some scripts issue 6: nostalgia open for one-act plays

Website

Deadline: October 15, 2025

Or until they have received 150 submissions

Submission form

Submissions for some scripts issue 6: nostalgia are open now until 10/15/25 or until 150 submissions, whichever comes first. As always, submissions are free for everyone! 

"nostalgia" means a lot... literally. I want to read scripts about aestheticizing Y2K, of cringe millennial culture, of looking back through time, of characters having a moment of self-reflection to see how far (or not) they've come. Give me your nerdiest shit, your grief, your weirdness. Stuff that can never be staged and stuff that has been staged. Plays about memes and emojis and the internet of old. Discord and radio and Zoom plays welcome. I want to see all facets of nostalgia at play and creativity in terms of technology use. 

Accepted pieces will be published in an ebook and POD (print-on-demand) physical book. All accepted contributors will receive a token $10 payment; unfortunately, some scripts does not have the funds to pay more even though your work absolutely deserves it. <3

GUIDELINES:

Scripts can be no longer than 45 pages (one-act). 

Essays and theatre reviews can be no longer than 1500 words. 

Absolutely nothing racist, sexist, homo/transphobic, fascist, imperialist, anti-vax, etc. Get that shit out of here. You can, however, engage with these as themes in your work; if you glorify them, your submission will be rejected on sight. 

Any genre is fair game. Sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, utopian, realism, etc. 

Premiere Stages seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: November 1, 2025 11:59 PM

Submissions sent early in the submission window are strongly encouraged.

All plays must be submitted as a PDF via Submittable at premierestagesatkean.submittable.com/submit. Hard copies will not be accepted.

Premiere Stages will accept submissions of unproduced plays written by playwrights affiliated with the greater metropolitan area from September 1, 2025, through November 1, 2025. 

All plays submitted to the festival are evaluated by a panel of professional theatre producers, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, and publishers. Four finalists are subsequently selected for public Equity readings in Spring of 2026.

Following the Spring readings, one play is selected for an Equity production in the Premiere Stages 2027 season and receives an award of $4000. Another finalist receives a 29-hour staged reading and $1500. The other finalists will each be awarded $1000.

Submission guidelines can be found at https://premierestagesatkean.com/play-festival/guidelines/

• Plays must be full-length and have a cast size of no more than eight.
• Plays must be unpublished and unproduced (readings and workshops are okay), with no productions and/or publication currently scheduled through September 2027.
• Playwrights must have strong affiliations with the greater metropolitan area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware). 
• Musicals, adaptations (of existing plays or other sources), and solo shows are not eligible.
• Submissions are limited to one script per playwright.
• Please contact Premiere Stages to inquire about submitting a script that has been previously submitted. Generally we only accept re-submissions if the play has undergone significant revisions. 
• Playwrights must be available for the development of their script (see the 2026 schedule table on our website).
• Names and contact information are welcome on cover pages of scripts

NO AGENT? NO PROBLEM! Premiere Stages now accepts full manuscripts from all submitters. 

Submissions must include:

• Brief synopsis of the play (no more than half a page)
• History of the play’s development (or statement that it has none)
• The playwright’s bio or resume
• Members of the Premiere Stages literary team will read at least 10 pages of every play submitted and will decide if the play should be further considered by the Play Festival Panel.

All playwrights will be notified by e-mail OR Submittable message of their status by June of 2026.

Playwright and script doctor Sarah Congress is offering writing coaching

Whether you are a producer with a screenplay that needs reworking, a fiction writer in need of inspiration, a new playwright, or an organization in need of commercial writing, Sarah is here to help. 

Visit Sarah's website or send her an email (sarah.congress@gmail.com) to learn more.

Script Services:

• Help clients get “out of their own way” and fully realize their work and writing potential
• Offer rewrite suggestions 
• Punch up jokes and humor
• Improve confidence 
• Fine-tune material to hook a reader’s interest
• Assist in finding submission and publication opportunities as needed

Bio

Sarah Congress is a playwright and script doctor. Her play "Last Sunrise" was produced by Nylon Fusion for their Gilded Age/Cage Festival at TADA Theatre (June, 2025). "Last Sunrise" was presented with writers John Patrick Shanley, Lyle Kessler, and Migdalia Cruz. Sarah’s play “Delulu” was a semifinalist for Centre Stage's 23rd Annual New Play Festival (1 of 40 plays from 800 submissions). "Delulu" will be read at the Episcopal Actors' Guild this October. She co-wrote the screenplay "I Can't Hear You!" which won BEST COMEDY in the 2024 Jersey Shore Film Festival. Her play “Overdose” won 2nd place for BEST SHORT in the 2023 Downtown Urban Arts Festival at Playwrights Horizons.

Teaching Experience

Sarah has taught writing classes for the Hoboken Historical Museum, Project Write Now, The Knowledge Project, RTA and the Hudson Valley Writers Center - as well as private teaching.

Testimonials

"Writer's block is real! Sarah helped me get out of my own way. Through our relaxing conversations and visualization exercises, I was able to get out of my head. She's extremely positive and encouraging. We collaborated on my film script. She provided concise feedback and was able to punch up my script with her humor and poise, and bring it to the next level. As a result, my short film has been selected as a finalist in a film festival! I'm so grateful for Sarah's help. You can't go wrong trusting in Sarah!"

--- Caryn Whitman, CPA, CEO & President of Vasana Ventures

"I had a breakthrough in my playwriting after working with Sarah. Her coaching made me realize I had the bad habit of undermining the power of my words.. I saw that after she pointed out one line in my play BIG FAT BABY IN HIS MOTHER'S ARMS which I went on to rewrite immediately and submitted for a serious Playwrights Fellowship. Just yesterday I heard from the UCROSS Foundation that I am the Alternate Fellow in the event one of the winners cannot attend in Spring 2025. I am honored to be acknowledged for the Fellowship and thank Sarah for her important coaching. Sarah will have you grow as a playwright/screenwriter in front of her eyes."

--- Tino Juarez, Playwright

"My biggest takeaway from last night is that anything can be made funny. That really dovetails beautifully with my deep gratitude for a healthy sense of humor, even in the darkest moments…."

--- Gay Norton Edelman, Author/Editor

Prologue Theatre seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

Prologue Theatre will be selecting up to three (3) new plays to be workshopped in person, at our Arlington, VA rehearsal space, in February and March 2026. 

Scripts will be reviewed by a team of readers and the playwrights selected for the workshop will be contacted in December 2025.

We employ a blind initial review process to avoid unintentional bias on the part of our team of readers. 

Scripts that move into the semi-final round will be reviewed by the team who will have access to all information regarding the submitted play.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

• Each selected play will be workshopped for two weeks in February/March of 2026 (pursuant to team availability).
• The workshop team will consist of a Director and Performers who will also be paid for their participation.
• Selected playwrights will receive a stipend of $2000 for the entire workshop process.
• Non-local playwrights are encouraged to apply. Housing and travel not provided.
• At the end of the workshop period, selected works will have two (2) public readings and may be considered for a full production with Prologue Theatre.

PLAY SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Playwright must be 18+ years of age and be currently authorized to work in the United States.
• The play must be the playwright’s original work.
• Must be a previously unproduced work. (Workshops or readings do not count as productions. However, any staging by a theatre [including non-Equity, regional, or community theatre] where actors are off-book and admission is charged does count as a production.)
• Must fit one of the following thematic categories: Geography; Entertainment; History; Arts & Literature; Science & Nature; Sports & Leisure.
• Must be a full length play and should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes) - No musicals.
• Must be able to be read with a maximum of 6 performers. (Doubling is permitted, provided performer tracks are submitted with the script’s cast list.)
• Only one (1) script per playwright may be submitted for consideration.

To submit your play for consideration, you will be prompted to enter:

• Your contact information
• Play title and a brief synopsis (max 100 words)
• Any workshop or reading history of your piece 
• Number of performers required & number of roles in your play
• If there are more roles than performers, you will need to enter the roles played by each track (e.g. Nancy/Clerk; David/Barista/Trainer)
• A short bio/something about yourself (max 150 words)
• An artist statement reflecting on your goals for the workshop and how your play reflects one of the prescribed themes (max 150 words)

You will upload a PDF version of your script in the submission formPlease do not indicate the name of the playwright on any page - including the title page.
Please make sure the PDF includes page numbers.

The Fine Print
Submissions are limited to one script per playwright. Once a script has been submitted and enters the review process, we are not able to accept revisions. Revisions to the final scripts are welcome as part of the development process. Please note that Prologue Theatre does not provide feedback on unselected scripts.

If you have any other questions, please contact Daniel Niewoehner (He/They) at DanielNie@prologuetheatre.org.

Eclectic Full Contact Theater Company 5th Annual Patchwork Play Festival

Website

Deadline: October 31, 2025

Email submissions to: Patchworkplayfest@gmail.com

The 5th Annual Patchwork Play Festival
A One-Act New Play Festival

To be presented at The Edge Theater, 5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL.
Feb. 20, 2026 - March 1, 2026

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

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: Hope
• Play must be received by October 31, 2025
• Playwrights cannot submit more than 2 scripts per year for Patchwork. 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 Patchwork 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.
• We are not accepting musicals at this time.

THINK FAST A virtual short play competition

Website

Deadline: November 17, 2025

At The Theater Project’s annual virtual one-act play competition, 7 to 10 short plays are selected for 3 pre-recorded broadcast performances. The goal is to give emerging writers in NJ and beyond the chance to platform their work!

After each broadcast, the audience will vote for their favorite play. After the final performance, judges will award Best Play, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Audience Favorite (Play) certificates.

The $500 Grand Prize is given to the playwright selected by the judges at the final performance.

• Email your script to OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org with the required acknowledgement (below) between October 1, 2025, and November 17, 2025.
• One entry per writer ONLY.
• Online submissions only.
• No submission fee required.
• You MUST include the following acknowledgement in the body of your email: “If my play is accepted and I choose to take part in the festival, I understand that I will be responsible for the casting and rehearsal of my play and that I will be charged a $100 participation fee.”

Questions? Email OneActFest@TheTheaterProject.org.

Submission Requirements

Dramas and comedies accepted.
Maximum 15 minutes running time. Plays that exceed 15 minutes will not be considered.

Zoom Performances

Live talkbacks with playwrights follow the evening performances
All ticket buyers vote electronically for Audience Favorite Play at the conclusion of each performance and receive links to all talkbacks and the awards announcement.
Nominations and winners for Best Actor, Actress, and Director, Audience Favorite (Play), and Judges' $500 Prize are announced post-show Sunday afternoon at our virtual cocktail party (BYOB ;D)


How It Works

If your play is selected, ​​​The Theater Project will supply a stage manager/technical director to oversee the Zoom recording process.
Individual playwrights supply the actors and directors and make their own agreements regarding actor and director compensation.
Production Fee: $100. Participating playwrights (finalists) will be charged a $100 fee to cover the $500 prize as well as the cost of hiring the stage manager/technical director.
Playwrights invited to participate must have plays that are ready to perform and supply their own actors and directors who are recorded via Zoom by The Theater Project.

Why a production fee?

The Theater Project does not charge a submission fee for its THINK FAST festival. We do, however, charge a $100 production fee to help cover the cost of the $500 prize as well as the hiring of a stage manager/technical director to work with the productions on their technical needs, supervise a rehearsal, and record the final performance on TTP’s Zoom platform.

While we’d rather not charge a fee, we would be unable to offer this showcase without help from participating playwrights. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

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.