Woodward/Newman Award 2026-27

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2025

Each play should be individually submitted at the following link: CONSTELLATION STAGE & SCREEN PLAY SUBMISSION.

We are currently accepting submissions for the 2026-27 Woodward/Newman Award. The award recipient will be announced by May 15, 2026. The winner will be awarded $3,000 and a full production.“Full-length” plays should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes). 

TYA shows should have a complete running time of over 40 minutes.

Plays submitted must be unpublished at the time of submission (independently published is acceptable).

You will be asked to submit your play as an attachment and all other information (bio, history, synopsis, character breakdown) will be entered into a form. 

• Musical submissions may upload demos as an attachment or include a link to a shared folder.
• Limit of 2 play submissions per year.
• $3,000 cash prize is in lieu of royalties for the full production. Housing & transportation will also be provided.
• Any unpublished play submitted to Constellation regardless of method (e.g. online form, agent submission, direct contact) may be considered for the Woodward/Newman Award.

Please note that we are moving away from a “finalists” model in lieu of keeping all plays under consideration for extended periods (2yrs). We will only announce a winner.

If you have any questions, please email literary@seeconstellation.org.

Stage Frights 2025 seeks short scripts

Website

Deadline: August 10, 2025

Or until they reach 250 scripts

That's right! We're back again this year! While last year's live version ended up getting cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, the online audio play series we released for Stage Frights 2024 was one of the most successful and funnest things we've ever done to date. For 2025, the live event is planned for October 11 (hopefully no hurricane this time) at Le Chat Noir in Augusta, GA and will be followed by a release of the audio plays on the Gather by the Ghost Light podcast. So send us your scary scripts!

You can listen to last year's Stage Frights here, if you want to check out our production value - https://www.gatherbytheghostlight.com/stage-frights-full-show-pts-1-6/

Horror genre only.

• 17 pages or less.
• Blind submissions (No author info on any page of your script).
• No monologues or one-person shows.
• Stage play OR audio play format is fine.
• You can submit up to two plays but know that only ONE from each playwright can be selected.
• Please do not attach any other files other than your script(s). We don't need resumes or bios at this time.
• The body of your email should contain your contact info, title of play, and a synopsis.
• Deadline is August 10 or until we reach 250 scripts.
• Email your script (PDF files ONLY) to submissions@gatherbytheghostlight.com

JUDGING CRITERIA

Story, dialogue, and if your script fits the horror theme are what the judges will be scoring your script on. And good use of sound fx might get you extra credit. These will be presented as audio plays after all. And we have a foley guy. Make us use him.

PLAYWRIGHT PRIZE

Each playwright selected will receive $50 and will have their script published by Ghost Light Publications in the Stage Frights 2025 anthology. You can see last year's anthology of previous winners here - (https://ghostlightpubs.com/products/stage-frights-vol-1-a-collection-of-short-horror-plays).

Theatre Now Soundbites festival seeks 10-minute musicals

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

​

Theatre Now defines a 10-minute musical as any piece that can be performed in 10 minutes or less; has a beginning, middle, and end story arc; and includes music. Having produced over 100 pieces, we want musicals that are diverse and current, that test the musical form and communicate a well-crafted story. We accept musicals across all styles and genres and are happy to consider foreign language and/or bilingual scripts. 

We strongly encourage submissions from female, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers as well as writers with disabilities.

​​

Please review the following criteria thoroughly before sending your submission:

• Ten-minute musicals will be accepted from July 1st, 2025 - December 1st, 2025 at midnight.
• Submissions will not be considered before July 1st or after the deadline.
• Musical theatre writers can submit no more than two scripts during the current submission period.
• The story must have a beginning, middle, and end.
• We accept submissions in foreign languages or that are bilingual. Although the application process is in English, the work itself may be submitted and performed in any other language if selected.
• Each piece must include music.
• All submissions must be submitted via the submission form. No physical copies.
• Each musical must not exceed ten minutes when performed. If accepted, cuts may be required.
• Longer one-acts or full-length musicals will not be considered, although the submission may be a 10-minute portion of a longer piece as long as it tells a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end story arc.
• A musical may be a previously-produced work with a production history.
• We have no formal script formatting guidelines, but all scripts should be easy to read.
• The volume of submissions prevents us from providing feedback on all submissions.
• If your piece is visual (i.e. choreography-heavy), please include video footage or detailed descriptions. 

We expect to contact all writers by mid-February, 2026 on the status of their submission with one of the following emails:

 

An acceptance email into the festival that will include additional information to confirm their involvement. 

A waitlist email. In the event an accepted musical declines their participation, a selected waitlisted musical will be notified to serve as a replacement.

The remaining musicals will receive a "not selected" email and are encouraged to submit again next year.

 

*All criteria is subject to change*

Now You're Talking 2025 Special Holiday Edition ONE-ACTS

Website

Deadline: July 10, 2025 

We are seeking one-act play submissions for our next NYT Special Holiday Edition One-Acts happening in November of 2025. If you have a holiday one-act (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) that you would like to submit, please email: silentechotheatercompany@gmail.com. 

We are giving preference to plays that have not yet been performed in Oregon and are between 10-20 minutes long.

Community Players Theater - Page to Stage 2025

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2025

Please note new deadline
Deadline: August 31, 2025

Page to Stage: An Original Staged Reading is an opportunity for playwrights to submit their work to be performed through Community Players Theatre (Bloomington IL.) To those wishing to submit their work, please make sure it follows this criteria:

• The script must be unpublished
• It is fine if the script has gone through workshops or readings
• No more than 2 locations within the script
• Cast size 2-6
• Can feature a child but the majority of the cast must be adults
• Few adjustments will be allowed once the script has been submitted
• PDF or Word Doc formatting
• No musicals
• A playwright is not limited on how many they can submit
• This process is for the benefit of audiences to hear new plays and new playwrights

Please submit all scripts to Ashleigh Rae-Lynn (playreading@communityplayers.org)

Whole Picture Films and Brooklyn Bathhouse present a monthly live script reading event

Website

Deadline: none given

Fill out the form and participate as an actor/performer OR writer in this event:

https://forms.gle/GXtLPBMu7GHqsyNv8

Whole Picture Films and Brooklyn Bathhouse present a monthly live script reading event on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for filmmakers, actors, and playwrights. Have your script read by actors for a live audience! A networking reception follows the reading. This free event gives writers a platform to present work, receive feedback, and meet actors and colleagues in the industry.

How it works:

1.Script writers must apply online with a 5-12 minute scene/excerpt that they wish to have read at the event. All stages of development from works- in-progress to completed scripts are all welcome.

2. Actors will apply online with a headshot/resume to be cast in one of the scripts.

3. Selected actors and scripts will be notified no later than 1 week prior to the event. Actors who confirm and commit will be sent the script for their role in advance.

4. At the event, scriptwriters and actors will be given 20 minutes to rehearse the scene as a group before the live reading starts.

5. Showtime! Each scene will be introduced to the audience by our MC so that our audience understands the log line, concept, and context for the scene. Then your script will be read/performed by the actors.

6. Networking and socializing will follow. Drinks and concession will be available for purchase.

DATE/TIME/LOCATION

The Whole Picture Theatre at Brooklyn Bathhouse
731 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY

The 2nd Wednesday of Every month 6pm-9pm

6pm-6:20pm rehearsal

6:30pm doors open for audience

7pm-8pm performance

8pm-9pm networking hour

The A Chronicles: A Ten-Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: July 25, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

The A Chronicles invites submissions of ten-minute plays that take a wide-angle lens to reproductive rights.

We’re looking for work that ignites the stage—whether triumphant, tragic, or comedic—and illuminates the diversity of experiences surrounding reproductive rights.

Submission Guidelines

• Plays should feature 2 to 5 characters
• Must be performable in 10 minutes or less
• All are welcome to submit
• Previously published or produced work is accepted, as long as the playwright retains submission rights
• Include a 50-word synopsis with your submission

We’re interested in:

• Originality of plot
• Strong character development
• Engaging, authentic dialogue

Selected plays will receive:

• A $50 honorarium per production
• Billing credit in all programs, advertising, and publicity
• A professional staged reading at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Connecticut (Fall 2025)
• Playwright bio and contact info featured in the program

For more information, visit www.AChronicles.org or email Jennifer.Bangser@gmail.com or achronicles@gmail.com

The Dramatic Question - American Woman 2025-26

Website

Deadline: September 2, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

American Woman (AW) is a solo show development and public engagement program for Female-identifying writers living in the United States.

AW is conducted online and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format to advance each matriculant’s vision of their solo show.

Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the AW experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in AW are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for AW, you must be Female-identifying, have an early draft of a solo piece, and submit the required materials by the deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their solo pieces, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statements, resumes, etc.).

American Woman will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks 12:00-2:30pm EST, Sundays, October 12 - November 30.

DQT is proud to announce this season's PT instructor will once again be Raquel Almazan.

Like all our programs, American Woman is free of charge.

M. T. Pockets Theatre open for season submissions

 Website

Deadline: September 30, 2025 11:59 PM

Submit on the online form

Submissions are open for our 2026 season. 

We will continue taking submissions after this date for our 2027 season. 

Up to 4 selections will be made from the submissions, and authors will be notified by email on November 15, 2025. Announcement of the 2026 season will be made on Dec. 2, 2025 - the National Day of Giving.

Mission

To enhance the theatre community in Morgantown, West Virginia and surrounding regions by presenting live performances of classic, contemporary and new works that promote women and minorities in the arts; provide a venue for alternative theatre that addresses contemporary and sensitive issues through performance; provide a venue for new works and support the work of emerging playwrights and artists without bias; provide theatre accessible to those whom otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience live theatre due to physical, financial or geographical limitations.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowship 2025

Website

Deadline: September 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION

Applicants may apply as individuals or in groups of two people working on the same project. We seek diversity across discipline, career stage, race and ethnicity, country of origin, gender and sexual orientation, and ideological perspective. Although our fellows come from many different backgrounds, they are united by their demonstrated excellence, collegiality, and creativity.
About the Fellowship Program

The Radcliffe Fellowship Program supports 50 scholars, artists, and public intellectuals who have demonstrated records of achievement in their respective fields and show great promise for future contributions.

Throughout the year, fellows convene regularly to share their work in progress, supporting one another in various intellectual groups and building connections through social events. They benefit from access to Harvard’s libraries and archives, to professional development opportunities, and to Harvard college students through participating in the Radcliffe Research Partnership Program. In this program, students intellectually engage with fellows and their projects by researching sources, reviewing book chapters, discussing new approaches to projects, and more.

Lost Lake Folk Opera is open for short play submissions

Website

Deadline: August 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

We are accepting submissions of short stories, short plays, poetry and opinion essays for the Fall 2025 issue of Lost Lake Folk Opera from April 1-August 1, 2025. 

Lost Lake Folk Opera is proud to announce that Submissions are Open for its fifteenth issue, Volume 10, with the special theme, United We Write. LLFO v10 will feature a guest editorial team led by Joshua Davies serving as Managing editor. 

LLFO will feature poetry, fiction, short plays and essays responding to the socio-economic and political realities in the United States, writing that identifies political crises, societal grief, economic shocks, social injustice. We are not looking for political writing per se, but rather literary art that address the struggle we individuals face collectively to maintain a grip on reality and a firm foothold safe from the sinkholes, ruptures, and buried ordnance littering the landscape of our lives. 

Suffering is endemic to human existence. It is shaped by the times, by race and culture, by politics, war, economics—and by each person’s experience. The ancient Hebrew concept of Tikkun Olam captures this reality: that this world is made by brokenness, by disconnections. Or the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is soldered back together with gold – not to disguise the breakage, but to illuminate it. To witness the sacredness each being carries, to honor the interconnection in life, and art, and one’s conduct is to aid in mending of the world. With this in mind, please submit up to five poems or maximum 2500 words of fiction, essay or short play. Rough maximum of ten pages. Submissions deadline is August 1, 2025.

Line by line, word by word, at Lost Lake Folk Opera, we aim to stitch each broken seam together. Voice by voice and ear by ear, we seek to honor all that’s most precious in each other. In our own small way to work towards repair and healing, in community: United, We Write.

ASF Translation Award 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

The American-Scandinavian Foundation annually awards four translation prizes for outstanding translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose written by a 20th or 21st-century Nordic author.

The Nadia Christensen Prize, which recognizes an outstanding translation of a literary text from a Nordic language into English and includes a $2,500 award, publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review, and a commemorative bronze medallion.

• The prizes are for outstanding English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in a Nordic language.
• Translations must be from the writing of one author, although not necessarily from a single work.
• The online application will require the following materials:
• Your CV
• A brief description of the author whose work you are translating and the significance of the original work
• One copy of the translation, including a title page and a table of contents for the proposed book of which the submitted manuscript is a part. If prose, manuscripts must be 25-50 pages, double-spaced; if poetry, 15-25 pages. *Note: Manuscripts must have numbered pages, and the translator’s name should not appear on any page of the translation manuscript. Submissions containing the translator’s name will be disqualified
• A letter or other document signed by the author, the author’s agent, or the author’s estate granting permission for the translation to be entered in this competition and published in Scandinavian Review

Getchell New Play Award 2025

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

Dedicated to the discovery, development and publicizing of worthy new plays and playwrights.

NOTE: some of their online documentation might still say submissions are only open to SETC members, but that is no longer correct.

The awardee receives:

• $1,000 honorarium
• Certificate at Recognition
• Acknowledgement at the Saturday evening Gala
• Staged Play Reading at the annual SETC Convention
• Travel and hotel accommodations.
• Acknowledgement in an SETC publication

The Charles M. Getchell New Play Contest considers only plays that meet the following requirements:

1. Submitted work must be by one playwright only. No collaborations or adaptations will be considered.

Submitting a jointly written play under the name of only one author, or a play that was developed in

collaboration with other artists such as a collaboratively produced devised work, adaptation of

another writer's work, or in conjunction with librettists and/or composers will not be considered.

2. Submitted work must be either a full-length play or thematically related one acts which constitute a

full-length play when performed together. No musicals or children's plays will be considered.

3. Plays must be unproduced (no professional productions) and unpublished. Readings and workshops

are acceptable. Any play which has had more than one consecutive performance by a non-college or

university theatre which charged admission and/or had a review will not be considered.

4. Plays submitted in prior years may not be resubmitted.

Submission Guidelines

1. Only one play submission is allowed per playwright.

2. Plays must be submitted via our online application in Microsoft Word or PDF format under the

following guidelines:

• Scripts should be in a standard format, such as Dramatists Guild Modern Stage Play.
• Text should be in 12 pt type and in a standard font such as Times New Roman.
• Script must include page numbers at the bottom of each page.
• The author's name MUST NOT appear anywhere in the script.
• DO NOT include resumes, playwright biographies or a history of the play.

Winning Playwright:

1. The winner, selected by a panel of readers, will be announced in November of each year.

2. The playwright will retain all copyright to the submitted material.

3. The playwright will be expected to attend the SETC convention (Chattanooga, Tennessee March 3–7, 2026) at the expense of SETC, attend the response session, and receive the cash award at the annual banquet.

4. The winning play will be considered for publication online via the SETC website*. Promotional

information will be published in an issue of Southern Theatre magazine, including:

• Profile of the playwright/winner
• Short abstract of the play
• A powerful “snippet” from the play to gather attention and interest
• A sidebar noting that the whole play can found on the SETC website, with a link to the play.

*Posting the play online would be upon agreement with the author and would include a disclaimer about not using it for production.

Molecule open for submissions for its Fall 2025 issue

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Molecule accepts submissions of poetry, prose (fiction & non-fiction) plays, reviews and interviews in 50 words or less (including titles and interview questions). Visual artwork of tiny things like tea bags and toothpicks, or tiny paintings, also wanted: no skyscrapers please!

We have a strict word count. Don’t try and trick us we have tiny minds. All submissions should be previously unpublished work.

Send submissions via submittable, along with a 3rd person bio of no more than 24 words (including name). Please send no more than 5 pieces.

24 words or less for a whole bio, seems random, where did you come up with that?

There are 24 atoms in a molecule of caffeine. What more do you want from us?

We are open for submissions for our spring issues from December 1 to January 15. Replies will be sent by February 15. Please do not query before February 15. Fall submissions are open June 1 to July 15, replies by August 15.

If your work is accepted we ask for first rights (to publish in our print and online issue) and non-exclusive electronic and archival rights (so we can keep using it). All rights revert to the author upon publication.

There is no fee to submit your work to Molecule, and the magazine is always available for free to download or view to contributors and the public. There is an optional tip jar submission, to help us offset our costs. Whether or not a contributor makes a tip does not factor into our decision process. Recently, we have launched a print issue available for purchase online. We are not able to provide free print copies to contributors. 

Masque and Spectacle seeks short plays for its September 2025 issue

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2025

Send drama submissions to masqueandspectacle@gmail.com. Attach written submissions in a single Word doc or docx file, and include the word “DRAMA” in the email subject line.

Masque & Spectacle reads submissions for its bi-annual issues November 1 – January 31 and May 1 – July 31. Submissions received outside of this time period will be automatically deleted. Responses can be expected within a month. Acceptance rate is around 10%. Submissions not titled/tagged or formatted or properly under the Submissions Guidelines will not be considered for publication. We only consider one submission per author/format during any given reading period.

The theme for our September Issue is magic.

We do not accept previously published work, and we ask for First Electronic Rights and Non-Exclusive Archival Rights upon acceptance. Unfortunately, we are unable to pay contributors at this time.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Additionally, we do not typically publish the same authors in back-to-back issues.

For any queries, please contact us at masqueandspectacle@gmail.com.

Drama

We welcome 10-minute plays (up to approximately 10 pages in length). No full-length plays will be considered at this time. Shorter plays are also welcome.

While traditional plays are welcome, we are particularly interested in innovative and/or interdisciplinary texts that break new ground, either in relation to their subject matter, or in how the text itself is performed/written/represented on stage.

Playwrights may submit one previously unpublished 10-minute play for consideration. The script should be accompanied by a cover letter, which includes your name, address, phone number, and email address. Proper playwriting format should be used. If you are uncertain about this format, several examples can be found online.

2025 Fifteen Minutes of Frame Play Submission

Website

Deadline: July 14, 2025 at 9AM (extended from July 7)

SUBMISSION FORM

option to send via email: lucky@luckyslightinginc.com

15 Minutes of Frame 2025 is seeking 15-minute plays to enter our competition. This is a highly competitive Festival, the audience votes for the winner,  so we are looking for playwrights in the TriState area. 

Please submit your 15-minute play or scene (maximum of 5 actors) to be considered.

7 short plays will be selected to compete.

The competition takes place over 3 nights: August 21, 22, and 23 at 7 PM.

Dark comedy, drama, dance, musicals, and operas are accepted.

Submit a PDF including:

• Playwright’s name
• Email
• Mobile-phone number
• Zip code
• Title of play
• Character list
• A one-paragraph description of the scene and set
• Numbered pages

Winner wins a full two week production. Winner is announced August 23rd and moves on to develop their 15-minute short play into a full production to be presented and produced by Lucky’s Lighting Inc and 24 Bond Arts Center at the Gene Frankel Theatre. 

This is our 3rd year of 15 Minutes of Frame, a playwrights’ competition held in August at the Gene Frankel Theatre. There is a gala party to celebrate our contestants and winner. 

If there is a restriction on plays that have previously been produced and/or published - never produced. This competition is to develop a short play to be premiered. 

Winning play is fully produced by Lucky’s Lighting Inc

Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2025

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2025

Sundog Theatre in NYC is seeking one-act plays for “Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2025”

This is Sundog Theatre’s 24th presentation of
new and original, one-act plays about our favorite boats.
This year’s theme: It’s About Time!

Plays can be comedies or dramas. However, humor is always appreciated.

-Original plays not previously produced or published, with a signed note affirming that.

-10-25 minutes in length and set on the Staten Island Ferry.

-Set in a contemporary time period. Strong priority will be given to plays with 2 characters, however, 3-character plays will be considered. No special set pieces other than benches or railings found on the Ferry, as well as limited and easily accessible props/costumes, and no unusual sound or lighting effects.

-Avoid overt and unnecessary sexual/violence situations and language since we cater to a broad audience.

-No musicals, long monologues, poetry, rants or verse

–Theme: It’s About Time!

Some ideas for the theme are: time travel; lost time you can’t get back; something dreadful looms in your future and time is racing by; you’re looking forward to a special event and time slows to a crawl; or…?

Submission Guidelines:

Please send two hard copies, bound or stapled, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and all contact information) with page numbers and the name of the play on each page to:

Sundog Theatre, “Scenes 2025” PO Box 10183, Staten Island, NY 10301.

-Submissions should include a brief play synopsis (2-3 sentences at most), a 70-word bio, and a full resume of the writer.

–DEADLINE: Must be postmarked from now through September 15, 2025.

-We are not accepting plays electronically. Reasons: hard copies are easier to pass around/make notes on; protects your work; can’t get lost in email chains; and…easier on reading eyes. We will let you know by email that we have received it.

-NO SUBMISSION FEE

-Questions: info@sundogtheatre.org/Susan Fenley, Producer.

6 plays are chosen by a reading team; writers each receive $200 and plays are produced in five November 2025 performances in Staten Island, NY. Plays are cast in NYC, rehearsed, and performed on stage.

Playwrights of selected plays will be contacted in September and their names/play titles listed on Sundog’s website in Fall 2025.