Deadline: June 15, 2026
Submissions will be capped after the first 300 scripts are received
Sarasota Florida
Back for the seventh year and taking place at Urbanite Theatre, the 2026 Modern Works Festival is a five-day playwriting and reading festival and a celebration of women in theatre.
Three finalists will be selected by a panel of play readers to present their work as a staged reading during the Festival. The Festival will culminate in an audience roundtable discussion, and Festival Passholders will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite of the three works. All finalists will receive a stipend award of $1500, plus travel to/from Sarasota and housing.
Seeking new work from emerging and established female playwrights. Playwrights must be available to attend all festival rehearsals and talkbacks in Sarasota, FL. Rehearsals will take place September 22-September 25, 2026. Staged Reading performances will take place September 25 through September 27, 2026.
Interested playwrights are encouraged to read Urbanite’s mission statement and production history to get an idea of the type of work we produce.
Festival Stipend Awards: $1500
Finalists: three finalists will be selected.
Festival Rules & Requirements
Three finalists will be chosen to participate in the 2026 Modern Works Festival
Each finalist will receive the following: a professional director and stage manager, stage directions reader, professional actors, a table read, 15 rehearsal hours, a staged reading with a total of two staged reading performances and facilitated post-show talkbacks
Staged readings will have some lighting support, music stands and chairs, costumes props, and internal music are not allowed as the readings are text focused; actors cannot be asked to memorize any text
Actors, stage managers, directors will be comprised of local and non-local artists, AEA and non AEA
All finalists will receive an additional stipend of $36 per day perdiem to assist with daily food expenses
Housing, Travel to/from Sarasota will be provided
Finalists will be selected by panel of readers and notified by Urbanite Theatre no later than July 15, 2026.
Submissions must be received by June 15, 2026
The volume of submissions will prevent us from providing individual feedback
For questions regarding the Festival, contact modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com
Back for the seventh year and taking place at Urbanite Theatre, the 2026 Modern Works Festival is a five-day playwriting and reading festival and a celebration of women in theatre.
Three finalists will be selected by a panel of play readers to present their work as a staged reading during the Festival. The Festival will culminate in an audience roundtable discussion, and Festival Passholders will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite of the three works. All finalists will receive a stipend award of $1500, plus travel to/from Sarasota and housing.
Seeking new work from emerging and established female playwrights. Playwrights must be available to attend all festival rehearsals and talkbacks in Sarasota, FL. Rehearsals will take place September 22-September 25, 2026. Staged Reading performances will take place September 25 through September 27, 2026.
Interested playwrights are encouraged to read Urbanite’s mission statement and production history to get an idea of the type of work we produce.
Festival Stipend Awards: $1500
Finalists: three finalists will be selected.
- Submissions must be from women playwrights
- Playwrights must reside in the United States
- Plays must be unproduced and unpublished with limited development
- Plays that have been previously submitted to Urbanite Theatre or the Modern Works Festival are not eligible to be submitted again
- No musicals or translations
- Full length plays only (defined as 60 minutes or more)
- Must require four actors or less
- Must include quality, female roles that are well-represented
- Must include a contact page and character breakdown
- One submission per playwright
- Playwright must be available to attend the festival in person September 21-September 27, 2026
Festival Rules & Requirements
Three finalists will be chosen to participate in the 2026 Modern Works Festival
Each finalist will receive the following: a professional director and stage manager, stage directions reader, professional actors, a table read, 15 rehearsal hours, a staged reading with a total of two staged reading performances and facilitated post-show talkbacks
Staged readings will have some lighting support, music stands and chairs, costumes props, and internal music are not allowed as the readings are text focused; actors cannot be asked to memorize any text
Actors, stage managers, directors will be comprised of local and non-local artists, AEA and non AEA
All finalists will receive an additional stipend of $36 per day perdiem to assist with daily food expenses
Housing, Travel to/from Sarasota will be provided
Finalists will be selected by panel of readers and notified by Urbanite Theatre no later than July 15, 2026.
Submissions must be received by June 15, 2026
The volume of submissions will prevent us from providing individual feedback
For questions regarding the Festival, contact modernworks@urbanitetheatre.com