Qutub Minar seeks short plays for its October 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: September 28, 2026

For our October 2026 issue, we are looking for original and engaging literary works in the following genres:

DRAMA
• Submit up to 3 one-minute plays at a time.

Every submission must include a cover letter and a short literary bio of approximately 70 words.

Submissions are accepted by email only.

Submit your work to:
editorqutubminarreview@gmail.com

Please include the following information with your submission:

Full Legal Name:
Pen Name (if any):
Postal Address:
Email Address:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

October 2026 Issue
Last Date: 28 September 2026
Publication: First week of October 2026

NO SUBMISSION OR READING FEE

There is absolutely no submission or reading fee.

USAGE RIGHTS

By submitting your work, you confirm that you hold the copyright to the work and that no third-party permission is required for its publication.

After publication, all copyright in the work reverts to the author.

NOTIFICATIONS

Authors will be notified regarding the acceptance or rejection of their submissions.

PAYMENT

Unfortunately, Qutub Minar Review is currently unable to offer payment for published contributions.

We look forward to reading your work and discovering new literary voices.

Obsidian seeks short work for publication

Website

Deadline: Oct 16, 2026 1:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages in the Samuel French format. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.

Obsidian cultivates, through publication and critical inquiry, Black imagination, innovation, and excellence—supporting Black, African, and African Diaspora creatives globally.
Obsidian celebrates over fifty years of continuous publication and is dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art biannually in print and year-round online.

AUTHENTIC 10 SHOWCASE seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Atlanta GA

SUBMISSION FORM

Length: Submissions must be between 8 and 12 minutes in performance time and a maximum of 15 pages in length.

Format: Scripts should be formatted in standard playwriting style and submitted as a PDF.

Eligibility: Submissions must be original works. Preference is given to works not previously produced or performed.

Cast Size: Scripts must feature a cast of no less than two and no more than three actors.

Staging Requirements:

Scripts should be suitable for a minimalist staging format.

Minimal use of props, lights, sound, or other technical elements is strongly encouraged and will be considered in the selection process.

Preference given to scripts with little or no scene changes.

Originality: Scripts must be original; works with no other rightsholders than the author submitting the work for consideration. and not generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence.

Content: Consideration will be given to scripts that align with Authenticity Theater's mission. We seek content that speaks to relevant societal themes such as mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, LGBTQ issues, poverty, domestic violence, immigration, sexual abuse, aging, grief, relationship issues, loneliness, and more.

Maximum: Submissions are limited to no more than two (2) scripts per playwright. Additional submissions will not be considered.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters seeks drama submisisons

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

 Submissions must be made in PDF file format only.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters will consider fee-free submissions of drama whose effects can be experienced either on the page or in production.

Submit a file with up to 5000 lines, including title, byline, dramatis personae, and stage direction.

O:JA&L will consider several formatting options for drama: 1) conventions of formatting published by Gordon State College, 2) suggestions for formatting published by The Dramatists Guild, or 3) play formats in specialized software programs for writers like Final Draft or Movie Magic. Submissions which deviate by degrees of magnitude from these conventions of form will be declined.

Submitters should include a cover letter. This cover letter should contain, in the manner of a screenplay, a HEADER for the work, a LOGLINE of up to 30 words, and a SYNOPSIS of the work (without spoilers) of up to 150 words. This cover letter should also include a third-person professional biography of the playwright in 100 words, more or less.

OTHER THAN YOUR NAME, DO NOT INCLUDE PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE SUBMITTED PDF. IT IS THIS PDF THAT WILL BE LINKED TO THE PUBLISHED POST.

Open: Journal of Arts & Letters will only consider plays that have never before been produced or published. Submissions must be made in PDF file format only.

Sesame Street Writers Room 2027

Website

Deadline: October 5, 2026 12PM EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

Fresh new writing talent that reflects our vast audience. Emerging storytellers who are selected to join the Writers’ Room will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other children’s entertainment and media industry leaders. Each participant will develop and write a pilot script for their own original kids’ concept.

• Up to 6 writers will be selected 
• Sessions are expected to take place virtually from February 2027 to June 2027.
• Learn from industry writers, producers, agents and executives 
• Learn and complete all steps of creating an original pilot episode script
• Learn and complete all steps of creating a 3-5 minute speculative script based on Sesame Street
• Includes 8 three-hour instructive sessions with an accomplished industry professional, 3 one-hour mentoring sessions with Sesame Street writer, and 15 one-hour office hours sessions on creating original children’s content.
• Up to two writers will have the exciting opportunity to see their script brought to life in a live table read featuring Sesame Street performers

Original script sample: 12-page maximum; should NOT contain Sesame Street elements, characters, or intellectual property;  can be an excerpt from a larger piece  wholly written by the applicant; must model a 3 act story structure; and be kid-friendly content for viewers up to age 12…we’re looking for great characters and stories that inspire kids to be smarter, stronger and kinder! 

Please submit only one script with your initial application. If you advance to the second round, you may receive an email with instructions on submitting a second script sample at that time.

Resumes: 2-page maximum. Anything longer will be disqualified.

More info on your script: what’s the bigger picture/idea of your script sample? (up to 100 words)

Personal statement: tell us about yourself, for example, why you want to write for children’s educational media, and how your lived experiences influence the stories you want to tell in children’s media, etc. (up to 250 words)

Eligibility Check List

• Participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent residen
• No extensive media writing experience, such as having written more than six episodes for a produced network or streaming scripted/narrative series
• Participants must be 21+ years old Participants must be able to attend and complete writing assignments for all 11 sessions, and attend the 15 office hours sessions, which will be held virtually from February 2027 to June 2027. The final session and showcase will be held in-person in New York City.

Prism Community Players 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026

Maineville, OH

SUBMISSION FORM

Prism Community Players, formerly Lumos Players,  is thrilled to announce our 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027!

We know that writing a play is a journey—and we’re here to support yours.

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear your script read aloud and receive constructive, thoughtful feedback in a supportive community of theater artists. Whether you’ve written a 10-minute play, a one-act, a full-length, a musical, a comedy, a drama—or something in between—we want to hear from you!

Chosen scripts will be announced before December 5th. The series runs once a month over Zoom, February–May 2027.

Pegasus PlayLab 2027

Website

Deadline: September 18, 2026 11:59 pm

Or after they receive 200 submissions

SUBMISSION FORM

Pegasus PlayLab is a new play festival hosted every summer at the University of Central Florida. This festival is dedicated to developing new works by MFA Playwriting candidates or emerging playwrights. 

We are seeking three full-length plays, including Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) pieces, which we will rehearse for two weeks in collaboration with the playwright and subsequently present as workshop productions in addition, the finalists of Pegasus PlayLab will be entered into consideration to be a fully produced show at UCF.

The Pegasus PlayLab spans six weeks, starting mid-May through the end of June. Selected playwrights are expected to commit to a two-week in-person residency within that time frame.

Eligibility

• Unpublished or un-produced (has not received a fully-staged production)
• Full-length play/musical: 50-100 pages
• TYA: 20-100 pages
• Musicals: Please provide a sample track for at least one song. 

Submission Requirements

An excerpt (20-30 pages) of your play or musical. Submissions should be blind - please remove personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.) from your script pages.

A brief statement articulating your goals for the two-week workshop. This might include: dramaturgical and structural questions; work on specific moments of dialogue; getting answers about big questions in your script; gaining perspective on specific aspects of the script.

No late submissions will be accepted. Playwrights may only submit ONE play, and scripts previously submitted to Pegasus PlayLab in prior years are not eligible. 

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

If you have any questions, please email ucfpegasusplaylab@gmail.com.

Queer Scare 10-minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: September 30, 2026

New York NY

Send submissions to villageplaywrights @gmail.com

Seeking 10-minute plays from playwrights based in NYC and surrounding areas. 

Chosen playwrights must be willing to participate in the process. 

Plays must be themed for LGBTQ audiences.

Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

-Please send two hard copies, bound or stapled, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and all contact information) with page numbers and the name of the play on each page to:
Sundog Theatre, “Scenes 2026”, PO Box 10183, Staten Island, NY 10301.

-Submissions should include a brief play synopsis (2-3 sentences at most), a 70-word bio, and a full resume of the writer.

Sundog Theatre in NYC is seeking one-act plays for “Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026”

This is Sundog Theatre’s 25th presentation of new and original, one-act plays about our favorite boats.
This year’s theme: Anniversary!

Plays can be comedies or dramas. However, humor is always appreciated.

Writing Guidelines:

-Original plays not previously produced or published, with a signed note affirming that.

-10-25 minutes in length and set on the Staten Island Ferry.

-Set in a contemporary time period. Strong priority will be given to plays with 2 characters, however, 3-character plays will be considered. No special set pieces other than benches or railings found on the Ferry, as well as limited and easily accessible props/costumes, and no unusual sound or lighting effects.

-Avoid overt and unnecessary sexual/violence situations and language since we cater to a broad audience.

-No musicals, long monologues, poetry, rants or verse.

Theme: Anniversary!

Submission Guidelines:

-We are not accepting plays electronically. Reasons: hard copies are easier to pass around/make notes on; protects your work; can’t get lost in email chains; and…easier on reading eyes. We will let you know by email that we have received it.

-NO SUBMISSION FEE

-6 plays are chosen by a reading team; writers each receive $200 and plays are produced in five November 2026 performances in Staten Island, NY. Plays are cast in NYC, rehearsed, and performed on stage.

-Playwrights of selected plays will be contacted in September and their names/play titles listed on Sundog Theatre’s website in Fall 2026.

Please direct questions to: info@sundogtheatre.org/Susan Fenley, Producer.

Mouths of Babes Theatre Company (MoB) is now accepting submissions for the Scotopia Festival 2027

Website

Deadline:  Oct 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT

Festival Dates: Scotopia runs March 12th - 21st
Festival Location: Various venues in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

For any questions about the submission process, please contact our team at literary@mobtheatre.com with the subject line “Literary.” Contact name: Karina Patel, Literary Associate, & Megan Parlett, Artistic Producing Associate

APPLY HERE

Scotopia is an annual new works festival produced by MoB Theatre that welcomes both fresh voices and seasoned artists, providing a platform for bold, risk-taking theatre-making and fostering creative exchange across all levels of experience. The festival is a platform for original works that engage with the community and seek to grapple with the social issues of today. MoB Theatre is a process-driven theatre company, and we are interested in providing opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate with our ensemble.

The Scotopia Festival gets its name from the word describing “the ability to see in dim light or darkness.” The festival illuminates stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

Submission Categories:
Applicants should only submit one submission per category.

Short Play Fest: A central feature of Scotopia, our Short Play Festival, offers playwrights the chance to workshop material and see their work fully produced by MoB Theatre. We welcome short (10 minute or less) play submissions that explore themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. While all plays with these themes will be considered, we are particularly excited by bold, genre-blending works with unique inspirations. We encourage material inspired by diverse theatre traditions and non-traditional forms such as commedia dell'arte, folk tales, kitchen sink realism, verse, ghost stories, magical realism, anime/manga, absurdism, and more!

Full-Length Plays (For Staged Reading): Scotopia is dedicated to developing new works through workshops and staged readings. We are seeking unproduced, full-length plays that engage with themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. Stories that illuminate real-life experiences and amplify overlooked or untold truths are especially encouraged. The chosen submissions will receive dramaturgical support, workshops and the culmination of this work will be a staged reading at the festival.

Self-Produced Performance Proposals: We welcome proposals for experimental or devised works that move beyond traditional script formats. While we will consider any play that addresses social issues, we are particularly interested in innovative forms such as solo performances, performance art, devised pieces, immersive theatre, and more. Projects suited for non-traditional spaces are encouraged but not required. Proposals are ideal for emerging artists looking to expand their audience base or explore opportunities for developing and touring their work. Selected artists should be “show ready” for the festival. Venues will be provided (with limited rehearsal time), but production support from MoB Theatre will be limited.

Producing Priorities: While plays of any subject and theme will be considered, MoB is looking for pieces which speak to the political climate and topical issues of the moment, as the purpose of the Scotopia Festival is to illuminate stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

We also encourage submissions which would be challenging to produce or are experimental, as we are focused on the process of developing plays, rather than fully recognizing every complicated aspect of production.

Submission Requirements: In the submission form (attached here and above), you will be asked to submit a blind copy of your play (without identifying information), along with a current resume/CV. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a panel. Additional submission elements will only be taken into consideration in the final round of evaluation.

Confirmation: Selected works will be announced in mid-December, around or before December 18th

Self Produced Logistics: We offer to cover all venue costs. Tickets will be divided between MoB Theatre and the partnering artist, but the ticket split percentage will vary depending on the venue rental cost.

We recognize and affirm each artist’s right to their own work. Submissions will be shared with a small internal panel, and files from submissions not accepted to the festival will be deleted.

While we are open to submissions from artists from everywhere and anywhere, we strongly encourage theatre-makers based in North Carolina and the Southeast to submit scripts and proposals. We encourage BIPOC artists and communities underrepresented in theatre to submit work to our festival.

We are primarily drawn to plays that are compatible with MoB’s mission and values, and feature roles suitable for our associates. However, we also welcome the opportunity to be challenged to cast roles outside of our acting pool and hire actors that are historically underrepresented in theatre.

About Mouths of Babes Theatre (MoB): MoB Theatre is a grassroots, ensemble-driven company based in Wilmington, NC. Known locally for productions such as Wilmington Reconstructed; Out, NC; and A Remarkable Fraternity, MoB specializes in documentary theatre and new work development, with a focus on collaborative theatre-making that centers community voices and lived experiences. We are committed to devising theatre projects that address the social, and Scotopia is one of the key events that drives our mission forward.

46 Minutes Collective Mixed Bag show

Website

Deadline: September 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT

Brooklyn NYC

SUBMISSION FORM

Mixed Bag is a variety show for first drafts. We provide artists working in a variety of mediums with a low-tech space and audiences to further develop their works. We hope this will be an opportunity to learn about your piece and discover the next steps in your process. 

What we are looking for: 

In-development work that has not yet premiered. One or two developmental readings or showings is okay, but we are looking for work in the earlier stages of development. 

Works in any medium: performance art, dance, theater, film, music, poetry, multi-media, interactive art, magic, mime, juggling, etc. (these can be excerpts of longer works).

Artists who are looking to investigate or discover something about their work.

Cast: Up to 10 performers

Length: Up to 15 minutes

We Can Offer:

A low-tech performance space at Brick Aux to share your work - 628 Metropolitan Ave Brooklyn

One, 20-minute spacing rehearsal/tech the hour before the show.

A Stage Manager to assist with the run of show.

Photos and video of your piece.

An audience of fellow artists and creatives to share in your developmental process with the option for feedback from the audience if that is helpful for your process.

Marketing through the 46 Minutes Instagram and mailing list. If selected, we will ask for additional marketing materials from you/your team.

Brick Aux space capabilities (basic sound system, clip lights, projector, tables and chairs) (learn more here).

A $100 stipend for your work and time.

What You Bring:

Collaborators and creative team.

Any desired props, costumes, lights, design elements, etc. beyond what exists in the Brick Aux space.

An understanding of what you need to present your own work at whatever stage it's at in your process.

An openness to the liminal space that is in-process work and a desire to discover what can be learned when presenting a rough draft.

Please Note: The artist is responsible for all rehearsal process needs. We are unable to provide any rehearsal space or financial assistance at this time. This is designed to be an in-process showing, so we encourage you to come as you are with whatever you have created at this point in time. 

Each artist may only submit one piece per Mixed Bag showing.

If you have any questions please reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com 

We at The 46 Minutes Collective are committed to making our programming accessible to all who wish to participate, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com with any ways we can support you.

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival seeks one-act and short plays

Website

Deadline: September 26, 2026

Early submissions are encouraged.

New York NY

Send all required materials to: GeneFrankelTheatrePlayFestival@gmail.com
Subject line: Gene Frankel Theatre Festival – Title of Play

The Gene Frankel Theatre Festival is accepting submissions for its winter edition running from November 30 through December 20, 2026.

The applicants will need to produce the work — director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Eligible Work

• Short plays (maximum 15 minutes)
• One-act plays (up to 60 minutes)

All genres are considered, including drama, comedy, musicals, movement-based work, and experimental forms. Submitted work should be New York premieres. (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.) All work MUST be unpublished.

Each play should have 1 - 5 actors. No more than 5 actors will be permitted. Cast and crew should be non-union and 18 and older. The applicants will need to produce the work - director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Selection Criteria

Pieces will be selected based on artistic merit, originality, clarity of vision, and suitability for festival programming. The goal is to present a high-quality, varied lineup. Submission does not guarantee selection.

Playwrights, whose plays have been selected, will be contacted by September 29.

Submission Materials

Full script in PDF format

Brief synopsis

Character breakdown (Each play should have a maximum of 5 actors)

Indication of category: short play (up to 15 minutes) or one-act (up to 60 minutes)

Production history, if applicable

Please confirm this is a New York Premiere (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.)

Limit two submissions per applicant.

Optional: Playwright bio, director, cast, brief tech/staging notes, prior production photos or media (if available), and social media or website links may also be included to support your submission.

Participation Details

No submission fee. All participants must be available for all festival dates from November 30 through December 19. 

A $100 participation fee for short plays and a $150 participation fee for one act plays for selected works will apply.

Awards

Selected productions will be eligible for awards, including Best Play, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director. Awards will be given in both short play and one-act categories.

Festival Format
Each selected play will be presented in one of several curated blocks. Each block will run approximately 90 minutes (including intermission) and receive three performances during the three-week performance schedule. The Festival will conclude with a Gala event, on December 20, featuring guest performances and an awards ceremony.

The 29th Magazine seeks short plays for February 2027 issue

Website

Deadline: October 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We're drawn to writers and artists who came up on their own — no formal training, no mentors greasing the wheels, no built-in network. We'll never ask where you studied, or if you did.

We prioritize women, the queer community, the mentally ill, the chronically ill, and the neurodivergent. If you belong to any of these groups, we want to hear from you first.

Submission Guidelines

• Plays: Short plays, one act, intended to be read in a single sitting (Up to 20 pages - soft limit).
• Formatting: 12 pt Times New Roman or Courier. Single-spaced dialogue, with a line break between speeches. Character names in caps above their lines; stage directions in parentheses or italics. PDF/doc/docx formats.
• Please include your name, the piece's title, and page count on the first page.

Note: We don't store your personal data beyond your submission. We will only use your email to contact you about the status of your submission.

Free tickets - THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Daria Miyeko Marinelli’s This is Not Not a Drill

directed by Dominique Rider

Kicking off The Playwrights Realm’s 20th anniversary season, this interactive experience will take you deeper into the history of Downtown Manhattan, and then pull you into the current moment. 

What do you do in these five-alarm fire days? Every time you look there’s another news alert about something terrible. Your to-do list is overflowing, and you want to help but… how and what exactly can you do about it anyway?!? You know what, let’s take a walk.

GET TICKETS VIA THIS FORM

This is Not Not a Drill is an audio-guided walking tour of Downtown Manhattan’s rebellious past meets interactive resistance training. And by resistance training, we mean an offering to help you strengthen the muscles needed in this flood-the-zone semi-fascist mess. Explore the tactics used by this city’s past activists and practice a skill (aka a drill) to add to your tool belt in these very Not a Drill times. Lace up your sneakers, baby. This is a go.

To learn more about This is Not Not a Drill, or to buy tickets, visit our website.

A TICKET FOR EVERY BUDGET: Tickets are available at three different price levels:

Welcome, Regular, and Pay it Forward but all levels grant entry to the same experience. Please select the price level that best suits your budget.

For Parents & Caregivers: As part of the Realm’s Radical Parent-Inclusion project, qualifying attendees are offered reimbursements toward caregiving costs incurred by coming to this event.

Mini Plays Review seeks short plays and monologues for December 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2026

How to Submit
Email: Send your script as an attachment to miniplaysmag@gmail.com
Subject Line: Submission: [Play Title] - [Your Name]
In the Body: Include a brief 50-word biography and your contact details.

Submission Guidelines

Length: Maximum of 2 pages per mini play/soliloquy/monologue.
Format: Standard playwriting format (PDF or Word document preferred).
Limit: Maximum of 5 submissions per playwright. Send all submission in single email.
Originality: Works must be original and unproduced in print format. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, provided you notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

Theme: Borrowed Time

This issue explores the strange arithmetic of time — what we owe it, what it owes us, and what happens in the narrow windows when it seems to bend, stall, or run out. We are looking for sharp, short scripts about waiting rooms, deadlines, deathbeds, time loops, inheritances, and the small negotiations people make with the clock.

Subthemes for Submission:

• The Waiting Room: Strangers thrown together in a liminal space, each counting down to something different.
• Borrowed Hours: A character who has "bought," "stolen," or been "loaned" time from someone else — literally or figuratively.
• The Last Good Day: A scene built entirely around someone who knows, but hasn't told anyone, that this is their final ordinary day.
• Rewind: A comedic or absurdist take on a character stuck reliving the same five minutes.
• The Inheritance Clock: A family conflict over what a dying or dead relative's "time" — a legacy, a promise, a debt — is now owed to.
• Fashionably Late: The quiet devastation or comedy of someone who has spent a lifetime arriving too late for the moments that mattered.
• Overtime: A workplace two-hander where the real conversation only happens after the shift should have ended.
• The Countdown: A high-stakes dialogue happening in the final sixty seconds before an irreversible decision.
• Aging in Real Time: A monologue or dialogue where a character watches themselves — or someone else — visibly change over the course of the scene.
• The Appointment: Two people meet for a reason neither will say out loud until time forces their hand.
• Daylight Saving: A small, strange dislocation — lost or gained time — that throws a relationship or routine into chaos.
• The Long Goodbye: A scene stretched across a departure that keeps almost-but-not-quite happening.
• Frozen Clocks: A survivalist or dreamlike drama in a place where time has visibly stopped working.
• The Second Chance: A character granted an impossible do-over, and the argument over whether to take it.
• Running Out: A ticking-clock two-hander where the stakes are ordinary, but the urgency is not.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2026

The Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest invites playwrights to submit original works inspired by, connected to, or thematically centered on the history, architecture, culture, or personal stories associated with the Northern Michigan Asylum (also known as the Traverse City State Hospital). Works may be dramatic, comedic, historical, speculative, or musical in style, but all submissions must honor or explore the site in a meaningful way.

Contest is hosted by Old Town Playhouse (OTP), a community theater serving Traverse City, Michigan, and The Minervini Group LLC (TMG), redevelopers of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the original site of the Northern Michigan Asylum.

The contest opens January 19, 2026, and all submissions must be received by December 31, 2026.

Eligibility

• Open to writers of all experience levels.
• Writers must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Co-authored works are permitted.
• Submissions must be written in English.

Content Requirements

Subject Matter: The play must contain significant themes, settings, characters, or plot elements directly related to the Northern Michigan Asylum/Traverse City State Hospital.

Allowed Formats:

o One-act plays
o Two-act plays
o Musicals

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Length Guidelines:

o One-act: 20–60 minutes
o Two-act: 60–150 minutes
o Musicals: 45–180 minutes

• Originality: Only original, unpublished, and unproduced works are eligible.

Prohibition on AI-Generated Content

To preserve artistic integrity and honor the spirit of the competition:

• No portion of the script may be generated by artificial intelligence tools (including ChatGPT, other LLMs, AI story generators, or automated scriptwriting tools).

• Writers may not use AI to draft, plot, or produce dialogue or lyrics.

• AI-assisted proofreading (e.g., spelling/grammar checks) is permitted, but no AI content generation may be used at any stage.

• Entrants will be required to attest that all creative content is human-authored.

Submission Requirements

• Format:

o PDF file only
o Standard script formatting preferred (12-point font, standard margins)
o Include a title page with:

▪ Play title
▪ Author’s name
▪ Contact email
▪ Contact phone number
▪ Whether the play is one-act, two-act, or a musical
• Page Header: Include the play title and page numbers on each page.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines Page 2• Synopsis: Include a 150–300 word synopsis at the beginning (separate page).

• Character Breakdown: Provide a list of characters, including vocal ranges for musicals.

• Optional: A brief (100-word) playwright biography.

Submission Process

• Submissions open January 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM EST.

• All entries must be submitted by December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

• Submissions must be sent by email to contest@oldtownplayhouse.com either as a PDF attachment or unrestricted link to cloud storage.

• Each entrant may submit up to two plays.

Evaluation Criteria & Winning

Entries will be judged on:

• Quality of storytelling and dramatic structure

• Creative integration of Northern Michigan Asylum themes

• Originality and artistic vision

• Character development

• Stage feasibility

• Musical quality (for musicals)

One work will be chosen to be fully workshopped and produced in late 2027 or early 2028 by Old Town Playhouse. The performance will take place at Kirkbride Hall located in one of the original Northern Michigan Asylum buildings. [Note: A staged reading may be presented in lieu of a full production if material warrants such].

Judges panel will be comprised of two representatives from Old Town Playhouse, two representatives from The Minervini Group LLC and one outside representative designated by Old Town Playhouse to serve on the panel.

Winning playwright will be notified no later than February 28, 2027.

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Rights and Permissions

• Playwrights retain all rights to their work.

• By entering the contest, playwrights grant the organizers permission to excerpt, read publicly, or stage readings for purposes of event promotion from the time the winning script is selected and announced until the closing performance of the OTP production produced in late 2027 or early 2028.

KNOW THEATRE 23RD ANNUAL PLAYWRIGHTS AND ARTISTS FESTIVAL seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

 

This submission must include 2 copies of your play in either word or PDF, one “blind” version without name but including which artwork you were inspired by and one with a full title page. If you could paste the painting onto the cover page that would be great. They must be submitted to playwrightsfestatknow@gmail.com. 

Please use the title of your work in the file name and whether it is the blind or named copy Sample file name: Title_ artwork _blind or Title_ artwork_ name. This makes it easier on the person coordinating the files and sending them on to the adjudicators. 

Each year we take three works of art and ask writers to fashion a play, and musicians to compose a piece as they are moved or inspired by the artwork. 

The play must be inspired by one of the works of art below.

We blind-read the submissions, select the best and produce them. The art is exhibited, we perform the plays on the KNOW Theatre stage and ask the audience for feedback. 

It is our annual mixed media event that draws inquisitive art and theatre lovers to KNOW. 

The prizes are awarded are: 

• The Edward Allan Baker Prize for Best of Festival ($300), 
• Artistic Merit ($200) and A
• Audience Favorite ($100). 

Each night from Friday through Sunday we will feature one artwork and the pieces associated with it.

The artwork will follow a refresher on the rules. 

• The play length needs to be between 15 - 20 minutes
• Cast size maximum, 4 characters. Set should be implied.

Plays submitted MUST be a complete play and must include a beginning, middle and an end and contain a conflict. Our judges will be adhering to strict parameters during the adjudication process.

Playwrights may only submit one play for the festival.

The playwright would need to attend at least one of the two weekend performances (which take place in November). In person is preferred but we have in the past Zoomed with playwrights. As our festival is starting to reach a greater number of people in wider locations, we feel that we must take this into consideration. We always hope our playwrights can attend in person and feel the energy and excitement of having their work performed onstage for the first time, but we understand that sometimes this is not logistically possible.

KNOW Theatre Facebook submission event page

The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers Fellowship 2027

Website

Deadline: September 25, 2026, 5 p.m. EDT. 

Applications cannot be accepted after this deadline.
Notification: March 2027
Award Period: September 7, 2027–May 26, 2028
Stipend: $90,000

Online registration required to submit

The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers supports projects that draw on the research collections of The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (formerly the Humanities and Social Sciences Library). The Center seeks top-quality writing from academics as well as from creative writers and independent scholars. Visual artists whose projects require extensive use of Library collections are also encouraged to apply. Visit www.nypl.org/research-collections for detailed information about the collections of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

The Library expects Fellows to work at the Cullman Center five days a week, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the Fellowship term, which runs from September through May. Successful candidates will need to work primarily at the Schwarzman Building rather than at other divisions of the Library. Applications from those working in languages other than English are welcome; however, the applicant must be conversant in English, and application materials must be in English. Fellowships will not be granted for academic projects to post-doctoral fellows or to applicants doing graduate-school dissertation research.

The Center seeks diversity in race, ethnicity, age, gender, field, and type of project. The Center aims to promote dynamic conversation about the humanities, social sciences, and scholarship at the highest level—within the Center, in public forums throughout the Library, and in the Fellows' published work.

In order to avoid real or apparent conflicts of interest, the Cullman Center does not accept applications from New York Public Library staff members or their partners, or from people active on the Library’s Board of Trustees, Board Advisory Committees, or Library Council.

Fellows may not accept other major professional obligations during the term. Fellows may have a few prior commitments but must limit research trips, attendance at scholarly meetings, and speaking engagements to short periods of time. Anyone who needs to be away for more than two days must notify the Center's Director or Deputy Director. The Library will pro-rate stipends for Fellows who spend excessive time away from the Center.

The Cullman Center will not accept dossier letters in place of new letters of recommendation.Completed applications and supporting materials—research proposal, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and creative writing sample or art work sample—must be submitted by September 25, 2026, 5 p.m. EDT.

The Cullman Center is made possible by a generous endowment from Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman in honor of Brooke Russell Astor, with major support provided by Mrs. John L. Weinberg, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Estate of Charles J. Liebman, The von der Heyden Family Foundation, John and Constance Birkelund, and The Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, and with additional gifts from Helen and Roger Alcaly, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Arts and Letters Foundation Inc., William W. Karatz, Merilee and Roy Bostock, and Cullman Center Fellows.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowship 2026

Website

Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET

The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program offers scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists a rare chance to pursue ambitious projects for a full academic year in a vibrant interdisciplinary setting amid the resources of Harvard University.

We welcome applications proposing innovative work that confronts pressing social, scientific, and policy issues and seeks to engage audiences beyond academia. Reflecting Radcliffe's unique history and institutional legacy, we welcome—but do not limit eligibility to—proposals that focus on women, gender, and society or draw on the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections.

We also invite proposals relevant to the Institute’s multiyear focus area, which for 2024–2029 is academic freedom and connecting across difference. Proposals should address intellectual virtues, free and open inquiry, and diversity of thought, as well as political polarization, inequality, religious pluralism, religion and public life, and other policy issues as they relate to institutions of higher education. Within this focus area, we also welcome proposals that constructively challenge disciplinary orthodoxies or advance new and potentially transformative perspectives or approaches.

In addition, we welcome proposals in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics directly impacted by federal research funding cuts.

Get Started

The application for 2027–2028 fellowship program is now available. Please visit our application portal to access the application.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for applications in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, and nonfiction and journalism is September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET.

The deadline for applications in science, engineering, and mathematics is October 1, 2026, at 5 PM ET.
How to Apply

To begin an application, you will need to register as a new user by creating a new account with your name, email address, and password. Once you have registered, you may log in to the Online Fellowship Application Portal and select an application area: Humanities and Social Sciences; Creative Arts; Nonfiction and Journalism; or Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Eligibility Criteria

We accept applications in a wide array of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and creative arts and applicants must meet discipline-specific eligibility criteria. This fellowship program is not intended to serve as a postdoctoral fellowship, and those currently enrolled in a degree program are ineligible to apply. We accept applications from individuals across career stages and do not require academics to have tenure to apply.

Former Harvard Radcliffe fellows (1999-present) are ineligible.

Application Materials

The fellowship application consists of an application form, curriculum vitae, 1,400-word project proposal (with bibliography when appropriate), a writing or work sample, and the contact information of three references who will be prompted over email to upload letters of recommendation in support of your application. All materials must be submitted via our online application portal.

Black Cat Theatre seeks full-length scripts

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

THEY ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Chicago, IL

Full-length scripts, ideally 75-100 minutes in length

aligned w/ BCT values, especially those:

• from queer playwrights
• telling queer stories
• playing with form and/or language

Playwrights from anywhere may submit, but this season we will be prioritizing submissions from Chicago-based writers. Playwrights may submit one script for this opportunity.

The Staged Reading+ process has typically comprised of 4 virtual table-work rehearsals, 4 in-person rehearsals, and 4 hours of tech. Depending on the needs of the individual script, this process could shift slightly. Ideally, the playwright will be able to attend all rehearsals. Performances will take place in Spring 2027 at The Edge Off-Broadway, on the set of Idle Muse Theatre Company's Spring production.

If you have any questions, please contact BCT's Literary Manager, Cori Lang, at literary@blackcattheatrechi.com