UMBRELLAS FOR FISH seeks one-act plays, monologues and dramatic scenes for the September issue

Website

Deadline: August 25, 2026

We are now accepting submissions for our September 2026 Issue.
Website: https://ufjournal.wixsite.com/umbrellas-for-fish/submissions

Email: ufjournal@aol.com

Umbrellas for Fish is an international literary journal devoted exclusively to absurd and existential drama. We publish work that wrestles with the irrational, the unexplainable, and the darkly comic—plays, monologues, and dramatic scenes that invite audiences to sit with uncertainty rather than resolve it neatly.

We believe theatre is a space where logic can be bent, time can fold back on itself, and a fish might, against all reason, carry an umbrella. We welcome voices from around the world and across all career stages, from debut playwrights to established dramatists.

We seek dramatic work that is bold, strange, and alive—pieces that take risks with form, voice, and theatrical logic.

We are particularly interested in work featuring:

• Absurdity, existential tension, or cosmic indifference
• Innovative dramatic structures and theatrical experimentation
• Strong, stageable writing and memorable dialogue
• Meaningful ambiguity rather than simple confusion
• Themes exploring meaning, identity, freedom, mortality, and the human condition

We are not seeking conventional realism without a twist, shock value without purpose, or work that resolves its contradictions too neatly.
Accepted Categories

• Absurd Plays
• Existential Drama

• Experimental Theatre
• Playwriting Essays

Length:

• One-Act Plays (up to 10 pages)
• Flash Drama (up to 2 pages)
• Monologues (up to 2 pages)

• Dramatic Scenes (up to 10 pages)
. Playwriting Essays (up to 5 pages)

Submission Guidelines

• Submit manuscripts in DOC or DOCX format only
• Use a readable 12-point font
• Number all pages
• Include a title page with the title and author's name
• Include a third-person author bio (50–100 words) at the end of the manuscript
• Scripts should follow standard dramatic formatting
• Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us if accepted elsewhere

Prepare your manuscript according to the guidelines above.

• Include a 50–100 word third-person bio.
• In the body of your email, include:Your name
• Title of the work
• Genre category
• A brief 1–3 sentence description of the piece
• Attach your manuscript as a DOC or DOCX file.
• Name your file: TITLE_LASTNAME.docx
• Send your submission to ufjournal@aol.com

Subject Line Format:
SUBMISSION — [Title] — [Genre]
Key Dates

Submissions Open: Now Open
Submission Deadline: August 25, 2026
Response Time: 4–6 Weeks

Issue Publication: September 2026

Fee:
There is no reading, submission or publication fee.


Rights
If a work is selected for publication, the playwright retains all intellectual property, copyright, and performance rights to the work. By accepting publication in Umbrellas for Fish, the author grants the journal non-exclusive permission to publish the work as part of the September 2026 issue. All rights revert to the author upon publication, and the author remains free to reproduce, perform, or republish the work elsewhere, provided that first publication in Umbrellas for Fish is acknowledged where appropriate.

Payment

Umbrellas for Fish is a non-paying market. As an independent journal operating without grants, institutional funding, or regular donations, we are currently unable to offer royalties, honoraria, or other forms of monetary compensation to contributors.

Authors whose work is selected for publication will receive publication credit and worldwide exposure through the journal.Editorial Vision

Umbrellas for Fish takes its name from the absurdist spirit that animates the work we publish: the belief that theatre can illuminate issue. the mysteries of existence through contradiction, imagination, humor, and uncertainty.

We welcome playwrights from all countries, backgrounds, and career stages and are especially interested in amplifying voices that have been underrepresented in the dramatic canon.

We look forward to reading your work.

Warm regards,

Editorial Team
Umbrellas for Fish: An International Journal of Absurd & Existential Drama
Email: ufjournal@aol.com

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.

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

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

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. 

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

Website

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

Facebook page

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)

Fall 2026 EAT SPARK Musical Theatre Festival NYC

Website

Deadline: July 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) Spark Musical Theatre Festival NYC and Spark Theatre Festival NYC are three-week festivals of self-produced work for the stage.

Many pieces selected for the festival will have never been performed before an audience, while some selections have been performed previously but feature new material. We are not interested in presenting established pieces of theatre. We want to see something brand-spanking-new hit the stage for the first or nearly the first time. This festival is an opportunity to present work for a paying audience for the first, or newly the first, time.

There is no submission charge and no obligation to participate if chosen. Plus, participants receive 50% of the box office. Artists are held to an audience guarantee equal to one ticket buyer per minute of your show. Successful Fringe, NYMF, and Off-Broadway shows have been born out of this series, and Emerging Artists is excited to present a new round of opportunities to local artists for yet another year.

The Spark Musical Theatre Festival NYC is now accepting submissions for the following new works:

Short and Full-Length Musicals

HOW TO APPLY

PART ONE: Read the FAQs. Please pay special attention to the audience guarantee section to ensure you are ready to gather an audience for your work.

PART TWO: Fill out the application form. You will be asked to provide information on the following:

• How you heard about Emerging Artists Theatre’s Spark Festival
• Why your show would be a good fit
• Show title, running time, and production history (if applicable)
• Description of your production
• Support materials, including a script, video, or other means of sharing
• Contact information, website, social media handles, and professional bio(s)

Hit SUBMIT to submit your application

GETTING ACCEPTED

If you are accepted into one of EAT’s Spark Festivals, there will be a required information session/meet-and-greet on a date to be determined.

The 2026 Short Play Showcase looking for plays

Instagram Account

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Email submissions to shortplayshowcase@gmail.com

Seeking NYCPlaywrights for the 2026 Short Play Showcase - looking for plays of 12 minute run time or less, with 2 characters max dealing with the themes of unrequited love, roommates, or addiction. 

The chosen plays will be performed early December at The Attic and a winning production will be chosen by audience votes.

ASTORIA NEW PLAY FESTIVAL READING SERIES seeks full-length plays

Instagram

Deadline: August 1, 2026 by 1:59pm

or until we hit 60 submissions

THEY HAVE HIT THEIR SUBMISSION CAP - DO NOT SEND

If you’re ready to submit, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com with Full-Length Submission in the subject line. Please attach blind copies in PDF form (no contact info anywhere on the document) to the email, and include in the body of the email your contact info and a short playwright bio (and if you are not available for either performance night, if applicable).

The Astoria New Play Festival will present readings of up to 2 full-length plays and up to 6 short plays for the 2026 staged reading series by local playwrights.

PLEASE READ OVERALL GUIDELINES in addition to the guidelines for whichever length of play you’re interested in submitting for!

All playwrights should be current or former residents of Astoria! We will not require proof of residency at this time, but trust all submitting playwrights to respect the festival mission to give a platform to local playwrights.

There is no restriction language or adult content for submissions. We do want you to be aware that if there is potentially triggering material, ANPF may list a content warning on performance nights as well as director and performer submission notices. ANPF will not produce material that promotes hate speech or violence.

Scripts written with any usage of AI are not permitted!

Playwrights may submit to both opportunities

Playwrights from the 2025 reading series are welcome to submit for the ten-minute play reading series; we ask that you refrain from submitting for the full-length play reading series at this time

All submitted plays should be blind copies with no contact information anywhere on the document.

We are not accepting musicals at this time. Hopefully one day soon!

We aim to update everyone on their submission status by the second weekend of August.

If you have any questions before submitting, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @astorianewplayfest

FULL-LENGTH PLAY READING SERIES - Friday, November 6th, and Saturday, November 7th, 7:30pm, at Q.E.D., 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

Full-length play submissions should be new, meaning no prior publications or full productions. Prior readings or developmental workshops are permitted. You will not be requested to credit Astoria New Play Festival as a premiere in future materials, publicity, announcements, etc.

Full-length playwrights will receive a stipend of $75 on performance night

Playwrights must be available in person for at least one night of the reading series, which will run November 6-7 at Q.E.D. in Astoria. Please indicate in your submission email if either performance night does not work for you.

Playwrights must be available for a talkback with the audience after the show with the audience, moderated by ANPF.

We are seeking plays that read for an estimated run time between 1-2 hours. We understand that since these are new works, a best guess is fine! 

ASTORIA NEW PLAY FESTIVAL READING SERIES seeks 10-minute plays and monologues

Website

Deadline: August 1, 2026  by 11:59pm

or until they hit 75 submission

If you’re ready to submit, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com with Short Play Submission in the subject line. Please attach blind copies in PDF form (no contact info anywhere on the document) to the email, and include in the body of the email your contact info and a short playwright bio.

The Astoria New Play Festival will present readings of up to 2 full-length plays and up to 6 short plays for the 2026 staged reading series by local playwrights.

PLEASE READ OVERALL GUIDELINES in addition to the guidelines for whichever length of play you’re interested in submitting for!

All playwrights should be current or former residents of Astoria (Queens)! We will not require proof of residency at this time, but trust all submitting playwrights to respect the festival mission to give a platform to local playwrights.

There is no restriction language or adult content for submissions. We do want you to be aware that if there is potentially triggering material, ANPF may list a content warning on performance nights as well as director and performer submission notices. ANPF will not produce material that promotes hate speech or violence.

Scripts written with any usage of AI are not permitted!

Playwrights may submit to both opportunities

Playwrights from the 2025 reading series are welcome to submit for the ten-minute play reading series; we ask that you refrain from submitting for the full-length play reading series at this time

All submitted plays should be blind copies with no contact information anywhere on the document.

We are not accepting musicals at this time. Hopefully one day soon!

We aim to update everyone on their submission status by the second weekend of August.

If you have any questions before submitting, please email astorianewplayfest@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @astorianewplayfest

THEMED SHORT PLAY READING SERIES - Thursday October 8th, 7:30pm, and Saturday, October 10th, 7:30pm at Our House Queens, 23-71 31st St, Astoria, NY 11106

All submitted works must somehow involve this one word theme: NEIGHBORS. How you follow this theme is entirely up to you!

There is no restriction on previous productions or publications; we welcome brand new scripts, ones performed multiple times, and everything in between.

Up to 6 playwrights will be presented in one night of performances. ANPF reserves the right to select fewer than 6 for the presentation!

Playwrights will receive a stipend of $50 on the first performance night

Submitted plays must be no longer than an estimated 15 minutes (or about 15 pages) and no shorter than an estimated 5 minutes

Monologues are welcome for submission

Playwrights are not required to be present in person for performance or tech rehearsal, but will be asked to be available via email for any questions from the creative team, and are welcome to participate more as they wish!

Theatre Now - Verse into Cabaret

Website

Deadline: July 24, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Verse Intro Cabaret is a monthly basement bash of bold new musical theatre! Held at the historic SoHo Playhouse, our series showcases fresh work by emerging musical theatre writers in a fun, low-pressure, and ultra-supportive environment.

Theatre Now is a non-profit theatre company dedicated to supporting musical theatre writers. We launched this cabaret series with a simple goal: give new voices a space to be heard without drink minimums or stuffy vibes. Each month we feature two musical theatre teams. Each team will be guaranteed a stipend of $75 rather than being reliant on the box office. That amount may increase as we build the program and grow a larger audience.

Whether you're testing a few new songs or trying something riskier, Verse Intro is a space to experiment, connect, and be celebrated.

Things to Know:We strongly recommend attending a Verse Intro show before performing. Get a feel for the space and community!
Each act is limited to four performers max (including instrumentalists).

To Submit, Please Provide:Your Name(s)
A Headshot or Professional Photo
A Short Bio (200 words max)
Social Media Handles
Your Availability for 2026 Performance Dates Sep 13, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6 and in 2027 Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 4 and May 2

Performance Materials:One Required Link or File Upload (video or audio) to a song from a musical you’ve written (music and/or lyrics).
One Optional Link or File Upload for a second piece.
For each, please include a short description of the song’s context and the names of any co-writers (if they are not part of the team you are applying with).

You’ll also be asked to review and acknowledge our F.A.Q. sheet with event info and artist agreements before submitting. CLICK HERE to read our F.A.Q. sheet.

We can’t wait to hear your work. Thank you for sharing your voice with us!