The Barr Hill Players: Script Submissions for 2025 Fellowship Staged Reading

Website

Deadline: May 15, 2025

"priority may be given to early submissions"

Script submission form

As a part of our 10th annual season, the Barr Hill Players (BHP) will present a staged reading of new works by emerging playwrights. Selected scripts will be workshopped by our ensemble of acting fellows during the BHP summer intensive in Greensboro, VT, then presented for a developmental staged reading at La MaMa ETC Galleria in New York City on August 16, 2025.

At BHP, we believe actors can serve as generative collaborators in the development of new plays. This reading creates an opportunity for playwrights to gain an outside-in, actor-led perspective to inform further development of their dialogue-driven work.

Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Regular Deadline) / June 15 (Late Deadline)

*Priority may be given to earlier submissions

Length: Full-length (60-100min)

Cast size: 8-12

*Scripts that can be cast with exactly 12 actors are particularly desirable​

The scripts we’re looking for are:

Written for “balanced” ensembles (all roles have meaningful stage time)

Grounded in spoken dialogue (not primarily movement-based, not musical/sung)

Somewhat flexible in ensemble composition (gender, ethnicity, age, etc.)

Eligible under the Actors’ Equity Staged Reading Guidelines (have not been/will not be registered with Actors’ Equity for a Reading March-August 2025

You may submit up to 3 plays for consideration. If you submit the form more than 3 times, only the first 3 submissions will be considered. Please review the FAQs below before submitting.

​
FAQ

Q: Do you charge playwrights fees?

No, there are no submission or production fees associated with this opportunity.


Q: Will selected playwrights receive money from ticket sales?

No – the reading will follow Equity protocols for a staged reading, so tickets will not be sold, and the reading will be by invitation only. (The playwright will have the opportunity to invite guests.)

​
Q: If selected, what will I have to do?

Nothing! If selected, you will NOT be responsible for finding a cast, director, venue, date, or even attending the reading, though we encourage you to attend.

​
Q: Will playwrights attend the Barr Hill Players core intensive in Greensboro, VT?

No, selected playwrights will not attend our 2025 intensive. However, we hope to build lasting relationships with playwrights that may translate into residency and full production opportunities with the future – so if these opportunities excite you, please apply!

Q: The script submission for isn't working for me. What should I do?

You may email your submission with all the inputs required (on the online form) to info@barrhillplayers.org.

SkyPilot Theatre Company, seeks original one-act plays

Website

Deadline: May 15, 2025
(Fee waived for members of the Dramatist Guild with proof of membership)

SkyPilot Theatre Company, a non-profit ensemble company of actors, directors and designers producing provocative, compelling and challenging new works for the Los Angeles theatre-going audience, will once again present a selection of original one-act plays this Fall. Playwrights are invited to submit works based on the theme “Second Chances”.

Do you believe in redemption? Forgiveness? Does everyone deserve the chance to redeem themselves? If you could go back and do it differently, would you? Will you allow them to? Perhaps going forward you are given the opportunity. Comedic or dramatic. Life or death. The possibilities are endless and so will be the fun. Playwrights are asked to submit one-acts based on this theme.

Parameters are as follows:

Length – 20-30 minutes maximum
6-8 characters maximum
Submission Deadline – May 15th
Original, never produced material only, no adaptations
No musicals
No elaborate costumes or elaborate sets


Submission fee is $10 (Through PayPal or Venmo: SkyPilotSubmissions@gmail.com) (Fee waived for members of the Dramatist Guild with proof of membership)

Once again this year, there will be two awards given out to playwrights. The Audience Award and the Producers Award will include a cash prize of $50 each and will be voted on and awarded to two of the overall plays selected for the festival at the end of the run.

Please submit one play per playwright with “One Act Festival” in the subject line to SkyPilotSubmissions@gmail.com by May 15th. In your submission, please include a synopsis, how it fits the theme, and any performance history. For more information on SkyPilot and its upcoming productions, visit www.skypilottheatre.com.

The Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre 2026

Website

Deadline: May 15, 2025 at 5pm EDT.

Edward Kleban, the lyricist of A Chorus Line and other extraordinary works, created the Kleban Prize in his Will, which is given annually to writers of extraordinary promise – to a librettist and a lyricist, respectively. Kleban designed the prize based on his personal experience as a promising writer. He was acutely aware that, though composers and musicians may often work within the theater, lyricists and librettists generally have to work outside the theater in order to support their writing. He wanted a prize of sufficient size to allow promising writers the time to simply write; his creation of the prize flowed from his desire to help other worthy artists like himself.

The prize is administered by New Dramatists on behalf of the The Kleban Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. To ensure a robust and equitable adjudication, applications (including work samples) are submitted and reviewed blind by an independent panel of musical theatre artists and industry leaders. The Kleban Foundation Board sets the amount of the Prize annually. In recent years, a sum of $100,000 in each category has been paid in two annual installments to Prize recipients.

Eligibility

Kleban’s instructions, as interpreted by the Board, specify that applicants must meet either of the following criteria: 1) The applicant must previously have received a production of one of their works on a stage or in a workshop performance; or 2) The applicant must be or have been a member or an associate of a professional musical workshop or theater group, i.e., ASCAP, BMI Theater Workshop or the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program.Any individual whose work has been performed on the Broadway stage for a cumulative period of two years prior to the opening of the application window is not eligible. In the case of multiple Broadway productions, the sum of the lengths of the runs must not exceed two years.

If the material is co-written (written by more than one lyricist or more than one librettist) all writers must apply as a team. (This does not include the composer unless s/he has also contributed lyrics or text.) Each applicant must be eligible in their own right to apply.

Applicants may apply in both categories, but must submit a separate application for each category and may win in only one such category.

Applicants may only apply once per category per year.

Applicants may win in only one category.


Application Materials

Submissions are coded and reviewed blind. The name(s) of the writer(s) must NOT appear on any submission materials, including in the file names or file author information. Do NOT include hyperlinks in your files. Failure to meet this requirement may render the applicant ineligible. Only work from musical theater will be considered. Materials must be in English.

LYRICIST CATEGORY

Submissions must include lyrics for a minimum of five and a maximum of eight songs.
The lyrics may be from one or various shows.
Audio files/recordings of each song are strongly encouraged but are not necessary. Acceptable formats are mp3, ogg, and wav.

LIBRETTIST CATEGORY

Submissions may consist of a full-length musical book, or one act from two separate shows.
Lyrics should be included in the libretto even if they were written by someone other than the librettist.
Submission files must be in either word or PDF formats. Audio files are not accepted in the librettist category.

Application Step-by-Step

You will no longer be required to have an account on the New Dramatists website to complete a 2026 application.

It is in your best interest to prepare your materials (script document, resume document) for upload in advance, and to complete the application in one session. Your progress will be saved automatically if you continue in the same browser, but there is not an option to save.

1. Click the appropriate button below to begin your application. If you are applying in two categories, simply return to this page.

2. You will be asked to confirm you are eligible to apply. In the text field you must provide details substantiating your eligibility. Optionally, upload a resumé.

3. Fill in your full name, address, phone number and email address. If you have a co-lyricist or co-librettist, enter their information here.

4. For a Lyricist application, upload a text document for each song. You will also have the option to upload audio files for each song. For a Librettist application, upload your Musical text file. If you are submitting two acts from separate musicals they must be combined into one file. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON ANY OF THESE SUBMISSION MATERIALS.

5. Check the box that you have read and agree to our Privacy Policy, and click “Submit Your Application” to complete the process. You will receive a confirmation that your application has been received.

Lyricist Application

Librettist Application

Baltimore Center State Trans History Project commission

Website

Deadline: May 11, at 11:59PM EST 

SUBMISSION FORM

The Trans History Project is a revolutionary national initiative. Created by Bo Frazier, Baltimore Center Stage’s Artist-in-Residence, and led by Baltimore Center Stage and Breaking the Binary Theatre, this project aims to commission, develop, and publish 10 new plays about the real history of gender non-conformity which has existed across all cultures since the beginning of time. 

There will be 10 Trans and Gender Nonconforming playwrights (TGNC) commissioned by BCS who will subsequently be placed into 2-year development residencies at theaters across the country in 2 cohorts. Cohort 1 will begin Fall 2025 and Cohort 2 will begin Fall 2026. 

MISSION: 

• Tell the history of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming people across all cultures who have existed since the beginning of time 
• Commission and pay 10 TGNC playwrights/creators/writers
• Create a cohort of theaters to develop and program TGNC stories in their seasons 
• We hope to publish a TGNC canon/anthology of the 10 plays
• Enable Regional Theaters to engage, uplift and empower their local TGNC Communities

SUMMARY:

In an effort to teach the world our TGNC history and build a “Trans Canon,” Baltimore Center Stage is partnering with other forward-thinking theatrical institutions across the country to commission, workshop (and hopefully publish and produce) 10 new plays by 10 TGNC writers of differing cultures, allowing them to tell stories of TGNC folks from history/folklore and how it relates to the aggressive legislative attacks seeking to “eradicate” our community from society. 

Cohort 1 will begin a 2-year residency at a major theatre in the 2025/26 season with Cohort 2 beginning the following 2026/27 season. Starting in 2026, the writers, dramaturgs and artists will come together for an Annual Summer Convening hosted by Baltimore Center Stage.


COHORT 1 RESIDENCY THEATER PARTNERS : 

• Rattlestick Theater – New York City, NY 
• Diversionary Theatre – San Diego, CA 
• Round House Theatre – Bethesda, MD
• Baltimore Center Stage – Baltimore, MD

APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Applications are due Sunday, May 11, at 11:59PM EST

Project Eligibility:

• Must be an original story or adaptation about the history of transgender or gender non-conforming people/culture before our timeCan take place in modern times but must be about history i.e. Great Privation by Nia Akilah Robinson, or Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. 
• Can be a play with music, choreo-poem, realism, magic realism, expressionism, docu-drama, but we are not accepting full musicals at this time
• Can be from one writer, a devising team, or writing team, but please know that the commission fee is per project, not per artist. 
• Can be a completely brand new idea or a script that has a full draft but cannot be a piece that has been previously produced
• We are open to writers of all disciplines who want to write for theatre

Applications must include:

• Project Pitch or Full Draft
• Artist Statement Video or Essay
• Resume/CV 
• Long Writing Sample 
• Statement of Connection to the Material
• Statement of Style/Form and how it utilizes history
• Contact Info & Headshot

For full transparency, here is some insight on process and selection:70% of stories chosen will be from the Global Majority/BIPOC experience

We are seeking diverse cultural representation and forms of storytelling within the cohort of 10 plays

Each theatre may have different preferences like cast size, or interest in only local playwrights etc. 

Each theater is not required to produce the play they develop, but has agreed to seriously consider it in their 2027/28 season selection 

Our Reading Committee will evaluate each submission and each writer will be chosen by BCS and BTB staffs in conjunction with each regional partner

Each Selected writer will receive: $10,000 Commission Fee
Dramaturgical/Research Support
A 2-year residency at a theatre that will include:1 Reading in the 2025/26 Season
1 Workshop in the 2026/27 Season
Travel/Housing to our Annual Summer Convening beginning Summer 2026
Regular Share-Out/Support Zoom Meetings with fellow cohort members throughout 2-year residency

Stories can be (but not limited to): a retelling of folklore from your culture, a factual/fictional story about real historic people, or a brand new story about an existing trans or gender nonconforming culture/identity below 

• Two Spirit (Native American)
• Hijra (India)
• Sulawesi (Indonesia)
• Kucek (Ottoman Empire)
• Bakla (Filipino)
• Muxes (Mexico)
• Dagaba Tribe (Ghana)
• Public Universal Friend (USA)
• Amun (Egyptian)
• Okule and agule (Congo & Uganda) Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé De Larverie (USA)
• Amelio Robles Ávila (Mexico)
• Dionysus (Greece)
• Nommo intersex teachers (Mali, Africa)
• Joan of Arc (France)

And there are endless more examples from history that we were never taught…

Looking for inspiration? Check out: Eli Erzel’s Coloring The Past
Our Glossary of Articles about TGNC Identities throughout History
Free Trans Library TransReads

Green Mountain New Play Festival Summer 2025 Festival seeks plays of any length

Facebook page

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Plainfield, Vermont

THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR SUBMISSION WINDOW

The inaugural Green Mountain New Play Festival is now accepting submissions for its summer 2025 festival, taking place August 8-10, 2025 as part of the brand-new Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival, a division of Plainfield Little Theatre at The CreativeCampus@Goddard in Vermont.

This exciting new venture is dedicated to fostering bold, original voices in contemporary playwriting. Selected playwrights will receive a staged reading with professional directors and actors.

Submissions are open through June 1, 2025, and there is no fee to apply.

The festival seeks unpublished, unproduced plays from emerging and established playwrights. Any length, any characters, any theme - we are looking for a diverse selection of plays and will build the festival according to chosen submissions. No musicals please. One submission per playwright.

Three works will be selected for staged readings during a weekend of new play development and celebration. Selected playwrights will be notified in early July.

Once a progressive hub for radical education and artistic exploration, Goddard College has recently closed its doors as an academic institution. But the spirit of creativity and experimentation lives on. TheCreativeCampus@Goddard is a bold new initiative to reimagine the historic Vermont campus as a thriving, interdisciplinary arts and culture space. The Green Mountain New Play Festival is proud to be part of this next chapter—welcoming artists back to the grounds to make new work, build community, and carry forward Goddard’s legacy in fresh and vital ways.

For questions, please contact Erin Galligan Baldwin: egalliganbaldwin@gmail.com.

Thumbcoast Live Theaters seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: May 9, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

Marine City Michigan

ThumbCoast Theaters is putting out the call to all playwrights who have something written and would like to see it on stage. This Summer in Marine City, the tradition continues as ThumbCoast Theaters presents Playfair’s Second Year. 

In addition to one-act plays, ThumbCoast is now looking for full-length shows. Selected productions will be presented at the Snug Theater in a workshop format for the author to see their production on its feet and be able to receive feedback for polishing their material. In the spirit of collaboration, feedback may be received from the audience as well as fellow artists. Performances will go up at the end of June.

Lab Theatre Project seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2025 at midnight

Tampa, Florida

LAB Theater Project is officially seeking bold, original new works for our 11th season—running January to December 2026.

We are on the hunt for powerful stories that spark conversation, challenge perspectives, and reflect the world around us. How do we live, feel, and respond to the times we’re in? What truths are you ready to reveal? Show us the mirror you’re holding up to society and the ways your work can inspire change and ignite cultural shifts.

Above all—captivate us with a story we won’t forget.

Are you ready to make your mark? We can’t wait to read what you’ve got.

Format: PDF only, please.
Limit: One script per playwright. Make it count!
No AI: Your words, your ideas, your voice. Let’s keep it human.

If you’ve got questions, drop us a line at submissions@labtheaterproject.com.

We are currently accepting new work. We will accept one submission per playwright for a full-length work and comedic short. Sending multiple scripts to us will result in none of them being read. We want to read what you feel is your best work that you seek for us to produce. Unproduced work only. Staged or even concert reads are acceptable in the production history. Produced, even in community theater, makes the work ineligable for submission to LAB.

LAB runs on a calendar year season, January to December.

For all submissions, please provide in the body of your email a 100 word playwright bio, a 100 word synopsis of your play, and production/development history of the work. You may submit directly to submissions@labtheaterproject.org.​

For full-length work, please provide: A PDF document with the title page, scene breakdown, character breakdown and only the first 20 pages of your script. Submissions received after the deadline will be held for consideration for the following season.

For comedic short submissions to our annual LAB Laughs/Comedic Short Festival, please submit a PDF of the full play. Submissions received by August 1st will be considered for the next production of LAB Laughs, usually in the following summer. All received afterwards will be held for the next season.

321 Plays for Trans Futures Submissions

Instagram site

Deadline: May 1, 2025

 SUBMISSION FORM

321 Plays for Trans Futures is an 11-hour long performance art show centering work & artists within the gender expansive community. You do not need to identify as trans/gnc/nonbinary in order to submit, but we will prioritize work centering trans+ experience for this piece.

We are seeking writers, artists, and musicians to submit work responding to the following prompts: Birthplaces, Homes, Memorials, Creation for Survival, & Futures. These prompts are the themes of each ~2-hour long movement within the show. We are specifically seeking work that can be performed in 2-5 minutes, but are also open to longer and non-temporal works. These prompts are meant to serve as an inspiration-- if your work lives outside the scope of these themes, please submit it anyways.

We will cast an ensemble to perform all 11 hours of content. If you live in the Chicago area & would like to perform your own piece, please indicate that in the form below. If you're a performer, keep an eye on our social media for a casting call for the ensemble.

Please submit a piece that you'd like to see featured in this project by May 1st, 2025. We will accept submissions on a rolling basis. After submitting, PLEASE keep an eye on your email.

We will pay each selected artist $15. You may submit as many pieces as you'd like for consideration, but you will receive a flat $15 if any of your work is selected for 321 Plays for Trans Futures.

2025 International Playwriting Prize Carlo Annoni

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2025

Send your submission to info@premiocarloannoni.eu

1000 € awarded to two best plays (one in English and one in Italian)

The Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize is now open for submissions with topics concerning the LGBTQ+ community, including love, diversity, and identity in a time of gender fluidity. 

We accept full-length or short plays even if already represented.

Award ceremony in Milan, September 2025.

The Loop Festival seeks playwrights

Website

Deadline: none given

Submission form

Click here to complete the interest form to be a playwright for the 2025 Loop Festival experience. 

Video of presentation and all feedback transcribed will be provided.

Requirements include:

have a new play or musical written for young artists 13-20 to perform.

eagerness to hear responses from young adult artists and other audience members in order to to make revisions as needed.

be willing to participate remotely via video conference tools and during the Pacific Standard time zone of 9 AM - 4 PM.

Thrown Stone Theatre Company CT Short Play Fest

Website

Deadline: May 5, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

Thrown Stone Theatre Company invites playwrights to submit short plays for the inaugural CT Short Play Fest, hosted in conjunction with the SoNo Arts Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

The CT Short Play Fest gives playwrights the opportunity to see their work performed and adjudicated before a live audience at the SoNo Arts Festival. In its inaugural year, the Fest will feature five plays in the afternoon session focused on teen and young adult playwrights, the winner of which will advance to the evening session to compete against five additional selections.

Please read the complete guidelines below before submitting, as multiple submissions are not allowed. If you have any questions prior to submitting, please contact us.

THE FEST IS PERFORMED IN TWO SESSIONS:

AFTERNOON SESSION

Five short plays written by high school- and college-aged playwrights. The winner of this session will advance to compete in the evening session.

EVENING SESSION

Five short plays by practicing playwrights who have had at least one previous professional or academic production, plus the winner of the afternoon session.

All plays will be adjudicated by a panel of industry professionals, who will provide feedback and select winners from each session.

Please Note: All selected plays will be presented as script-in-hand staged readings.

FEST DETAILS

Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025

Afternoon Session: 2pm
Evening Session: 6pm
Venue: The Crystal Theatre, 66 Bayview Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850

REQUIREMENTS

Playwrights should submit the following via our submission form:

• Script: The complete short play in PDF format.
• Synopsis: A brief (150-word max) synopsis of the play.
• Character Breakdown: A description of all characters, including any specifications for race, age, gender, etc., if applicable.
• Playwright Bio: A brief bio, including your experience as a playwright.

GUIDELINES

• Length: Submissions must be between 7 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 and not previously published, produced, or performed at any prior festival.
• Cast Size: Scripts must feature a cast of no less than two and no more than six actors. While the script can include more than six characters, the roles must be covered by no more than six actors. Solo shows will not be considered.
• Actors: Plays will be read by a dedicated house cast of 8-10 professional actors, selected and managed by Thrown Stone Theatre Company. This ensemble will perform all roles and stage directions for the festival. Non-traditional casting is likely, and will be handled respectfully according to the requirements of the play.
• Staging Requirements:Scripts should be suitable for a minimalist staging format, with actors reading from music stands.
• Minimal or no use of props, lights, sound, or other technical elements is required.
• Stage directions will be read aloud by members of the house cast unless otherwise specified in the script.
• Language: There is no restriction on the language, but if not in English, accurate translations must be provided with the submission, and the material must be reasonably understood by an English-speaking audience.
• Originality: Scripts must be original; unpublished; not previously produced; not previously selected or adjudicated in any festival; owned entirely by the playwright; and not generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence.
• You Belong: Thrown Stone Theatre Company encourages submissions from playwrights of all backgrounds and identities.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Please note that we will accept and review up to 100 submissions for each session. Early submissions are encouraged as the review process will close once this limit is reached.

THROWN STONE THEATRE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE A venue at the Crystal Theatre, including a basic lighting plot, pre-set general lighting cues, and basic sound equipment.
A professional house cast for all roles and stage directions, as well as music stands and chairs for use during staged readings.
Front- and back-of-house personnel, including a board operator if needed.
Recognition of the selections and winners on Thrown Stone Theatre Company’s website.

PLAYWRIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES

Playwrights are encouraged to: Attend rehearsals
Collaborate with the creative team on any necessary script updates

TIMELINE

Submissions Open: March 5, 2025
Submission Deadline: May 5, 2025
Selection Notification: June 16, 2025
Fest: August 2, 2025

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Originality: Does the play present a unique perspective or idea?
• Theatricality: How well does the play use the tools of live performance?
• Central Dramatic Question: Is there a clear and compelling central dramatic question driving the play?
• Feasibility: Plays should be adaptable for performance by the house cast, with consideration given to flexible casting within the ensemble.
• Fun: Short plays for a festival should be fun. If your play isn’t fun, there should be a fun reason it isn’t.

FEST RECOGNITION

Selected plays will be recognized on Thrown Stone Theatre Company’s website under the categories:Fest Selections TYA: 

Afternoon Session (Teen/Young Adult) Selections.
Fest Selections: Evening Selections.
Winners from each session will also be indicated on the website. Selections may be linked to their corresponding pages on newplayexchange.org if applicable.

ABOUT THROWN STONE THEATRE COMPANY

Thrown Stone Theatre Company is the only professional theatre in Connecticut exclusively dedicated to new work from commission to development to production. Learn more and book tickets at thrownstone.org.

Union County Playmakers 10 Minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: May 15, 2025

Monroe, North Carolina

Send to: email info@unioncountyplaymakers.org

or

· To Attn: Terrie Sloan, P.O. Box 1382, Monroe NC 28111

Writers ages 15 and older may submit one original work (no adaptations) that has not been previously published or performed and is suitable for general and youth audiences.

Interested in trying your hand at playwriting or already an accomplished writer? Start writing now or dust off that draft that needs editing. Submit a 10-minute play for an opportunity to have it produced if it is selected for Union County Playmakers’ New Play Event. Performances will be held at the Union County Community Arts Council on Sunday, June 22 and 3 p.m. 

Writers ages 15 and older may submit original work (no adaptations) that has not been previously published or performed and is suitable for general and youth audiences. Submissions may be rejected if they are determined to be inappropriate or if they cannot be produced under the production restrictions of time and space. No more than two scripts per playwright may be submitted.

Playmakers will provide the space for auditions, one technical rehearsal, and performance, and may also provide minimal set pieces. Playmakers will also promote the event, hold auditions, and assist with identifying a director.

· Write a ten-minute play using the standard script format that can be performed on a bare stage or with limited staging and props. Please format your script using the Samuel French formatting style, which can be found at: https://www.scribd.com/.../Samuel-French-Formatting-Guide...

For more information, please email: info@unioncountyplaymakers.org

Hello Godot - FreshWords' One-Minute Existential Play Anthology

Website

Deadline: May 5, 2025

1. Theme and Tone

Plays must explore existential themes such as meaning, futility, waiting, hope, despair, or the absurdity of existence.

Tone can range from darkly humorous to poignant or tragic, but should align with the spirit of existential literature (e.g., Beckett, Camus, Sartre).

Submissions should resonate with the idea of "waiting for Godot" or the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.


2. Format and Structure

Each play must be exactly one minute in length when performed. This typically translates to 1-2 pages of dialogue or action.

Plays should be minimalist, with a focus on concise, impactful dialogue and action.

Maximum of 2-3 characters per play to maintain simplicity and focus.

Stage directions should be minimal but clear.


3. Originality

Submissions must be original, unpublished works.

Plays should not infringe on any existing copyrights or intellectual property.

Adaptations or reimaginings of existing works (e.g., Waiting for Godot) are acceptable as long as they are transformative and original.


4. Submission Details

Submit your play as a PDF or Word document with the file name: HelloGodot_YourName_PlayTitle.

Include a cover page with:

Play title

Your full name

Contact information (email, phone number)

A brief bio (50-70 words)

Email your submission to dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com with the subject line: Submission: Hello Godot – [Your Name].

5. Rights

Playwrights will retain copyright to their individual works.

6. Deadline

Submissions must be received by May 5th, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.

7. Selection Process

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of editors and theatre professionals.

Selected playwrights will be notified via email by May 10th, 2025.

We look forward to receiving your one-minute existential masterpieces! Let’s explore the absurd, the profound, and the fleeting moments that define our existence together.

Read & Rant Submissions July 2025

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

Athena Project’s Read & Rant program seeks to combine the sharing of theatrical work with the wider public and aspects of new play development while also fostering collaboration between playwrights and dramaturgs. We operate this program with the goal to create digital opportunities for early and mid-career playwrights, uplift writers and dramaturgs overall, and highlight artists who identify as an underrepresented gender. At Athena Project, we want to create a safer space for expression and growth for artists that identify as woman or nonbinary. 

Submissions are now open to be considered as a featured script at Read & Rant on July 21, 2025. The event will be on Zoom from 6:30pm-8:30pm MST. Tickets to attend the event are free and open to the general public through online event registration.

How does it work?

-Submissions are open until April 30, 2025.

-Once submissions are closed, we will select four playwrights via RANDOM LOTTERY. Those four will be asked to submit full copies of their scripts. 

(*Note you do no need to submit your script now, we will be reaching out if selected)

-These scripts will be read by a small cohort of dramaturgs. These dramaturgs will assess each scripts then select two scripts to be featured at the Read & Rant event. (The two scripts not selected to feature will still receive written feedback from our dramaturgical team)

-If your play is selected to be featured, it will be provided in advance to attendees of Read & Rant, who are expected to read it prior to the event.

-At the Read & Rant, a dramaturg will guide an open discussion with the audience to answer questions and provide feedback on your work.

Please keep in mind that rather than providing a platform for a reading or a dramaturgical deep-dive consultation, it works more like a Book Club! A general audience receives and reads the scripts in advance of the event, then a dramaturg uses their expertise to guide a discussion around the play. It is designed to give early-stage scripts audience feedback, and the dramaturg helps guide that discussion to ensure the feedback is productive and helpful.

If you have any questions, please contact Em Perez at literarymanager@athenaprojectarts.org. Thank you!

Eliot Hayes Award 2025

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

To Submit: Use the online form to upload your essay without identifying information in PDF format and a separate PDF with all of the identifying information outlined here using the form below.

Named in honor of Elliott Hayes, the former dramaturg and literary manager at The Stratford Festival and a dual citizen of Canada and the USA, this award recognizes excellence in dramaturgical work on a specific project over the past two years. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, production, season planning and implementation, educational programming, or advocacy for the profession.
Application Information

The recipient of the 2025 Elliott Hayes Award, presented at the annual LMDA conference, will receive $1000 USD and a $500 USD travel stipend to the LMDA conference held in San Diego, CA, USA/Tijuana, Mexico.

There is no application fee. Applications will be evaluated through an anonymous application process. The application is open to all.

All applicants will be notified of the panel decision and the winner will be notified by May 16, 2025. However, the public announcement will be kept private until the presentation of the award at the LMDA Conference in Summer 2025.

For the purposes of this application, if you self-identify as a dramaturg, you are a dramaturg. If you come from a culture that does not view dramaturgy as separate from other parts of the creative process, or does not have a word for dramaturgy, and you feel your work fits within the rubric above, please contact us at admin@lmda.org to speak further.

All applications must meet the above-mentioned standards for eligibility.

Only one application per person.

Although we welcome applicants from anywhere in the world, the application must be in English.
The application must be a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 4000 words. There will be no reward for brevity nor punishment for length. Within the already stated boundaries, the essay should be exactly as long as it takes for you to make a strong, clear, and cogent argument for the nomination you are putting forth.

At this time, we do not have the capability to review secondary materials such as videos or slideshows. Although their inclusion will not disqualify an application, they will not be reviewed. No letters of reference are needed - nor will they be read if sent. As well, please do not include a resume in your application, as we are concerned with only the strength of your proposal and what currently engages you, not your history.

In order to facilitate the anonymous application process, you must provide two separate documents in PDF format:The first discussing the work with no identifying information (including the name of the work, your name or the name of the person you are nominating, or the city, state or country in which the event took place. In other words, nothing can be included which is searchable on Google or any other search engine. The phrases "the work", "the director", and "the process" are all fine substitutes.
The second document will include all of the identifying information not present in the first, including your name and contact info or the name and contact information of the person/work you are proposing. Your application will be reviewed by a panel of dramaturgs who represent the extraordinary talent and diversity found within our profession. Only the Executive Director, who collects applications, will see the identifying information. The panelists will not know the identity of the winner until after a decision has been reached.

Although you are welcome to propose the work of others, that other person must be known to you, you must have had a real-life interaction with said person, and you must be able to provide contact information for them.

Any project you propose cannot have been completed before July 1, 2024. It is fine if the project is still underway. Ideally, it should be completed by December 31, 2025, though exceptions may be made for extraordinary work.

Each project may only be proposed once for the Elliott Hayes Award. While there is no limit to the number of years in a row one can apply (see note below), each year must feature a new project.

The winner of the award must appear at two conferences, either in person or virtually (using an application such as Zoom.) The first appearance would be to accept the award, and the second to present it to the next year's winner.
The winner of the Elliott Hayes Award is required to sit on the next year's adjudication panel.

Note: If you have won or received a special commendation for the Elliott Hayes Award, you may not reapply for three years.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Lindsey R. Barr, Executive Director, at admin@lmda.org

If you don't receive an acknowledgement of your application within 72 hours, please contact awards@lmda.org.

We look forward to your consideration!

Barter Theatre Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights 2026

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2025

Please send play and a brief synopsis to:  apfestival@bartertheatre.com

Six new Appalachian plays are chosen from the submissions to be given public readings by Barter’s company.

The playwrights are brought in at the beginning of the festival week to be a part of the rehearsal process. Each play is given about 8 hours of rehearsal time with the focus being on clarity of story.

After each reading, there is a moderated discussion between a panel made up of three regional theatre professionals and, most importantly, the audience, for their feedback. That way, the playwright receives feedback from three separate groups: artists, panelists, and audience.

Playwrights have found this to be a very useful step in developing their plays, as well as a wonderful opportunity to meet other artists, make new friends, and enjoy the beauty of Southwest Virginia!

Plays must be written by an Appalachian playwright (currently living in a state that contains the Appalachian Mountain Range— which, for our purposes, run from New York to Alabama.)

OR 

• The plays must be set in the Appalachian region.
• Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a full professional production.
• Plays must be full length.
• Plays must be submitted electronically.

Roving Peregrine seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Google Form: https://forms.gle/Me5RFCwbvQg2Mkb79 

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Roving Peregrine is seeking submissions for an event supporting Trans Lifeline being produced in October. The Roving Peregrine Theatre Company isn't taking any money from the tickets, it's all donated and were looking for playwrights to donate their time and talent to the cause. The shows are not fully produced, they are staged readings. We're looking for short plays (20 minutes or less). 

Must:

• be no more than 20 minutes long (roughly 20-25 pages or less)

• Feature and highlight joy in the Queer Community (Its doesn't have to specifically be about Coming Out)

• be an original work by me (we are not accepting adaptations at this time, you can use public domain characters, but it must be in a new story)

• be a new work that has had no more than two (2) professional productions

• have 5 characters or fewer

HINDSIGHT 2025 International Short Play Festival seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: May 1, 2025

Left Edge Theatre, Santa Rosa, California

How to apply:

In fewer than 100 words, tell us how your play addresses the theme “Tyranny.”

Email your answer together with your play (in Word or pdf format only) to: jenny@leftedgetheatre.com 

Two Staged Readings of 10 x 10-minute plays

Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 at The California Theatre, Santa Rosa, CA

Left Edge Theatre is calling for submissions of new short plays for its annual Hindsight Festival, now in its fifth year. Left Edge is located at The California Theatre in downtown Santa Rosa, Sonoma County - the heart of wine country and just an hour’s drive north of San Francisco.

Playwrights from around the world are invited to send in submissions. Winners will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their work with the director and cast before the performance, online or in person.

The Theme: TYRANNY

Hindsight plays focus on events happening now or within the last 12 months. Our theme this year is tyranny in all its forms – political, domestic, or any other version you feel truly passionate about. Your play can be in any genre, but it must be new, current, and demonstrate the theme “Tyranny” in creative and imaginative ways. We are looking for plays that challenge and inspire us to think, feel and act.


The Rules:

Your play must be no longer than 10 minutes.

Your play must not have been previously performed in Sonoma County, CA.

Playwrights may only submit up to two plays each.

Small casts preferred.

Stage directions will be read aloud during performance and are encouraged to help set the scene and explain the action.

Playwrights must include a brief explanation of why the play fits the theme “Tyranny.”

Why you should apply:

10 winning plays will receive two live staged readings by Left Edge actors at The California Theatre, a performing arts venue in downtown Santa Rosa.

Winning plays will be published in a print collection.

The performances will be filmed and a free link of the recordings made available to you.

Winning playwrights will gain exposure and new relationships with the Left Edge artistic community and Sonoma County audiences.



Questions? Email: jenny@leftedgetheatre.com

2025-26 PlayGround-NY Writers Pool

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2025

Submission form

– 25 early-career playwrights as well as 3 alternates will be competitively selected from applications to form the Writers Pool.
– Members of the Writers Pool may submit scripts to be considered as part of the Monday Night PlayGround-NY staged reading series. Four times each season, September through March (see tentative schedule below), PlayGround-NY will announce a prompt and Writers Pool members have just four-and-a-half days to generate an original short script (max. 10 pages) inspired by the prompt. The top six scripts each round will be staged publicly with leading local directors and actors. Those not selected may submit their scripts to Recess for cold readings via zoom (see below).
– From the plays staged throughout the season, up to six will be selected for Best of PlayGround-NY (produced in April 2026).
– Writers Pool members can gain peer feedback on their work by participating in Recess cold readings (one week after each Monday Night PlayGround-NY and generally via Zoom) as well as through a staff one-on-one session (available upon request). New this year, Writers Pool Alternates will have full access to Recess.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

– Writers must reside within the five boroughs of New York City
– NEW THIS YEAR: Writers Pool members must commit to submitting for ALL FOUR Monday Night PlayGround-NY events in a given season (see below for schedule, subject to change). Writers failing to meet the eligibility requirements must sit out the remainder of the season and one additional full season. Alternates are asked to submit each round and may be admitted to the Pool should there be an opening during the season.
– The submission of a script to Monday Night PlayGround-NY grants PlayGround-NY the exclusive option to stage the play as part of the Monday Night PlayGround-NY and, should it be so selected, to present the world premiere as part of Best of PlayGround-NY and non-exclusive option to publish the script in a “Best of PlayGround” anthology.
– Current members of the Writers Pool must reapply in order to be considered for the following season.


WHAT TO SUBMIT
– Playwrights must submit a 10-page max, properly formatted script as PDF attachment. Both previously produced and unproduced scripts are eligible. See below for formatting examples.
– The script must have the playwright’s name, address, email and phone number at the top of the first page and include a detailed cast breakdown, and all pages must be numbered.
– The script title must be labeled by Lastname, Firstname_Title (e.g., Shakespeare, William_The Tempest).
– Excerpts from longer works are not accepted but short plays that meet the above requirements and are derived from a longer work are accepted.
– BIPOC, trans/gender-non-conforming & playwrights with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
– Applications must be received by 11:59pm PT on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

To view sample script formats, click the link(s) below.
Submission Format #1
Submission Format #2

WRITERS POOL ANNOUNCEMENT
– Applicants will be notified of selections on or before August 1, 2025.
– Selected writers must attend a mandatory company meeting on Sunday, August 24 (time to be announced).

2025-26 SCHEDULE (subject to change)
MNP1 Topic Announced: September 19, 2025
MNP1 Scripts Due: September 23, 2025
MNP2 Topic Announced: October 31, 2025
MNP2 Scripts Due: November 4, 2025
MNP3 Topic Announced: December 19, 2025
MNP3 Scripts Due: December 23, 2025
MNP4 Topic Announced: January 30, 2026
MNP 4 Scripts Due: February 3, 2026

Chaotic Merge Issue 9 Submissions

Website

Deadline: May 10, 2025 11:59 PM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

*Note: We don’t have themes for Issues. We believe all art forms and genres can beautifully collide into a Chaotic Merge.

Chaotic Merge is looking for submissions from all different forms of artists. We seek work that is adventurous and test the border of art and structure. Don’t be afraid to mess with everything you have ever learned. We encourage the voices of people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to submit their work.

General Submission Guidelines
All work(s) should be submitted through Submittable with either Garamond or Times New Roman 12pt. Font. Please look below to see if the section(s) you are submitting to have specific guidelines. We have the right to refuse the right to read your work if submitted otherwise.

Disclaimer:
As a Magazine, we do not tolerate and reserve the right to reject or not to respond to work that contains racism, homophobia, violent themes, etc. content.

Content Warnings:
Please include content warnings for any sensitive material after the title of your piece or by messaging us directly. If you do not know if it should have a trigger warning or not, put it in there anyway. It can only help.

Note:
All our zine are all online only. Our regular issues are print & online.

SCREENPLAY/ PLAYSWe accept up to 2 unpublished Screenplay or Play totaling to 10 Pages.

Famous Plays Who We Feel Are Very Chaotic Merge: Wolves by Sarah Delappe, Wives by Jacklyn Backhaus, and The Flick by Annie Baker

FAQ

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TIME?
Our response time is 1 month – 3 months for print issues. If you haven’t received word back from us by then, you may send us a query to our email chaoticmergemagazine@gmail.com or through submittable. Please remember we are doing the best we can to get back to you as quickly as possible.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SUBMIT PER READING PERIOD?
A person can submit up to one time per category (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc.) per submission period.


DO YOU PUBLISH ALREADY PUBLISHED WORK?
Chaotic Merge Magazine publishes only unpublished work, unless we ourselves request for them. By submitting your work, you affirm that you are the sole author and maintain all rights for your work. By submitting your work, you authorize Chaotic Merge Magazine to publish your work in both its e-journal, online platforms, and print.

DO YOU ACCEPT SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS?
While we accept simultaneous submissions, please notify us on our email (chaoticmergemagazine@gmail.com) or through submittable immediately to withdraw your work once it has been accepted elsewhere.


DO YOU PAY YOUR CONTRIBUTORS?
We offer a small $3-$5 payment for each work(s) accepted. Currently, that is the best we can do for our writers, and we are working on improving this amount in the future. Also, all works will be considered and nominated for The Pushcart Prize.