Deadline: September 1, 2025
American Bard Theater Company is opening its second Playwright Invitational.
We are seeking full length plays for consideration for our Corner Stone Reading Series. These readings will be free and open to the public, with required reservations.
This invitational will focus on works by female and female-presenting playwrights.
We are accepting the first 100 submissions between August 1 – September 1, 2025.
SUBMISSION RULES:
· One electronic submission of a single full-length play per playwright, written in English.
· Play must not have been previously produced as a fully staged production.
· No joint authorships, adaptations, translations, children’s plays or musicals.
· Maximum of 8 actors, regardless of number of characters in the play.
· All characters must be performed by adult actors (18 years or older).
· 75 - 90 minutes running time with NO intermission.
· At least one lead role must be for a woman, age 50 – 60.
· Plays written by female and female-identifying playwrights.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
In one email, please attach your playscript in PDF format. Email Subject Title: Submission-Playwrights Name, PLAY TITLE IN ALL CAPS, (Example: Submission-Shakespeare, TWELFTH NIGHT)
Submission should follow standard playwrighting convention and include a cover page (with title & author’s name center page, contact information on the lower right corner), a Cast of Character list & breakdown, Scene and Time descriptions below the character list, main text pages numbered in the upper right hand corner, and have 1 inch margins for the top, bottom and right side with 1½ inch margin on the left. Font: Courier 12 point.
Simultaneous submissions accepted, but please withdraw if accepted elsewhere.
Please name your file like this:
Your Last name TITLE OF PLAY.pdf (Example: Shakespeare TWELFTH NIGHT.pdf)
Note: The TITLE of the play is in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
Please send to: americanbardco@gmail.com
Plays selected for the Finalist Round will be notified by email by October, 2025.
Thank you - we look forward to getting to know you and your work!
NOTE: This programming was started in 2015 as an opportunity to connect with our alumni artists a, meet new talent, and invite our audience into the incubation process of a potential fully staged production for American Bard.