Pronoia Theater seeks new works inspired by works in the public domain

Website

Deadline: November 29, 2026

Submissions at this form: https://forms.gle/bQEAQmAvztyLg4qK6

Length: Any length accepted, works over fifteen minutes may be excerpted

Works must be based on, in conversation with, or inspired by work in the USA public domain. 

International writers welcome.

Production type: staged reading, no stipend, no restriction on previous productions or number of works that may be submitted, playwrights are not responsible for production after submission.

We are accepting new works inspired by works in the public domain for a staged reading in Houston Spring 2027.

We are accepting short completed works or excerpts of longer works for a duration of less than fifteen minutes. This is not a hard limit and page counts between 15-22 are acceptable, but know that they will be scrutinized more closely.

Anyone globally is permitted to submit as long as you have the right to consent to your work being performed in your local polity (we expect this only affects people under the age of majority.)

A writer may submit up to five scripts with any co-authored works counting towards their submission limit. Works which have been performed elsewhere or submitted to the festival before are eligible.

Musicals may be submitted for consideration, however our technical capacity is limited and musicals are less likely to be chosen than straight plays.

Our definition for "Public Domain" is narrower than the government definition: we only include material which at one time was (or could have been) copyrighted broadly defined as "creative expression in fixed form." We are disinclined to accept proposals based on recipes, government publications, game rules, educational materials, etc. This especially includes historical facts (or news stories), so bioplays are discouraged unless there is a significant creative component or notable copyrighted source underlying the submission.

Preference is given to proposals based on work that has recently entered the public domain in the United States (publication year 1924-1931). The festival is especially interested in works that could not have been easily published prior to the work entering the Public Domain and so parodies of works or other examples of "fair use" are discouraged.

While we are especially interested in works which creatively play with the Originating Material, straight, strict, or literal adaptations of lesser known works in the public domain are acceptable.

The festival has received many works based on the following properties and so submitters are cautioned against submitting more unless they think their interpretation demonstrates significant and substantial creative change: The Great Gatsby, The Seagull, Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and The Raven.

Plays do not have to be exclusively written in English, or even written in English at all, but keep in mind that we expect the reading to take place in front of a largely English-speaking audience.

All submissions will be read blind. Please ensure that your script does not have your name or other significant identifying information anywhere on them.

Neither the proposal or final product has any restrictions on content, as long as it does not incur copyright violations. While the festival will do what it is able to find actors best suited to all roles, we cannot guarantee any particular casting will align with identitarian characteristics of the characters in the work as actors will play multiple roles throughout the festival.

As of right now there is no payment, award, or honorarium associated with being selected.

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.

Ninth Annual Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2026

APPLICATION FORM

All submissions must be sent through the online application form. Only one submission per playwright/librettists will be accepted.

The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists is a juried cash and production grant given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. It commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H. Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Outstanding Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, which earned Priscilla a Drama Desk Award.

The winner will receive $2,000 to help with cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2027 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, culminating in an Amas Lab production with New York theatre professionals. Amas was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals, including the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three.

The winner of the Award is announced in Spring 2027.

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

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

Submission Requirements

The Musical must:

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to Submit

All documents must be submitted as PDF files and they should be named with the part of the submission it refers to and the title of the show in the format of

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

2. History of the musical'ss development, and any previous titles it has gone through (if applicable, maximum one page)

3. Brief synopsis (maximum 150 words)

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

5. Proof of rights (if applicable)

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

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

​​

Guidelines for Materials

All submissions must adhere to the following or your application will be disqualified before reaching our selection committee.

Proof of Rights

If the musical contains any copyrighted material, please submit a signed letter from the authors and/or underlying rights representative stating that underlying rights have been secured.

Full Script

The full script must include:

1. Title page (which should only have the title on it and absolutely no other information)

2. Character breakdown (maximum one page)

3. The complete script with page numbers

For the anonymity of your submission, the full script and sheet music cannot include any information on playwright/ librettist or contractually attached people, previous casts, or any agents. All submissions will go through a blind evaluation process, any personal information you provide will only be available to Amas Musical Theatre staff.

Demo Tracks

The recording should be a significant representation of the songs in the show that accurately highlights the style and character of the score and lyrics.

• Demo tracks should:

1. Include at least one song from the first 25 pages

2. Have at least five recordings available – they do not need to be professional or studio quality, but they must be clear enough to hear lyrics, melody, and accompaniment

3. Have singers of appropriate vocal types for their respective roles

4. Be full songs only, no medleys of spliced songs

For the anonymity of your submission, tracks cannot include any personal identifiers for playwright/librettist(s), the performers recorded, or contractually attached people.

The Selection Process

Scripts will be read and evaluated through a blind submission process by Amas Musical Theatre’s literary team. A group of finalist plays will be read and evaluated by a selection committee, comprised of distinguished artists and playwrights, using a blind evaluation process. Committee members will not be given any additional information beyond the title of the show, the script, and the demo tracks.

Any personal information you provide in the application is seen by the Amas Musical Theatre staff only, not the selection committee. 

Our process is based on the quality of the work submitted.

Round 1 (September-December)

1. Our literary team reads the first 25 pages of the book and listens to the demo for any track related to these pages.

2. The team fills out evaluations for each show, which determine the submissions that continue to Round 2.

Round 2 (January-April)

1. The selection committee reads the scripts in full and listens to all demo tracks submitted.

2. Committee members write their evaluations to determine which one is best suited for the Award.

3. The winner is announced in the Spring of 2027.

4. The application’s primary contact is notified and a development schedule is created with the winner.

We will not be able to provide feedback regarding why a particular piece was or was not selected.

The Winner will:

• Receive $2,000 to help pay for cost-of-living expenses.

• Receive development assistance in the 2027 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre.

• Have the selected show rehearsed and performed by New York theatre professionals in an Amas Lab production.

• Be present in New York City for the development process.

Seeking monologues for Best Women's and Best Men's Stage Monologues published by Smith & Kraus

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Now accepting monologues for the 2027 Best Women's and Best Men's Stage Monologues published by Smith & Kraus. Submissions close on December 1, 2026.

To submit for Best Men's Monologues, click here.

To submit for Best Women's Monologues, click here.

Four Letter Words seeks plays for workshop

Website

Deadline: December 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

NYC

APPLICATION FORM

If you have any issues with this form, please email info@four-letter-word.com.

Submissions must be:

1) Between 60 and 100 minutes long, based on your best estimation.

2) Completely yours. You must own the rights to all of the materials in your show, and all of the writing must be your own work.

3) In development. As part of our process, you will work with us to revise your script and get it ready for the stage. If your work is set in stone, we can't do that!

The chosen playwright will:

1) Engage in a bimonthly revision process with our artistic director, H. Tait Brencher, an award-winning director and editor, beginning March 2027.

2) Participate in two informal readings of their script with provided space and actors before rehearsals begin.

3) Work with an early career director to lead a five-rehearsal process culminating in a June 2027 public reading. This final reading will be produced by Four Letter Word as part of our season, including advertising, front of house services, and venue.

The Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award seeks work from higher education professionals

Website

Deadline: December 15, 2026

Only the first 200 scripts will be accepted.

DO NOT SEND - THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR SUBMISSION WINDOW

The Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award honors an outstanding new play marked by sophisticated and nuanced storytelling with the potential to make a significant artistic impact in production by a current professional in higher education (faculty, regardless of rank, and staff).

This year’s winner will be invited to the annual meeting of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education for a reading and/or showcase of the award-winning play. Plays must be entered by December 15, 2026. Only the first 200 scripts will be accepted.

Applicants will send in three different documents:

• Please submit an excerpt or scene(s) between 10 to 20 pages that is exemplary of your full-length play. (A full-length play is no less than 1 hour in length/typically 60 plus pages. Please do not submit one-acts or 10-Minute Plays)

• A short (no more than 2 page) resume or CV, which should include current professional affiliation (as a contingent, tenured or tenure track faculty member, or staff member);

• A brief (no more than 200 word) Statement of Fit as to why this play should be considered for this award and what the playwright hopes to gain from the opportunity to be showcased at ATHE.

After the initial submissions have been evaluated, the Royer leadership will request via email full
scripts for a second round of reading from select playwrights. All playwrights will be notified at that time of their play’s status.

Criteria:
Our aim for this award is to address the core constituency of ATHE, professionals who are currently working in or affiliated with higher education. The Royer sets no restrictions on subject matter, style, or intended audience. Past winning plays have spanned a diversity of topics and
represented varied perspectives on race, culture, language, disability, gender, nationality, and
political worldview. Authors need not be ATHE members.

Only full-length plays will be considered. A playwright may only enter one play in any given year.

The plays can be produced or unproduced but must be unpublished.

The audience and potential group of actors for the reading will be drawn from ATHE members.

Since the main recognition of this play and the playwright will be at ATHE, we ask that the
playwright compose a short “Statement of Fit” as to why they are choosing to pursue this
opportunity and what they hope to gain.

Heartland Theatre Company 25th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2027

Normal IL

HEARTLAND THEATRE 10-MINUTE PLAY ENTRY FORM.

Heartland Theatre Company is seeking eight 10-minute original plays to be considered for production inJune of 2026 as part of our 25th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival, with the theme BOOK CLUB.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:All entrants must complete and submit the ENTRY FORM at the link below
All entrants must attach their play to the ENTRY FORM and submit.

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE RULES:

1. Your play must fit the theme – BOOK CLUB – or it will not be considered.
2. Your play must fit our theater and its performance space.
3. We require internet submissions in MS Word or PDF.
4. When formatting your play, we ask that you follow our style sheet.
5. We are looking for NEW plays. Please do not send us anything that has previously been produced.
6. Your play must contain at least two (2) characters, but no more than four (4).
7. Heartland Theatre Company has a pool of actors ranging in age from 18 to 80. Make sure that your characters can be played by actors within that range.
8. Your play should consist mainly of dialogue, not monologues.
9. No children’s plays, musicals, or plays which were previously chosen as winners in any Heartland Theatre playwriting competition will be considered.
10. Do not put your name on the play itself, as submissions are judged blind. Make sure your title and page numbers appear on every page of the play, however.
11. Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.
12. Those plays which win and are staged will be videotaped for archival purposes.
13. No contracts beyond the guidelines mentioned here will be offered.
14. Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.
15. Your play must be written in English.
16. Keep your play under ten minutes in length.
17. Remember that something has to happen in those ten minutes.
18. MAKE IT GOOD!

All entrants must attach their play to the ENTRY FORM and submit.
HEARTLAND THEATRE 10-MINUTE PLAY ENTRY FORM.

Your play must be in the theme BOOK CLUB or it will not be considered. There are NO fees. You must attach your script in MS Word or PDF format when you send the entry form.

If you have any questions, please email playfest@heartlandtheatre.org

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 1, 2027. Finalists will be notified approximately mid-March, 2026. Winners will be announced approximately mid-April, 2027.

YOU will be notified if your script is a finalist or selected for performance. Winners will be posted on this web page, but the playwrights of those scripts not selected will not be notified. We appreciate the efforts of all playwrights who submit their scripts.

2027 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES:

June 3,4,5,6 | 10,11,12,13 | 17,18,19* – 2027

*Two performances June 19

Grosse Pointe Theatre 14th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Grosse Pointe Theatre announces their 14th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival in May 2027.

The theme for 2027 is Meet Me in the Park. Each play should center around the interaction of people meeting in a park. Plays that do not involve a park scene and situation will be disqualified without notice.

The winning plays will be presented on a black-box stage without doors or windows. The only set dressing to be used are a park bench, a lamp post, and some shrubbery. Plays should involve two to four characters. The plays are judged anonymously, so no playwright identification should appear on the pages of the script.

For questions or more information, email playfestival@GPT.org

Playing Ace: A New Asexualities Play Festival seeks short and full-length plays

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Madison, Wisconsin

SUBMISSION FORM - PDF files preferred

• Staged reading and inclusion in an anthology proposal
• Plays must be connected to concepts of asexuality or aromance. Further descriptions of how that is defined can be found on our website.
• Playwrights may submit only one play
• Plays must not be previously published.

The “Playing Ace” play festival is an opportunity for folks who are interested in showcasing and exploring asexual worldmaking to connect and share their work! We aim to provide opportunities for playwrights to produce and then publish their work, to expand the reach of these important stories. Over the next year, we will be collecting and carefully reviewing play submissions to be showcased in a staged reading held in Madison, Wisconsin in spring 2027. Playwrights will have the support of a dramaturg during the play rehearsal process and will see how live audiences react to their play. After the play festival, playwrights will have an opportunity to join a proposal to publish their play in the first anthology of asexual plays!

Overall, we recognize that there is a growing need to share stories about asexual lives, experiences, and perspectives. As asexuality becomes more of a topic for discussion in the world, it is important that we create spaces where stories and perspectives can be shared. We believe that theatre is a fantastic place to come together and create new communities, and with the proposal for an anthology, we want to ensure that these stories are shared with as many people as possible.

Richard Rodgers Award 2027

Website

Deadline: October 30, 2026

The Richard Rodgers Awards were created and endowed in 1978 by composer and member Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) for the development of new works of musical theater. These awards support readings and productions of musicals by emerging composers and writers at nonprofit theaters in New York City. The winners are selected by a jury of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Previous recipients include Jonathan Larson for Rent; Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley for Violet; Anaïs Mitchell for Hadestown; Jason Kim, Helen Park, Max Vernon, and Woodshed Collective for KPOP; and Will Aronson and Hue Park for Maybe Happy Ending.

Application requirements and procedures are explained in the form below. Please download, read, and sign the form before beginning the online application.

Click here to download the form (required).

Click here to begin the 2027 Richard Rodgers application.

1. The term "musical theater" is understood to include musicals, plays with songs, thematic revues, or any comparable work. The submission of innovative and experimental work is encouraged. The work submitted must be of significant length to fill an evening; it may consist of a group of smaller, related pieces.

2. The jury will consider only completed works. Care should be taken to submit the work in its best possible form as it may not be submitted again, in another year, even if substantially revised.

3. Only one submission by a collaborative group or a sole creator will be accepted per year. A work is not eligible if one of the collaborators is deceased. No exceptions will be granted.

4. All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

5. Works by members of Arts and Letters and previous winners of the full production awards are not eligible for consideration. Former winners of Richard Rodgers awards for staged readings or studio productions may submit new works.

6. An applicant whose works in the musical theater have received professional or amateur productions in New York City or out of town is eligible unless, in the judgment of the jury, the applicant has already achieved significant recognition in the field of musical theater through the work submitted or through any previous work. Under special circumstances and at the discretion of the jury, applicants who have achieved recognition in fields outside the musical theater may be eligible.

Works which have been produced by professional theater companies before a paying audience are eligible only if such productions received no more than 21 performances by a for-profit company or 50 performances by a nonprofit company.

The Gallery Players 30th Annual Black Box New Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

The Gallery Players in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York, is seeking plays for its 30th Annual Black Box New Play Festival to be presented from June 10th through June 20th, 2027. Each play selected will be paired with a director and given a black minimally designed box production (lighting designer working in rep plot, sound designer, and sets created by directors from available theatre stock), with non-equity actors.

Playwrights must be available, if not in person, via Zoom or other virtual venue to work with directors to create another draft of their play. This process will take place from January 2027 through May 2027. The degree of revision will be dependent on the needs of each play and the collaboration between yourself and the director.

Submission guidelines:

1). Plays must be un-produced (readings are ok); must be the play’s world premiere

2) Length of Plays: Plays should be 10 - 50 minutes. Plays must have at least 4 characters, more is even better. No one-character plays. No period costume pieces (period plays that use modern dress are OK). You may submit up to two (2) plays for consideration.

3). Format: Pages must be numbered; A cover page with Title of the play and playwrights contact information is required, along with a page that gives plot synopsis of the play and a character breakdown. DO NOT write your name anywhere else on the script.

4) Submit a copy of your playwriting resume

5) Provide a brief written statement that addresses what you are hoping to get out of the experience and revision process (aside from having your play produced)

6) Send a digital copy of your play(s) along with your resume and statement letter to: info@galleryplayers.com

We will only contact you if your play has been accepted into the Festival. We will confirm that we received your digital copy via email. All playwrights chosen will be notified by DECEMBER 2026.

Please note that playwrights CANNOT direct their own work for this festival and will be paired with one of the 2027 Black Box cohort directors.

Any scripts not chosen for the Festival will be deleted to protect your copyright.

THE 2026 MEANWHILE PARK PLAYWRIGHT PRIZE

Website

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Submissions should be sent via email to info@meanwhilepark.com

Meanwhile Park is a small, private park in Salt Lake City, UT. The Park hosted its first performing arts evening in 2022. Since 2023, Meanwhile Park has produced and presented a new, one-act play chosen through our Playwright Prize competition. Submissions for the 2026 (and possibly 2027) Meanwhile Park Playwright Prize are now open through October 30, 2025.

ENTRY GUIDANCE

Entries into the MPPP should consider the following:

• Plays should run between 30 minutes and one hour including any required or desired breaks.

• The “cast” should be limited to no more than six people. Cast can include actors, musicians, or other artists required to tell the story directly to the audience.

• Plays should not have been produced elsewhere. We are looking to present world premiere plays. Previous staged readings or workshops are allowed.

• As an outdoor, summer theatrical experience like no other in Utah, entrants are invited to consider stories and genres suitable to the occasion. Ideas include but are not limited to:

o Campfire tall tales
o Backyard ghost stories
o Summer love stories
o Action-packed adventures
o Musical comedies
o Local histories

• Meanwhile Park celebrates the diversity of humanity and welcomes stories from diverse races, ethnicities, cultures, genders, and sexualities.

THE RULES

• Submission for the 2026 Meanwhile Park Playwright Prize are now being accepted.

• The winner will be announced no later than January 31, 2026. All entrants will be

informed of the winning entry via email.

• The winner will be awarded a $500 honorarium no later than March 1, 2024 via

Venmo or check.

• The winning play will be performed eight times during July 2026.

• Entries will be judged by Jeff Paris and a panel of theatre experts and enthusiasts.

• The production will be granted the following:

o A significant production budget including paid onstage performers, directors, and creative staff.o Each performance will feature a pre-performance reception/party with drinks and snacks sponsored entirely by Meanwhile Park. For this reason, ticket sales are limited to individuals 21 and older.

• You may submit a bio with your play, but it is not required. Our initial cuts are based on the plays without consideration for who the playwright is.

• Meanwhile Park reserves the right to cancel the competition or the production at any time for any reason.

• For more information, email info@meanwhilepark.com.

THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT : An International Anthology of Three-Page Plays

Website

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Email all submission to: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com 

Please send your play as a Word document or Pdf.

Include:

Title
Author's name
Country
Short bio (50–100 words)
Email address

Email subject: SUBMISSION — THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT


Fresh Words invites playwrights, dramatists and writers from around the world to submit original three-page plays for a special Halloween anthology.

We are looking for short dramatic works that can create a complete theatrical experience in just two pages.

• The play may be frightening.
• It may be funny.
• It may be absurd.
• It may be tragic.
• It may be mysterious.
• It may be something we cannot easily name.
• The only requirement is that something happens when the door opens.

THE PROMPT: THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT

• Take the prompt literally—or don't.
• The door could be:
• The door of a house
• A hotel room
• A hospital
• A classroom
• A prison
• An apartment
• A theatre
• A train
• A dream
• Another world
• The past
• The future

And the person—or thing—on the other side could be anyone or anything.

MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE

International Literary Magazine anthology for Halloween 2026 seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine is pleased to announce three special international anthology projects for Halloween 2026.
ons from writers, playwrights and poets around the world for the following three collections:

THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT
An International Anthology of Three-Page Plays
We invite playwrights and dramatists to explore what happens when a door opens at midnight.
The play may be frightening, funny, absurd, tragic, mysterious, supernatural, psychological or completely unexpected.

Maximum length: 3 pages
Submissions: Up to 5 plays per contributor
Email: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com
Subject: SUBMISSION — THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Fresh Words seeks non-exclusive first publication rights for accepted contributions. Copyright remains with the author. Selected works may be published in digital and/or print editions.

We welcome submissions from writers and artists at all stages of their careers and from anywhere in the world.

The Foundry: One-Act Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Canton NY

SUBMISSION FORM

The Foundry is a one-act play festival hosted by University Theatre at St. Lawrence University. The festival is designed to include plays by professional playwrights alongside plays by student playwrights.

University Theatre is currently soliciting plays for its inaugural one-act festival set to debut in March 2027.

Playwrights with questions can reach out directly to Dr. Angie Sweigart-Gallagher at asweigart@stlawu.edu

No nos merecemos soñar ~ discount tickets ~ entradas con descuento

Desde Valencia, España, una producción premiada con el Primer Premio Nacional del Festival  INesperat  y tres distinciones Red Escénica 2025.

No nos merecemos soñar

Award-winning Spanish theater comes to New York.

A contemporary tragicomedy about dreams, disappointments and the lives we imagined. Five characters, unexpected encounters, live music and dark humor. 

LATEA Theatre, 107 Suffolk Street, New York
Performed in Spanish
Running time: 75 minutes 

 

Use this link to access the special $25 ticket offer:
Utiliza este enlace para acceder a la oferta especial de entradas por 25 $:
https://losteloneros.com/PARTNER

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