The Players Theatre – Short Play Festival - NYC

Website

Deadline: March 25, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

New York City is like no other place in the world! We are seeking plays that get to the heart of the Big Apple and explore what makes this town tick. Unique New York – it’s more than a tongue twister – it is a way of life!

All plays submitted must be centered on and revolve around this theme.

ELIGIBILITY: Short Plays and Musicals with a performance time of 15 minutes or less, no more than 15 pages in length (not including title page). Writers are eligible to submit up to 2 plays.

Plays run one weekend out of three in June 2026
June 4 – 7
June 11 – 14
June 18 – 21
Thurs – Sat 7pm; Sun 3pm

DATES & LOCATIONS: June 4 – 21, 2026 The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre at The Players Theatre: 115 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012 – 3rd floor walk up: 3 weeks, 4 performances weekly (Thursday through Sunday), 5 new plays featured each week. Each play performs four times in its selected week (Week 1, Week 2, or Week 3). 

PRIZE: Each week a audience favorite is selected by audience vote. The winner of each week will receive $100 prize. If you are the winner, you must submit a PayPal account to receive your prize. THEME: “NYC” Make it all about life in NYC! All plays submitted must be centered on and revolve around this theme. ** Note ** 1) Playwrights are responsible for producing their own play – Host (us) provides theatre, technicians, marketing and box office. 2) 

If selected, there is a $50 NON-refundable tech fee required Plays MUST be NO MORE 15 minutes in length, which equals approximately 15 pages of script (not including title page). Submissions open: Feb 11, 2026 Submissions close: March 25, 2026 Play selection announced soon thereafter (it may take a few weeks after the close of the submission window). F

For more festival information visit: www.shortplaynyc.com 

Click Here to download a sample contract for the festival – This is a sample of what you would receive IF your play is accepted – please DO NOT sign & send this sample.

Thank you – we can’t wait to read your work!

RiffRaff NYC and Rogue Theater Festival seek short plays

Website

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Email your 15–20 minute script (PDF) and a brief playwright bio to:

RiffRaff NYC

riffraff.nyc@gmail.com

Subject Line: I’m In Love With An Immigrant – [Play Title] – [Playwright Name]

RiffRaff NYC and Rogue Theater Festival invite playwrights to submit original short plays for our fourth festival showcase, I’m In Love With An Immigrant.

We welcome stories that explore love in all its forms: romantic, familial, platonic, cultural, or community love. Plays should center immigrant experiences in America and highlight the emotional bonds that shape belonging, identity, and home.

Length: Plays must run 15–20 minutes

Cast Size: No more than four actors on stage

Theme: Stories must center on immigrant experiences in America connected to the theme I’m In Love With An Immigrant

Production Responsibility: If accepted, playwrights are responsible for casting, securing a director, and coordinating rehearsals (RiffRaff NYC producers are happy to assist if needed)

Participation Fee: $250, payable only if the play is accepted

Performance Dates: August 10–16

Venue: American Theatre of Actors

At the conclusion of the showcase, a panel of judges will present:

Best Play
Best Original Script
Best Director
Outstanding Performance Awards (3 recipients) – Recognizing exceptional acting, regardless of gender

Rogue Theater Festival Production Award – One selected piece will be invited to fully produce their play with the Rogue Theatre Festival at The Flea Theatre in 2027, participation fee waived

This marks RiffRaff NYC’s second collaboration with Rogue Theater Festival, continuing our shared mission of uplifting bold, diverse theatrical voices.

RiffRaff NYC is a New York–based theatre and film company dedicated to championing immigrant artists and global perspectives. Through festivals, showcases, and original productions, RiffRaff creates platforms for underrepresented voices while building an international artistic community in the heart of NYC.

Rogue Theater Festival is an independent New York theatre festival committed to supporting bold, original work from emerging and established artists. Known for fostering creative risk and providing production opportunities beyond the festival itself, Rogue helps new plays and artists grow their work on New York stages.

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival seeks short plays & one-acts

Website

Deadline: April 3, 2026

Send all required materials to: GeneFrankelTheatrePlayFestival@gmail.com

Early submissions are encouraged.

Subject line: Gene Frankel Theatre Festival – Title of Play

The Gene Frankel Theatre Festival is accepting submissions for its summer edition running from July 27th through August 16th, 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, 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 Aug. 16, 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.

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 play has been selected, will be contacted by April 10th.

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 Aug. 16th, 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 July 27th through August 16th.

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 Aug. 16th, featuring guest performances and an awards ceremony.

@genefrankeltehatrefestival

Black Men Talk Festival 2026 seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT

SUBMISSION FORM

The 10-minute play festival will be a celebration of the voices, stories, and perspectives of Black male playwrights and showcase the works of new and emerging Black male playwrights telling authentic stories of the Black experience.

The Black Men Talk Play Festival, the first of its kind, aims to honor the contributions of Black male playwrights - initiated by a Chicago-based Black playwright. The event will host three performances in Chicago in July 2026.

• Script submitted must be the final version in proper play format.
• Playwrights must submit plays that run from 8-10 minutes or 8-10 pages. Your cover page should have: title of play, your name, email address, and phone number.
• Plays should feature two to four actors.
• Scripts should be written with minimal set and costume requirements.
• One entry per person (if more than one play is submitted, we will review the first play submitted).
• Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a professional. production.
• Plays must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
• No musicals, screenplays, or monologues will be selected for this festival.
• Your submission should be your own work. 

There’s something for everyone at TPG!

Web Site: www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Script Consultations

If have a script you want feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

Richard Caliban has worked with individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

Online One-on-One Courses

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

• The Art of Playwriting
• Write a Play in 10 Weeks
• 3 Hour Short Course

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience. 

The Weekly Workshop

Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end. You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit).

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EST

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates: 

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Contact us at 

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com

The Chameleon Theatre Circle's 27th Annual New Play Contest

Website

Deadline: March 17, 2026

NOTE: THEY HAVE FILLED THEIR QUOTA FOR FULL-LENGTH PLAYS AND 10-MINUTE PLAYS

They are still seeking one-act plays, musicals and theater for young audiences work.

The extended deadline for submissions is March 17, 2026 (for email submissions) and March 20, 2026 (for paper submissions).

The Chameleon Theatre Circle (located in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota) is seeking original works that have never been produced. All styles and genres are welcomed (i.e. one-acts, musicals, full-length dramas, etc.). The winning plays are tentatively scheduled to be read in a concert-format festival in the fall of 2026. All shows submitted will automatically be placed on the slate of shows in consideration for future seasons.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
We are proud to announce that for the 27th consecutive year we are not charging a submission fee! Entries may be made either via email or on paper but not both. Submission limits per playwright are one full-length play or one one-act play or two 10-minute plays. A maximum of 65 full-length plays, 65 one-act plays, 125 10-minute plays, 15 musicals, and 15 theatre-for-youth plays will be accepted.

To submit via email, send a copy of the script in pdf or word format to jim@chameleontheatre.org. If submitting a musical, also send a copy of the music in mp3 format or a link to a public website where we can download the music in mp3 format. Also send a completed and signed entry form. Do not include any author identification information on the submitted scripts.

To submit via paper, complete and sign an entry form, and send it along with a copy of the script to the address below. We request that script copies be printed double-sided to save on paper, mailing costs, and storage. If you are submitting a musical, also include a copy of the music in mp3 format on a CD or flash drive. Do not include any author identification information on the submitted scripts.

Mailing Address
The Chameleon Theatre Circle
27th Annual New Play Contest
7287 153rd St W # 240069
Apple Valley MN 55124

The deadline for submissions is March 17, 2026 (for email submissions) and March 20, 2026 (for paper submissions).

We will distribute the scripts "blind" to our readers for complete objectivity. Include the show's title on at least the first page. Once the winning scripts have been chosen, we will disclose the playwrights' identity to our readers (and the world).

We do not accept plays that have been previously produced. We do accept plays that have only had workshops and other readings. Receipt of play(s) will be acknowledged by e-mail only upon request. Scripts are non-returnable.

As in past years, this year's contest will have multiple categories.

ONE-ACT (MEDIUM LENGTH) PLAYS

Winners will receive $50 each plus a reading at the New Play Festival. Any play that can be joined with one or two other plays of similar length to make up a complete evening of theatre will be entered in this contest. Generally, scripts with more than 20 and up to 60 pages of dialog will fall into this category.

MUSICALS

If five or more musicals are submitted, Chameleon reserves the right to create a "musical" category. Musicals are defined as any original play using original or rights permitted musical dialogue to further the story and/or the characters. Winners, if any, will be awarded a prize amount based on the length of the musical i.e., full-length, one-act, or 10-minute. In the absence of enough qualifying scripts, or if Chameleon decides not to create an additional category, musical submissions will be entered into the appropriate category as defined above.

THEATRE-FOR-YOUTH

If five or more plays intended for and/or by youth are submitted, Chameleon reserves the right to create a "theatre-for-youth" category. Theatre-for-youth plays are defined as any original play intended for young audiences, young participants, or both. Winners, if any, will be awarded a prize amount based on the length of the play i.e., full-length, one-act, or 10-minute. In the absence of enough qualifying scripts, or if Chameleon decides not to create an additional category, theatre-for-youth submissions will be entered into the appropriate category as defined above.

DO NOT SEND THEY HAVE ENOUGH 10-MINUTE PLAYS

TEN-MINUTE (SHORT) PLAYS

Winners will receive $25 each plus a reading at the New Play Festival. All short plays will be entered in this contest. Generally, scripts with 20 pages or less of dialog fall into this category.'

DO NOT SEND THEY HAVE ENOUGH FULL-LENGTH PLAYS

FULL-LENGTH PLAYS

Winners will receive $100 plus a reading at the New Play Festival. Any play that can constitute a complete evening of theatre will be entered in this contest. Generally, scripts of over 60 pages of dialog will fall into this category. It is important to note that these plays can be only one act if it makes up a complete evening of theatre.

Dallas College Mountain View Campus Theatre Department seeks 10-minute plays

 Instagram

Deadline: April 5, 2026

THEY HAVE CLOSED THE SUBMISSION WINDOW EARLY - DO NOT SEND

The Dallas College Mountain View Campus Theatre Department is looking for ten-minute plays to produce for the tenth annual ROD WILSON 24-HOUR TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL, May 29-30, 2026

Student and/or local actors along with MVC alumni will join professional DFW directors for twenty-four hours to present a Saturday evening, May 30 @ 7 pm performance. Six or seven staged ten-minute plays will be followed by an audience/actor/director/playwright talk back. There is no limit on how many plays you can submit, no theme for the festival-just keep in mind that many of the actors are teens and twenty-somethings!

Mazumdar Award 2026

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We are thrilled to open this opportunity for the next Mazumdar Award. Entries will be accepted March 1-15, 2026. The winning play will receive a cash award and a full production in an upcoming subscription season at the Alleyway (plus royalties).

One entry, per playwright, per season will be accepted.

Your play should be original, full length (75+ minutes), unpublished & unproduced.

This is for finished plays and musicals that are ready for production. We are not accepting drafts, proposals, or outlines at this time.

We suggest submitting a play with fewer than 10 actors.

The Sauk Plays in Development 2026 seeks full-length and one-act plays

Website

Deadline: March 20, 2026 5PM EDT

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's Community Theatre, located in Jonesville, Michigan is seeking entries to consider for our twelfth annual Plays-In-Development in September 2026. 

We are seeking unproduced plays. These can be any style (comedy, drama, young audience and/or musical) and any length (one-act or full-length). 

It is understood (and expected) that changes will be made to the script between initial submission and performance.

The selected plays will first go through notes with the artistic director. A show-specific director will then be assigned. The director will work with the playwright prior to an audition draft being submitted. Auditions will take place in early-August with two weeks of rehearsals prior to public readings. It is expected that the selected playwrights will be involved in the process and be in attendance for final rehearsals and the public reading in Jonesville, MI.

Playwrights are encouraged to make changes to their scripts throughout the process (often handing in new drafts on a weekly or even daily basis). The public staged readings will take place on September 4 and 5, 2026. Playwrights are expected to be on site the week leading up to the readings starting on Monday, August 31, 2026. A royalty is provided to the selected playwrights and The Sauk will provide travel and lodging.

The goal of Plays-in-Development is to help playwrights improve plays that have yet to be produced. By working with a director and actors, the playwright can learn vital information about their work. After the public readings, playwrights are able to participate in a talkback with the audience. We want playwrights to leave the experience with positive and constructive feedback to improve their plays.

Please e-mail a draft copy of the script, a one paragraph plot description and playwright's contact information to Executive Director Trinity Bird at saukpid@gmail.com. Playwrights may submit no more than two scripts. We are NOT looking for scripts intended to be performed online. Plays may not have had a public reading and/or performance in the past. Classroom and non-public readings are fine.

The play selection committee will review all submissions and select the scripts to be part of the process. The selected plays will be announced on or before May 1, 2026.

Seoul Players seek 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Please send an email to seoulplayers2010@gmail.com, and the subject line should be “10MPF Script Submission”. Please include your full name and any other pertinent information in the email.

For (our) convenience, please format the filenames like this: “[Insert Play Title]” and “[Insert Play Title] – blind”. Doing it this way makes things so much smoother!

We will need two versions of the script you wish to submit: one with full attribution and one with no contact information, and both of them in standard PDF format. This is so that our readers can blindly assess the scripts for performance in our festival with as few personal biases as possible.

We’re looking for scripts for the upcoming 2026 Ten-Minute Play Festival. Submissions will open March 1st, 2026. From the first to the fifteenth (Beware the Ides of March!!), playwrights can submit one script for free. After the 15th, all submissions will require a $5/5,000 won submission fee, as explained below. Submissions will close at the end of April.

The Theater Center’s Making It Happen Festival - Call for 10-Minute Plays

Website

Deadline: March 24, 2023 at 11:59 PM

SUBMISSION FORM

THE THEATER CENTER, located in the heart of Times Square, is seeking submissions for a 10-minute play festival happening Spring 2026. Plays of all genres, performance types, and subject matter. There is no submission fee and no participation fee.

How the Festival Works:
15 new plays will be presented over three Wednesday evenings at 7pm, with 5 plays performed each night. 

• April 8th
• April 15th
• April 22nd

At the end of each evening, the audience will vote for their favorite plays. The top two plays from each night (6 total) will advance to the Final Showcase on Wednesday, April 29 at 7pm where they will be performed again and the audience will vote to select our Festival Winner. The evening will conclude with an Emerging Artist Collective Celebration, where all participating playwrights and creative teams are invited to return and celebrate together.

All plays will take place at the Jerry Orbach Theater, a 199-seat Black Box theater fully equipped with lights, and built-in mic sound system. See space details here.

Submission Deadline:
All plays MUST be submitted by Tuesday, March 24th @ 11:59 PM

All Participants Receive:

• An Off-Broadway credit for their play
• An invitation to The Theater Center’s Emerging Artist Collective

Finalists Receive:

• A free 30-minute consultation with The Theater Center’s General Manager, Catherine Russell, covering marketing, budgeting, and general management for your show.

Festival Winner Receives:

• The winning playwright will receive an opportunity to discuss further development of their work with The Theater Center, including potential pathways for future production and artistic collaboration.

Requirements:

• The play must be 10 minutes in length (approx. 10 pages). If you would like to submit a monologue/one person play, it should come in under 10 pages.
• Playwrights MUST provide their own actors, director, and stage manager. 
• At least one member of the production team must be a resident of one of New York City’s five boroughs.
• Please ensure you and your team are available for all relevant festival dates.

Production Guidelines:
Each production will have 15 minutes total to set up, perform, and strike their piece.

Productions should be minimalist in design. All specific props or set dressing for your production must be supplied by you.

Each piece will receive a 1 hour tech slot on the day of their performance, beginning at 12:00 PM.

Basic lighting cues will be available. A tech supervisor will operate lighting, and productions may choose from pre-set lighting cues.

Sound cues may be played via amp and AUX connection if needed.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to: makingithappenfestival@gmail.com

If you require any additional help or assistance with this, please feel free to reach out.
THE THEATER CENTER (located at 50th & Broadway) is an Off-Broadway theater complex in the heart of New York's Theater District offering two intimate theaters, productions, acting classes, and event spaces. 

Playwrights on Park Reading Series 2026/2027 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: March 14, 2026

Submit plays through this Google Form

Playwrights on Park Reading Series at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT is currently accepting submissions for the 2026/2027 season.

No late submissions will be accepted.

IMPORTANT INFO:

Playwrights must be able to attend the staged reading and the audience discussion that follows in West Hartford (Connecticut.)  There will be a rehearsal on the day of the reading, in which attendance by the playwright is optional but strongly encouraged. Transportation may be provided from NYC or New England locations by the Playhouse. Readings will be on select Sunday nights throughout the season at 7:00 pm.

Playreading dates TBD

We will select five plays for readings in the 2026/27 season. Final selections will be made by July 1st, 2026

Submission Guidelines:

BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, womxn, Latinx, and differently-abled artists are strongly encouraged to submit

We are seeking FULL-LENGTH plays. No musicals or One-Acts at this time

We are only seeking plays with small casts (4 or fewer actors), particularly 2 or 3-character casts. Plays that cannot be accomplished with 4 actors or fewer will not be considered.

Include any production or workshop history, as well as biographies of the playwright and any collaborators. Please let us know if this play has had an equity reading within the past 6 months.

Playwrights may self-submit or go through a literary agent.

Connecticut-based and NYC playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit

Please do not submit any plays that have already been submitted to Playwrights on Park in the past.

Any submission that goes against the above guidelines will be automatically disqualified.

Playwrights on Park webpage: https://www.playhouseonpark.org/web2/newworksseries.html

HystericalFest: Women+ Act Out seeks short scripts and monologues

Facebook Page

Deadline: April 5, 2026 at 11:59 CDT

OR when they receive 250 submissions 

SUBMISSION FORM

We are seeking short scripts and monologues centering around women (and those of traditionally marginalized genders) and invisible disability to be a part of our first-ever "HystericalFest: Women+ Act Out" on August 28-30, 2026 at the Piven Theatre in Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago).

Producers of this short comedy festival are Violet Surprise Theatre (queer-feminist theatre company); actress/advocate/3Arts awardee Terri Lynn Hudson; and playwright Paula Kamen/aka Hysterical Productions.

Whether your play has been produced before or you've just finished writing it, we'd love to read it!

Length guidelines:

• Scripts of up to 10 pages
• Monologues of up to 3 pages

Eligibility: 

• Submissions may be made by anyone but must be about the experience of women, non-binary people, and those of traditionally marginalized genders.
• Plays & monologues will address the absurdities of living with invisible disabilities, which we very broadly define.
• Plays can be straightforward, absurd, or even experimental.
• Plays do NOT have to be new or unproduced.  
• Each person can make up to two different submissions.
• Those from anywhere in the world are eligible to submit.
• We especially encourage submissions from those experiencing both visible and invisible disabilities at the same time, queer people, people of color, and older playwrights.

We offer a small stipend to all artists involved to make participation more accessible. (Funded by a generous grant by the Evanston Arts Council.)

Our philosophy: For centuries, a way to diagnose a woman (or woman-adjacent person) for hysteria was if they were dramatic and seeking attention about their otherwise invisible illness. In this short comedy festival, we are turning the tables, embracing the forbidden, literally "acting out." Comedy reflects the absurdity of our experiences, and theatre provides a way to relieve isolation, build community, and confront stigma.

***Violet Surprise Theatre values artists and takes the ethics and integrity of the work we produce very seriously. We will NOT accept any scripts where generative AI was used in any capacity, nor will we accept any work that promotes or encourages usage of generative AI. No exceptions.***


For any questions, email Pearlie at violetsurprisetheatre@gmail.com.
For more about Violet Surprise, visit https://linktr.ee/violetsurprisetheatrechicago.

Arkana Magazine seeks short plays for its Micro issue

Website

Deadline: March 16, 2026 at 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

For our Micro Issue, please submit scripts for the stage or screen that would last, if performed, five minutes or less.

We publish work by established and emerging writers unaffiliated with the University of Central Arkansas. We accept previously unpublished fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, scripts for the stage or screen, translation, artwork, and illustrated narrative through our Submittable submission manager.

Simultaneous submissions are always welcome. We only ask that you withdraw your piece as soon as you accept another opportunity.

As a compendium of the rare, intriguing, and unheard, we’re looking for quality writing that is thought-provoking and literary. 

We are especially interested in work that explores the identities and experiences of writers from the Delta region, BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, women, disabled, and neurodivergent writers, the resource-poor, writers over 50, those who have experienced or been impacted by incarceration, or anyone whose voices have traditionally been silenced.

MICRO ISSUE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Up to 500 words of prose (fiction or nonfiction), double-spaced
• Limit 1 submission per genre until you’ve received a response
• Up to three poems per submission, up to 10 lines per poem
• Up to 5 photographs or pieces of art. For illustrated narrative, one page or panel.
• Cover letter with a brief biographical statement
• Up to 5 minutes of script for the stage or screen
• Up to 1 minute for a video essay

The Manifestival seeks one-act & full-length plays

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Submission Form

Festival Theme: "What does it mean to be human as could only be told by you?"

We invite digital submissions of new 60–75 minute plays designed for intimate production to be performed during our festival from July 16th - Aug 9th. 

Scripts should feature a cast of no more than five actors and be adaptable to minimal technical and design elements, including simple lighting and sound cues and a sparse set (one table and two chairs). One Night Series Productions will be for one night only during the course of the festival. 

One Night Series productions slots cost $500 each made payable to Diamond Mesh Inc. upon acceptance into the festival. In exchange, Artists will receive a performance slot for their piece as well as 90 minutes of rehearsal time in venue (Paradise Factory) and an additional 2 hours of rehearsal time at a Manhattan based studio in the weekends leading up to the festival. Diamond Mesh will additionally provide front of house, concessions, and a board op for each production. 

All remaining production will be handled by the artist, and the artist will, in exchange keep 100% of the gross from their 1 night run. We will also have a few pieces selected for our 'Signature Series' these shows will be offered a 3 performance slot for an increased performance fee and increased rehearsal time.

In an age of global interconnectivity and hyperpersonalized algorithms, it has never been easier or more convenient to discover what it is that truly engages and inspires each of us as individuals. And yet, this collective immersion into to the digital realm has simultaneously made the rough edges of the physical world cut deeper against our skin with each interaction. As the age of AI begins to emerge, humanity stands on the precipice of taking an even further leap into the depths of digital dependency; and at the crossroads of mending the divide between those around us, and embracing it. The question, therefore, of what it means to be a human being has never been more important to reexamine and to discuss. Since live theater is the one artform which, itself, cannot entirely be divorced from the human element; which still demands both a sustained duration of concentration and a communal gathering in a physical space, we, as theatre-makers, are presented with a unique opportunity to tap into our hyper-personalized experiences and transform them into bold and original art that strives to build bridges of understanding between people and communities.

The annual McLaren Memorial Comedy 2026 Festival

Website

Deadline: March 12, 2026

Please send submissions to AChris@mctmidland.org

Midland Community Theatre (Midland,TX) invites playwrights to submit a 30 to 40-minute one-act, or a cutting by the playwright of the same length for the McLaren Memorial Comedy Festival 2026. Submissionsshould gravitate toward the inherently comedic.  

Our selection committee will choose three finalists to be performed at the festival in a reader-style performance in our main proscenium theater.

With permission, each play will be filmed for archival purposes for the playwrights' portfolio. Each play will receive a 15-minute moderated talk back following the performance, in which playwrights are welcome to submit questions for actors and audience, and the audience is encouraged to ask questions of the actors/directors/present playwrights.

All submissions should be sent to: achris@mctmidland.org

Submission requirements:

• Seeking plays that are mostly comedic in nature
• Seeking works that have yet to be published
• Script length –
• Approximately 40 minutes
• Scripts that exceed 50-minutes will be disqualified
• Playwrights may send a 40-minute excerpt of a
• longer play, if desired

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace video excerpt

GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace was chosen as the winning selection for the NYCPlaywrights BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project. 

You can learn more about Kenndall Wallace and her work at New Play Exchange and on her Instagram.

The selected excerpt, performed by Linda Obasi.

Linda Obasi is an actor born in Nigeria and raised in the United States. Her acting credits include theatre, film and voice over projects such as Waking Kya, Uniform Justice, The Breakpoint, Overseas and The Fufu Diet. She studied acting at The Theatre School at DePaul as well as Western classical music at DePaul and Cornell Universities. Linda appreciates the privilege of collaborating with artists across cultures to bring life to stories that entertain, inspire and enlighten. 

Full credits at LindaObasi.com and IMDb.

Black Girlz Productions Call for Submissions: Love Letters to Black Women

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Submission Method: Email entries to blackgirlzproductions@gmail.com.

Theme: Love Letters to Black Women

This call celebrates the beauty, strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women everywhere. Writers, poets, and creatives are invited to submit heartfelt love letters that honor, uplift, and affirm Black women in all their forms—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, lovers, leaders, and dreamers.

*Letters will be read at our virtual event. Small honorarium for selected writers and readers*

Format: Letters, poems, monologues, short prose (no word count)
Tone: Authentic, loving, and empowering.
Eligibility: Open to everyone.
Submission Limit: 2

Follow us on twitter and Instagram @blkgirlz12
www.blackgirlzproductions.com

Gi60 NYC & Gi60 Houston: Call for Play Submissions 2026

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Deadline: May 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

• Submissions must not last longer than 60 seconds
• Your submission needs your name, play title, geographic location, and contact information in the document as well as filled out in this form
• You may submit as many one minute plays as you wish, but only one submission per form entry
• All work must be totally original and the author's own work
• Plays should not have been previously produced
• Please do not submit plays that have been submitted to Gi60 prior to 2026 for consideration
• Entries from schools should include a teacher's contact and the school name, as well as that of the author
• For consideration in Gi60 Houston and Gi60 NYC, plays must be submitted by May 1, 2026

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• There is no submission fee, prize or payment for Gi60 participation
• Copyright remains with the author
• Plays lasting longer than 60 seconds may not be considered
• The organizers may use individual plays to promote the Gi60 festival
• Final play selection will be announced on the Gi60 city websites and social media
• Gi60 NYC is staffed and created by professionals who are volunteers and give their time free of charge
• The organizers reserve the right to cut scripts without notification where necessary. (E.g. if a play is running significantly longer than 60 seconds, we may delete some small lines if their intention is communicated elsewhere in the script)
• Gi60 festivals may be recorded and made available for viewing on the Gi60 International YouTube Channel. To view past plays: Gi60 Channel YouTube or the Gi60 International Channel YouTube.
• Gi60 is a Screaming Media Production (c) 2004
• PLEASE NOTE: We annually receive between 700-900 submissions. Due to the high volume of plays we receive each year we are unable to write to individual playwrights to notify them if their play has not been selected. 

We look forward to reading your play!
--Gi60 NYC & Gi60 Houston

There’s something for everyone at The Playwrights Group!

  

Script Consultations

If have a script you want feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

Richard Caliban has worked with individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

Online One-on-One Courses 

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

• The Art of Playwriting
• Write a Play in 10 Weeks
• 3 Hour Short Course

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience.

The Weekly Workshop 

Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end. You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit).

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EST

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates:

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

Contact us at

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com