MACH 33: The Caltech Festival of New Science-Driven Plays and MACH 33 Launchpad: The Caltech Early-Development Lab for New Science-Driven Plays

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

MACH 33: The Caltech Festival of New Science-Driven Plays and

MACH 33 Launchpad: The Caltech Early-Development Lab for New Science-Driven Plays

Theater Arts Caltech invites submissions for the 2025–26 season of MACH 33: The Caltech Festival of New Science-Driven Plays and MACH 33 Launchpad: The Caltech

Early-Development Lab for New Science-Driven Plays. Both programs support playwrights in developing science-focused work in dialogue with scientists from Caltech and JPL.

Deadline for submissions: August 15, 2025.

Please visit our webpage for more information: https://tacit.caltech.edu/mach33/
 

MACH 33: The Caltech Festival of New Science-Driven Plays

Festival Dates: TBD Spring 2026

 

MACH 33 presents staged readings of full-length, unproduced plays that place science, mathematics, or technology at the center of the story. Each reading is followed by a public discussion featuring scientists from Caltech or JPL. Selected playwrights will be paired with a science advisor to help refine the scientific content of the play. Winningplaywrights will receive a stipend of $500.

Submit to: Arden Thomas, Associate Artistic Director Email: arden.e.thomas@gmail.com
Subject line: MACH 33 Submission

MACH 33 Launchpad: The Caltech Early-Development Lab for New Science-Driven Plays

October 2025 - March 2026

Launchpad is designed for very early-development plays. Selected playwrights will work in a generative, collaborative environment with Caltech and JPL scientists to explore and develop the scientific ideas driving theirplays. Selections from the Launchpad plays will be performed at the MACH 33 Festival of New Science-Driven Plays at Caltech.

Submit to: Cole Remmen, Launchpad Program Manager Email:coleremmen@caltech.edu
Subject line: MACH 33 Launchpad Submission

 

Note: Plays submitted to Launchpad must be in-progress and open to substantial revision. They need not be complete or ready for a public reading.

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines (for both programs):

• Playwright must reside in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Only one submission per playwright.
• Plays must not be published or professionally produced. (Previous readings are acceptable.)
• Plays must center on real-world scientific, mathematical, or technological themes.
• Maximum cast size of 8. Doubling is permitted; include a doubling plan with the cast list.
• Scripts must be submitted in PDF format, with standard formatting (12 pt font, numbered pages, character names above dialogue).
• Science must be integral to the story, not just metaphor or setting. See below for more on what we mean by “science-driven.”

Your submission must include:

• Blind Script PDF – Title only, no author name
• For Launchpad: a summary of any unfinished scenes
• Provide cast list and doubling plan (if applicable)
• Synopsis (max 200 words)
• Playwright Info PDF – Title, author name, contact info, date of most recent revision
• Artist Statement PDF – Brief explanation of how a science advisor from Caltech or JPL could help you develop the scientific dimensions of your play (blind – no author name)
• For Launchpad submissions only: If the play includes music, you may also attach sheet music or demo recordings if available

WHAT IS A SCIENCE-DRIVEN PLAY?

A science-driven play engages deeply with real-world scientific, mathematical, or technological ideas. The science is not just a backdrop or metaphor—it directly shapes the world of the play and the choices of its characters. In particular, a science-driven play typically: 

• Places real science, math, or technology at the heart of the dramatic conflict
• Features characters—often scientists, mathematicians, or engineers—whose work and thinking are central to the story
• Helps audiences gain a better understanding of how science works, how it impacts our lives, and how it intersects with broader human concerns
• Broadens the cultural imagination around science, challenging clichés or assumptions
• Grounds its content in real-world inquiry rather than speculative or science fiction (no aliens, time travel, or futuristic tech)

These plays are driven by curiosity, grounded in research, and open up new ways of thinking aboutscience and society. A panel of readers from both scientific and theatrical communities will review submissions. We look forward to reading your work!