Deadline: August 15 at 11:59 PM
or until 150 submissions are received
SUBMISSION FORM
Charles M. Getchell New Contest is dedicated to the discovery, development and publicizing of worthy new plays and playwrights.
Charles M. Getchell New Contest is dedicated to the discovery, development and publicizing of worthy new plays and playwrights.
The Charles M. Getchell New Play Award, administered by the Southeastern Theatre Conference, supports the discovery, development, and public recognition of strong new plays.
The contest is designed to identify a worthy full-length play for development through SETC, including a staged reading at the annual SETC Convention.
For the 2026–2027 cycle, SETC has revised eligibility guidelines that honor the organization’s Southeastern roots while opening the contest to playwrights whose work is meaningfully connected to the American South and features stories of that region. For purposes of this contest, SETC’s region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. SETC will also consider work connected to the broader American South when the playwright clearly identifies that connection in the application
Regional and Artistic Connection
Eligible playwrights must meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. The playwright currently resides in the American South;
2. The playwright was raised in, educated in, or has a significant personal, professional, or artistic connection to the American South; or
3. The submitted play is directly connected to, or in sustained conversation with the American South, including its people, histories, cultures, communities, landscapes, conflicts, traditions, or contemporary realities.
- The awardee receives: A $1,000 cash award
- Support toward participation in the annual SETC Convention; including registration and travel stipend
- A professional critique and developmental support
- A staged reading of the selected play at the SETC Convention
- Additional visibility through SETC publications, online platforms, and new play development partners as space is available