Deadline: December 15, 2026
Only the first 200 scripts will be accepted.
SUBMISSION FORM
The Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award honors an outstanding new play marked by
sophisticated and nuanced storytelling with the potential to make a significant artistic impact in
production by a current professional in higher education (faculty, regardless of rank, and staff).
• Please submit an excerpt or scene(s) between 10 to 20 pages that is exemplary of your
full-length play. (A full-length play is no less than 1 hour in length/typically 60 plus pages.
Please do not submit one-acts or 10-Minute Plays)
• A short (no more than 2 page) resume or CV, which should include current professional
affiliation (as a contingent, tenured or tenure track faculty member, or staff member);
• A brief (no more than 200 word) Statement of Fit as to why this play should be
considered for this award and what the playwright hopes to gain from the opportunity to be
showcased at ATHE.
Criteria:
Our aim for this award is to address the core constituency of ATHE, professionals who are
currently working in or affiliated with higher education. The Royer sets no restrictions on subject
matter, style, or intended audience. Past winning plays have spanned a diversity of topics and
represented varied perspectives on race, culture, language, disability, gender, nationality, and
political worldview. Authors need not be ATHE members.
The Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award honors an outstanding new play marked by
sophisticated and nuanced storytelling with the potential to make a significant artistic impact in
production by a current professional in higher education (faculty, regardless of rank, and staff).
This year’s winner will be invited to the annual meeting of the Association for Theatre in Higher
Education for a reading and/or showcase of the award-winning play. Plays must be entered by
December 15, 2026. Only the first 200 scripts will be accepted.
Education for a reading and/or showcase of the award-winning play. Plays must be entered by
December 15, 2026. Only the first 200 scripts will be accepted.
Applicants will send in three different documents:
• Please submit an excerpt or scene(s) between 10 to 20 pages that is exemplary of your
full-length play. (A full-length play is no less than 1 hour in length/typically 60 plus pages.
Please do not submit one-acts or 10-Minute Plays)
• A short (no more than 2 page) resume or CV, which should include current professional
affiliation (as a contingent, tenured or tenure track faculty member, or staff member);
• A brief (no more than 200 word) Statement of Fit as to why this play should be
considered for this award and what the playwright hopes to gain from the opportunity to be
showcased at ATHE.
After the initial submissions have been evaluated, the Royer leadership will request via email full
scripts for a second round of reading from select playwrights. All playwrights will be notified at
that time of their play’s status.
scripts for a second round of reading from select playwrights. All playwrights will be notified at
that time of their play’s status.
Criteria:
Our aim for this award is to address the core constituency of ATHE, professionals who are
currently working in or affiliated with higher education. The Royer sets no restrictions on subject
matter, style, or intended audience. Past winning plays have spanned a diversity of topics and
represented varied perspectives on race, culture, language, disability, gender, nationality, and
political worldview. Authors need not be ATHE members.
Only full-length plays will be considered. A playwright may only enter one play in any given year.
The plays can be produced or unproduced but must be unpublished.
The audience and potential group of actors for the reading will be drawn from ATHE members.
Since the main recognition of this play and the playwright will be at ATHE, we ask that the
playwright compose a short “Statement of Fit” as to why they are choosing to pursue this
opportunity and what they hope to gain.
playwright compose a short “Statement of Fit” as to why they are choosing to pursue this
opportunity and what they hope to gain.