WP Theater 2026-2028 LAB open for submissions

Website

Deadline: February 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

PLEASE VISIT OUR SUBMITTABLE SITE TO APPLY.YOU MAY ONLY APPLY TO ONE DISCIPLINE PER LAB CYCLE.

• Hard copy applications will not be accepted
• Emailed applications will not be accepted.
• If you have specific questions, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org after reading the Frequently Asked Questions section below. No phone calls, or emailed applications please.

WP Theater is looking for early to mid-career playwrights, directors, and producers, who crave an artistic home, a cohort of collaborators, professional support, and the resources to launch them into the next phase of their careers to be a part of the Heidi Thomas Initiative WP Theater Lab.

The Lab provides up to fifteen artists with community, a vital professional network, entrepreneurial and leadership skills, free rehearsal space, and, most significantly, tangible opportunities for the development of bold new work for the stage.Applications are open January 12 – February 20, 2026.


Is the Lab the right fit for you?

The Lab is for early to mid career theater professionals, who are eager to deepen their understanding of how to develop new work, using collaboration skills while also learning how to best leverage given resources.As a director, this program is for you if you have an appetite for play, a commitment to dramaturgy in the early stages of a work’s development, and you look forward to crafting stories with a new team of artists. This program is for you, if you are looking to join a community of directors at a similar stage of their career and excited for seasoned mentors to share industry knowledge, resources, and skills.As a producer, this program is for you if you enjoy working in teams, imagining new systems of storytelling, and are eager to build those systems with others. This program is for you if you have an appetite for creating balance between the resources a story needs in order to be told and the tangible/ financial resources of the production.

As a writer, this program is for you if you crave dramaturgical input and creative collaboration both from a director and producer, and if you’re ready to collaborate with storytellers in other mediums to deepen your work. This program is for you, if you’re looking for practical skills in how to strategically and holistically develop your work.

LAB STRUCTURE:

Meetings:

The lab consists of two monthly meetings–one full Lab meeting for all three cohorts on the first Monday evening of the month, and a separate, discipline-specific meeting, usually on the second Monday of the month. These meetings are mandatory, and attendance at all meetings is the optimum means to get the most out of your Lab experience.

You will be given the full Lab meeting and Pipeline Festival schedule at the time of your interview, if you advance to the finalist round..

Year One:

Participants will spend the first six months of the lab engaging in cohort- building activities to allow the artists to get to know one another as individuals and artistic practitioners, including collaboration work, skills-building, and career strategy sessions. It is imperative that participants prioritize attendance in these monthly lab meetings, as multiple absences will result in participants missing key building components that would prevent them from gaining the most from the lab experience.

In the second half of the first year, we will sort the Lab into writer/director/producer pods, and devote significant time to building the bonds and collaborative skills within each pod.

Year Two/Pipeline Festival:

Each pod will spend the remainder of the lab developing a new work together that will culminate in a showing in the Pipeline Festival reading series. The goal of the festival is to give producers, directors, and playwrights the collaborative tools to successfully develop new work in the theater industry. The resulting Pipeline Festival reading series will present this new work to New York audiences and industry professionals. The producers, in partnership with directors and writers, will shape the festival based on the artistic development needs of each project, with budgetary and in-house physical resources from WP, under the AEA 29 Hour Reading Guidelines.

If you have specific questions, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org after reading the Frequently Asked Questions section below. No phone calls, or emailed applications please.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY:

• Must be an artist living within 90 minutes of WP Theater via car or rail.
• Must be able to attend evening meetings at WP Theater twice a month from October 2026 to May 2028, as well as other events throughout the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons, such as previews, performances, retreats, and other special events at WP. 
• Must be available for the 2026 Pipeline Festival (March – May, 2028).
• Regular attendance is mandatory and therefore applicants should view the program as a two-year-long commitment. Lab meetings will be in person.
• Must not currently be in an undergraduate program.
• Must be aged 21 or over.
• Must be available for either an in person or virtual interview.

THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS WILL:

• Receive a stipend of $4,000 on salary, for each year of Lab participation ($8,000 total).
• Participate in a monthly full lab meeting led by WP Artistic Staff and Lab Liaisons.
• Participate in a monthly discipline-specific meeting led by a mentor in their field.
• Participate in events and conversations led by established artists and leaders in the field.
• Receive complimentary tickets to WP shows, invited dress rehearsals and other special events.
• Receive artistic support and professional development guidance from the artistic staff.
• Participate in The Pipeline Festival, a reading series of five new plays, written, directed and produced by the WP Lab, to be presented in the spring of the second year of the residency.
• Receive access to WP’s rehearsal space at no cost, when space is not in use

For further clarification of Requirements for Eligibility, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants must submit the following:

• Current resume or CV
• One page statement or video (5 minutes or less) that describes your artistic vision. Video (max 5 minutes) of you speaking, telling us who you are as an artist, your artistic vision, and the specific processes behind it. Help us understand who you are as a theatermaker!
• One short essay answer detailing why being a part of the Lab is useful to you at this moment in your career.
• One short essay answer describing how you approach new collaborations and what meaningful artistic collaboration means to you.
• A list of 3 professional references, including title/affiliation, phone and email.

Playwrights:

In a separate PDF, the full length script most representative of your work.

• The play must be at least 60 pages long, and must be a completed draft, though it need not be a final draft.
• You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.

Directors:

• Share an image or video sample of your work that represents a moment you are proud of. Please share a description of why this moment is meaningful to you.
• A list of upcoming productions, workshops, readings and other projects with dates, venues, and your role.
• You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.
• ProducersA list of upcoming productions, workshops, readings and other projects with dates, venues, and your role.
• You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.
• Production Videos/Photos – You may provide up to 3 short videos or photos of recent work. Additional materials should not exceed 3 pages and may include reviews (no excerpts) and photos with descriptions.
• Hard copy applications will not be accepted.
• Emailed applications will not be accepted.

All materials will be reviewed by a panel of theater professionals. 

For further clarification of materials required for application, please see the Frequently Asked Questions Section below.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of conflicts would make me ineligible?

We accept that every artist will miss one or two meetings, but if you know now that you will be missing more than two meetings during the lab dates, you should not apply. Applicants should view the program as a two-year-long commitment. We will only accept applicants who can take full advantage of the program.

I’m not available for an in-person interview—may I still apply?

We will be conducting in person interviews, but may be able to interview applicants virtually if needed. If you have a limited conflict in regards to attending twice monthly meetings, please make note of such conflicts in your application. We will try to accommodate such situations on a case-by-case basis.

When will the monthly meetings be held?

We will provide a schedule of meetings for finalists at the interview, so you need not worry about this question at the application stage.

If I am selected for the group and then my eligibility status changes, would I be automatically suspended from the program?

No, we will handle this situation on a case-by-case basis. Please do not let such a concern keep you from applying.

What kind of resume should I submit?

Your resume should list all readings, workshops or productions. Your resume should also include any other relevant theater experience.

If I can’t decide between two plays or have an additional writing sample that I am very proud of, may I include more than one play with my application?

No, we only read one play per applicant, so please only submit one writing sample. Submit the sample that you are the most excited to share with our readers.

May I send in music along with the book of my musical?

Please do, and give credit to the composer and lyricist.

Is there an age limit? Are you looking for young writers?

We ask that applicants be 21 and older, but beyond that, there is no age limit. We would be glad to admit a talented artist of any age into the program. The program is meant to support early and mid-career artists, but artists may begin their careers at any age.

Will you let me know that you received my application?

Yes, we will email you once we have processed your application.

May I follow-up with you about my application status?

Yes, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org.

If I have had some contact with a WP staff member, would it be better to contact them directly with my question rather than write to wplab[at]wptheater.org?

No, please write to wplab[at]wptheater.org, but feel free to mention any contact with a WP staff member in your email.

Thank you for your interest in the Lab—we look forward to your application!

Apply here for the Lab! Application deadline is February 20 at 11:59 pm ET.

Social Justice Shorts 2026

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm

Submission Form

Please complete this form to submit your unpublished 10-minute play or monologue for consideration in our 2026 Social Justice Shorts Festival, produced by A Call to Conscience Interactive Theater for Social Change and Bread & Roses Missouri. Our deadline for submissions is March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. 

The Social Justice Shorts Festival will be June 4-7 in St. Louis, Missouri at a venue to be announced. You must use this form to submit your play, email submissions will not be reviewed.

Seeking 10-minute short plays and monologues centered around the following suggested themes:

● LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Rights
● Healthcare Justice (including Mental Health)
● Economic Justice/Workers’ Rights
● Immigrant/Refugee Justice
● Reproductive Justice

Storytelling must be rich in self-expression and theatrical imagination. Playwrights may live in
any part of the country, and St. Louis-based playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit.

Plays featuring a cast of one to three actors will be accepted (plays with more than three actors will not be considered). Playwrights are welcome to submit solo performance pieces. Plays longer than 10 minutes will NOT be considered. Published plays will also not be considered. Limited set, props and technical requirements are strongly preferred.

Only one submission from a playwright may be submitted, please do not submit multiple plays for consideration.

Please direct all questions to Fannie Lebby, Artistic Director of A Call to Conscience at fanniec2c@gmail.com.

Play Troupe of Port Washington seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Or after they receive 120 submissions

DO NOT SEND - THEY HAVE MET THEIR 120 submission max.

Script Format: PDF only

The Port Washington Play Troupe is accepting submissions for our 10-minute play festival to be performed at the Port Washington Public Library in May 2026.

Theme: Fork in the Road. Plays should explore moments of choice, change, consequence, or pivotal life decisions.

Plays may be comedic or dramatic and should have between 2 and 6 characters.

Full production as part of a curated 10-minute play festival

A committee will select seven (7) plays.
Each selected play will be assigned a director.

Performances will take place May 29 and May 30 at the Port Washington Public Library.
This is a free event open to the public.

Playwrights local to Long Island are preferred, but submissions from all locations will be accepted.

Playwrights may submit up to two (2) plays; however, no more than one (1) play per playwright may be selected.

Final selections will be announced by mid-March.

All submitters will be notified via email.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortWashingtonPlayTroupe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pwplaytroupe/

Black Girlz Productions Call for Submissions: Love Letters to Black Women

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Submission Method: Email entries to blackgirlzproductions@gmail.com.

Theme: Love Letters to Black Women

This call celebrates the beauty, strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women everywhere. Writers, poets, and creatives are invited to submit heartfelt love letters that honor, uplift, and affirm Black women in all their forms—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, lovers, leaders, and dreamers.

*Letters will be read at our virtual event. Small honorarium for selected writers and readers*

Format: Letters, poems, monologues, short prose (no word count)
Tone: Authentic, loving, and empowering.
Eligibility: Open to everyone.
Submission Limit: 2

Follow us on twitter and Instagram @blkgirlz12
www.blackgirlzproductions.com

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ THE PAUSE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING by Robert Csoma

Robert Csoma is an amateur playwright. He won first prize in an American theater’s monthly playwriting competition in April 2025. Some of his short plays were published in drama anthologies in Fall 2025. One of his short plays was produced in October, 2025 in London, UK, and two of his short plays will be performed in the US in the spring of 2026.

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

The Pause That Changes Everything reframes genius not as spectacle, but as self-possession. When Black woman athlete Simone Biles paused “mid-Olympics,” she explained that she “didn’t want to jeopardize the team or her health” and needed to focus on her mental well-being. The outcome proved her decision’s wisdom: Team USA won silver in the team event, and Biles later returned to compete in the balance beam final, earning a bronze medal. What the world initially read as an interruption was revealed to be intelligence, agency, and courage. (Biles has won a total of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, making her the most decorated gymnast in history.).

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM THE PAUSE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                 WOMAN                    

 

They call us “strong,” like we’re made of steel. 

Baby, we’re made of light. 

Light bends - it never breaks. 

 

        (stands taller, grin widening)  

 

So yeah, I’m a genius. 

Not lightning-bolt genius. 

Everyday genius. 

The kind that flips expectations midair - lands - smiles. 

 

           (raises mug) 

 

Now, if you’ll excuse me… 

I’ve got another law of physics to break. 

Summer Harvest 2026 seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: February 28, 2026

The Vidalia Theatre Company in Atlanta, is accepting submissions for its annual Summer Harvest show of 10-minute plays to be produced in June 2026.

The theme for this show is “connection.” We’re looking for plays that explore the human need for connection… romantic or platonic. Stories that deal with the obstacles in today’s world to achieving genuine connection, how we cope or fail to cope and how we sometimes avoid it all together. We are only seeking plays that fit this theme at this time.

Submissions should contain 2-4 characters (6 maximum), simple set and prop requirements, and provide opportunity for diverse casting.

Adult language and content are permitted as long as it is relevant to the story and not gratuitous.

Submissions cannot have been previously produced in the Atlanta Metro Area.

Limit 2 submissions per playwright.

PAY: A $25 stipend is paid to the playwrights whose plays are selected.

***PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY***

**ANY SUBMISSION THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED**

Please send each submission in a separate email.

Email submissions to: vidaliatheatre@gmail.com

In the subject line type: Playwright Name - Title of Play - Harvest 26

Be sure to include your contact information (email and telephone) in the body of the email.

All scripts must be attached as a PDF. No other file types will be accepted.

No blind submissions necessary

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY OPEN TO ALL PLAYWRIGHTS

(with special consideration for playwrights who are Georgia residents)

Arkana Magazine seeks short plays for its Micro issue

Website

Deadline: March 16, 2026 at 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

For our Micro Issue, please submit scripts for the stage or screen that would last, if performed, five minutes or less.

We publish work by established and emerging writers unaffiliated with the University of Central Arkansas. We accept previously unpublished fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, scripts for the stage or screen, translation, artwork, and illustrated narrative through our Submittable submission manager.

Simultaneous submissions are always welcome. We only ask that you withdraw your piece as soon as you accept another opportunity.

As a compendium of the rare, intriguing, and unheard, we’re looking for quality writing that is thought-provoking and literary. 

We are especially interested in work that explores the identities and experiences of writers from the Delta region, BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, women, disabled, and neurodivergent writers, the resource-poor, writers over 50, those who have experienced or been impacted by incarceration, or anyone whose voices have traditionally been silenced.

MICRO ISSUE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Up to 500 words of prose (fiction or nonfiction), double-spaced
• Limit 1 submission per genre until you’ve received a response
• Up to three poems per submission, up to 10 lines per poem
• Up to 5 photographs or pieces of art. For illustrated narrative, one page or panel.
• Cover letter with a brief biographical statement
• Up to 5 minutes of script for the stage or screen
• Up to 1 minute for a video essay

Gloria Bond Clunie Playwright’s Festival 2026

Instagram account

Deadline: February 23, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We are excited to open play submissions for the 3rd annual Gloria Bond Clunie Playwright's Festival at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in Evanston, right outside of Chicago, IL. All events will take place at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center (927 Noyes St). The mission of Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre is to present work that centers the Black American experience and explore stories of the African Diaspora. 

The inclusion and interpretation of this mission is up to the playwright. 

Playwrights of all races, ethnicities, sizes, religions, sexualities, and genders will be considered. 

Multiple submissions are accepted, but please complete and submit the form for each individual submission. We are not accepting musicals or solo work at this time. While plays can have undergone some development, we are looking for unproduced and unpublished plays.

We Are Looking For:

• Plays in any stage of the development process 
• Work that thematically speaks to the Black American experience and/or exploring
• African Diaspora-centered storytelling 
• Full length and one act plays 

July 10th-12th
Workshopping with actors and director, meeting with playwright mentor, writing time

July 17th-19th
Rehearsal with actors and director and one staged reading performance

All events take place in-person at:
Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St., Evanston, IL 60201 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GBCplayfestival@gmail.com

Denver Quarterly seeking short plays & monologues

Website

Deadline: February 16, 2026 2:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Denver Quarterly is interested in texts intended to be performed in some capacity-- including one-act plays, flash mobs, performance art, monologues, scripted choreography-- or work that is meant to be performed solely on the page but bears in mind certain conventions of the theater/stage. Poems and short stories are not accepted under this category.

Policies:

Performance submissions should generally consist of no more than 4,000 words, but may be much shorter as the project requires.

Excerpts from longer works are permissible.

If you are submitting performance texts with particular formatting, we recommend saving your file as a PDF.

Please submit only one piece to one category for our consideration, and please wait until you have heard back from us before submitting again.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted, and please notify us promptly if your work has been accepted elsewhere by adding a note withdrawing your piece in Submittable. We do not read previously published work.

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ CRY ALOUD! by Paula Ralph Birkett

Playwright, spoken word artist, vocalist Paula Ralph Birkett began her career in musical theater touring Europe and has played notable U.S. venues including The Apollo Theater, The United Nations, and TEDx Deer Park. Paula is the featured vocalist of the progressive jazz group Tyrone Birkett | Emancipation. As a playwright she won the 2023 Howard Gilman Foundation funded Bronx Cultural Visions Fund (BCVF) for her stage play Black American Working Woman, which was showcased at the Episcopal Actors’ Guild summer 2024. Recently, she received a 2026 Support for Artists grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support her creative work which centers her concept Perception to Decisions. Paula explores stories of trials and triumph, helping audiences find their own paths of possibilities.

• @paularalphbirkett
• https://bio.site/PaulaRB

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

This monologue is adapted from my piece Black American Working Woman: A One-Act Stage Play.  It’s adapted because I felt led to answer the historic unemployment of three hundred thousand African American women over a three month period in 2025. That blow affected not just these women, but entire families and communities. But we’ve been here before. The monologue’s character Maggie L. Walker was a real-life 20th century community activist and businesswoman who became the first African American and first female bank president in US History.  She received this title not because it was her aim, but because she was determined that her community would survive and thrive.  I hope the listener receives that same determination as they experience this piece.

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM CRY ALOUD!

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                 MAGGIE                    

 

What if we weren’t distracted by a food bill, light bill, medical bill, phone bill. Rent! How much of our minds would be free to build whole different world.  

 

People thought I loved money. Maggie L. Walker the first female and first African American bank president in American history. 

 

            (Laughing to herself.)   

 

I was not raised with a silver spoon in my mouth, rather with a wash basket on my head.  I knew money couldn’t protect me from hate, but ever since I was a little girl I believed it would help me build my world. I linked arms with women from the elite to the poor, because we refused to settle for the terror history had provided.  

Bread & Wine 2nd Annual Christmas Short Play Competition

Website

Deadline: April 10, 2026

Or when 120 scripts have been submitted

Email scripts to breadandwinetheatreco@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

Hannah Arendt Special IHRAF Festival seeks short play productions

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 at midnight

Celebrating the life and ideas of Hannah Arendt
(1906-1975)

New York and Tri-state area based artists 

Work may not have been produced within the last year in NYC, or be scheduled in the next six months of June 7th, 2026.

Please note:
The performances must be fully produced by you; IHRAF is a presenting platform.
Considering performances 10-20 minutes long!

We accept just one proposal for each application.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please email our Festival Assistant Producer Costanza Bugiani at costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org with the following, and any questions:

A brief description of your piece, including approximate running time - we’re accepting 10-20 mins works.

A cover letter, including details about how your piece aligns with the ideas or life of Hannah Arendt (see below for more information about Hannah), information about the piece’s discipline, and a brief summary of your artistic goals

Your bios or resumes and the names of any collaborators already on board

A sample of the work (scripts, pics, videos, songs, any other links or file that could help us to know more about your project)

As email subject, please type IHRAF Festival: Arendt, then add Association-Company-your name (i.e. IHRAF Hannah Arendt, Joan Doe)

All accepted performers will receive:

Performance stipends of $500 total (per accepted project)

PR and marketing support

30-minute tech rehearsal

Festival TD and SM

Free photographic documentation of the performance

…and bragging rights as participants in the largest and coolest human rights/art festival in NYC!

June 5-7, 2026
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street
(btw 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001

Elmwood Playhouse One-Act Weekend 2026

 Website

Deadline: February 28, 2026

Or when they have received 100 submissions

SUBMISSION PORTAL

(No email, hard copy, or other format will be accepted.)

Last summer’s very successful One-Act Weekend at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack brought the original work of six local playwrights to the Elmwood stage. Audiences were delighted with this showcase of local talent and we were thrilled to provide the opportunity and resources for these writers to stage their works. With overwhelming interest and support from both sides of the curtain, we can’t wait to do it again! 

We are gearing up for Elmwood Playhouse’s One-Act Weekend 2026, starting with the submission process!  

We are accepting submissions starting February 1, 2026 via our online portal.  

Playwrights must live within a 50-mile radius of Nyack to be considered local. THIS INCLUDES NYC.

The submission window closes at 100 submissions or on February 28—whichever comes first!  

Playwrights’ names are removed before the selection committee reads each work. The selection process is anonymous.

Playwrights may submit plays of any genre, as long as each is a one-act play that can be performed in 20 minutes or less.  

Each playwright may submit up to three individual works.

Previously produced works are eligible. 

If a playwright has multiple submissions, each work must be submitted individually.

Playwrights may direct their own works or use a different director. We may be able to supply a director if you do not have one.

Playwrights will be responsible for casting, staffing, and rehearsing their own works. Elmwood can provide some assistance with casting and rehearsal space, to be worked out with the playwrights whose work is selected. 

We are excited to read the submissions for Elmwood Playhouse’s One-Act Weekend 2026! Between 5 and 10 works will be selected. All selected works will be performed on every performance date. Performance dates are July 24th (8pm), July 25th (2pm and 7pm), and July 26th (2pm).

Questions may be directed to oneactweekend@elmwoodplayhouse.com

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ YOUNG, GIFTED AND GENIUS by Niki Gee

Niki Gee writes at the intersection of protest, prayer, and pride—where Black womanhood, queerness, and genius meet. Her work for stage and screen celebrates radical love, self-acceptance, and the audacity of becoming free.

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

This monologue explores how Black women must often monitor their power and voice while others espouse rhetoric that divides and misguides the masses. It highlights the strength of a woman of color who can walk into a room and silence the nonsense, including the internal voices that urge her to be quiet. It shows how we use our power not for praise but for the priority and purpose of growth for all. 

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM YOUNG, GIFTED AND GENIUS

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                 

                    

 

Genius walks into a room softly and changes its temperature. 

She reads the world in layers, 

hears a whole revolution in one chord of Nina Simone, 

builds banks in neighborhoods that were never meant to experience wealth, 

and writes plays that couldn’t be denied their Broadway debut.  

 

And sometimes, genius falls in love. 

And love has no color. 

Or maybe it does—maybe it’s the color of golden glitter, 

or rainbow shimmers, every color imaginable. 

Kaleidoscope bright. 

 

She opens her door to a woman with kind eyes and laughter like sunlight, 

and in that moment she says, 

“Yes. I will be all of who I am. I love who I am and you, I love who you are.” 

Not half. Not hidden. Whole.  

 

That’s the miracle they can’t measure— 

a Black woman choosing herself in a world 

that profits from her doubt. 

Perlberg Festival 2027 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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

What are we looking for?

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

Pronoia Theater seeks new works related to the USA public domain

Website

Deadline: March 9, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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

International writers welcome.

Ours, Reimagining the Public Domain! We are accepting new works inspired by expression in the public domain for a staged reading on May 9th.

“Public Domain” covers a wide swath of material (items correct as of America in 2026):

• Anything first published in USA in 1930 or earlier
• Anything published between 1931-1977 which did not have its copyright renewed
• Most documents created by the United States Government
• Recipes, game rules, etc. (Things which are ruled to not have enough authorship to be protectable)
• Property whose copyright was relinquished by its owners.
• For the purposes of this festival anything created under the Creative Commons license with proper attribution will also be considered.

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.

Works of any length will be considered, but works longer than fifteen minutes may be excerpted. The excerpt will be sent to you for approval before acceptance into the festival.

Anything which is appropriate to perform in front of an audience is fair game. As a theater we are especially interested in scripts formatted for the stage, but prose, poetry, and other similar expressions will be considered.

instagram: @pronoiatheater

2026 JESSE L. KEARNEY BBM PLAYWRITING INITIATIVE

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm

SUBMISSION FORM

The program is open to Black male-identifying playwrights (ages 18+) who are ready to take their original work to the next level. One selected playwright will receive:

• A $1,000 Honorarium.
• A 29-hour developmental reading of their original script.
• Professional Support: Access to a professional director and a cast of New York City actors.
• Industry Exposure: An invite-only staged reading held in New York City.

Applications must be submitted through the form linked on the official Black Broadway Men website. Interested playwrights can find full submission guidelines and the application form here: http://www.BlackBroadwayMen.org/jlkplaywriting

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. Early submissions are highly encouraged as the organization continues its mission to uplift and empower Black male voices within the theater community. Committee chairs: Ahmad Simmons & Calvin M. Thompson.

Email: info@BLACKBROADWAYMEN.com

SUMMER SHORTS seeks ten-minute plays

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026

DO NOT SEND. THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR SUBMISSION WINDOW.

SUMMER SHORTS, a ten-minute play festival at Theatreworks New Milford, one of Connecticut's oldest community theatres, is now accepting 10-minute play submissions from playwrights in the Connecticut,

Massachusetts and New York area. Submissions will be closed after sixty scripts are received. Eight will be selected for full production for one week August 10-15, 2026.

Submission deadline: February 15, 2026. No fee to submit. Stipend for the eight chosen playwrights.

Include contact information on the title page.

Put "10-minute play submission" in the subject line, please.

BECHDEL PROJECT ROO Residency 2026/27

Website

Deadline: February 6, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

In "A Room of One's Own," written in 1929, Virginia Woolf says, “fictitious women are too simple — contrary to the living, breathing, complex women of real life, (they) are almost always depicted only “in their relation to men.” With the ROO Residency, Bechdel Project hopes to take one more step toward creating a culture of stories with complex women who are not simply depicted in relation to men.

Residency Description, Eligibility & Timeline

In "A Room of One's Own," written in 1929, Virginia Woolf says, “fictitious women are too simple — contrary to the living, breathing, complex women of real life, (they) are almost always depicted only “in their relation to men.” With the ROO Residency, Bechdel Project hopes to take one more step toward creating a culture of stories with complex women who are not simply depicted in relation to men.

The ROO Residency is a two-year residency that supports the creation of a new work for the stage or screen. Projects must center women, and highlight untold, or underrepresented, narratives and perspectives.

The 2026/27 residency offers:

Financial Support: $5,000 of funding to fuel the creative process.

An Artistic Home: Access to the Bechdel Project's vibrant spaces in Brooklyn and Germany for writing, workshops, and readings. Bechdel Project is a "whole being" inclusive space with built in practices and community culture to support artists who: are caregivers (from littles, to elders, and in between), work multiple jobs, prioritize their mental health and well being or have specific access needs.

Curated Mentorship: Tailored guidance from the Bechdel Project team, including monthly check-ins, dramaturgy, producing, logistical, and fiduciary support.

Community Connection: Opportunities to engage with a network of feminist artists and creators.

ELIGIBILITY

• The residency is open to writers over the age of 18.
• The residency is open to feminist writers (of any intersection) whose work centers women, non-binary or underrepresented genders through a feminist lens and whose proposed script passes the Bechdel Test. Global Majority and LGBTQ+ writers are especially encouraged to apply. 
• The residency is open to writers in any area of the world and in any stage of their careers; however, priority will be given to those whose needs most align with our provided resources. 
• We do not accept scripts that have already been produced or that are currently in pre-production. We do consider and are eager to read incomplete scripts!

APPLICATION TIMELINE

January 12 - Applications Open

February 6 - Applications Close

March 10 - Finalists Selected

March 17-24 from 7-9:30pm EST - Finalist Interviews (Finalists are required to attend 1 virtual interview)

March 30 - 2026 Residency Recipient Announced

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ AUNT KATHY by Rex McGregor

Rex McGregor is a New Zealand playwright. His short comedies have been produced on four continents from New York and London to Sydney and Chennai.

• Website: https://www.rexmcgregor.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rex.mcgregor/

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

Aunt Kathy is a shortened version of a 10-minute monologue called Farsighted. The play is about a woman on a mission to get NASA to make a big change. The character, Lena, celebrates Katherine Johnson, a pioneer working behind the scenes of the space program in its heyday. The full script was produced at Go Solo, ANDTheatre Company, Chain Theatre, New York, NY, October 10-12, 2023, performed by Elle White, directed by Judy Tucker. A video of a separate reading is available on YouTube: The Pocketfull Project, Haywire Theatre, North Wales, UK, August 11, 2023, performed by Caroline G. Pleasant, directed by Lisa Jayne. 

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM AUNT KATHY

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                 

                LENA  

 

I remember the thrill the whole planet felt in July 1969. My Aunt Kathy worked for you folks. She told me, “This is just the start, Lena. One day, we’ll vacation on the moon. If it’s not too crowded.”  

 

I asked, “Will they beam us up, like Lieutenant Uhura?”  

 

She chuckled. “You know Star Trek isn’t real.”  

 

I said, “Spaceships are. I’m gonna be a fleet commander!” A ten-year-old has mighty big dreams. But no concept of practicality. I’ve ended up in aeronautical engineering. Still, you inspired me then, NASA. Now, it’s my turn to inspire you.  

Let’s get your mojo back. Revive what Aunt Kathy called “that old Apollo program spirit.” The time’s ripe. The world’s counting down the days till the satellite sends its first images. I love the fact that even the experts don’t have a clue what we’ll see. Only one thing’s for sure. The universe is gonna blow our minds.

The 46 Minutes Collective March 2026 Mixed Bag Presentations

Website

Deadline: February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

Mixed Bag is a variety show for first drafts. We provide artists working in a variety of mediums with a low-tech space and audiences to further develop their works. We hope this will be an opportunity to learn about your piece and discover the next steps in your process.

Application Closes: February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
Performance Date: March 23, 2026 from 4:30-9 PM, Performance at 7:30 PM
Location: Brick Aux (628 Metropolitan Ave)

What we are looking for: 

• In-development work that has not yet premiered. One or two developmental readings or showings is okay, but we are looking for work in the earlier stages of development. 
• Works in any medium: performance art, dance, theater, film, music, poetry, multi-media, interactive art, magic, mime, juggling, etc. (these can be excerpts of longer works).
• Artists who are looking to investigate or discover something about their work.
• Cast: Up to 10 performers
• Length: Up to 15 minutes

We Can Offer: 

• A low-tech performance space at Brick Aux to share your work .
• One, 20-minute spacing rehearsal the hour before the show.
• A Stage Manager to assist with the run of show.
• Photos and video of your piece.

An audience of fellow artists and creatives to share in your developmental process with the option for feedback from the audience if that is helpful for your process.
Marketing through the 46 Minutes Instagram and mailing list. If selected, we will ask for additional marketing materials from you/your team.
Brick Aux space capabilities (basic sound system, clip lights, projector, tables and chairs) (learn more here).
Box Office Split: Please note that tickets are donation-based, so we cannot guarantee a profit from this event. Once we have covered the space rental via donations, all additional ticket funds will be split evenly amongst the performers and the collective.


What You Bring:

• Collaborators and creative team.
• Any desired props, costumes, lights, design elements, etc. beyond what exists in the Brick Aux space.
• An understanding of what you need to present your own work at whatever stage it's at in your process.
• An openness to the liminal space that is in-process work and a desire to discover what can be learned when presenting a rough draft.Please Note: The artist is responsible for all rehearsal process needs. We are unable to provide any rehearsal space or financial assistance at this time. This is designed to be an in-process showing, so we encourage you to come as you are with whatever you have created at this point in time. 

Each artist may only submit one piece per Mixed Bag showing.

If you have any questions please reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com 

We at The 46 Minutes Collective are committed to making our programming accessible to all who wish to participate, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com with any ways we can support you.

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.

Scenes from a Coffee Shop Festival seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: February 18, 2026 12AM PST

SUBMISSION FORM

Dreamscape Theater Company (dreamscapetheater.com) in Corvallis, Oregon, is seeking original plays to be considered for production at Imagine Coffee in April 2026.

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

Submissions will be accepted January 1-February 18, 2026. Deadline for submissions is midnight, Pacific Time, February 18, 2026. Winners will be notified no later than February 22, 2026.

Winning plays will be produced at Imagine Coffee Co., Corvallis, Oregon, (imaginecoffee.online) April 11 (7 pm) and April 12 (2 pm), 2026. 

The setting for your play should be a coffee shop.

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

We prefer plays with at least two characters but no more than five that can be staged with a simple set (black boxes/chairs/stools) and minimal light/sound/prop requirements – in a coffee shop.

There is no residence requirement but preference will be given to playwrights from Oregon.

We are looking for NEW plays. Do not submit anything that has previously been produced.

Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.

Please do not include your name or contact information anywhere in the script you submit. Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.

Your play must be written in English. We recommend using standard play formatting. 

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

There is no fee to submit to the Dreamscape Play Festival–Caffeine Dreams. 

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

Winning playwrights will be asked to submit a headshot and short bio for publicity purposes.

If you have any questions, please email admin@dreamscapetheater.com. 

Celtic Calling seeks Celtic-themed plays

Website

Deadline: February 7, 2026

All proposals and scripts must be emailed to TipJarTheatre@gmail.com. Your subject line should be the title of your play.

Celtic Calling is now accepting submissions of original Celtic-themed plays, vignettes, or one-acts, not to exceed thirty minutes. Up to 5 plays will be selected to be performed during the weekend of the 10th Celtic Calling Gathering, March 4-8, 2026, at a location to be determined, in Charleston, WV,USA.
The deadline for submission is February 7th, 2026, and the winning submissions, plays to be performed will be announced asap.

The selected Top 5 submissions will receive cash prizes!

• First Place $150
• Second $100
• Third $75
• Fourth $50
• Fifth $25

In addition, the author of the Audience Choice Award during the festival will receive $100.

1. All proposals and scripts must be emailed to TipJarTheatre@gmail.com by February 7th, 2026 at 11:59pm. PDFs preferred. Your subject line should be the title of your play.

2. Multiple submission are permitted, as are collaborations between writers.

3. The submission must be original, and the entrant must have the rights of performance and broadcast prior to submission. Celtic Calling will be granted exclusive rights of performance within a 250 mile radius of Charleston, WV, from the time of contest close through March 31, 2026. Celtic Calling will be granted the right to stream the performance of the winning submissions, all or in part.

4. The play should not exceed thirty minutes.

5. The play must have at least two characters with speaking roles.

6. Celtic Calling may charge for tickets to the performance, which will go to offset the costs of production of the play(s) and/or festival.

7. The submission must have a Celtic theme, which is solely up to the interpretation of the reading committee.

8. The play(s) will be selected by a committee, whose decisions are final, including the decision not to decide, should the entries not meet the requirements or other standards. 

2026 Annual One-Act Jamboree seeks short plays

Website

Deadline:  February 28, 2026

Submission fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild must include proof of current membership                                                                                    

StageWorks Theatre Group

Show Dates: July 24th, 25th, 26th 2026

Writers must submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less)

Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue, and overall quality.

Please send manuscripts and enclose your $20 reading fee (waived for members of Dramatists' Guild)

to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC.
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Attention: One Act Jamboree

Alternatively, you may submit your play via our website. Click "Submit Your Play" to send your manuscript via Google Form. Then, click "Pay Reading Fee" button above to pay your reading fee (online payment convenience fees apply). Manuscripts will NOT be considered until the reading fee has been submitted. (Fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild).

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of their play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the Summer of 2026 at StageWorks Studio 237.

The production will have auditioned actors, directors chosen by committee, producers, stage managers, ushers, ticket takers, and tech crew.

2026 Annual One-Act Jamboree Terms and Conditions

Writers are encouraged to submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less) by Saturday, February 28, 2026. Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue and overall quality by a committee of three to five. Directors will be chosen by the committee.

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of his or her play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the summer of 2026 at StageWorks Studio 237.

Plays will be judged on the following criteria:

• Plot
• Character Development
• Dialogue
• Overall writing quality

Playwrights are limited to three (3) submissions.

Please read and follow our submission guidelines. Submissions that are incomplete or do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified. To enter your play, you must submit the following:

(1) Three (3) hard copies of your play (or Google Form submission in advance for electronic submissions/Paypal payment).i

Plays should run 20 minutes or less and be written in the proper playwriting format (when in the proper format, running time is approximately one minute per page):

A list of characters with a brief physical description of each should also be included.

Plays should contain 12 or fewer actors.

One person plays are accepted.

No musicals, unless you are providing accompaniment.

Plays should have simple staging and technical needs.

(2) A cover letter with the following information:

The name of your play

Your name full address, full contact information (including your e-mail and phone number)

A brief synopsis of your play (for publicity purposes if your play is selected)

A brief biography


(3) A check in the amount of $20 (US dollars) for each play submitted, made payable to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC. *Fee waived for members of Dramatist Guild (must include proof of current membership)

Please write "One-Act Jamboree" in the check's memo line.


The submission package must be sent to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

Attn: One-Act Jamboree

Additional Information:

Submissions must be postmarked on or before February 28, 2026

Plays will NOT be returned and will be recycled.

The entry fee is non-refundable.

As the playwright, you are invited to auditions and will have input regarding casting and production presentation. However, Executive Director may choose to exercise her authority regarding questionable content and/or presentation of the show with consideration and protection of the reputation of the company in its entirety.

Prizes:

At the conclusion of the jamboree, one winner will receive a $250 cash prize based on audience vote.

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ JOY by Shaneisha Dodson

Shaneisha Dodson is originally from Arkansas and currently resides in California. She is a playwright, entrepreneur and the creator of the first black 18 inch superhero doll. Dodson is the founder of the Brilliant Girl and Black Girlz Productions. She has won numerous awards for her literary works. In her free time, she enjoys writing and spending time with loved ones.

Social Media: IG:@blkgirlz12
www.blackgirlzproductions.com

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

It's estimated that over 300,000 black women lost their jobs in 2025. Therefore, I wrote Joy. It's a love letter to black women geniuses that focuses on being resilient and self confident in a world that doesn't always play fair.  

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM JOY

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                 

I can’t control people or their thoughts. I can only worry about me. The black woman who rocks. The black woman who is making history.  The black woman who is reaching her goals even when the goal post is being pushed back. The black woman who sometimes feel like giving up but keeps pushing. Making it this far in life hasn’t been easy. This is why I will never give up on me. My accomplishments matter. My mother taught me to speak life into myself until it comes true. I am a black girl genius. I don’t need the world’s approval for me to feel validated. I am a black girl genius. I will continue to be me. I am a black girl genius. I will continue to find joy amid chaos in a world that doesn’t always give me my props. But has no problem taking everything from me including my livelihood. Over 300,000 black women lost their jobs this year. Maybe you didn’t hear me. I’ll say it a little louder for the people in the back. Over 300,000 black women lost their jobs this year!

29th Annual Festival of Originals

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026 11:59pm 

The TSW-FOO is FREE to enter and will once again be calling for short one act (20 minute) plays in any and all genres from all over the country and the world. 

• Each playwright may submit up to 2 plays for consideration.
• All entries should be unpublished and not previously produced in the Houston area.
• All Genres are accepted. But Light comedies are encouraged.
• Monologues or One Actor plays are not accepted.
• Plays should be 20 minutes in length (give or take a minute or two).
• Page count should be no less than 17, but no more that 22 pages. 12 point font (Courier, Arial, or Times New Roman) and use Standard Playwriting Format.
• There is no maximum limit of characters or sets, but common sense should be used as 5 plays will be produced in one evening.
• Number all pages of the script(s) and they MUST be securely bound by three hold punch with braids or three hole punch folder. NO STAPLES!
• Scripts must be submitted by postal mail ONLY. Emailed PDF or Word files will not be considered.*
• Scripts (heard copies) cannot be returned.

NOTE: *We apologize for the inconvenience of mailed in hard copies for all domestic entries, but the TSW-FOO does make exceptions for overseas entries. if you are entering from a country outside of the United States you may email a PDF to: mimiholloway@gmail.com

This is also the email to address any questions.

Be sure to include your contact information; phone number, email, and mailing address on the title page of each script.

List all characters with a brief character description.

Please include a one paragraph synopsis of the play.

Make sure all mailed entries are POSTMARKED by April 1st, 2026.

Overseas entries must be emailed before 11:59pm April 1st, 2026.

One hundred dollars will be paid to all playwrights selected for production.

Scripts should be mailed to:

Theatre Southwest
3939 Hillcroft Ave STE 160
Houston, Texas 77057-7759

Attn: TSW-FOO

Live & In Color Musical Theatre Development Program

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

For any questions, email musicalsubmissions@liveandincolor.org

Live & In Color is looking for playwrights, composers, and lyricists of color and/or other underrepresented communities interested in developing their new musical. 

The selected musical submission will have a one-week workshop in the fall at The Bingham Camp in Salem, Connecticut, culminating in a staged presentation to an invited audience.

Writers receive a $1,000 stipend plus housing, meals, and travel. We provide support, including a several-month development period based on the needs of the composer/writers, leading up to the retreat. Live & In Color staff will continue to support the development of your piece beyond the retreat, including a reading for industry and Broadway Alums.

MUSICAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The musical must be performed with 4 actors (or less)

All submissions should include:

• Resumes + CVs (a one-page PDF document for each team member's resume and CV)
• Artistic Statement (can be authored by individual team members, or as a joint statement)
• Single page synopsis*
• Single page character breakdown*
• Demo of score (2-3 songs)*
• Sample of dialogue (~15 pages)*
• Brief production/development history (properties with prior full productions not accepted)*
• Optional: a PDF of the full script (please note, if you move forward to the Semi-Finalist round, a full script and score will be required) *Submission Materials must be in a single PDF document of all

"That's What She Said" Page to Stage seeks one-act and full-length plays

Website

Deadline: February 20, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Since its inception in 2018, this festival has been a vital platform for powerful new plays that uplift, challenge, and connect audiences. Produced in partnership with That’s What She Said Women’s Writers Collective, this annual event continues its mission to highlight diverse female voices through bold storytelling by playwrights from across the country.

Our 2026 Festival will take place August 14th - 16th at the Curtis Theatre in Brea, CA 

• Full-Length or One-Act plays centered on female, femme, trans, non-binary, queer or other inherently non-male experiences & voices. 
• Plays should be at least 60 pages and no longer than 120 pages in length. 
• Plays should be submitted as PDF files only. 
• Plays submitted can have a lightly produced background but should generally remain within the realm of a “new work”.

Reunion: The Dallas Review open for submissions for 2026

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2026 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

For over three decades, Reunion: The Dallas Review has been dedicated to finding and publishing exceptional examples of short fiction, drama, visual art, poetry, translation work, and creative nonfiction. Our mission is to cultivate the arts community in Dallas, and promote the work of talented writers and artists both locally and across the globe.

Thank you for considering Reunion: The Dallas Review for your Drama piece! We look forward to reading your work.

At this time, we can read only one submission per person per reading window. Show us your best work. If you do choose to withdraw, please do not upload a new submission until the next reading window.

For Drama: We accept plays, screenplays, one acts, etc. that are formatted to industry standards.

• General Submission Guidelines:All submitted work must be previously unpublished. We consider anything found on personal blogs, online archives, other websites, social media accounts, online journals, or print magazines as previously published. If you have questions regarding this requirement, please email the editor prior to submitting.
• A brief cover letter and a biographical statement of no more than 100 words is appreciated.
• Do not include your name on the submission attachment unless it is part of the work itself. Instead, your name and contact information should be included in the body of your cover letter.
• All texts should be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and double spaced (with the exception of poetry.) We accept text submissions in the following formats: .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf.
• We do not accept any work above 5,000 words. Any submissions with a word count above this will not be read.
• Submissions may be multilingual, with English as the main language, but may not be translations. Any translations should be submitted to Reunion's translation portal. Translations will not be accepted in drama submissions.
• We do not accept any works made with the use of AI. 

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ INTELLIGENCE by Stacy Nathaniel Jackson

Stacy Nathaniel Jackson is a trans playwright, poet, writer, and visual artist originally from Los Angeles. His work has appeared in Callaloo, Electric Literature, Foglifter, Gay and Lesbian Review, The Georgia Review and elsewhere. His Afrofuturist play The Codex of Narma was a semifinalist for the 2025 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, and received a staged reading presented by the National Queer Theater. His Afrofuturist debut novel The Ephemera Collector was also published in 2025 by Liveright. He has received support for his work as an associate artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts Residency #191 with Addae Moon in performance writing, and as a Cave Canem poetry fellow, Hurston/Wright Foundation speculative fiction fellow, Jack Straw Cultural Center Writers Program fellow and Millay Arts Vincent Prize fellow. He received an individual artist grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission to support his docupoetics project on African American women in the U.S. military. Stacy is a graduate of USC’s Roski School of Art and Design, holds an MFA in creative writing from San Francisco State University with a concentration in playwriting, and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. 

• https://snjackson.com/

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

Intelligence is an intentional word-play response to the call for Black women genius monologues. The story of Doris "Lucki" Allen has captured my imagination since I first encountered primary material about her in the archives of the Women in Military Service of America Foundation. Lucki is best known in military history for predicting several events, including the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. The monologue is an imagined appearance at a twenty-first century campus event where she tells the audience about an encounter with a person in the greenroom, a thinly veiled reference to the views of social media "influencer" Candace Owens. The story is intended to highlight history, its circularity, and Lucki's Black woman genius.

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EXCERPT FROM INTELLIGENCE

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                

LUCKI 

 

I was confronted in the greenroom. My greeter had left me alone for a quick minute to grab water. Right after that, a young lady entered. Said she had to talk to me. That the country was at a turning point. I always make it a point to be respectful, you know. At the end of the day, we all need to feel..we want to be heard. So, for I don’t know how long, I listened to her pitch. After she was finished, she offered me a cap. Looking at the familiar red and white design, I declined. Told her I liked the one I was wearing just fine. I asked how she had come to her points of view. She proceeded to try to dress me down, called me stupid. Got in my face. Said my bronze stars were because of affirmative action, that my induction into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame was a pigment of my imagination. My greeter came back into the greenroom just in time. Shit, it took all of my strength not to hit the girl over the head with my cane.