Deadline: April 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Passage Theatre is holding a WORD ON FRONT 250 Solo Performance contest. A “Solo Performance” means a one-person show, written and performed by YOU. Give us your uniquely Trenton American Story. What does it mean to be YOU? What does it mean to be an American, a New Jerseyan, a Trentonian, or from whatever patch of land you call home. Show us your untold America.Playwright/Performers must be local to travel to Trenton, NJ (a direct train ride from New York City) at their own expense and self-produce their one-person show.
Seeking submissions of one-person shows to run between 30-60 minutes.
The top 5 plays will be selected to premiere at Passage Theatre’s WORD ON FRONT 250 festival on the following dates:
Saturday, June 27th
Thursday, July 2nd
Friday, July 10th
A “Solo Performance” means a one-person show, written and performed by you. Give us your uniquely Trenton American Story. What does it mean to be YOU? What does it mean to be an American, a New Jerseyan, a Trentonian, or from whatever patch of land you call home. Show us your untold America.
The top 5 plays will be selected to premiere at Passage Theatre’s WORD ON FRONT 250 festival on the following dates:
The top 5 plays will be selected to premiere at Passage Theatre’s WORD ON FRONT 250 festival on the following dates:
- Saturday, June 27th
- Thursday, July 2nd
- Friday, July 10th
Plays will be adjudicated by a panel of judges selected from Passage Staff and
the Trenton Community.
- All submissions must include a complete fully-finished script. Passage Theatre will NOT make any edits to your script before winners are announced, it must be ready for performance at the time of submission.
- Scripts should adhere to standard playwriting format: 12-point Courier New font, 1-inch margins, and 1.5-inch left margin. Key elements include centered, all-caps Scene Headings, indented and italicized Stage Directions, and centered character names above dialogue. The script is single-spaced with double-spacing between speakers. Here is an example of a properly formatted page.
- Scripts must be 30-70 pages in length. Scripts that are under 30 pages or over 70 pages will be disqualified. Your final performance should be roughly 60 minutes or less.
- Filmed clips of your performance work in addition to your script is strongly preferred.
- The script must be of your own authorship, it is preferred that the performer and author are the same person. If you choose to use a different performer than yourself you are accepting full responsibility and guidance over that performer. If you do not have a performer and are unwilling to perform yourself, your script will be disqualified.
- Passage Theatre will not be responsible for the direction of your script. If a director is needed, you must provide them. Passage Staff may give minor directorial consultation during rehearsals, upon request of the performer.
- Performances selected will occur during late June and early July 2026. Passage Theatre will provide your technical sound and lighting elements. Technical rider must be attached:
- In a separate document explain your TECH: Lights, Sound, Costumes,
- Props, and Set. Passage will facilitate and produce your technical elements to the best of our ability. The author/performer must have these elements designed and guide the creative vision.
- The author/performer must provide props and costumes.
- No firearms of any kind, including props, can be included in these performances.
- Video projection must be limited to 10 minutes or less throughout the entire script.
- Passage Theatre will not be constructing any full scenery pieces beyond the WORD ON FRONT tableau.