Seventh Annual Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists

Website

Deadline: December 2, 2024

Submission Form

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 Best Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, which earned Pricilla Lopez a Drama Desk Award nomination.

The winner will receive $2,000 to help with cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2025 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, culminating in an Amas Lab production with New

York theatre professionals. Amas, which is administering the Award, was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals, and which produced the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three.

With the many setbacks in the theatre industry over the past few years, we are grateful to be afforded this opportunity to continue making theatre and creating an impact in our community. We are excited to begin work with our 2024 winners Daniel and James Cullen on their piece Dubbo Championship Wrestling and welcome a new wave of inspiring voices to our musical theatre family.

Submissions open September 12, 2024 and will close December 2, 2024. All submissions must be sent through an online application that can be found HERE.

Only one submission per playwright/librettists will be accepted. The winner of the Award is announced in Spring 2025.

 

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.

APPLY HERE

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 PART_TITLE, i.e.: for Tea for Three; BIO_TEA-FOR-THREE, SYNOPSIS_TEA-FOR-THREE, etc.

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

2. History of the submission’s 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)

NYCPlaywrights seeks monologues and 10-minute plays on the theme "Resisting Fascism"

NYCPlaywrights seeks monologues and 10-minute plays.

DEADLINE IS SUNDAY DECEMBER 1 at 11:59 PM.

The theme is "Resisting Fascism."

When Trump was elected in 2016, excuses were made for Trump voters: "they didn't really understand how bad he was" and "they had concerns about the economy."

NYCPlaywrights responded by seeking monologues and 10-minute plays on the theme of Women in the Age of Trump.

But in 2024 anybody who voted for Trump knew who he was - a rapist. A felon. A racist who uses the same "blood and soil" rhetoric as Hitler. A racist who tried to get legal Haitian immigrants killed by lying about them. His VP pick, J. D. Vance, admitted it was a lie.

Trump voters voted for a traitor who tried to overthrow American democracy on January 6, 2021.

So this time NYCPlaywrights is looking for scripts about resisting fascism, whether resisting Trump directly or resisting fascist organizations or pro-fascist friends and family. 

We encourage scripts from first-time playwrights as well as experienced writers, from anywhere in the world.

SEMI-FINALIST SCRIPTS

NYCPlaywrights will select as many of the scripts that we like and which meet the submission guidelines to be semi-finalists.

The semi-finalists will be listed on this blog and an excerpt from each script (if permission is granted by the playwright) will be displayed in a blog post, one per day, along with any website links or other contact information the author wishes to share. 

The deadline is Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM. 

The semi-finalist script selections will be announced Saturday, December 7, 2024 - Pearl Harbor Day, the worst date of infamy until the 2024 Presidential Election.


FINALIST SCRIPTS

The finalist scripts will be selected from the semi-finalist scripts. Three scripts will be chosen. Video-recorded excerpts of those scripts, read/performed by actors will be displayed on NYCPlaywrights.org (if permission is granted by the playwright) along with contact information and links to author web sites, author biography and a summary of the script. 

One script will be chosen from the three finalists scripts, its author will receive an award of $25. 

The finalists and award-winner will be announced Sunday, January 19, 2025. 

Excerpts from the semi-finalist scripts will begin posting the next day.


THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Failure to follow guidelines will result in your script being rejected.

As always, there is no fee for submissions. 

All rights will remain with the playwright. 

Yes, you can use a pen name instead of your real name if your work is posted online.

• The deadline is December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Send only one play per author to resist@nycplaywrights.org. 
• The script must be submitted by the author of the script, no agents or others may submit. 
• The script submission should be sent by email, with the script itself as a file attached to the email. File format should be .pdf because it will retain your original script formatting. 
• Make sure you have your name and your email address on the script. 
• Plays can be submitted by anybody, from anywhere in the world but must be primarily in English (a few non-English phrases are acceptable, but the phrases must include English translations in production notes or stage directions.) 
• A play that has had a production is acceptable.
• A play that has been published is not acceptable.

• 10-minute plays must be no more than 10 dialog pages (not counting the title page, list of characters, etc.) using standard script formatting. See guidelines and a template here. 
• If you submit a 10-minute play you cannot also submit a monologue.

• Monologues must be only one page long, using standard text size and spacing.
• If you submit a monologue you cannot also submit a 10-minute play.

• There will be no money awarded for selected scripts except for the selected finalist script.

• The NYCPlaywrights' decisions are final.

Any questions email info@nycplaywrights.org

PLEASE NOTE: when you submit your play, you should get an automatic response that says:

***

Thank you for sending.

The semi-finalist script selections will be announced Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The finalists and award-winner will be announced January 19, 2025.

Nancy at NYCPlaywrights

***

If you don't see the response, it's likely because you have sent your piece via a Yahoo or AOL email account, which are hyper-sensitive about group emails, which they consider spam. You would have to "whitelist" the resist@nycplaywrights.org email address to receive the response.

Consider getting a gmail account, you won't miss emails that way.

Plays about fascism

• The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 
• Fear and Misery of the Third Reich
• A Bright Room Called Day
• It Can't Happen Here
• Rhinoceros
• The Fire Raisers
• Watch on the Rhine
• Winter Solstice 
• The Camp

UPDATE: thanks to Trump voters, American foreign policy will now be dictated by a South African immigrant: JD Vance says US could drop support for NATO if Europe tries to regulate Elon Musk’s platforms

MORE EVIDENCE: Trump voters know Trump is a fascist - they don't care! 

And of course they won't even get economic help, once Trump's tariffs kick in. 

Trump voters sold out democracy on a false promise to save a few bucks.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The latest Trump atrocity: Trump picks liar and puppy killer Kristi Noem to lead Homeland Security

A FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACTS III

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

A FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACTS III
March 28 & 29, 2025
7:00 PM
March 30, 2025
2:00 PM

Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library
475 Moe Rd
Clifton Park, NY 12065

A weekend of stage readings of original short plays.

Plays MUST be 20-25 pages long (not including Title Page, Character/Scene Descriptions, etc.) and must be submitted in Standard Play Format.

Plays must feature no more than 5 characters and be in one setting.

Works must be solely original and not based on or contain any previously copyrighted material.

Writers are asked to submit only one play to help limit the number of submissions that our selection team needs to read.

The plays will be presented at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library over the weekend of March 28-30, 2025.

Genesius Theatre of Reading, PA 2025 Staged-Reading Series

Website

Deadline: December 8, 2024

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Entries are limited to ONE (1) script per playwright.
• There is no entry fee.
• Scripts submitted can be of any length.
• We are only accepting NON-MUSICAL scripts at this time.
• Attach and send your script to genesius.submission@gmail.com

The subject line must read -
[FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] GTSR 2025
The body of the email must read -
[TITLE]
[BY]
[# OF CHARACTERS]
[GENRE(s)]
[ESTIMATED RUN TIME]
[3-5 SENTENCE DESCRIPTION]
EXAMPLE SUBMISSION
SUBJECT: JOHN DOE GTSR 2025
I Thought It Was A Fart
John Doe
3m 4f (could also say 7)
Comedy, Farce
45 minutes
Tony joins his girlfriend in a three-day food fast. He is unprepared for what happens to the body during a fast. He risks losing a big client for his company after an embarrassing meeting.

Submissions are now open and will close DEC 8, 2024. You will receive an automatic reply upon entry.
Final decisions will be made in LATE FEBRUARY 2025.
Thank you in advance to all that submit. We look forward to reading your scripts!

The 4th Annual Patchwork Play Festival

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2024

Eclectic Full Contact Theater Company announces the opening of submissions for the 4th annual Patchwork Play festival.

To be presented at The Edge Theater, 5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL.
Feb. 21, 2025 - March 2, 2025

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

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 Reading are fine)
• Play length not to exceed 30 minutes.
• Play must reflect the yearly theme. This years theme is: Redemption
• Play must be received by November 30, 2024
• Playwrights cannot submit more than 2 scripts per year for Crashbox! 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 Crashbox! 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.
Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

Hunter College MFA Playwriting Program is accepting applications

The Hunter College MFA Playwriting Program is accepting applications through January 15th! Please visit https://theatre.hunter.cuny.edu/mfa for more information.

Artists' Exchange seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: December 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST

OR once 120 submissions have been received

Cranston, Rhode Island

Seeking original, unpublished 10-minute plays

Playwrights can submit up to 2 plays

Email submissions to theatre@artists-exchange.org

Artists' Exchange is excited to announce a 10-minute play festival featuring 6 short original plays to be presented on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, May 16-18, 2025.

We are seeking submissions from playwrights 18 years and older of all ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, and orientations for plays that meet the following criteria:

• Unpublished works only
• Around 10 minutes in length
• Between 2 and 6 performers
• Gender-flexible characters are encouraged but not required
• Minimal set, lighting, props, & costumes

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Playwrights may submit up to 2 plays in a digital-friendly format. (PDF, MS Doc, etc.)
Submissions must be emailed to Theatre@artists-exchange.org by 11:59 PM EST on December 7, 2024.
Once 120 submissions have been received no more submissions will be accepted.
Playwrights will receive a notice of submission receipt by email. If a playwright does not receive a receipt confirmation they may email Theatre@artists-exchange.org to follow up.
Submissions will be reviewed by a committee for selection in the festival.

Playwrights will be contacted regarding selection status no later than January 15, 2025. Selected plays will be announced no later than January 22, 2025.

PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES

• The playwrights are encouraged to be part of the production process and performances but are not required.
• We will host a virtual meeting with playwrights and directors the week of February 17, 2025. This will be prior to directors' play assignments and gives the playwrights an opportunity to talk about their plays.
• Once directors are assigned, playwrights may communicate directly with them but are asked not to communicate with actors.
• Part of the performances will include an audience discussion afterward with directors, actors, and any playwrights who wish to attend.

PERFORMANCES

Dates: Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17 at 7:00 PM. Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 PM.
Location: Artists' Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston, RI 02910
For further information, please contact Theatre@artists-exchange.org

Thomas W. Stephens Playwriting Competition 2025 seeks one-act plays

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

This competition honors the memory of Thomas W. Stephens, PhD, playwright and PlayZoomers Board Member Emeritus.

PlayZoomers, a live, online, nonprofit theater company, seeks one-act scripts (20 – 30 minutes) suitable for online production, on any subject, related to any genre, with no more than six characters. No submission fee is required.

Two playwrights will each receive a $100 prize. We plan to produce the two, winning one-act plays (together) on a Friday andSaturday evening in the spring of 2025.

Please email scripts (PDFs only) to playzoomers@gmail.com In the subject line, put “Stephens Competition: Script submission [title of play] by [playwright].” If you are submitting multiple scripts, send each one in a separate email. Please do not submitscripts you have previously sent us.

On the first page of your script include the title, playwright name, estimated run time, and contact information. 

On the next page, include a logline/synopsis, a detailed character breakdown, production history, and a short playwright bio. 

At the end of the script, describe production details, such as backgrounds, costumes, props, music, and sound effects. 

For additional script formatting guidance, go to https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats

The deadline for this round of submissions is Dec 1, 2024. As we read through scripts, we will acknowledge your submission andreach out to you only if your script is selected for production.

With 117+ professionally produced plays since 2020 - involving more than 285 playwrights, directors, designers, and actors - PlayZoomers has become a national online theatre company and an international theatre community. We feature plays of different genres and lengths, with cast sizes typically ranging from two to six. We work closely with playwrights to adapt their work to an online platform. We welcome theatre artists and audience members of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Learn more about ourtheatre company at https://www.playzoomers.org.

Go Try PlayWrite November 2024

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

We're proud to announce a new monthly playwriting contest in collaboration with Bamboo Ridge Press. Every month, Kumu Kahua's artistic director Harry Wong III will select a writing prompt on the first day of that month. We're looking for 5-page monologues or 10-page scenes based on that prompt; the due date for submissions are always the last day of the month. All entries must be written in traditional play format; instructions on this format can be found here (https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats), courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.

There will be one winner each month. Scripts will be submitted to the judges anonymously. Winners will receive $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge Press. Woo!

The prompt for November 2024 is:
A liar’s prompt. Write a 10-page maximum scene about a childhood incident in a politicians life that teaches them to lie to get what they want. This is the opposite of the Washington myth of chopping down the cherry tree. The lie should echo in future lies in the politician’s life without outright stating the future lie. For example, “I didn’t let the dog out of the yard. The new kids stole it. I don’t know why. Maybe those kids…”

Chain Winter One-Act Festival 2025

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

Plays are chosen for the Chain Winter One-Act Festival based on originality, inspiration, and innovation. The background or experience of the playwright is taken into consideration, but submissions will be judged on the quality of the play. All themes or genres are welcome. One-Act Play runtime must be no shorter than 10 minutes and no longer than 1 hour. Shows will be performed in person.

NON UNION shows will have the ability to LIVE STREAM for at least one performance.

Chain Theatre is curating the event, not producing it - each production is responsible for staffing their own director, design team and cast.

PLEASE INFORM US IN THE APPLICATION IF YOU PLAN ON APPLYING FOR EQUITY SHOWCASE. 

All Equity Showcase paperwork is the responsibility of the producer, not the Chain Theatre. It is crucial that we have this information in advance because it affects our scheduling of the productions for streaming. If you do not plan on applying for Equity Showcase you cannot use Equity Actors.

You will assign a contact person for the piece; that person will be considered your play’s producer should it be part of the Festival. That person will receive all information and is responsible for passing it onto the rest of your team.

Though we will be doing overall festival promotion, you are responsible for the marketing of your piece.

Your entire team must be from the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut). We will not be accepting playwrights from any other areas of the country.

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for submitting to the 2025 Chain Winter One-Act Festival will be Dec 1, 2024. There are no submission or participation fees for the Chain One-Act Festivals. Complete the following application and you will be directed to information on submitting your play.

After completing the application form you will need to email a PDF (no Word, Pages, or Final Draft files, please!) of the script, and a brief cover letter explaining your goals for the play.

Applications ask for a contact name, address, phone, and email. Show contacts will be the one contact point between Chain Theatre and your production. The email given will be the sole email address that Chain Theatre will use to contact you regarding acceptance, any issues regarding participation, and festival communications.

We will need an estimated running time of your piece that will be factored into the programming. As such, we will enforce this time limit. If during your dress rehearsal or performance the play runs significantly over, we may insist that you revise or forfeit your participation in the festival and any ticket split revenue.

Applications that are not complete will not be accepted. No materials will be returned.

ONLY ONE SUBMISSION WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR EACH PLAYWRIGHT.

If any false information is given in the application the Chain Theatre will not accept any future submissions from the applicant. Your address, email, name must be accurate.


ACCEPTANCE

Notification of acceptance status will be sent by email on or about Dec 8, 2024.

If you are accepted into the festival, your email will inform you of the location of the organizational meeting to be held on Dec 12, 2024 at 6:30pm. IT IS REQUIRED AND MANDATORY THAT SOMEONE REPRESENTING YOUR SHOW BE AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. This meeting is where you will receive your performance schedule and meet your fellow participants.

Each accepted ONE ACT show will be given 5 free hours of rehearsal space at one of the Chain Theatre rehearsal rooms. Availability and scheduling of these hours is at the Chain Theatre’s discretion. They must be used to rehearse the show in the festival and cannot be gifted, sold or used for other purposes. Additional rehearsal hours/locations are the production’s responsibility. If you choose to rehearse at one of the Chain Rehearsal studios you can book subsidized rehearsal space for this production for $10 an hour.

Each accepted show will receive a code for ticket tracking. Each show will receive 20% of the net box office for every ticket purchased using their code. (Code use for online sales is mandatory to receive this box office split. No exceptions.)


SCHEDULING

Each One-Act show will be guaranteed at least three performances. The precise number of shows is TBD, based on number of submissions and running lengths. However, depending on the schedule there may be more. Performance blocks will be at 6:30pm and 8:30pm during the week and will run throughout the weekend between 12-10pm.

There will be limited time between shows for changeovers. Keep in mind that when you are striking or setting up your show, another show is also likely striking or setting up. Minimalism rules. PLEASE FACTOR THIS TIME INTO YOUR TECHNICAL PLANS. Houses will be opened 5 minutes before the start time and will start promptly.

BOX OFFICE and TICKETING

Chain Theatre handles all aspects of ticketing and box office. Tickets will be $22.

TECHNICAL

You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple. There will be no projection in shows. The Chain is equipped with a full light board and sound system, however the board will be shared by several shows and we will maintain a standard rep lighting plot. Keep light and sound cues as simple as possible. No show will be able to refocus lights. Each company will have only one cue-to-cue technical rehearsal in the venue which will be run by a Chain Theatre hired PSM. The Chain Theatre PSM will be running lights and sound for all shows at no cost to participants. Storage space/dressing room space is also limited and will be shared by all shows. You will be given a small, unlocked area to store your props, set pieces, and costumes, which must be completely cleared at the conclusion of your performances.

Any additional equipment your show requires should be listed on your application and will be need to be approved by Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre has the right to disqualify any shows that bring in unapproved technical elements. If approved, this equipment will be provided for your show by you. Chain Theatre assumes no liability for this equipment; it is your responsibility.

PUBLICITY

Chain Theatre will publicize the festival and coordinate overall press relations, including interviews and critic attendance. You may be asked to submit publicity photos and PR materials. You are also responsible for publicizing your own show through your own press releases, mailers, handbills, busking and/or posters. Should a critic accept your invitation to see a performance, this information must be forwarded to Chain Theatre so we may coordinate this. Chain Theatre will provide a blanket press kit to help all shows promote.

EXCLUSIVITY

If you are accepted to the Chain Winter One-Act Festival, part of our agreement prohibits the performance of your show anywhere in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut any time from acceptance into the festival through April 2026. Please keep this restriction in mind when accepting other invitations to perform your show during these months, particularly before you have received acceptance status notification from Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre is making an investment in you and your production. We are not previewing your show to take to other festivals and want our mutual efforts of promotion to bring an audience to this production.

If you can no longer participate in the Chain Winter One-Act Festival, you must notify us before Dec 1, 2024. If the production drops out after you are accepted, you will be disqualified from participating in future Chain Festivals.

WHAT TO DO NOW

1. Choose your show.

2. COMPLETELY fill out the application form.

3. REVIEW your completed application to make sure it is complete and correct.

4. EMAIL PLAY as per instructions received upon submitting application. Make sure that the PDFs of your script and cover letter are included in your submission email.

If there are technical issues, contact us at info@chaintheatre.org to discuss them.

5. Include the title of your show in the subject line of the email and on all relevant materials.

Should they become separated, this is how we will reunite them.


CONTINUE TO APPLICATION

If you still have questions, we are available to help you in advance of the deadline at info@chaintheatre.org. You may want to print and keep or bookmark these instructions and your original application for your reference.

BREAK A LEG PRODUCTIONS 2025 LOVE FEST

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

BREAK A LEG PRODUCTIONS is accepting submissions for our 2025 LOVE FEST to be held February 8th and 9th at Polaris North, 245 West 29th Street.

The theme of the event is "love with a twist." Plays under 20 pages will be accepted. Please email to plays.balproductions@gmail.com with the play title and playwrights name in the subject line.

The Playwrights Group - workshops can give you the kick you need

The Weekly Workshop

Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. 

It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

 

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end.  You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit). 

 

 

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Tuesdays or Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EDT

 

Check out our website for more details and rates. 

 

Script Consultations

 

If you don’t have time for the workshop but have a script you’d like some feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

 

Richard Caliban has worked with  individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

 

Online One-on-One Courses

 

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

 

•       The Art of Playwriting

•       Write a Play in 10 Weeks

•       3 Hour Short Course

 

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience. 

 

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates: 

 

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

 

Contact us at 

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com 

WATERWORKS 2025

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2025 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

Live Arts is now accepting submissions for the third annual WATERWORKS, to be held
May 16 through June 1, 2025, in Charlottesville, Virginia. WATERWORKS is a celebration of
new theatrical works and voices at Live Arts and beyond! After two successful and
dynamic rounds, we are proud for WATERWORKS to return, continuing Live Arts' long
history of showcasing local and emerging playwrights.

Live Arts is a volunteer-powered organization. Selected works will be staffed and
staged by non-union volunteers engaged by Live Arts’ artistic production team.

Get involved! Contact waterworks@livearts.org.

Questions? Contact submissions@livearts.org.

We are committed to cultivating new theater pieces, supporting playwrights in the
development of their work, and diversifying the stories told on our stages. As a new
endeavor within a predominantly white theater, we seek to construct diverse programming
and volunteer teams representative of the abundant talent and craftsmanship across our
dynamic community.

● Submissions are free.

● The deadline to submit is December 1, 2024.

● Playwrights and playwriting teams may submit a single work for consideration in
multiple categories.

● There is a total submission limit of two (2) works per writer, or writing team.

● Please submit all requested materials at the time of submission.

● Selected works will receive production package details in February/March 2025.

Reading and Selection Process

We employ an anonymous submission process to eliminate any unintentional bias on the
part of our team of qualified readers. All scripts are considered by multiple readers
prioritizing artistic distinction to determine finalists.

Final programming is selected and curated by New Works Director Adrienne Oliver,
together with a core artistic team at Live Arts, organization staff, and other local artists
representing the cultural wealth and expertise of the community.

Interested in reading?
Contact waterworks@livearts.org.

Artistic Distinction
In addition to artistic distinction, detailed below, our readers value re/imagination,
discovery, humor, thrill, awareness, and complexity. With an inclusive spirit and ignited
thinking, we are reading with empathic celebration for the vulnerability of creation and
compassion for the plurality of human experience and stories.

We value:

● Works that explore culture, humanity, and justice-minded themes.
● Works that celebrate theatricality, expression, and connectivity.
● Works prominently centering marginalized voices, narratives, and ideas.
● Age-embracing works, with opportunities for senior and/or junior artists.
● Innovative and thought-provoking material.
● Works exploring language, dialogue, communication, ideas, and energy.
● Works by historically erased artists and writers.

The WATERWORKS programming team is unwaveringly committed to disrupting patterns
and practices that perpetuate harm and erasure in our processes. Recognizing intentions
and impact are not synonymous, we own failures to effectively protect and champion
underrepresented artists in the past. We seek accountability in our cultural competency
and remain transparent in our efforts as we earn the community’s trust in these new works.

Questions?
Contact waterworks@livearts.org.

CALL FOR NEW WORKS

By submitting work to a specific call, applicants affirm they are the sole or co-creator and
that the work meets the particular criteria.

In each category: We consider works of all genres. We do not accept submissions over
100 pages, excluding front matter, or any musicals. 

We encourage one-act submissions. 

All works must be original and unpublished. 

Works submitted may have been produced at a school-based presentation and/or unstaged, non-professional readings, only.

Please review all calls to determine the best place for your work.

Emerging Artists: For writers and writing teams 16 to 25 years old.

TO SUBMIT TO “EMERGING ARTISTS”
Please complete this form by 11:59pm on December 1, 2024. 

Selected Emerging Artists
works will receive notification of status in February 2025.

Debut Artists: For writers and writing teams over 50 years old.

TO SUBMIT TO “DEBUT ARTISTS”
Please complete this form by 11:59pm on December 1, 2024. Selected Debut Artists
works will receive notification of status in February 2025.

Unstaged Works: No age restrictions for writers or writing teams.

TO SUBMIT TO “UNSTAGED WORKS”
Please complete this form by 11:59pm on December 1, 2024. Selected Unstaged Works
will receive notification of status in February 2025.
Administrative Criteria
● Use the form provided on the Live Arts website to submit all work.
○ Please submit as a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf format where the file name
contains the work’s title only.
○ Do not include the playwright’s personal details, including names, in the
submission title.
● Standard play script format is preferred, but not required.
○ Please use a standard, 12-point font and clearly marked character
names connected to their dialogue.
○ Please number all pages.
● Please include a cover page for your work and a brief synopsis of the work.
○ The script's cover page should contain the work’s title only; please remove
any identifying information including names, addresses, or other details from
submission.
○ The second page of the script should contain a brief synopsis of the play
(less than 250 words) and a complete cast list that includes relevant
character information.
The deadline to submit is midnight,
December 1, 2024.

Because of the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide feedback on any
work submitted, general updates on programming timelines and notifications, or solicited
comments on submission status.

Note on disqualifications: As a local theater company with community-based volunteers,
we work hard to maintain confidentiality for submissions. Further, our guidelines support
this volunteer-powered organization to meet production deadlines. For these reasons,
please know that we cannot judge, and will remove from consideration, any work with
identifying information about the playwright/s or otherwise not observing administrative
requirements.

Need formatting assistance?
Contact submissions@livearts.org for support.

Agreements & Acknowledgements
Selected finalists will receive notification in February/March 2025. All accepted works will
receive details regarding rehearsal coordination, programming schedule information, and
production package offers following their acceptance. Work may be withdrawn by
submitting a written request. Please email with the subject line “WITHDRAW [Title]” to
submissions@livearts.org by March 1, 2025.

By submitting work, participants agree to allow Live Arts a potential production of their
play during WATERWORKS, with any/all performances occurring between May 16 and
June 1, 2025. This may include workshopping/editing the play as needed with a director
and cast, troubleshooting technical and production details with artistic staff, and/or
providing additional materials as needed to support dramaturgical considerations.
By submitting work, participants grant permission for Live Arts to create
photography/video of the production for marketing, grant submission, and education
purposes. While agreeing to those permissions, all writers retain ownership/copyright of
their work to re-stage, publish, or license to others in the future.

The 50th Annual Concord Theatricals Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival

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Deadline: November 26, 2024 at 10AM

The 50th Annual Concord Theatricals Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival is accepting submissions.

We are looking for original and captivating short plays to be a part of our annual celebration of writers and their work in New York City. To provide thorough and thoughtful consideration to each script in a timely manner, we will cap submissions at 850. Submissions will close when we reach either our limit of 850 submissions or our deadline of Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Learn more below about submissions to the 2025 Festival.

OOB FESTIVAL 2025 SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES

Eligibility:

Short plays and musicals that are no more than 15 pages in length and have a max run time of 15 minutes (ideal run times are between 8-13 minutes).

Writers may submit only one play, including plays they have co-authored. Producers (writers' groups, theatre companies, universities, etc.) may submit up to 15 plays accredited to their organization, but can only submit one play by an individual playwright.

Each nomination must submit a separate application form. Conglomerate entries on one application, even by one and the same playwright, are not acceptable.

Plays must be written primarily in English (non-English words or phrases within the context of the play are allowed, extensive use of non-English language must provide translations).

Plays must be typed, and in no less that 10-point type, in conjunction with formatting suggestions listed in the Dramatist Guild's Formatting Guidelines. 

Note that cover pages or additional cast size pages are not required and will not be counted against the 15 page limit.

Plays may not be written using any generative artificial intelligence (AI); however, writers are not prohibited from utilizing AI as part of their creative process. If a writer utilizes generative AI in creating their play, they must be the owner of that AI generated content or be authorized by the owner to either create works derived from the content or to incorporate the content into their play. It is the responsibility of each writer to ensure the entire content of their submission does not violate the rights of any other person or party. Any play that Concord Theatricals discovers to be an infringement or a violation of the rights of another person or party shall be ineligible, even if the violation/infringement was unintentional on the part of the writer(s).

Playwrights previously published by any of Concord Theatricals’ umbrella companies – Samuel French, Inc. (or their subsidiary Baker’s Plays), Tams-Witmark, Rodgers & Hammerstein, or The Musical Company – are not eligible for submission into the Concord Theatricals Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Plays presented in previous Off Off Broadway Festivals are not eligible for re-submission.

Poetry and short story readings will not be accepted.

Concord Theatricals in its sole and absolute discretion, shall select plays for participation in the 2025 OOB Festival from among all entries, and its decisions are final. Concord Theatricals reserves the right to remove any selected play from participation if the play, its producers, and/or its authors are not in compliance with the application and/or the competition guidelines, and/or if the additional documents are not timely signed and returned. Production of selected plays shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Producer, and no royalties or other payments are or will be owed by Concord Theatricals.

Concord Theatricals will provide: 

• The theatre space with a basic lighting plot, including pre-set general cues and basic sound equipment.
• Chairs and music stands.
• All front-and back-of-house personnel, including a stage manager and board operator.
• Liability insurance.
• Marketing materials.

Please note that we are unable to provide housing during the Festival week.

To submit:

Submissions for the 2025 Concord Theatricals Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival will be accepted beginning on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 10am ET. Submissions will close when we reach either our limit of 850 submissions or our deadline of Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

Your OOB Submission must be submitted by the Author[s] of the Play unless you are submitting as the representative of an Organization.

The author is responsible for securing a director or producing company (or self-producing/directing) for their work if the work is selected as a Festival participant. The responsibilities of the Producer or author (should they self-produce) include, but are not limited to: the casting (note; our 2025 festival will be a non-equity festival); the appointment of the director (if applicable); rehearsals and rehearsal space; transportation; housing (if applicable); costumes (if applicable), and all fees and expenses attendant thereto.

The author is also required to select a Production Liaison, who is authorized to speak and act for the Producer in all matters concerning the Festival. The author can also serve as the Production Liaison.
Script submissions will be accepted in digital format only, via Submittable. Each submission should be uploaded as a single PDF document. Documents must be labeled as follows: PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name.pdf.

All portions of the application must be complete.

Concord Theatricals will notify applicants of their admission into the OOB Festival by May 2025.

Prospect Musical Theater Lab 2025

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Deadline: November 18th at 11:59pm

Applications are accepted via GOOGLE FORM.

Prospect Musicals seeks applicants to participate in the 18th installment of its annual Musical Theater Lab program.

Each year, Prospect's Lab brings together writing teams to create short musicals in response to a curated assignment. The 6-week program culminates in a public presentation of the new works generated through the lab process. The 2025 Lab features in-person writer meetings, rehearsals, and concert performance.

As Prospect is in the midst of celebrating the company’s 25th year of producing new work, this year's Lab — titled JUMP CUT — will have a central theme of time, and how change occurs over time. From dawn to dusk, the Renaissance to the Roaring 20s, or 11:01 to 11:30, each writing team will randomly be assigned a length of time and asked to create a short piece which jumps through time to create narrative arc, character growth, and discovery. We look forward to exploring all facets of this theme in our curatorial process with the selected writing teams.

Each selected Lab writing team will create a short (8-10 minute) musical sparked by the writing prompt, to be performed by a cast of 2-4 performers. Works generated in the Lab will be presented in a one-night-only, concert-style public performance on Thursday February 20, 2025 @ 7:30pm at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, NYC) in the Peter J. Sharp Theater.


Selected Lab writers will be invited to pitch three show concepts. With curatorial input, writing teams will select one of these ideas to develop into an 8-10 minute long musical. The short, new works will be written between Jan. 6 - Feb. 1, and then workshopped and rehearsed between Feb. 4 - 19, and presented as a single evening's concert. The culminating Lab presentation will be directed by Dev Bondarin, Prospect's Associate Artistic Director.

• Writers receive a modest honorarium for their participation in the Lab.

• Writers retain all copyright/ownership of their work.

• Writers who have previously participated in the Lab are welcome to re-apply, but not in the session immediately following their participation. (Ie: Writers may not participate in two back to back Labs, they must take one year off before re-applying.)

  
  

  More information

2025 Beacon Award seeks plays

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

Beacon Theatre Productions is seeking play submissions for our 2025 Beacon Award.

The chosen playwright will get 

*$500

*Opportunity to see a staged reading of their play during Philly Theatre Week April 2025 produced by Beacon

We are seeking plays (or screenplays) that meet the following criteria:

*Spotlights a critical moment of the past (connection to real event or person)

*That shows the way to a better future (directly or indirectly. For example: a post-show talkback on the play’s content could connect to a social issue that still affects us today)

*That are the entrant’s own original work and must not violate the intellectual property rights of any third party

Priority given to:

*Playwrights from the Greater Philadelphia area

*Playwrights who could attend the staged reading in Philadelphia (one night of availability between April 3 - 13th, 2025)

*Plays spotlight (or playwrights identify) as social justice advocates, activists, people of color, and/or women 

*Plays that have not been produced (or would benefit from a staged reading for future development)

How to apply:

*Submit google form and attach a copy of your script. We do not want the application to be an additional burden to an artist, so feel free to write as little or as much as you would like.

*Submit application by December 1st, 2024.

*Applicants will be notified by January 2025.

For questions, or if you need accommodations or assistance submitting the form, please contact us at info@beacontheatreproductions.org

Valdez 2025 Play Lab

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Deadline: First 300 submissions or November 20, 2024 for past participants and Alaskans

Submissions for the 2025 Play Lab are now open. We will only be accepting 300 submissions by non-Alaskans who’ve not participated in the Conference before, so if you’re intending to submit, don’t put it off. 

Past participants and Alaskans have until November 20.

Please attach your play (one submission per author) using this form. You should receive a confirmation from the Coordinator within one week of submission.

If your play is chosen, you must register for the Conference (June 7-14) and be present for the reading in Valdez, Alaska. Registration is $150 (including all activities, a 2-hour glacier cruise, and daily lunch). 

Getting to Valdez, Alaska, is the playwrights’ responsibility. Minimal free housing is available. Please email the Coordinator with any questions.

CALL FOR 2025 'PLAYS-IN-DEVELOPMENT' SCRIPTS

Website

Deadline: November 14, 2024 at 5PM

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's Community Theatre, located in Jonesville, Michigan is seeking entries to consider for our eleventh annual Plays-In-Development in 2025. We are seeking unproduced plays. These can be any style (comedy, drama, young audience and/or musical) and any length (one-act or full-length). It is understood (and expected) that changes will be made to the script between initial submission and performance.

The selected plays will first go through notes with the artistic director. A show-specific director will then be assigned. The director will work with the playwright prior to an audition draft being submitted. Auditions will take place in mid-June with two weeks of rehearsals prior to public readings. It is expected that the selected playwrights will be involved in the process and be in attendance for final rehearsals and the public reading in Jonesville, MI.

Playwrights are encouraged to make changes to their scripts throughout the process (often handing in new drafts on a weekly or even daily basis). The public staged readings will take place on July 11 and 12, 2025. Playwrights are expected to be on site the week leading up to the readings starting on Monday, July 7, 2025. A royalty is provided to the selected playwrights and The Sauk will provide travel and lodging.

The goal of Plays-in-Development is to help playwrights improve plays that have yet to be produced. 

By working with a director and actors, the playwright can learn vital information about their work. 

After the public readings, playwrights are able to participate in a talkback with the audience. We want playwrights to leave the experience with positive and constructive feedback to improve their plays.

Please e-mail a draft copy of the script, a one paragraph plot description and playwright's contact information to Executive Director Trinity Bird at saukpid@gmail.com. 

Playwrights may submit no more than two scripts. 

We are NOT looking for scripts intended to be performed online. 

Scripts with strong roles for teens are encouraged! 

Any script received prior to November 1, 2024 at noon must be resubmitted.

The submission deadline is 5 p.m. (EST) on Friday, November 14, 2024.

The play selection committee will review all submissions and select the scripts to be part of the process. 

The selected plays will be announced on or before January 1, 2025.

For more information about our Plays-in-Development program, visit www.thesauk.org/pid.html.