Anaconda Ensemble Theatre Groundwork Reading Series. NEW Play Submissions (2026 - 2027 Season)

Facebook Page

Deadline: March 2, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Formerly titled the Community Reading Series, series is a professional but community-based project, with affordable tickets and the shows will be performed in locations where "theatre typically isn't" such as coffee shops, hotels, bed and breakfasts, bars/breweries, shops, restaurants, cafes, and more! Past series were held at the Hickory House Inn, Coffee Corral, the Washoe Theater Lobby, the Copper Village Museum and Art Center gallery space, The Bighorn Bottle Shop and Wine Bar, Sweet Pea Bridal, Gunslinger Gulch, Copperhead Lodge, Forgotten Times Barbershop, Discover Anaconda Visitors Center, Anaconda Yoga, Pintler’s Portal Hostel and The Revolver Bar (upcoming).

We aim at actually or thematically fitting all he plays into the locations they are playing and are interested in plays that are at a place in their journey that requires a financial investment for forward movement of the piece. AET pays all of their collaborators, so we are seeking pieces that are ready for that step; fully formed ideas that can benefit from a workshop experience.

** if you are submitting more than one piece, please submit them on separate forms**

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for NEW plays that have never had a fully staged production, but they can have had table reads or staged readings. The plays will hopefully, but don't necessarily have to, fit into our location or categories listed here:

1) The Montana Hotel (Anaconda Restoration Association to perform June 2026) the location is an old hotel that was owned by Marcus Daly at the center of town. We have one play already for this location, written by a Butte writer, but other possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: the past, Montana history, Montana hotels, local engagement/local development, investing in your community etc. Note: One play has already been selected for this location because of previous collaborations. We are only looking for ONE piece for this location.

2) The Metcalf Senior Center (to perform August/September 2026): this location is our LOCAL Senior Center.Possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: community service, volunteering, senior centers, looking back at the past, thriving at a certain age, etc.

3) Everett Cook Law (to perform November 2026): this location is a locally owned and operated law firm. Possible themes include: lawyers, lawmaking, trials, legal mishaps, etc.

4) The Northern Hall Taproom (to perform between January - February or April 2026): this location is a locally owned and operated bar. Possible themes/types of theatre include, but are not limited to: a night at the bar, first dates, chance meetings, etc. Note: One play has already been selected for this location because of previous collaborations. We are only looking for ONE piece for this location.

WHO CAN SUBMIT**
We are looking for plays written by writers from anywhere! However, as always, strongest consideration given to writers from Montana, an then to those in the Pacific Northwest and the Mountain West area.

ABOUT YOUR PIECE
- Plays that are written (we are NOT taking outlines or partially written pieces. Plays can be first draft and ready to edit, however.)

**Note: we are looking for plays excited to be workshopped. We do NOT typically produce plays for this that have been fully produced**

- Plays that are between 20 mins and 75 mins (roughly max 60 pages) (NOTE: We cannot take pieces longer than 60 mins for Northern Hall Taproom or The Montana) A good note: we are trying to create nights of contrasting pieces. We rarely do longer plays - so caution when submitting things that are too long or too short.

- Plays must only engage 1 to 4 actors plus an actor to read stage directors (doubling of characters is encouraged!!) Note: We often get asked why we put a number on this. We want to engage as many spaces as possible, and larger casts make that impossible! Additionally, AET needs to raise funds for these pieces, are we are budgeting based on that 4 person per play model.

- Actors can be anywhere from ages 7 and up - but we will not accept any full youth shows or children's theatre pieces (but use of a young artist in a piece or TYA encouraged!)

- Plays that are looking for feedback to get to the next step in their theatrical journey - AET collects feedback and you will receive that feedback in 1 to 2 weeks post performance.

- Note: While we are wanting pieces that are open to adjustment and workshopping, we can no take plays that aim to get significantly longer during the process. We select pieces based on the length presented.

WHAT WE OFFER
$100 for the rights for one performance plus a $50 travel/food stipend if you choose to come to the performance, if you are local. If you are local, you will also get two comp tickets to your performance. While AET does house locally, we reserve that mostly for our actors and directors. In a rare occasion will we be able to house a writer, so please do NOT count on this.

During the process, you have the opportunity to be as hands on as you wish to be! Also, feedback from your performance to use for future drafts.

Note: While we aim to be as accommodating as possible, we cannot film pieces to be viewed later. At times we have been able to Zoom writers into final performances, but we cannot guarantee this, it all depends on the technical capabilities of the spaces we are in.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW

Application Deadline by March 2nd, 2026

Selections made by and offered by March 30th, 2026 - you will have 1 week to make a decision

Have questions? Shoot an email to jackie@anacondaensembletheatre.com!