Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest 2021

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Deadline: December 31, 2021

To encourage the development of quality theatrical materials for the educational, community and children’s theatre markets, Pioneer Drama Service is proud to sponsor the annual Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest.

This is an ongoing contest, with a winner selected by June 1 each year from all eligible submissions received the previous year.  All eligible plays accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists, from which the winner will be selected.  The contest winner will receive a $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication.

Contest entries must meet all general guidelines and submission requirements.

Individuals currently published by Pioneer Drama Service are not eligible for this contest.  Pioneer Drama Service employees and their families are also excluded.

We accept unsolicited manuscripts that meet the parameters defined in these guidelines. However, we prefer for you to send us a query letter if you are not submitting through one of our playwriting contests. You can also start the submission process by contacting us here.

• We will only consider manuscripts with a running time between 20 and 90 minutes.
• Submissions must be family friendly in both subject and language. NO cursing. NO explicitly adult content.
• We prefer casts that are either balanced or favoring females. The more gender neutral roles, the better.
• We favor plays and musicals with ensemble casts, where more than just a few have a chance to shine.
• Plays with elaborate set, costume or technical requirements are not appealing because of the limited resources of many of our customers. Pictures, sketches or descriptions of your vision are always helpful.
• We recommend your submissions have had at least one production or reading, hopefully staged. We feel this fundamental field test is necessary before a play can be considered for publication since plays are created for the purpose of performance.
• Manuscripts must be computer-printed in dark ink. We do not require specific formatting. However, your efforts to ensure your script is free of misspellings and typos will help the submissions editor.
• We hope that Pioneer Drama is your first choice as a publisher, and we encourage you to submit to us exclusively. However, we do accept simultaneous submissions with the understanding that you will accept the first contract you’re offered and not use the situation to seek multiple offers from which to choose. If you receive another offer, please notify us immediately so we may rescind your submission.

NOTE: If you are not already published by Pioneer Drama Service and your submission meets all other requirements including having had at least one production or staged reading, your play will automatically be entered in the Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest. If you are a faculty member at an accredited K-12 public or private school in the US or Canada, you may also qualify for our A+ Playwriting Contest for Teachers.

Check out our list of past contest winners for examples of desirable submissions.
Submission Requirements

Please be patient. Queries will be answered within approximately one week. Submissions may take up to three months or longer.

The following information must accompany your submission or query:

• 100-200 word synopsis.
• Cast list that indicates the number of female roles, the number of male roles and the number of roles that can be performed by either gender. We do not accept one-person shows.
• Running time.
• CD and/or score for musicals. We appreciate the opportunity to hear the music, if possible.
• Set design(s). Please feel free to provide diagrams and/or pictures.
• Proof of production or staged reading (i.e., review, program, etc.) A DVD of your performance is ideal, though not required.
• Age of intended audience.
• A self-addressed envelope of sufficient size with appropriate postage for the return of your materials. We will NOT return manuscripts or accompanying material if this is not included.
• Cover letter and/or resume.

Please send your query or manuscript and accompanying information to:

Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.
Attn: Submissions Editor
PO Box 4267
Englewood, CO 80155-4267

You may also email us your .txt, .doc or .pdf files after you contact us here.

A is for Playwriting Contest 2021

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Deadline:  August 31, 2021 Midnight EST

Why a playwriting contest?

It’s not just abortion that is stigmatized in our culture, but the entire lived experiences of people who seek to fulfill their promise as autonomous human beings, realize their own dreams, raise their families in safety and peace, pursue their ambitions, and maintain control over their physical and reproductive lives.

The subject of reproductive justice is one too often simplified by our current dialogues, and too often the voices and perspectives of the people most affected by restrictions, legislative prohibitions, and cultural prejudices are excluded from our artistic institutions.

A is For seeks to change that. We believe the theatre is an especially powerful platform with which to share stories, debunk myths, and disempower fears. We believe the theatre can transform. We want to amplify voices which can reframe the conversation, to support and promote artists who can dispel myths and misconceptions. We want to change the way people think about abortion and reproductive justice. We want to hear the stories you want to tell.

In that spirit, the stories we hope to bring to the fore will be diverse in perspective as well as imagination. These plays may be personal and realistic, or they may be allegorical. They may be fantastic, sprung from dreams, or they may be grounded in naturalism. From the surrealist, to the literal. From magical realism, to documentarian. Whatever form or shape they may take, we hope to receive a wide range of works from all over the country, reflecting the great variety of experiences that reproductive justice demands we all recognize.

In highlighting these stories, we’re broadening the emotional vocabulary of the American audience, and opening up our theaters to a fuller and more honest exploration of the human experience.
Dates

Submissions will be accepted through August 31, 2021 Midnight EST.

Winners will be announced at the beginning of November.
Winning plays presented virtually in December


Criteria

Submit one-act plays about reproductive justice, including (but not limited to) the topic of abortion.

• You may not edit your entry after submitting.
• You may submit as many plays as you wish.
• Plays must be no longer than 60 minutes (typically about 60 pages, double-spaced.) Plays longer than 60 minutes will automatically be disqualified.
• Plays do not have to be as long as 60 minutes. They can be shorter. They can be as short as a single page if you feel that’s sufficient to tell your story.
• Please submit your files in PDF only.
• Plays in languages other than English will be accepted as long as an accompanying English translation is also provided.
• Plays should include a cover page that includes the name of the playwright, and all relevant contact information, including representation, if applicable.

Winners

A qualified Jury of accomplished theatre professionals and experts in reproductive justice will read and assess all entries.

Only the winner and runners up will be contacted directly by AisFor once the jury has made its decisions.


Grand Prize will be awarded to one play which will receive $5,000
The Second Place winner will be awarded $3,000, and the Third Place winner will be awarded $1,500.

All three plays will be presented as rehearsed readings during our virtual festival in December 2021.


Support

If you have any questions about the contest or the entry process, please email: contest@aisfor.org

SUBMIT TO CONTEST

PlayZoomers Seek Script Submissions

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Deadline: August 31, 2021

PlayZoomers, Inc., a leading U.S. online theater company, is seeking scriptssuitable for Zoom productions, for our upcoming season beginning January 2022. We produce live, monthly performances, featuring plays of different genres and lengths, with cast sizes ranging from 2 - 20. We are pleased to work closely with playwrights to adapt their work to a digital platform while reaching a new audience. Visit our website at www.playzoomers.org.

With 55 plays professionally produced virtually in 2021, and with the involvement of over 150 playwrights, directors, designers, and actors, PlayZoomers has become the leading nonprofit theater company for online productions, with an international community. We welcome theatre artists andaudience members of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.

We are looking for plays of any genre and length (ten-minute, one-acts, and full-length) that is suitable for Zoom productions. Playwrights receive a small stipend for their work if selected.

Send your script to playzoomers@gmail.com. The deadline for this round ofsubmissions is August 31, 2021.

On the first page, please include the title, author, estimated run time, and contact info. On the next page, please include a logline/brief plot summary and a detailed character breakdown, well as any production history (plays donot need to be new) and a short playwright bio.

Please format your script according to guidelines conceived by playwright Sam Graber. Guidelines can be found at https://samgraber.com/2014/12/08/how-to-format-your-script/

At the end of the script, please describe production details, such as sets,costumes, props, music, and sound effects.

We will acknowledge your script submission but will only reach out to those whohave been selected to move on to the next step.

Seeking plays inspired by Edward Hopper

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Deadline: August 31, 2021 11:59 PM

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!

The details:
Edward Hopper created brilliant works of art that are full of intrigue and possibility.
We are looking for 3-5 original short plays inspired by Hopper paintings for a production in early 2022.

Submission Requirements:
There is no financial compensation if your play is selected.
Plays must be original works.
The Hopper painting must work into the play in some way.

You may select any Hopper work of your choice, but you have greater odds of being selected with one other than Nighthawks.

Your play's content can cover any genre, but should be appropriate for the virtual theatre medium and time period of the artwork.

While many of Hopper's paintings include nudity, it is preferred that is not a part of the play (but may be implied/happen off-stage).

Running time can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as 30 minutes.

Only one play per playwright will be accepted.

Submissions must be made by 11:59PM on August 31st, 2021.

Click here to view all 182 Hopper paintings.

To submit your work, click here.

Druid New Writing script submission window is now open

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Deadline: July 30, 2021 8PM

ONLINE SUBMISSION FORM

Playwrights who submit a script during the submission window will have their work read. Scripts received outside of this time will not be considered. Scripts sent via email, post or other means will not be accepted.

The company accepts plays in the English language. For the purposes of clarity: Druid accepts translations of original plays into English which meet our criteria.

Please ensure you have read our guidelines before submitting your script.

How It Works

For the open submission process, a reading panel assists the Artistic Director in assessing your play and ensures that a range of perspectives are brought to bear on each submission.

While Druid gives consideration to all plays submitted within the allotted period, we are not in a position to give a detailed a response to each submission.

The open submission process takes place alongside commissions, workshops, mentoring, public readings and other playwright development initiatives as part of Druid’s commitment to bring new work into production.

Scripts are only accepted via our online form.

This form allows you to upload your script, supply your contact information and provide us with some basic information. It is imperative that you read the guidelines below before considering submitting a script. You will be asked to confirm that your script adheres to all guidelines.

Please do not email scripts to Druid. Scripts will only be accepted via our online form.

GUIDELINES

Submit only one script per submission window. Once submitted a new draft cannot be resubmitted unless requested.

Submit original work only.

Submit only those plays that have not had a full professional or amateur production. In this light, plays emerging from student productions or from a reading/workshop will be accepted.

Writers whose work has previously been produced by amateur theatre companies are asked to submit only those plays that are not currently intended for a future production.

Druid is not in a position to accept historical / biographical plays. For example, the company is more likely to produce a contemporary, more traditionally-structured play that has a connection to Ireland than an experimental opera about a historical figure with no connection to Ireland.

Druid is not in a position to accept radio scripts, TV scripts or screenplays. Submitted plays must be written for the stage.

Druid is not in a position to accept musicals or plays for children. Plays should be fully completed and have a running time of at least 40 minutes.

Please ensure that you are familiar with Druid’s work before submitting your script. You are expected to submit your script to Druid only if you believe it would be of interest to the company.

The aim of the New Writing process in Druid is to find new writers and voices that can be nourished rather than a finished polished piece of work. Druid looks forward to collaborating, guiding and nurturing writers, building a relationship with those voices who will grace our stages for years to come.


FORMATTING GUIDELINES

Scripts should be typed on A4 with pages numbered

Please ensure you check the spelling in your script thoroughly

Font size should not be lower than 12pt

Stage directions must be in italics

Please save your file in PDF

Your name and contact details should not appear anywhere on the script

Failing to remove your name or contact details from a script will render it ineligible

Due to the large volume of scripts received annually, Druid cannot provide detailed feedback on each script received.

SOOP to NUTS Short Play FESTIVAL 2021

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Deadline: September 20, 2021

Welcome to the 2nd Annual SOOP to NUTS Short Play Festival original short-play competition at our 530 Studios in Pelham, NY (28 minutes from Grand Central Station!)

FESTIVAL DATES: November 5th – 20th, 2021 at The 530 Studios, 530 Fifth Ave, Pelham, NY.

PRIZES: 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $250, 3rd place $100

NUMBER OF PLAYS: There will be 20 – 25 plays chosen as semi-finalists each receiving two performances (one evening / one matinee); 5 plays will be chosen for the final evening of competition.

LENGTH: one-act plays between ten and thirty minutes (no more or less!).

PARTICIPANTS: submissions may be made by any playwright, age 18 or older

FEES: there is no fee to submit, but if chosen, there is a $75 registration fee to participate

LANGUAGE: plays must be submitted in English

FORMAT: plays should be submitted in standard stage-play script format, saved as PDF file and submitted to info@sooptheatre.org

SUBMISSION LIMITS: Playwrights may submit only ONE play (please send us your best work!)
Original works ONLY! Plays may have maximum of 4 cast members, with minimal sets, costumes and props. No children’s/young adult plays. No musicals.

CASTING / REHEARSAL PROCESS: If chosen, you will be responsible for all staffing (casting, director, etc) and rehearsing of your piece. SOOP can recommend actors/directors, if need be, but make no guarantees that we can staff your piece! You are responsible for all rehearsal – SOOP will provide each play selected one free rehearsal slot in our studio space (schedule TBD), in addition to the required tech in the final week.

SOOP can provide small set pieces (chairs, tables, small loveseat, etc) as well as some more detailed props. A list will be made available to all participants. That said, we do ask that you keep ALL these requirements to a MINIMUM. Lighting will be a simple wash (lights up-lights down), sound cues can be used if provided.

REVIEW / JUDGING PROCESS:
1. All plays will be reviewed by SOOP administrative staff and the 20 - 25 semi-finalists will be chosen

2. Each of those selections will receive two performances during the first weekend (Nov 5 – 7) OR the second weekend (Nov 12 – 14).

3. Each evening’s audience will vote anonymously and the cumulative vote from both performances of each piece will determine our *5 finalists. (*Highest amount of votes from each set of five will determine the first four finalists, then the next highest vote recipient from ALL the evenings will be the fifth finalist)

4. The five finalists will perform on the final night of the festival (Nov 20th) and will be judged by a panel of theatre professionals comprised of playwrights, actors, directors (TBA)

DEADLINE: All scripts for consideration MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 9/20/21

(STN SPF, Feb/2020 Winners: 1st place, A Family Affair by Albi Gorn / 2nd place, Broken Birds by Sean O’Connor / 3rd place, Richard Nixon’s Neighbors by John Barrow)

The Womxn Center Stage Festival

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Deadline: July 21, 2021

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Womxn Center Stage October 2021
Call for Submissions
Women Center Stage is now accepting submissions from womxn artists at any stage in their careers

As part of WCS, your piece will be presented during the two-week long festival of original work, full-length pieces from CP’s Off-Broadway season, workshops, panels, and classes.

The festival will take place during the last two weeks of October in New York City.
The deadline for submissions is July 21st, 2021. We will notify all applicants by August 21, 2021.

Women Center Stage, an initiative of Culture Project, New York’s premier home for socially conscious theater, supports and promotes the work of artists who identify as womxn. It also celebrates the unique contribution of womxn to social justice and human rights. The festival has grown into a means of initiating work on all levels, a place for artists to build community, share their stories, and launch provocative and relevant new work.

The Women Center Stage Festival provides a much needed home for exploring new ideas and inspiration, testing out early stages of new work, and putting womxn artists in conversation with new audiences, potential collaborators, mentors and a vibrant community of peers. The aim of WCS is to inspire collaboration, friendship, solidarity, and to create public awareness and engagement.

Since its founding in 1996, the Women Center Stage Festival has grown into a preeminent presenter of powerful art created by womxn. This coming year will mark the festival’s 25th anniversary.

Requirements

Original work that has not been fully produced, by artists who identify as womxn.

No more than 20 minutes in length.

Can be works-in-progress or part of a full-length piece.

We will accept writers with teams but this is not a requirement. (you may choose to perform in and/or direct your own work).

Work can be in the format of a scripted play, dance-theater, dance, poetry, original monologues, physical theater and can include music, video, and experimental elements.

We will also accept re-workings, retellings, deconstructions, and adaptations.

You may submit a script idea, outline, fragment or draft; not necessarily text-based (visual diagrams, storyboards etc).

What we provide:

• 2 performances for each artist/Performance Space
• 1 Tech and 1 Dress rehearsal
• Recommendations for artistic team (including actors) as needed
• Publicity
• Rep lighting plot, projector, sound system, WCS Stage Manager, Production supervisor/designer
• Some rehearsal space may be provided

What you provide

• Your original work
• Costumes
• Music/Sound/Projections
• Artistic team
• Performers

“Take Flight” Festival

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Deadline: November 1, 2021

Full-length OR one-act plays in any genre: comedy, drama, multimedia, etc.. Musicals will not be accepted at this time.

Translations, collections of one-acts, children’s plays and plays that have received more than two full-scale, professional productions prior to submission are not eligible.

• Plays with casts larger than 8 people and unfinished works or drafts will not be considered at this time.
• Plays that have had workshops, readings or non-professional productions will be accepted.
• Electronic submissions only please.
• Only one submission per playwright is allowed each year.
• Eligible play may be produced either virtually online or live onstage. 
• Please include the following information in one attached PDF file, not in the body of your email. 
• Please do not attach multiple files. 

Complete submission packages must include:

Your contact information; Your playwriting resume; Title of the play; Character breakdown and description including total number of characters; Time and place of the play; Synopsis (no longer than 1 page); a concise paragraph describing the development history of the play you are submitting (if any), and the full script.

Incomplete submission packages will not be considered.

Email your complete submission package to

DragonflyTheatreChicago@gmail.com by November 1, 2021.

Theatre Viscera podcast seeks plays about gender

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Deadline: August 31, 2021 5PM - or once they receive 100 submissions

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2022 SEASON OF THE THEATRE VISCERA PODCAST. THIS YEAR WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR PLAYS ABOUT GENDER, WHETHER THAT’S AN EXPLORATION OF GENDER, ABOUT GENDER DIVERSE CHARACTERS, OR A STORY ABOUT GENDER OPPRESSION.

We accept plays written by queer playwrights for a queer cast, about queer characters. You can send us full length plays, one acts, or a collection of shorter works. Total submissions should be 20 pages or longer. We are not accepting musicals at this time.

Send us pdfs or word docs of your script(s).

Your submission should include a character breakdown and short synopsis of your piece(s).

Your piece must be formatted appropriately, standard play format is preferred, but if your piece requires weird stuff we support that.

We have a preference for newer or unproduced works.

Plays must be paginated.

Please limit submissions to 1 per playwright.

Theatre Viscera reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.

OUR SUBMISSION WINDOW WILL CLOSE ON AUGUST 31ST AT 5PM PST. 

WE HAVE A SUBMISSION CAP OF 100, ONCE WE RECEIVE OUR 100TH SUBMISSION WE WILL CLOSE OUR SUBMISSION WINDOW AT 5PM PST ON THE FOLLOWING DAY.

Please email submissions to theatreviscera@gmail.com

For more playwriting opportunities, check out https://playsubmissionshelper.com/
YOU CAN EMAIL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT THEATREVISCERA@GMAIL.COM

The Frank Moffett Mosier Fellowship for Works in Heightened Language

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Deadline: August 31, 2021

Monetary award to playwright: $3000 for full-length works, $1500 for one-acts.

Synecdoche Works may support further development of a submitted work at its discretion.

Conditions for Consideration

Submissions must be in a heightened version of the English language in order to provide a meaningful challenge to the actors. This includes, but is not limited to, works using metre, verse, rhyming schemes, pidgins, creoles, and code-switching.

Plays must contain at least 60% heightened language.

Submissions may be translations or adaptations of works in the public domain.

One-act submissions should target a minimum 40-minute final running time. Full-length submissions should target a minimum running time of 90 minutes.

Authors awarded a grant must be willing to participate in a brief rehearsal process culminating in a Zoom reading of their submitted work.

Submitted works cannot be currently attached to a theater or production company.

Submitted works cannot have had a prior development cycle outside of an educational program.

Submission deadline: August 31, 2021

Submission portfolio must include:
The play in standard script format, emailed as an attachment to Synecdoche Works.
A brief author biography, maximum of 200 words.

Please visit synecdocheworks.org for more information.

15th Annual Aery Theatre 20/20 One-Act Play Festival

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Deadline: July 2, 2021

Garrison NY

Aery Theatre Company, along with the Philipstown Depot Theatre, is accepting sub- missions for the 15th Annual Aery Theatre 20/20 One-Act Play Festival. Submissions must be e-mailed not later than FRIDAY, JULY 2ND, 2021. (E-mailed submissions only.) 

The Festival will be held at PHILIPSTOWN DEPOT THEATRE’S 67-SEAT STAGE in Garrison, NY, the weekends of SEPTEMBER 10-26TH.

The 20/20 has been established to provide audiences with short, quality plays from promising new playwrights, while offering a professional venue for theatre artists. (This Festival is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with funds from NYS Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature and with funds from Putnam County. Its grant sponsor is the Garrison Landing Assoc., and the Philipstown Depot Theatre is Festival co-producer.)

Twenty one-act plays (20 minutes max) will be selected by our panel of judges and will be presented on one of the first three performance dates, SEPT 10th, 11th, 12th (Fri/Sat evenings – 8:00PM; Sat/Sun afternoon – 4:00PM). Two plays from each group (plus up to two “Wild Cards” for the opening weekend) will move into the semi-finals on Fri/Sat, 8:00PM (SEPT 17th, 18th) of the second weekend. Two shows each will then be chosen from these semi-final performances for the finals on the following weekend - Sunday afternoon, 4:00PM (SEPT 26th). A combination of Judges/Audience voting will determine BEST PLAY. Awards for BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS determined by Judges voting. CASH AWARDS TOTALING UP TO $750 WILL BE AWARDED.

· Playwrights (or their representatives) are responsible for the production of their plays – including casting, rehearsals, props, etc., with the theatre providing limited set pieces, lighting and sound equipment and production staff. (In other words, take in/take out.)

· Submissions must be typed in play-script format and are limited to 20 (numbered) pages in a 12-point font size. Only plays with running times of 20 minutes or less will be eligible for prizes. Plays that run beyond 20 minutes, or are presented with significant changes in script upon presentation, may be subject to disqualification. Submissions must include playwright contact info on the title page – separate from the script, for purposes of blind judging. (Please DO NOT include playwright resumes, as these will not enter into consideration.)

· Judging for advancement in the festival is based on audience/panel of judges combination. · Submissions must be emailed to Plennon122@aol.com by FRIDAY, JULY 2ND, 2021, along with this signed application as an attachment. Playwright selectees will be notified by WEDNESDAY, JULY 16TH, 2021. Early submissions may receive early notification.

· A maximum of two submissions per playwright will be accepted. (Please don’t send more.) · There will be a mandatory pre-production on-line ZOOM meeting for all playwrights or their representatives sometime during the week of JULY 21st, 2021. (TBA)

· A signed copy of this page must accompany your play to be eligible for consideration.

· Additional inquiries may be made to plennon122@aol.com or by phone at (845) 526-2600.

The Courtship of Winds seeks short verse & one-act plays

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No deadline given

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

The Courtship of Winds publishes poetry, fiction, short dramatic pieces...

We are interested in short verse plays and one-act plays.

We accept submissions throughout the year. Please read the guidelines for the specific type of work you are submitting. Please do not submit work in a particular genre more than once in a six-month period.

Simultaneous submissions are fine, provided the author immediately withdraws any work accepted elsewhere. Courtship does not publish previously published work.

You should expect a response within six months. We regret that we cannot currently pay for accepted work.

TNP Readers Theatre “Evening of New Plays” Contest

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Deadline: June 30, 2021

One-Act Play Competition

TNP Readers Theatre “Evening of New Plays” contest is an annual event designed to give playwrights an opportunity to have their one-act plays presented to an audience in a staged reading.

Eligibility

Entries must be one act, non-musical, and no longer than 30 minutes. We suggest that the cast not exceed seven characters.

Writers may submit only one play.

Each play must be the writer’s own original work, not an adaptation, and not commercially published or produced, though it may have been work-shopped or presented in staged readings in other locations than Southwest Florida. A submitted play also may have been entered in an earlier “Evening of New Plays” contest one time, so long as it was not an earlier Finalist.

Submissions are accepted from January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2021.

How to Enter

Playwrights must follow the instructions for play submission or the play will be rejected.

All submitted plays must follow our Standard Playwrighting Format. Plays can be submitted by mail OR electronically.
If mailing a hard copy, playwrights must submit a copy of their play to “An Evening of New Plays 2020, The Naples Players, 701 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102.

A title page with the name of the play, synopsis, and list of characters must be attached to the script. A separate page, giving the name of the play, the name of the playwright, and all contact data should accompany the script but not be attached to it.** This is to help assure anonymity during the judging process.
Plays may also be submitted electronically as PDFs to: readerstheatre@naplesplayers.org.

**If submitting electronically, one PDF should be the playwright name and contact data, the other PDF should be the play with title page, etc.

Scripts may not be revised for purposes of this competition once they are submitted.

Judging

Entries may be funny, sad, scary or smart, be about character or ideas; certainly may shock, surprise or amaze, and may be in any genre. Strength of characterization, writing style, dialog, and plot are among judging criteria.

Authors retain all rights and give performance rights to The Naples Players for “An Evening of New Plays” and limited readings in other venues, including possible outreach and electronic media. Finalists and other submitters will be notified by October 31, 2021.

Performance/Awards

Finalists will receive staged readings of their plays, presented in the Tobye Studio on January 23, 2022. A reception follows for all in attendance. Finalists each may receive a $100 performance royalty and two complimentary tickets. The plays and playwrights will be publicized in The Naples Players’ web pages, social, community and national theatre media, event calendars, flyers, programs, TNP playbills and e-mail “blasts” to select lists.

Write Bites seeks plays

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Deadline: June 29, 2021

Featured Writer of the Month

• Writers of any age anywhere in the world can submit a ten-minute or one act play, or a poem of any length free of charge to barelyseeneditor@gmail.com by June 29th. 
• There is a category for plays and a separate one for poems. 
• One may submit multiple poems and plays, up to five of each. 
• Please also include a headshot and short third-person bio in your email.
• Plays/poems will be published to our site, Barely Seen at barelyseenpoems.blogspot.com after June 30th. 
• For any questions, email barelyseenquestions@gmail.com. 

Write Bites Collection

• Writers of any age anywhere in the world can submit a one page play or poem free of charge to barelyseeneditor@gmail.com by June 29th. 
• Both plays and poems will be published together in a single post to our site, Barely Seen, at barelyseenpoems.blogspot.com after June 30th. 
• One may submit multiple plays/poems, up to two of each. 
• For any questions, email barelyseenquestions@gmail.com

Powerstories - Voices of Women in Theatre Festival

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Deadline: July 15, 2021

Fee will be waived for Dramatists Guild members who send a copy of their membership with their submission.

Powerstories Theatre is seeking plays written by women for the Inaugural Voices of Women Theatre Festival scheduled for October 6 – 17, 2021. Each artist will be responsible for casting, directing, and mounting the show. All productions ideally will be presented at Powerstories Theatre with an audience and live-streamed. Due to Covid-19, artists will be asked on their application to choose one of the following methods to produce their work:

• In Theatre Performance – With a socially distanced audience
• Prerecorded Performance – Prerecording on Zoom (or other platform) and live streaming using Powerstories’ platform. Director and cast must be available for post-show Q and A after the production.

Submissions are due by July 15, 2021. Registration is $20.00 per submission. (Fee will be waived for Dramatists Guild members who send a copy of their membership with their submission.) Plays will be time-stamped. An artistic committee will review all plays and proposals, and selections will be announced by August 1, 2021. 

Submissions will be reviewed in consideration of the following criteria:

• The submission is congruent with the mission of the Powerstories and the Voices of Women Theatre Festival.
• The submission supports diversity and inclusion aligned with the festival mission.
• The submission meets Powerstories’ requirements for overall quality and development.

Your main goal is to produce a quality production! We understand some of you will be having a staged reading, some a fuller production. Your play can be a full production with a minimal set or a staged reading. The ideal length is 45 to 90 minutes to allow for one whole evening or matinee. Other lengths will be considered. All authors must be willing to have plays live streamed.

Each artist will be responsible for all costs related to casting, directing, and mounting the show to achieve the festival goals. Powerstories Theatre can help to find and match a director for your production if you wish; however, you are still responsible for costs and fees. All the selected plays will be considered for possible mainstage production at Powerstories Theatre for the next or upcoming seasons.

If selected, your production cannot have had a professional production in the Tampa Bay area one month before submission or, if accepted, have a professional production scheduled within a month of debut with the Voices of Youth Theatre Festival.

Powerstories Theatre will provide our stage for final performances, rehearsal time as per the preapproved schedule, technical assistance, marketing assistance, box office assistance, high-quality live-streaming, and a copy of the live stream video. All ticket sales and proceeds will go to Powerstories Theatre and Thrü-Line.

The theatre is a black box theatre with a 26 x 13 acting stage. We will provide artists with stage lighting, sound, projection options, and a list of available stock set pieces in our theatre. If you are bringing set pieces and props, they must fit in a small van for ease of moving in and out of the theatre. If selected, artists will receive more detailed technical information.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and leadership of Powerstories Theatre, we look forward to receiving your submissions and presenting to the world your amazing stories.

The mission of Powerstories Theatre is to stage true stories to open minds and hearts and inspire action worldwide. The purpose is to create, present, and celebrate true stories to inspire courage and deepen understanding of ourselves and others.

Chain Theatre One Act Festival

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Deadline: June 19, 2021

Please read carefully before filling out your application.

PARTICIPATION

Plays are chosen for the Chain One Act Festival based on originality, inspiration, and innovation. The background or experience of the playwright is taken into consideration, but submissions will be judged on the quality of the play. All themes or genres are welcome. Play runtime must be no shorter than 10 minutes and no longer than 1 hour. Shows will be performed in person for a vaccinated audience.

Every show will have the ability to LIVE STREAM for at least one performance.

Chain Theatre is curating the event, not producing it - each production is responsible for staffing their own director, design team and cast.

Under current conditions, all shows must be Non-Union. If AEA reintroduces Showcase Code, Chain Theatre can discuss that option at a later date.

You will assign a contact person for the piece; that person will be considered your play’s producer should it be part of the Festival.

Though we will be doing overall festival promotion, you are responsible for the marketing of your piece.

All members of your production team and cast must be vaccinated to participate. We will need proof of vaccination at the organizational meeting should you be accepted into the festival. Preferred proof of vaccination will be through the New York State Excelsior app available on your phone.


For further information of current COVID protocols at the Chain Theatre please visit: https://www.chaintheatre.org/covid-19-guidelines

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for submitting to the 2021 Chain One Act Festival will be June 19, 2021. There are no submission or participation fees for the Chain One Act Festival. Applications may be downloaded from our website. Completed the following application and you will be directed to information on submitting your play.

After completing the application form you will need to email a PDF (no Word, Pages, or Final Draft files, please!) of the script, and a brief cover letter explaining your goals for the play.

Applications ask for a contact name, address, phone, and email. Show contacts will be the one contact point between Chain Theatre and your production. The email given will be the sole email address that Chain Theatre will use to contact you regarding acceptance, any issues regarding participation, and festival communications.

We will need an estimated running time of your piece that will be factored into the programming. As such, we will enforce this time limit. If during your dress rehearsal or performance the play runs significantly over, we may insist that you revise or forfeit your participation in the festival and any ticket split revenue.

Applications that are not complete will not be accepted. No materials will be returned.


ACCEPTANCE

Notification of acceptance status will be sent by email on or about Sunday June 27.

If you are accepted into the festival, your email will inform you of the time and location of the organizational meeting to be held on June 30. IT IS REQUIRED THAT SOMEONE REPRESENTING YOUR SHOW BE AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. This meeting is where you will receive your performance schedule and meet your fellow participants. If there are known conflicts to your scheduled performances, this is a great opportunity to work out alternate dates with Chain Theatre and your fellow participants. The most complex scheduling issues are much more easily solved talking face-to face with everyone in the room.

We will be checking vaccination status of all participants in order to remove social distancing protocols from the state and provide the safest environment for everyone involved. There will be no exceptions. All Chain staff on site will be vaccinated as well.

Each accepted show will be given 8 free hours of rehearsal space at one of the Chain Theatre rehearsal rooms. Availability and scheduling of these hours is at the Chain Theatre’s discretion. They must be used to rehearse the show in the festival and cannot be gifted, sold or used for other purposes. Additional rehearsal hours/locations are the production’s responsibility. If you choose to rehearse at one of the Chain Rehearsal studios you can book online and use a 20% off code for festival participants.


SCHEDULING

The precise number of shows is TBD, based on number of submissions and running lengths. Each show will be guaranteed at least three performances with a possible one show extension. However, depending on the schedule there may be more. Performance blocks will be at 7 and 9pm during the week and will run throughout the weekend between 12-9pm.

There will be limited time between shows for changeovers. Keep in mind that when you are striking or setting up your show, another show is also likely striking or setting up. Minimalism rules. PLEASE FACTOR THIS TIME INTO YOUR TECHNICAL PLANS. Houses will be opened 5 minutes before the start time and will start promptly.

VOTING

In person voting will be collected by paper ballot provided on site. For streaming performances, voting will held online through the Chain Theatre Eventive site. Eventive will give every paid ticket buyer the opportunity to vote.

BOX OFFICE and TICKETING

Chain Theatre handles all aspects of ticketing and box office. Tickets will be $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. There are some discount tickets available, to be determined later.


TECHNICAL

You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple. The Chain is equipped with a full light board and sound system, however the board will be shared by several shows and we will maintain a standard rep lighting plot., Keep light and sound cues as simple as possible. No show will be able to refocus lights. Each company will have only one cue-to-cue technical rehearsal in the venue which will be run by a Chain Theatre hired PSM. The PSM is also available to run the board during the performances, although you may use your own if you wish. Storage space/dressing room space is also limited and will be shared by all shows. You will be given a small, unlocked area to store your props, set pieces, and costumes, which must be completely cleared at the conclusion of your performances.

Any additional equipment your show requires should be listed on your application and approved by Chain Theatre. Chain Theatre has the right to disqualify any shows that bring in unapproved technical elements. If approved, this equipment will be provided for your show by you. Chain Theatre assumes no liability for this equipment; it is your responsibility.

PUBLICITY

Chain Theatre will publicize the festival and coordinate overall press relations, including interviews and critic attendance. You may be asked to submit publicity photos and PR materials. You are also responsible for publicizing your own show through your own press releases, mailers, handbills, busking and/or posters. Should a critic accept your invitation to see a performance, this information must be forwarded to Chain Theatre so we may coordinate this. Chain Theatre will provide a blanket press kit to help all shows promote.

EXCLUSIVITY

If you are accepted to the Chain One Act Festival, part of our agreement prohibits the performance of your show anywhere in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut any time from acceptance into the festival through October 2021. Please keep this restriction in mind when accepting other invitations to perform your show during these months, particularly before you have received acceptance status notification from Chain Theatre.

WHAT TO DO NOW

1. Choose your show.

2. COMPLETELY fill out the application form.

3. REVIEW your completed application to make sure it is complete and correct.

4. Ensure that the PDFs of your script and cover letter are included in your submission email.

Please do not send under separate cover. If there are technical issues, contact us at info@chaintheatre.org to discuss them.

5. Include the title of your show in the subject line of the email and on all relevant materials.

Should they become separated, this is how we will reunite them.


CONTINUE TO APPLICATION

If you still have questions, we are available to help you in advance of the deadline at info@chaintheatre.org. You may want to print and keep or bookmark these instructions and your original application for your reference.
CONTINUE TO APPLICATION


LOCATION

312 West 36 Street
Floor 4
New York, NY 10018

CONTACT

info@chaintheatre.org

Jakespeare Virtual Theatre Company is seeking radio plays

web site

Submissions are on-going. We reserve the right to close submissions at any time.

SUBMISSION FORM

Submissions should be appox. 30-60 mins in length when performed, and be either written directly as a radio play, OR a one-act play that could be produced AS a radio play.

Currently accepting:

• one-act plays (45-60 mins.)
• radio plays​

Please do not submit ten-minute or full-length plays.

Please do not resubmit any works you already submitted.

Plays should be conducive to the virtual theatre medium (few if any sets or intricate costumes, small cast, etc.)

After submitting, please DO NOT contact us for confirmation or to ask if we have read/considered it; if we are interested, you will be contacted.

We will accept plays of any content.

There is no stipend or payment for a play selected to be produced.

We will accept only one play per playwright per month​.

Yonder Window Ascending Playwright Program

 web site

Ascending Playwrights Program

The Ascending Playwright Program is a mentorship opportunity for new playwrights age 18-25.

Writers awarded a spot on our Ascending Playwright list will receive...

- a private digital reading of their new play featuring professional actors

- a mentorship session with our Playwright in Residence; Grant MacDermott

- a featured spot on our social media and website

We are offering 5 spots in our program. Readings will take place once a month from March to July 2021.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Application Guidelines:

- You may only submit one play.

- You may submit a short play, one act, or full-length play (no longer than two acts).

- You must be 18-25

- Your play must not have had any professional readings or productions affiliated with another theatre company.

How to Apply:

Please submit the following to admin@yonderwindow.co

1. Cover Letter:

Your cover letter should explain why you are interested in the Ascending Playwright Program. You can use the cover letter as an opportunity to tell us a little about yourself and your writing.

2. Resume (only if you have one)

3. Except: 10 pages of your short or full-length play

4. Synopsis & Character List: Please include a brief synopsis of your play, one to two paragraphs should do. Also, include a character list with identifying descriptions (race, gender, age)

*If you are not chosen during the month in which you apply your application rolls over into the next month for consideration

APPLY TODAY

Marion Thauer Brown Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition is accepting adventure and comedy entries

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Deadline: May 28th 2021

The MTB Audio Drama Scriptwriting Competition celebrates exciting aural storytelling with a $250 first prize and $100 second-place prize. Authors retain all script rights.

The theme for 2021’s competition is adventure and comedy scripts that engage and amuse audiences.

There’s no fee for entry. We simply ask the following:

• Please keep to one entry per author.
• Scripts should run no longer than 30 minutes (approximately 30 pages of script)
• The script should be your original work/story. Adaptations of another author’s works or use of proprietary characters such as Dr. Who, Frankenstein, or Othello will lead to disqualification.
• Please keep the script appropriate for listeners of all ages by meeting the following conventions:
• 1) Avoid swearing. which includes “damn,” and “hell” and “God.” Failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification regardless of context.
• 2) Avoid implicit or implied sexual context. Romantic affection is fine. Details about intimacy are not.
• 3) Avoid graphic depictions of killing or torture. It is understood that people can get bumped off for dramatic capital if needed (which is not to say it is necessary to do so) but if you do please avoid disturbing intimate details.
• Given the current world situation, please refrain from submitting dystopic/pandemic fiction. This isn’t to say the subject can’t make for compelling drama, but a goal of this competition is to foster scripts that provide an escape for audiences of all ages from hearing about this topic.
• Make sure your script is action/plot driven. To meet this criteria (and prevent repurposed stage plays) each script should have at least one location change.
• Please make sure it is free of visual stage directions such as “Shonna blows him a kiss. He nods knowingly as Tyler silently walks off stage” or stage play set design details.

Winners will be announced on June 21st 2021.

The 2021 Femme Fatale Festival

web site

Deadline: May 31, 2021

Submission via Google Form 

The 2021 Femme Fatale Festival will be virtual.

Virtual Performance: August 6-8, 2021

Requirements

1. All playwrights must identify as female.

2. Script can be no longer than 60 minutes in total.

3. Script can have limited previous productions.

4. Submission limited to 1 play per playwright