be read)

● Save File as follows in PDF only: LAST NAME_TITLE OF PLAY_GCB27

● Please only submit plays that have not been produced in Westchester or Putnam Counties NY from June 2026 to June 2027. Readings are ok.

● Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays.

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

● BIPOC playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit.

Playwrights will be informed in mid-March

*If selected, playwrights are responsible for producing their play. There is no compensation for plays  or transportation to and from the venue. Theatre Revolution may provide some production assistance (not financial) in some or all of the following areas: casting, directing, rehearsals, props, etc. We do not accept plays created or enhanced with AI.

In all cases, Theatre Revolution will provide limited set pieces, lighting and sound equipment, and production staff.

There will be a mandatory pre-production meeting via ZOOM for all playwrights or their representatives in March 2027. Questions? Email us. theatrerevolution1@gmail.com

Playwrights in Process at the Old Stone House Brooklyn

Website

Deadline: none given - next session is October 28, 2026

Piper Theatre Productions invites playwrights and actors to join Playwrights in Process (PIP), our ongoing workshop at the Old Stone House in Washington Park, Brooklyn.

Our next session is Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Playwrights bring developing work to hear aloud with actors, followed by feedback and discussion. Actors are welcome to join us to read and help writers discover what’s working on the page.

This season, we’re working toward PIPER PLAYS: A Festival of Readings in June 2027, with festival dates to be announced. We’re aiming to develop work by seven playwrights. Participating playwrights are asked to commit to at least five sessions so they have time to revise their own work and contribute to the development of others’ plays.

Last June’s festival presented new readings by Sylvia Wehrle, Libby Yowell, Patti Veconi, Allison Snyder, and Jeff Sproul.

Bring your unfinished pages and the scene you’re still wrestling with. PIP offers a room of actors and fellow writers ready to listen, read, and help you take the next step.

Interested in having your play read? Contact john@pipertheatre.org. Actors interested in participating should also email John.

All sessions begin at 7:00 pm at the Old Stone House in Washington Park, Brooklyn. There is no submission or participation fee.

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.

Tiqva Co seeks one-acts and full-length plays for a night of awareness about Alzheimer's Dementia

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

but submissions considered as they come in

SUBMISSION FORM

Tiqva Co has the opportunity to produce a new play alongside on of our original plays on a night of awareness about Alzheimer's Dementia in Atlanta, GA. 

We will also have an audience panel talkback with neuro professionals. We would love this opportunity to spotlight another artists' work, with a stripped production of their piece within the confines of the awareness categories.

We would like to produce plays that have any of the following elements:

• Alzheimer's Dementia
• Caregiving
• Mental Health / Grief
• Memory Loss
• Traumatic Brain Injury

The work will be screened by our producers in-house, and the winner will be notified November 2nd. The tentative date of the productions are November 20th.

Selected script(s) will receive a play production (with option to come produce if local or available to travel to Atlanta).

May submit more than one play.

Prefer plays that have never been produced, but are open to all.

The winner will be notified by November 2nd.

We will produce the play, but playwrights are welcome to produce alongside us if available and ready.

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.

Paperback Presents II: Original Script Submissions

Website

Deadline: October 25, 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

Paperback Productions is accepting script submissions for a November production, presented as staged readings at one or more partner venues in Denton, TX. Potential performance locations include Harvest House and Toasty Bros, with the possibility of a third venue. One selected script will be produced by the company, and the selected playwright will participate in our profit-sharing structure.

Selected playwrights will join the first rehearsal to introduce and discuss their work with the cast and creative team. Requests for changes to dialogue or other script elements will be made in consultation with the playwright whenever possible. Scripts may undergo collaborative edits or adjustments to accommodate production needs, casting considerations, or runtime goals.

Paperback Productions specializes in intimate staged readings with condensed rehearsal timelines and flexible casting practices. We especially encourage original adaptations of public domain literature and inventive reimaginings of familiar stories, though all original work is welcome. Scripts should run 60-100 minutes with casts of eight or fewer.

Selected Playwright Announced: October 28, 6:30 PM

The Soliloquist Journal seeks soliloquies

Website

Deadline: October 20, 2026

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

"Share Your Soliloquy"

For our Fall 2026 Issue, The Soliloquist Journal invites poets and writers to dissect the mechanics of memory loss— chosen and unchosen. What do you let go of on purpose? What slips away against your will? What do you misremember, and why does the misremembering feel like its own kind of truth?

We are looking for raw, vulnerable, and authentic poetry and soliloquies that trace the edges of what has been lost, blurred, or deliberately buried.

SUBTHEMES:

Selective Erasure — The things we choose to forget on purpose: a face, a
betrayal, a version of ourselves we've outgrown.

Phantom Memory — The ache of a memory that lingers after the thing
itself is gone—like sensation in a missing limb.

The Unreliable Archive — Misremembering as its own act of creation: when
the story we tell replaces the thing that actually happened.

Inherited Forgetting — Family silences, generational gaps, and the things
left unspoken until they simply cease to exist.

The Slow Fade — The involuntary kind of forgetting: aging, illness,
distance, and the quiet grief of watching a memory dissolve in real time.

Pioneer Productions Company seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026 

Or until they receive 100 submissions

Please send your submission to: pioneernewplays@gmail.com

Please title the submission email Your Full Name 2027 Submission. If you are a current high school (18+) or college student, please also include Student Submission in the subject line of the email.

Playwrights may submit a maximum of TWO short plays

Play must be typed with pages numbered. 

Please include a brief synopsis of the play 

Please include a cast breakdown

Please include a cover page with the Title of the play, the author’s name, and contact information, including email and cell phone number. 

Pioneer Productions Company, a local NJ-based theater company, in partnership with the Morristown and Morris Township Library, is opening submissions for the 2027 New Play Reading Series. 

Selected plays will be performed by actors from Pioneer Productions Company in a live reading at the Morristown and Morris Township Library in Spring 2027. The reading dates are March 31, April 14, and April 28. These events will be free and open to the public and will include a discussion with the audience. 

What we are looking for:

Short, one-act plays that are approximately 10 minutes in length. Only original, unpublished, plays are eligible for submission.

Who can apply:

Anyone willing to travel to Morristown, NJ! All of the selected playwrights will be required to attend the reading of their work at the Library. If you are outside of New Jersey but willing to travel for the event, you are welcome to submit!

All submissions will be taken seriously and valued equally.

Only the first 100 submissions will be accepted.

Selection process and timeline: The selection panel, composed of playwrights and directors, will meticulously review all entries based on artistic merit, originality, writing quality, character development, dialogue, and overall appeal. Selections will be announced by January 15, 2027.

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.

Free theater: ZETA by Tevis Allan

ZETA is a near-future play exploring AI, human connection, and the increasingly absurd line between the two.

- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Leynse Studio, A.R.T./New York Studios, NYC
- Admission: Free
- Written by: Tevis Allan
- Production: Forgotten Ones

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zeta-tickets-2003096528639?sg=788a68b734188db1594b9761f53dbf2169725e5961be291bcbe955c80d1da1d9a76eeddac5dc52acfee43ab0f14cab88c04aa0524835f7893ca67669cbc40c09e854027edead0c52d61742ceee&aff=ebdsshios

The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival: LUV

Website

Deadline: November 20, 2026

SUBMIT AT https://shortplaynyc.com/submit/

Romance us, make us laugh with love, make us pine for lost love, remind us of our familial and friendship loves...all plays submitted must be centered on or revolve around the theme of love.
Plays run one weekend out of three in February 2027

• Thurs – Sat 7pm; Sun 3pm
• Week 1: Feb 4 – 7, 2027
• Week 2: Feb 11 – 14, 2027
• Week 3: Feb 18 – 21, 2027

We accept PDF, DOC, & DOCX

• Plays should be less than 15 minutes
• Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. This is a full production. If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required. There is NO SUBMISSION FEE.
• Anyone over 18 can submit.
• Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays.
• Plays must not be performed elsewhere in the NYC area 3 months before or after appearing in our festival.
• All submitters will be contacted via email up to three or four weeks after submissions close to let them know if their play has been accepted or not.

DATES & LOCATIONS: Feb 4 – 21, 2027 at 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). 

 
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. There is NO submission fee.

PRIZE: Each week an audience favorite is selected by audience vote. The winner of each week will receive $100 prize after the conclusion of the festival. If you are the winner, you must submit a PayPal account to receive your prize. THEME: “LUV” Romance us, make us laugh with love, make us pine for lost love, remind us of our familial and friendship loves...all plays submitted must be centered on or revolve around the theme of love.

** 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 than 15 minutes in length, which equals approximately 15 pages of script (not including title page). Submissions open: October 7, 2026. Submissions close: Nov 20, 2026. Play selection announced soon thereafter (it may take a few weeks after the close of the submission window). For more festival information visit: www.shortplaynyc.com.

Organization: Be Bold! Productions
Facebook: BeBoldProductions Instagram: @beboldtheatre

LoveNotes! seeks monologues for February 2027 show

Website

Deadline: October 24, 2026

LoveNotes! Real Stories. Real People. Real Love.® is thrilled to announce a submission opportunity for our upcoming storytelling show and companion anthology.

LoveNotes! is returning to the off-Broadway stage on Saturday, February 13, 2027 at the Triad Theater (shows at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM for the 4th Annual All Star Show. Storytellers will be paid $50 per show, plus an additional $50 for stories selected for the anthology (for 36-month exclusive rights).

We are seeking true, personal stories of romantic love—from first love and second chances to heart-breaking, hilarious, or against-all-odds tales. We strongly encourage diverse voices to submit.
 
Submission Requirements:

- Your story must be true.
- Your story must be 700 words or fewer for the live show.

Audition Details:

- In-Person Auditions: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1-4 PM at Ripley Grier Studios (131 W. 72nd St, Studio 3F). You must reserve your audition slot by signing up HERE.

- Self-Tape Auditions: Submit via WeTransfer to heather@lovenotesworldwide.com by Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 1 PM (find more details HERE)

If you prefer not to perform live but would like your story considered for our anthology or podcast, you may email your story (1,000 words or fewer) to heather@lovenotesworldwide.comwith "LoveNotes! Book/Podcast" in the subject line.

Umbrellas for Fish call for submissions: the lost and found of existence

Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Please send your submission to: ufjournal@aol.com
Subject line: SUBMISSION — THE LOST & FOUND OF EXISTENCE — [YOUR NAME
Please attach your manuscript as a PDF or Word document.

Umbrellas for Fish invites playwrights, dramatists, theatre-makers and writers from around the world to submit original three-page plays for a special international anthology exploring loss, identity, memory, time, desire, regret and the absurdity of existence.

WHAT IF YOU COULD CLAIM BACK SOMETHING YOU LOST?

THE THREE-PAGE CHALLENGE

Your entire play must fit within three pages.
In those three pages, give us:

A WORLD.
A CHARACTER.
A PROBLEM.
A TURN.

AN ENDING.The play should be complete in itself rather than an excerpt from a longer work.

We are looking for theatrical experiences in miniature.

STAGEABILITY

We particularly welcome plays that can be realised on stage with:

 Small casts
 Minimal sets
 Simple props
 Flexible locations
 Strong dialogue
 Economical stage directions

A play should not require an enormous production to create an extraordinary theatrical experience.

THE GOLDEN RULE DO NOT EXPLAIN THE ABSURDITY.

PLEASE INCLUDE
At the beginning of your manuscript:

Title of Play
Author's Name

At the end: 50–100 word third-person author biography

In the submission email, please include:

 Full name
 Play title(s)
 Country of residence
 Email address
 A brief description of each play

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Clockhouse opens for submissions for Volume 14 (summer 2027)

 Website

Deadline: November 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

CLOCKHOUSE is a national literary journal published by Clockhouse Writers’ Conference, whose editors are MFA alumni of Goddard College.
​
We accept works of poetry, fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, and ​dramatic works for stage or screen. We also accept submissions for cover art. We encourage submissions from both established and emerging writers.

We’re looking for work that beckons us to listen, share, and engage. Send us your best!

Before submitting, carefully read the general AND genre-specific guidelines. 

• All submissions must be original, unpublished work written by the author or, if you are submitting artwork for cover consideration, original artwork created by the artist. We do not accept work generated in whole or in part by AI.
• Follow genre-appropriate formatting; Word documents preferred; double-spaced for fiction, memoir, and creative nonfiction​
• Include a bio of approximately 100 words or less
• Simultaneous submissions are welcome as long as you withdraw them if accepted elsewhere
• Submit only through Submittable. No email or mailed submissions will be accepted
• Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will be discarded unread.
• If your work has been published in CLOCKHOUSE, please skip one issue before submitting again.

Dramatic Work for Stage or Screen

• Short plays and screenplays in traditional and experimental styles
• Standalone work only (not part of a longer work); no monologues
• Submitted work should be written with the audience in mind
• Submit up to 10 pages plus cover page with title and character breakdown
• Follow the industry-standard formatting guidelines appropriate for the plays/screenplays including paginations

THE VAMPIRE: 2025 Theatre Aspen Solo Flights Advancement Grant Winner

THE VAMPIRE
A new play by Alec Silberblatt

A lonely, young man yearns for purpose and place in a society that doesn’t seem to want him. When both are offered to him by a mysterious man who has all the answers, he begins a descent into a dark world. 

One part pulpy horror story filled with getting ghosted, club beats, and buzzy Adderall induced fights; one part potent metaphor exploring the seductive draw of the manosphere.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.theatre4thepeople.org/current/thevampire

Presented at IRT, October 30th and 31st at 7PM

Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Award 2027

Deadline: April 30, 2027

Send to info@premiocarloannoni.eu

Carlo Annoni International Award is dedicated to plays addressing LGBTQ+ themes and diversity in the sphere of love in the time of gender fluidity.

Plays of any length are accepted, full-length as well as 10-minute short plays, including those already performed.

Two plays will be awarded, one in Italian and one in English, in September in Milan.

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

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

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

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

Nine finalists will have their play produced in our festival.

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

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

Submission Requirements:​

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

She/NYC Arts 2027 Festival

Website

Deadline: November 5, 2026 at 11:59pm PST

We accept full-length plays and musicals during our open submissions period for our Summer Theater Festivals. In order to apply, you must be a playwright or composer of a gender marginalized group (including cis women, trans people, and non-binary people), or a writing team that is made up of at least 50% people from a gender-marginalized group.

SheNYC (New York) – Festival dates TBD, in July/August 2027

You’ll apply for all the cities you’re interested in in one form — there will be an option to select which cities you’d like to be considered for.

Note that we only accept script submissions during our submission window. If you would like to be considered for our summer festivals, you must submit your work during that time period. Read on below for more details on what you’ll need to submit!

AI Information

Our mission is to support human writers. Therefore, while using AI for background research is okay, we won’t produce anything that was written by AI. On the application, we’ll ask you to describe if and how you used AI. 

Examples include:
Used AI to find and organize research about the subject matter (✅ this is okay!)
Used AI to fact-check or spelling & grammar check my writing (❎ we don’t love this, but it won’t necessarily disqualify your show. Give us more details about how you used it.)
Used AI to write scenes or music (❌ this is not okay)
Used an AI program to automate vocals in the demo recordings included in this application (❌ this is not okay)
Used an AI program to automate instruments in the demo recordings included in this application (❌ this is not okay)

READING/PERFORMANCE INVITATIONS

Unfortunately, we do not have the staff capacity to see readings or performances, so do not accept invitations. However, the only way we would choose to produce your show is through the open submissions process listed above – so, send us your materials that way if you’d like to be considered for a production!

What You Will Need To Submit

1. The full script to your show, in PDF form. It must be at least 75% finished. If the rest is not finished, you need to provide a “treatment” (a detailed outline of the scenes that remain to be written, in order) along with the script. Bear in mind that you will have to send us completed script if you’re selected as a finalist.

IMPORTANT: Your script PDF must not have your name on it!

Why do we ask this?

Our model is based on giving writers an opportunity based on the quality of their writing, free from the types of bias that the entertainment industry normally considers, such as connections, having an agent, etc. Having your script anonymized to our readers ensures we can fulfill our mission of evaluating scripts without bias.

2. A completed application form with some basic information (see below for FAQs).

3. If your show is a musical, recordings of at least 3 full songs from the show, in mp3 or m4a form. The more you have, the better! A simple recording with just you and your piano is fine, though obviously you want to make your music sound the best it can. Please do not submit Finale or Sibelius files (or any other automated vocals).

* Note that we do not require that you send us a score or sheet music with your submission.

4. If your show is a solo show, a video of at least 5 minutes of your solo performer performing a cut from the show. This can be a video from a prior production or staged reading, or it can be a self-tape of your actor recording themselves at home.


Why do we ask this?

We’ve found that it’s incredibly hard to evaluate the quality of a solo show without knowing the performer who will be carrying it.

2027 Submissions Timeline

September 28, 2026: Submissions open for NYC, DFW, ATL, and LA Festivals.

November 5th: Deadline for all submissions. Submit your show before 11/5 at 11:59pm PST!

February 2027: If you’re a semi-finalist, we’ll notify you in February.

March 2027: Finalists for NYC & LA are chosen. 

April: All our festival participants are notified, and you’ll be given a deadline to accept your slot in the festival! We will also notify you if you are not selected. 

*This is SUBJECT TO CHANGE based on the Festival dates given to us by our venues.*

May: All the fun stuff starts! We’ll have a meet and greet and info sessions to make sure you feel 100% ready to produce your show in the Festival.

June/July: Start rehearsals for your show!

July/August/September: The Festivals run! Each show will get two set performances during these two weeks, as well as a tech and dress rehearsal slot. We will also leave a few empty performance slots in the schedule so that any show that sells out its first two performances can add extra performances. 

Black Women On Broadway Reading Series Submissions

Website

Deadline: October 14, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The Black Women On Broadway Reading Series is a development reading series dedicated to early career Black Women Playwrights. This readings series offers ONE playwright the opportunity to have a relaxed approach to development with a full day of rehearsal culminating in a public reading that evening.

The reading series is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, 2026 with the generous support and partnership with WP Theater.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- Any early career Black Woman playwright is encouraged to submit (NOTE: Early career = TWO or less professional productions in their career. Productions must have been at a non-profit, regional, commercial off-broadway or non-union theater only. Playwright cannot have been produced on Broadway. )

- The play submitted CANNOT have had a professional or workshop production. (Other developmental readings are fine) 

- Only ONE submission per playwright. 

- Playwrights CAN re-submit the same play if they have submitted to previous BWOB reading series

- Only FULL LENGTH PLAYS can be submitted. No musicals, no one act plays (i.e. 30 minutes or less,) no 10 minute plays. We are not accepting any solo/one person plays at this time. 

- Playwright must be available in person, in New York City for the full day of the scheduled reading series date: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026. We cannot make any exceptions or provide any hotel, flight or other travel arrangements or accommodations. 

- Playwright will receive $500 stipend

SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS WEDS, OCTOBER 14TH, 2026.

THE SELECTED PLAYWRIGHT NOTIFIED BY WEDS, OCTOBER 21ST, 2026

Queens Theatre’s Unbound Voices: New Play Development Series seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Submit your work to submissions@queenstheatre.org by October 31, 2026 with "Unbound Voices" in the subject line.

Queens (NYC) Theatre’s Unbound Voices: New Play Development Series (formerly New American Voices) is now accepting submissions for short plays for future readings. 

We are looking for original plays about characters experiencing a moment of change in Queens, NY. Let a Queens neighborhood, landmark, institution, event, or moment in the borough's history shape the characters’ journey.

We are looking for small cast plays (2-5), under 10 minutes running time. Compensation will be offered for the selected play.Submissions must be new, unproduced works. (Previous workshops and readings are permitted.)

One submission per writer.
Works in any theatrical style are welcome.
Bilingual works are encouraged.

Please submit files as PDF with the filename formatted "LastName_FirstName_PlayTitle.pdf" (please use only letters, numbers, and underscores in the filename omitting other punctuation or special characters.)

At Queens Theatre, we remain focused on plays which reflect contemporary issues from various perspectives including race, culture, language, disability, nationality and gender, and committed to providing opportunities for all writers, regardless of age or experience.

Mini Plays Review seeks short plays and monologues for December 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2026

How to Submit
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.

Submission Guidelines

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

Theme: Borrowed Time

This issue explores the strange arithmetic of time — what we owe it, what it owes us, and what happens in the narrow windows when it seems to bend, stall, or run out. We are looking for sharp, short scripts about waiting rooms, deadlines, deathbeds, time loops, inheritances, and the small negotiations people make with the clock.

Subthemes for Submission:

• The Waiting Room: Strangers thrown together in a liminal space, each counting down to something different.
• Borrowed Hours: A character who has "bought," "stolen," or been "loaned" time from someone else — literally or figuratively.
• The Last Good Day: A scene built entirely around someone who knows, but hasn't told anyone, that this is their final ordinary day.
• Rewind: A comedic or absurdist take on a character stuck reliving the same five minutes.
• The Inheritance Clock: A family conflict over what a dying or dead relative's "time" — a legacy, a promise, a debt — is now owed to.
• Fashionably Late: The quiet devastation or comedy of someone who has spent a lifetime arriving too late for the moments that mattered.
• Overtime: A workplace two-hander where the real conversation only happens after the shift should have ended.
• The Countdown: A high-stakes dialogue happening in the final sixty seconds before an irreversible decision.
• Aging in Real Time: A monologue or dialogue where a character watches themselves — or someone else — visibly change over the course of the scene.
• The Appointment: Two people meet for a reason neither will say out loud until time forces their hand.
• Daylight Saving: A small, strange dislocation — lost or gained time — that throws a relationship or routine into chaos.
• The Long Goodbye: A scene stretched across a departure that keeps almost-but-not-quite happening.
• Frozen Clocks: A survivalist or dreamlike drama in a place where time has visibly stopped working.
• The Second Chance: A character granted an impossible do-over, and the argument over whether to take it.
• Running Out: A ticking-clock two-hander where the stakes are ordinary, but the urgency is not.

Season 2 of The Human Side of Health seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS! The submission window for Season 2 of The Human Side of Health is officially open! This Winter 2026, we’re focusing on Black Health: health concerns and wellness within Black communities.

We are seeking short plays (10 minutes maximum) written by Black playwrights and created specifically for virtual performance. 

For your play to be considered, it must be written specifically for a virtual platform as the setting in the script. We will NOT select plays that require reimagining a play made for the live stage. The setting must be written for the virtual setting. Virtual format = Zoom, FaceTime video call or similar using a virtual modality as the setting. Any work submitted that does not incorporate use of a virtual platform will not be considered.

Theme: Black Health
Length: 10 minutes maximum
Format: Written for a virtual setting

If selected, playwrights also participate in an artist community conversation and receive an honorarium.
Full eligibility requirements and submission details:

ellipsis… literature and art open for submissions for the 2027 issue

Website

Deadline: December 16, 2026 2:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Please submit one English language drama piece per year, up to 8,000 Words. Use 12 point font.

ellipsis…is the annual literary journal published by the students of Westminster University since 1965. We sponsor a yearly poetry contest (all accepted poems are eligible for a $100 prize) as well as an annual student writing contest ($200 prize in each genre), judged by Laurie Ann Guerrero in 2021, Carolyn Forche in 2022, Brent Ameneyro in 2023, Matty Layne Glasgow in 2024, and Abraham Smith in 2025. 

Contributors to ellipsis... include well-known, up-and-coming, and never-before-published writers. We accept original English language submissions in poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, and art. Submit poems in one document, please. 

Our submission period is August 1 through December 15 for poetry, short fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. We accept art submissions from August 1 through January 31. 

Please include a 75 -word contributor’s note and your address, telephone number, and email address. 

Simultaneous submissions are welcome but withdraw your submission immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Note that we do not republish pieces, including work online.

 We usually pay $10 per poem and page of visual art, and $3 per page of prose, plus two free copies of the issue. We cannot pay international contributors. Submissions cannot be accepted via email.

Raise the Page / Uplift the Word Festival

Website

Deadline: November 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

The festival will take place February 2-3, 2027 at AMT Theater (345 West 45th Street) NYC

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

Please read the following in full before submitting.

Short play submissions should be unpublished and no longer than 40 pages, written by BIPOC individuals.

Plays should not have been previously presented to New York audiences.

Please limit your submission to one play per playwright. If you have submitted to Raise the Page, Uplift the Word in the past, please do not re-submit work unless there have been significant changes to the script.

We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages.

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

Downtown Urban Arts Festival (DUAF) is seeking theatrical productions

Website

Deadline: October 26, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM ON THEIR WEBSITE

DUAF is seeking theatrical works (plays, musicals, and solo performances) for its 25th Annual season to be held in June 2027 in Manhattan, New York City. We support diverse, new and emerging voices from America’s burgeoning multicultural landscape. Over 200 playwrights have participated in DUAF and some have gone on to greater success on Broadway and have claimed top prizes such as the Pulitzer, Tony and Obie awards and nominations.

Submission Categories:

• Short-length play (under 45 minutes)
• Full-length play (up to 70 minutes) 

Eligible Projects: 

• Plays do not exceed 70 minutes
• Plays should be new or existing work with minimal exposure 
• Plays should not have any other production in New York City during the 30-day period before and after the 2027 festival 

Playwright Supports:

• No submission or participation fees 
• $1,200 (short) and $2,000 (full) playwright stipends
• Mentoring with an experienced theatre professional
• Actor and director stipends
• Casting support 
• Technical design and operation 
• Reimbursed rehearsal space rentals
• Actors' Equity Showcase Code application administration
• $1,000 awards for best full, short and audience

THINK FAST A virtual short play competition 2027

Website

Deadline: November 16, 2026

Email your script to OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org with the required acknowledgement:

You MUST include the following acknowledgement in the body of your email: “If my play is accepted and I choose to take part in the festival, I understand that I will be responsible for the casting and rehearsal of my play and that I will be charged a $100 participation fee. I also affirm that generative AI was not used to create my script.”

Title page should include author's name and email address/contact information.

One entry per writer ONLY.

Online submissions only.

Submission Requirements

Dramas and comedies accepted.

Maximum 15 minutes running time. Plays that exceed 15 minutes will not be considered.

Zoom Performances

Live talkbacks with playwrights follow the evening performances
All ticket buyers vote electronically for Audience Favorite Play at the conclusion of each performance and receive links to all talkbacks and the awards announcement.

Nominations and winners for Best Actor, Actress, and Director, Audience Favorite (Play), and Judges' $500 Prize are announced post-show Sunday afternoon at our virtual cocktail party (BYOB)

How It Works

If your play is selected, ​​​The Theater Project will supply a stage manager/technical director to oversee the Zoom recording process.
Individual playwrights supply the actors and directors and make their own agreements regarding actor and director compensation.

Production Fee: $100. Participating playwrights (finalists) will be charged a $100 fee to cover the $500 prize as well as the cost of hiring the stage manager/technical director.

Playwrights invited to participate must have plays that are ready to perform and supply their own actors and directors who are recorded via Zoom by The Theater Project.

Why a production fee?

The Theater Project does not charge a submission fee for its THINK FAST festival. We do, however, charge a $100 production fee to help cover the cost of the $500 prize as well as the hiring of a stage manager/technical director to work with the productions on their technical needs, supervise a rehearsal, and record the final performance on TTP’s Zoom platform.

While we’d rather not charge a fee, we would be unable to offer this showcase without help from participating playwrights. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

GAYDAR OFFENSIVE ONE-ACT PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL seeks NYC-based playwrights

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Deadline: November 1, 2026

To be considered for this festival, submit the following to againstthewall.nyc@gmail.com with "GAYDAR FESTIVAL" in the subject line. 

Each playwright may submit up to two scripts at this time. One-act plays: 30-60 minutes.

Please be sure to have all the following information listed in one pdf in submission

-Name of play
-No musicals
-Playwright name
-Playwright bio
-Synopsis
-Character Breakdown
-Script 
-Social media handles
-Any artist that may already be attached to said script

Against the Wall Productions is proud to announce the call for script submissions from gay playwrights based in NYC for their inaugural GAYDAR OFFENSIVE ONE ACT PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL set to be presented in June 2027 in New York City. Festival is produced and curated by B.Michael Peterson, the company's Artistic Director.

Six scripts will be selected for this festival, and each playwright will also act as a co-producer with Peterson. The festival does not charge a submission or participation fee. The co-producer will be responsible for rehearsal space, casting, supplying a director and be in charge of their own budget.

Against the Wall Productions will provide a tech time slot for each show with a technical director and performance space during the festival. They will also provide marketing on their social media and other advertising, but each show is responsible for promoting their show to their own networks. Each co-producer will receive 40% of each ticket sold.

Additional Information
-Playwrights must live in NYC
-Follow our Instagram page @atw.productions for future updates and announcements
-Scripts must be unpublished and unproduced at the time of the festival
-Scripts selected will be contacted by the end of January 2027

Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund

Website

Deadline: November 18, 2026 (11:59PM EST)

SUBMISSION FORM

The Emerging Playwrights Fund (the “Fund”) is calling theatrical visionaries who are ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.

This is storytelling without walls. Your words, world-class performers, and millions of listeners waiting to be transported.

Who Should Apply

We're seeking early-career theatrical writers who craft immersive fictional experiences that engage, entertain, and inspire. We value diverse perspectives, innovative approaches to form, and stories that harness the unique intimacy and immediacy of audio storytelling. Whether your work explores internal worlds through sound, creates vivid landscapes through language, or experiments with narrative structure—if it pushes boundaries and demands to be heard, we want it.

For this cycle, we're particularly interested in original audio dramas in the following genres:

Action & Adventure including Mystery, Thrillers, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Core Fiction including Contemporary Fiction, Romance, and Literary Companion Pieces


About the Fund

Audible is a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Since 2017, our theater initiative, which includes the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City, has been built on one mission: to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances.

The Emerging Playwrights Fund sits at the heart of that mission. We invest in and nurture self-identifying emerging playwrights—some of the most inventive, creative, and provocative storytellers working today. Through the Fund, we connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and bringing them to millions of listeners. To date, Audible Theater has commissioned 50 projects through the Fund. We support the creation of original dramatic work written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit—stories that live and breathe in the listener's imagination.


What the Fund Provides

Audible will select up to five applicants to receive a fee of $25,000 each to write and develop an original audio play. In addition to the fee, Audible may provide the selected applicants with creative and logistical resources to assist each artist and project, including but not limited to: development and production fees, casting expertise and talent budget, access to Audible’s state-of-the-art studio and production equipment.

Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our listeners and our world. We actively encourage submissions from emerging playwrights of all races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds.

Your voice, amplified.

Submission Guidelines

One full-length script for an original play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script”). Submitted as a pdf or word doc

A professional biography (up to 300 words)

A pitch or summary for an original audio play (Action & Adventure OR Core Fiction preferred)

Please note, by submitting an application you will be directed to a third-party website (hosted by Accubate) and you agree to the applicable Audible and Accubate privacy notice(s).


Eligibility criteria

Any applicant over the age of 18, resident in US or UK may submit an application. Employees or independent contractors, or immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and grandchildren) or those living in the same household of employees or independent contractors of Audible Inc., including any of its affiliates (collectively, “Audible”), or any entity involved in any aspect of the administration of the Fund may not submit a Script for consideration, unless it is determined by Audible in its sole discretion in accordance with Audible’s then current policies and procedures that no conflict of interest exists in connection with accepting the relevant submission for consideration.