THE LARKING HOUSE Playwright's Intensive 2026: Open Submissions

Website

Deadline: August 15, 2026

or after 300 submissions have been received

Anaheim, CA

THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR 300 SUBMISSION LIMIT - DO NOT SEND

Do you have a play that’s ready to get off the page and into the rehearsal room? The Larking House is now accepting new, unproduced, or in-process plays for the 2026 installment of our Playwright’s Intensive, a writer-driven program to jumpstart your play and lead the shape of its development.

This season, we are seeking 4 new scripts by local and remote playwrights to be workshopped and presented over a weeklong program. We’re seeking one-act and full length plays that have yet to be fully produced. Each play will be cast and directed over a series of playwright-oriented workshop rehearsals, culminating in a staged reading and response session from invited respondents. The intensives will take place between October 18th and November 14th, with one playwright’s work explored and developed each week. This year we will have two remote sessions, and two in-person readings for California-local playwrights in the Orange County area.

Submission Guidelines:

• Unproduced or lightly-produced plays.
• One-acts or full length plays between 30~120 pages. (Unfortunately, no musicals.)
• Casts of at least 2 to around 10 performers.
• One play per submission, and one submission per playwright (or per writing team).
• Please send your script in .PDF format only.
• Include on your first page: title, author’s name(s), submission email, and relevant contact info.

The Playwrights Intensive is an unpaid workshop opportunity free of charge, supported by volunteer artists and facilitators. We are an ensemble of emerging and evolving theater artists, forming a home for collaborative development in Anaheim, CA.

Torch Literary Arts seeks one-act plays by Black Women

Website

Deadline: rolling basis every Friday

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Torch Literary Arts welcomes submissions of original creative work by Black women writers. We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what contemporary writing by Black women should be. Your stories and poems are valuable and necessary. Write freely and submit work you are excited to share with the world.

Manuscript GuidelinesInclude a one (1) page cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted and a brief bio. The cover letter page does not contribute to the overall page count.Note: Submissions without a cover letter may not be read.

Upload your text submission as a Word (DOC, DOCX) or portable document format (PDF).
Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
Numbered pages.
Margins should be set at no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5”.

Drama/Screenwriting: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than fifteen (15) pages. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained. Indicate if a performance video or dramatic audio reading will be available with the text submission if selected.

10th annual PlayGround Solo Performance Festival

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026 by 11:59pm

SUBMISSION FORM

PlayGround invites submission of proposals for the 10th annual PlayGround Solo Performance Festival, to take place at PlayGround’s San Francisco venue, Potrero Stage, with live online simulcast, January 15-February 7, 2027. 

PlayGround is interested in diverse voices and approaches, including storytelling, clowning, music, dance, multimedia, comedy, etc. In addition to new works by individual writer-performers, we are also interested in collaborations between separate writers and performers as well as adaptations of existing material in the public domain, historical biographies and/or historical events. BIPOC, trans/gender-nonconforming, and artists with disabilities encouraged to apply. 

Running time for proposed pieces can be up to 50 minutes without intermission.

FESTIVAL GUIDELINES

PlayGround will select up to 20 performers to each receive 3 public performances at Potrero Stage with live online simulcast within the festival period. Performers will each receive 2 hours of technical rehearsal (date and time TBD). PlayGround will provide the theater, simulcast setup and digital platform, front-of-house and technical staff, marketing, publicity, and box office services.

– Selected projects will receive three performance slots over the course of the festival

– Selections will be determined by lottery; up to 15 slots will be guaranteed to PlayGround-affiliated artists and up to 5 slots will be offered to non-PlayGround artists

– Projects must culminate in the off-book public presentation

– Performances in the 2027 Solo Performance Festival must run be between 30-50 minutes with setup/strike of no more than a half-hour on either side.

– Projects must participate in PlayGround’s radical accessibility program, including free admission (with PWYC donation option) and online simulcast.

– Projects involving union artists will have the opportunity to be presented under PlayGround’s SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement (deferred) and all performers, regardless of union status, would then be expected to sign a SAG-AFTRA agreement; projects are solely responsible for the terms of artist compensation and for fulfilling those terms.

– Upon selection, projects will be responsible for remitting to PlayGround a $600 facility licensing fee for three performances, due by October 1, 2026.

– PlayGround will provide the following: fully-equipped Potrero Stage, Technical Director, House Manager, Board Operator, Streaming Broadcaster, as well as co-marketing, production management consultation (1 hr), and box office services;

– PlayGround will split box office proceeds 50/50 with producing teams.

Secret Theatre FLYING SOLO 6

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Please submit as soon as possible, we accept plays on a rolling basis.

SUBMISSION FORM

FLYING SOLO 6 September 2026

Festival Dates: SEPT 14th-20th Call for Submissions for Flying Solo 6! 

READ THIS FIRST : This an application for a solo show of any length up to 60mins please do not fill this out for any other submission - there are separate systems for full length and short plays featuring more than one character

Savage Wonder seeks 10-minute plays or musicals

Website

Deadline: July 3, 2027

SUBMISSION FORM

Savage Wonder (Beacon, NY) prides itself on opportunities for veteran writers. Savage Wonder offers on-going playwriting competitions as well as the Savage Wonder literary blog. You may select which opportunity interests you below.

Savage Wonder is accepting submissions for our 10-minute playwriting competition. 

Submissions may include plays or musicals. 

Playwrights must meet one of the following criteria:

Current or former: US military, law enforcement, fire service, EMS, foreign service, intelligence service, DoD employee, DoD Contractor; or Immediate family of the service member.

We are looking for work that is whimsical, intimate, absurd, and surprising. Unlike some past competitions, we are not looking for straightforward dramatic realism or non-fiction storytelling. Bring us something that takes a risk — something that could only have come from you.

The competition winner will receive a $1,000 grant.

The second-place finalist will receive a $750 grant.
The third-place finalist will receive a $500 grant.

All winners and finalists also receive feedback from the panel of judges. In addition, winners and finalists may be invited to become Savage Wonder Resident Artists where they will have the opportunity to develop and submit plays and musicals for commissioning and production at Savage Wonder.

Plays and musicals can be any genre and any subject matter. 

Playwrights may submit more than one work. 

Submissions should not have been previously produced and/or published. 

Winners and finalists will be notified via email no later than Sunday, July 4, 2027 (note: we will make every effort to have results back to submitters ASAP; however, in order to ensure fair treatment of each submission and to plan for any contingencies which may arise, we are providing a worst-case scenario for our timeline). 

There is no participation or submission fee. 

There is no guarantee that winners' or finalists' work will be produced by Savage Wonder. 

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest

Website

Deadline: December 31, 2026

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

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

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

Eligibility

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

Content Requirements

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

Allowed Formats:

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

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Length Guidelines:

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

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

Prohibition on AI-Generated Content

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

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

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

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

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

Submission Requirements

• Format:

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

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

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

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

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

Submission Process

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

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

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

• Each entrant may submit up to two plays.

Evaluation Criteria & Winning

Entries will be judged on:

• Quality of storytelling and dramatic structure

• Creative integration of Northern Michigan Asylum themes

• Originality and artistic vision

• Character development

• Stage feasibility

• Musical quality (for musicals)

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

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

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

Northern Michigan Asylum Playwriting Contest — Submission Guidelines 

Rights and Permissions

• Playwrights retain all rights to their work.

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

Winters Theater Company 10-minute 2027 Play Festival

 Website

Deadline: August 15, 2026, 5:00pm PDT 

Submission form on the bottom of the page

The popular annual 10-Minute Play Festival returns to Winters Theatre Company for the 2027 season! To submit your original 10-minute play to be considered for the 2027 Festival, please review the festival requirements and then complete and submit the application form below.

Rules and Requirements: 

Any play submission must come directly from the original playwright/author of the play. 

Every play must be fully performed in 10-minutes or less.

Script should not rely on more than minimalist props.

You must be 18 years of age or older to submit an application for the 10-Minute Play Festival. 

There is a limit of 1 play submission per author for the 10-Minute Play Festival.

If the selected play runs over 10 minutes, the director and producers reserve the right to edit the script to meet the 10-minute requirement.  Author will be contacted in advance. 

General Information: 

There is NO THEME. 

There is NO FEE for the author to submit a play or to participate in the 10-Minute Play Festival.

There is NO COMPENSATION for author/director/cast member(s).

The festival will consist of 8 play selections (all 10-minutes or less) in 2 acts.

The festival performance dates will be weekends in late February / early March 2027

We will announce the plays selected for the festival by 11/01/2026.  Given the volume of submissions, we will only contact the authors whose plays have been selected. 

 Winters Theatre Company will select directors for each selected play.

Winters Theatre Company will advertise for the 10-Minute Play Festival via their website, social media, printed media, and press releases.  The website will include a short synopsis of each play, author bio and link to author website and/or social media.

 Plays will be selected, in part, based on their portability, overall length, transition time, and the ability of the script to tell the story without excessive reliance on props or costumes.

We're looking forward to reading your play submission!

The script doctor is in the house! 🩷

Sarah Congress is an award-winning playwright and script doctor for film, TV series, theatre, and fiction here to help YOU take your script to the next level. She provides a fun, nurturing, therapeutic, environment to best suit your individual writing needs. 

Script Services:

• Help clients fine-tune their scripts
• Offer rewrite suggestions to help tighten and polish your story
• Improve dialogue
• Punch up jokes and suggest opportunities for humor 
• Help you learn how to HOOK a reader's interest 
• Assist in finding submission, production, and publication opportunities 

More about Sarah: 

Sarah has taught group writing classes for the Hoboken Historical Museum, Project Write Now, The Knowledge Project, and the Hudson Valley Writers Center. This year, her vampire satire Not Gucci was named a Top 30 play by Centre Stage's 24th Annual New Play Festival, her full-length horror/comedy Delulu was read at AWP Baltimore 2026, and her period piece Last Sunrise was performed at Under Saint Marks Place, NYC in June. She is represented by Anthony Tall and works part-time for the Dean's Office at Columbia University, School of the Arts.

Visit Sarah's website to learn more and connect.

New Dramatists 7-Year Residency

Website

Deadline: August 10, 2026 at 11:59 EDT
Or until a maximum of 700 submissions is reached, whichever comes first

UPDATE: As of 4:00pm on Friday, July 31, we have received 588 complete submissions. Please do not delay if you intend to apply.

APPLICATION FORM

This cycle, New Dramatists will recommend to the panel that they select a group of no more than 5 incoming writers, managing the size of the resident company in order to provide robust support.

ELIGIBILITY

Any playwright who is a U.S. citizen or who resides in and has the legal right to work in the United States may apply for the 7-year residency at New Dramatists as long as they can meet the submission requirements of 2 full-length plays and a biography or resume.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

HOW TO SUBMIT

Before beginning your application, please download and read the Guidelines for Resident Company document at the bottom of this page.

It is in your best interest to gather the documents required to upload to the application—two "blind" scripts and your bio/resume—early in the window, and submit your application in one session. You may be able to pause and return to your application as long as you continue working in the same browser, but this is not our recommendation. Once you complete the final step to “Submit Your Application”, you will no longer have access to your application.

Please email our Literary Services Manager Connie Hall admissions@newdramatists.org with any questions.

The Harbor New Musical Initiative

Website

Deadline: August 30, 2026

Or until 40 eligible submissions have been received

SUBMISSION FORM

The Harbor New Musical Initiative was created to discover, develop, and produce exceptional original musicals by emerging and established writers from around the world. Each year, one musical will be selected to receive a fully staged production as the Season Finale of Harbor Theatrics, along with a $250 honorarium, a guaranteed run of at least six public performances, and collaborative support throughout the production process.

Unlike many submission opportunities, every accepted musical will receive personalized written feedback from our Literary Team. We believe every writer deserves thoughtful consideration, constructive feedback, and the encouragement to continue creating.

To ensure every submission receives the attention it deserves, only 40 eligible musicals will be accepted each year.

Whether this is your first musical or your fiftieth, we invite you to share your story with us.

1. Eligibility

Submitted musicals must be original, full-length works that have not received a previous full

professional or community theatre production. Workshop productions, staged readings,

developmental presentations, concerts, and festival performances are eligible. Submitters must

own or control all necessary rights.

2. Submission Window

Submissions will be accepted from August 1, 2026 through August 30, 2026, or until 40 eligible

submissions have been received, whichever occurs first. Incomplete submissions may be deemed

ineligible.

3. No Submission Fee

There is no fee to submit. Submission does not guarantee selection.

4. Ownership

Authors retain all copyright, publishing, licensing, and intellectual property rights.

5. Review Rights

By submitting, authors grant Harbor Theatrics permission to distribute materials to its Literary

Committee solely for evaluation and to retain copies for internal review and archival purposes.

6. Feedback

Every eligible submission accepted into the initiative will receive personalized written feedback from

Harbor Theatrics' Literary Team. Feedback is constructive artistic commentary and does not

guarantee future production.

7. Selection

Harbor Theatrics has sole discretion regarding eligibility, finalists, and selection, and reserves the

right not to select a musical if no submission is deemed suitable.

8. Production Agreement

Selection does not constitute a binding production contract. A separate production agreement will

be negotiated with the selected author(s).

9. Script Revisions

Any suggested revisions will be collaborative and require the approval of the author(s).

10. Honorarium

The selected musical will receive a $250 honorarium according to the production agreement.

11. Production Rights

The selected author(s) agree to negotiate in good faith for the non-exclusive rights needed for the

Summer 2027 production. All future rights remain with the author(s).

12. Marketing

The selected author(s) grant Harbor Theatrics permission to use approved promotional materials

solely for marketing the Summer 2027 production.

13. Withdrawal

Authors may withdraw their submission at any time before selection by providing written notice.

14. Cancellation

Harbor Theatrics reserves the right to postpone, modify, or cancel the initiative due to unforeseen

circumstances.

15. Acceptance

Submission constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

16. Confidentiality

Harbor Theatrics and its Literary Committee will treat all submitted materials as confidential and will

not distribute or publicly discuss them outside the official review process without the author's

permission.

17. Contact

Harbor Theatrics

St. Louis, Missouri

www.harbortheatrics.org

info@harbortheatrics.org

The Bite Sized Theatrical Spooktacular 2026

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We are looking for original short plays (or other theatrical pieces) that are 10 minutes or less. 

This production is on Halloween, and we encourage any submissions that may resonate thematically, whether they directly relate to Halloween or not. 

While we will consider anything and everything, we especially want to see submissions that are comedic or spooky, as this fits best with the tone of the evening! 

Have something that isn’t quite a play, but you think fits? Send us a video link! 

Because we are small and have limited tech, easy-to-produce pieces are more likely to be selected. We also recommend submitting plays with a smaller cast size. 

You may submit up to three plays, but please note we will only accept one play from each playwright for the event, and we may only be able read one script in your submission. 

Scripts that have not been been accepted in previous years will only be reconsidered if they have undergone revisions. Please note this in your submission!

About the event:

The event will take place the evening of October 31st, in New York City. Exact time and  location TBA.

Playwrights are encouraged to submit from anywhere, and local playwrights may be as involved in the process as they would like!

We work to match plays that need them with directors and actors, and help to coordinate rehearsal space.

This is an unpaid event, as we are not profiting from it. 

To submit, please send your script and/or any supporting materials by August 31st via the form on the submission page! 

TYPE! Open for short plays

Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMISSION FORM

Thank you for considering sharing your work. TYPE! is free to read — we cannot pay for submissions or chosen work, but we will work with authors to promote the piece and their other writing. We also require written confirmation that submissions are original work.

Please note – due to the high number of submissions we receive we will only respond to those we wish to publish, however we do read EVERY submission. Submission also carries no guarantee of inclusion or feedback. Read this to find out what happens when you submit.

Seeking  Micro-plays - 1-2 pages long

Please send in your writing via the submission form.

Classics in Color (CiC) is a new play development for BIPoC writers

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Classics in Color (CiC) is a new play development and public engagement program for BIPoC writers developing plays that blend the BIPoC lived-experience with global classics.

CiC is conducted via Zoom and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format with the goal of working constructively toward advancing each matriculant’s vision for their play.

Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the CiC experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in CiC are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for CiC, you must identify as BIPoC, have an early draft of a play that fits the description above, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their plays, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statement, resumes, etc.)

Classics in Color will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks from 6:00-9:00pm (EST) each Monday between October 12 – November 30. DQT is proud to announce this season's CiC instructor will once again be OBIE Award winner and recent Guggenheim Fellow recipient Caridad Svich. 

DRURY UNIVERSITY ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION

Website

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Send scripts to:

Drury University One-Act Play Competition
c/o Dr. Mick Sokol, Professor of Theatre
900 North Benton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802

FIRST PRIZE: $300 TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS: $150 each

Winning plays will be considered for production by Drury University.

COMPETITION RULES:

1. Competition is open to all playwrights. Scripts are to be original, unpublished, and unproduced. Staged readings or workshop productions will not disqualify a script. Musicals, monologues, adaptations, film and TV scripts are ineligible.

2. Preference will be given to small cast, one-set shows with running times of no less than twenty and no more than forty-five minutes.

3. No more than one script from any playwright. Scripts entered in this contest in previous years are ineligible for re-submission.

4. All scripts are to be typewritten and firmly bound (staple, clips, etc). Because of the nature of distributing scripts to readers, we do NOT accept electronic submissions.

5. Scripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage. For confirmation of receipt, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. For results of your script, please include self-addressed stamped envelope. If possible, please include an e-mail address; we can send you contest results via email.

6. No written or verbal critiques will be tendered.

7. The decisions of the judges are final. Drury University reserves the right to produce any of the three winning plays royalty-free during our 2027-2028, 2028-2029 or 2029-2030 seasons, to withhold production, and to modify cashawards as deemed necessary by the judges.

8. Drury University does not assume any responsibility for the loss, damage, or return of scripts. All reasonable care will be taken.

9. Deadline for entries is a postmark of December 1, 2026.

10. Address scripts to Drury University One-Act Play Competition
c/o Dr. Mick Sokol, Professor of Theatre
900 North Benton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802

11. Winners will be notified by mail (or e-mail) no later than April 1, 2027.

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

Website

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

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

Online registration required to submit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASF TRANSLATION AWARDS 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15 by 11:59 pm EDT

SUBMISSION FORM

The prizes are for outstanding English translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose originally written in a Nordic language.

Translations must be from the writing of one author, although not necessarily from a single work.

The online application will require the following materials:

• Your CV
• A brief description of the author whose work you are translating and the significance of the original work
• One copy of the translation, including a title page and a table of contents for the proposed book of which the submitted manuscript is a part. If prose, manuscripts must be 25-50 pages, double-spaced; if poetry, 15-25 pages. *Note: Manuscripts must have numbered pages, and the translator’s name should not appear on any page of the translation manuscript. Submissions containing the translator’s name will be disqualified
• A letter or other document signed by the author, the author’s agent, or the author’s estate granting permission for the translation to be entered in this competition and published in Scandinavian Review

Restrictions:

The translation submitted in the competition may not have been previously published in the English language by the submission deadline. (If the submitted translation is also under consideration by a publisher, you must inform us of the expected publication date.)
Translators may submit one entry only and may not submit the same entry in more than two competitions.
The Translation Prize cannot be won more than three times by the same translator.

The Dramatic Question - DQT American Woman 2026-27

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Submission Form

American Woman (AW) is a solo show development and public engagement program for Female-identifying writers living in the United States.

AW is conducted online and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format to advance each matriculant’s vision of their solo show.

Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the AW experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in AW are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for AW, you must be Female-identifying, have an early draft of a solo piece, and submit the required materials by the deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their solo pieces, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statements, resumes, etc.).

American Woman will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks from 12:00-2:30pm (EST), each Sunday between October 4 - November 22.

DQT is proud to announce this season's PT instructor will once again be Raquel Almazan.

Playwright Commission Opportunity: A New Play About Shays' Rebellion

Website

Deadline: August 20, 2026

Please submit all application materials as a single PDF (when possible).
Email submissions to:
Sue Dziura
Producing Artistic Director
Majestic Theater
Email: sue@majestictheater.com

Subject Line: Shays' Rebellion Playwright Submission – Your Name

Questions regarding the commission may also be directed to Sue Dziura at the email address above.

Please submit the following:

• Cover letter describing your interest in the commission
• A 1–2 page proposal outlining your artistic vision for the project
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• One sample of a previously produced full-length play
• Production history (or equivalent evidence of at least one fully mounted production)
• Two professional references

The Majestic Theater invites submissions from playwrights interested in developing an original full-length play about Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787)—a defining yet often underrepresented event in American history that began in Western Massachusetts. Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, this commission will bring to life the true story of Daniel Shays, the thousands of farmers, veterans, and residents who joined the uprising, and the profound impact their actions had on the young nation.

Rooted in historical research and community engagement, the commissioned play will explore the rebellion through the voices and lived experiences of those who shaped it, creating a work that is both historically grounded and theatrically compelling. Developed in conjunction with the national America 250 initiative, the project seeks to reflect on our nation's past, honor the contributions of those whose stories have too often gone untold, and invite audiences to consider the enduring themes of economic hardship, civic responsibility, power, resilience, and the future we hope to build together.

About the Commission

The selected playwright will spend approximately one year researching, writing, and developing a new full-length play in collaboration with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team. Throughout the process, the playwright will work closely with Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, participating in regular conversations, script development sessions, and dramaturgical support as the work evolves.

The project is designed to be highly collaborative. Research will be enriched through conversations with local historians, educators, artists, and community members, allowing the playwright to engage deeply with the people and places that shaped this pivotal moment in American history.

A small curatorial committee representing a diverse cross-section of theater artists, historians, educators, and community members will review submissions and select the commissioned playwright.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a playwright who is excited by the challenge of transforming historical events into compelling theater. Rather than simply recounting history, we hope to commission a writer who can uncover the human stories within Shays' Rebellion, creating vivid characters and emotionally resonant drama grounded in historical truth.

Applicants should demonstrate:Excellence in dramatic writing.
An interest in history, biography, or stories inspired by real events.
A collaborative spirit and openness to feedback.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
Curiosity, imagination, and a desire to engage meaningfully with community history.

Playwrights from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have had at least one full-length play fully produced.
• Demonstrate the ability to complete projects on schedule.
• Be available to collaborate regularly with the Majestic Theater's Artistic Team throughout the commission period.
• Be willing to participate in weekly meetings (in person and/or via Zoom) over approximately twelve months.
• Be interested in conducting research and engaging with community members as part of the writing process.

Commission Process

Following selection, the playwright will embark on an approximately year-long development process that includes research, outlining, drafting, revision, and script development.

Working alongside Producing Artistic Director Sue Dziura and Dramaturg Dan Bullens, the playwright will receive ongoing artistic support while maintaining their own creative voice. Throughout the process, the Majestic Theater will facilitate opportunities to connect with historians, educators, and community members whose perspectives will help inform and enrich the work.

As the script develops, the Majestic Theater will host staged readings with professional actors, giving the playwright the opportunity to hear the work, receive feedback from the artistic team, historians, community members, and audiences, and continue refining the play throughout the commission.

The goal is to create a powerful new American play that honors the history of Western Massachusetts while speaking to audiences through timeless themes of community, democracy, resilience, and the complexities of the American experience.

Submission Materials

Please submit the following:Cover letter describing your interest in the commission
A 1–2 page proposal outlining your artistic vision for the project
Résumé or curriculum vitae
One sample of a previously produced full-length play
Production history (or equivalent evidence of at least one fully mounted production)
Two professional references

Compensation

This is a paid commission made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Commission fee and project details will be discussed with finalists.

The Majestic Theater is a professional producing theater in West Springfield, Massachusetts, whose mission is to create and maintain performance opportunities for Pioneer-Valley-based theater artists and professional productions for local audiences at accessible prices. Through this commission, the Majestic seeks to foster the creation of a significant new American play that celebrates the rich and complex history of Western Massachusetts.

The Majestic Theater is committed to creating an inclusive artistic environment and welcomes submissions from playwrights of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

Uncharted Series seeks full-length plays

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Deadline: August 10, 2026 at 12:59 PM

UNCHARTED SERIES SUBMISSION FORM

The East Carolina University School of Theatre & Dance is seeking submissions for its Uncharted Series of new plays with dynamic roles for college-aged actors.

Seeking full-length plays that have at least five characters, with no more than one of those characters outside the age range of 15-25.

We are seeking plays that center the experience of late adolescence/early adulthood – where it is important that the characters are in that specific age range, rather than plays with characters that could be played by actors of any age.

Plays must be unpublished and unproduced (i.e., not performed in front of a paying audience). Readings and workshop productions are fine.

Selected plays will receive a staged reading as part of the ECU/Loessin Playhouse’s 2026-2027 season, with possible full production in future seasons. Playwrights will receive a $100 royalty for the reading along with travel support if they wish to participate in the rehearsals and/or reading in person.

If you have any questions, please contact ECU/Loessin Playhouse Artistic Director Kitt Lavoie at lavoiec25@ecu.edu.

Vidalia Theatre Company seeks 10-minute plays

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Deadline: July 31, 2026

Vidalia Theatre Company of Atlanta, Georgia is accepting submissions for its Winter Yield collection of 10-minute plays to be produced in January 2027.

The setting for this show is planes, trains & automobiles. We’re looking for plays that take place in the vessel itself. It can be while in motion or during boarding/unboarding. We are only seeking plays that take place in this setting at this time.

Submissions should contain a maximum of 6 characters, minimal prop requirements, and provide opportunity for diverse casting. 

Adult language and content are permitted, but it should be relevant to the story and not gratuitous.
Submissions cannot have been previously produced in the Atlanta Metro Area.

Limit TWO (2) submissions per playwright.
(Any playwright caught violating this will be disqualified)

PAY: A $30 stipend is paid to the playwrights whose plays are selected.

***PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY***

If submitting two plays, send each submission in a separate email
Email submissions to: vidaliatheatre@gmail.com
In the subject line type: Playwright Name - Title of Play - WY27
Be sure to include the following information in the body of the email:

1. your email and telephone

2. city, state (or country if outside USA) in which you reside

3. Number of characters

4. Comedy or Drama

5. A brief synopsis

All scripts must be attached as a PDF. No other file types will be accepted.

Note: *We do not utilize blind submissions in our review process*

**ANY SUBMISSION THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED**

OPEN TO ALL NORTH AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS
(with special consideration for those who reside in Georgia)