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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The Boost Commission 2026

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Deadline: April 13, 2026
or until 150 applications are received

SUBMISSION FORM  you will have to create a free account at  Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

The Boost - submissions for the second cycle are now open.

An eligible applicant for The Boost is a woman, trans, and/or non-binary playwright age 40 or over who has had at least one production performed in front of a paying audience OR a script published by an established/known publishing/licensing house.

Application Opens: February 16, 2026

Application Deadline: April 13, 2026, or until 150 applications are received.

Winner announced: June 1, 2026

First draft delivered: June 1, 2027

Reading of the commissioned play: Fall 2027

Application materials:
-A two-page project summary in which the writer describes the play they intend to write, and answers the question: what about Leah’s play Debt inspired your idea for this play?

– CV / production history

– Fifteen pages of a work that best represents the writer’s voice. (This does not need to be the first fifteen pages of the work, just the pages you feel are the strongest).

– One reference – someone who can speak to your work as a playwright and theater maker (no letter is needed.)

The winner will receive:

—$10,000 to be received $6K at time of commission, $4K on completion

—A reading in Fall 2027

About Leah’s play Debt
Debt is a one act comedy about unpaid bills, endorphins, band practice, Marvin Gaye, and even more unpaid bills . . . something for everyone.

Hardscrabble Theater seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: April 15, 2026

Send your script as a PDF or Word document to Linda@hardscrabbletheater.com 

Hardscrabble Theater is seeking original one act plays for our Fall 2026 One-Act Play Festival!

The festival will take place Friday, October 16th through Sunday, October 18th.

We invite playwrights from all backgrounds to submit their work for consideration. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or making your first submission to a festival, we want to hear your voice!

Plays must meet the following criteria for consideration:
  • Running time of no less than 5 minutes and no more than 15 minutes
  • Single set with no special effects
  • Simple lighting and sound/music cues only – all sound must be rights free.
  • Maximum of five characters
  • All scripts must be royalty-free
  • Previously unpublished and unproduced in the NY tristate area

What We’re Looking For

Hardscrabble Theater celebrates stories that are raw, honest, and human. We welcome plays across all genres — drama, comedy, dark comedy, slice-of-life, and everything in between. We are especially drawn to work that is character-driven, emotionally resonant, and stageable within our production constraints.

How to Submit

Send your script as a PDF or Word document to Linda@hardscrabbletheater.com by April 15, 2026. Please include your name, contact information, and a brief synopsis of your play in the body of your email. Scripts should have a title page with name, address, phone, and email.

Questions? Reach out to us at the submission email above.

Hardscrabble Theater is committed to inclusive storytelling and encourages submissions from writers of all backgrounds.

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