Stonecoast Review call for submissions

Website

Deadline: September 30, 2026

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Winter 2027 - issue #26 call for submissions

Stonecoast Review, the literary journal of the Stonecoast MFA, is now open for submissions for our 26th issue. We are proud to be a publication that seeks to support emerging writers and underrepresented voices. While previous issues have had a theme, issue #26 has no theme. This is because we want to know what you have been moved to write as you navigate the world today. Resistance. Refuge. Joy. These are some of the things we hope that issue #26 will offer to writers and readers alike. We look forward to reading your submissions.

Genres Accepted: We solicit fiction, popular (genre) fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, dramatic works, experimental literature, and visual art. We can’t wait to see your best pieces!

Issue Format: Beginning with Issue 21, released in June 2024, Stonecoast Review assumed the form of a print/online hybrid journal. The print form now consists of a 48-page chapbook, with art throughout, as well as a QR code that directs readers to more new content on StonecoastReview.org. As such, all pieces selected for publication will be featured online but, due to page limitations, only a select number of pieces will be able to be featured in the print Issue. Please see below for new guidelines regarding word count limitations for each type of publication.

Rights: Stonecoast Review acquires First Serial Rights and First Electronic Rights for all work published in the journal. Rights revert to the author upon publication. Contributors selected for print publication will receive a complimentary copy of the Issue in which their work appears.

Our staff: We are a volunteer group of Stonecoast MFA Program alumni and current students. Most of us have experience working on numerous Stonecoast Review issues or other literary journals. Any Stonecoast alumni and current students working on Issue #26 of Stonecoast Revieware ineligible to submit.

Please include a short cover letter and bio (50- and 100-word max., respectively).

We accept one prose submission, one poetry submission (of up to three poems), or fivepieces of visual art per author, per submission cycle. Submissions that do not abide by these rules will not be considered for publication.

Your work must be previously unpublished. (Stonecoast alumni may submit already published work for consideration as reprints.)

We encourage simultaneous submissions. However, please withdraw your submission immediately if it's accepted elsewhere. If you submit multiple poems and one is accepted at another publication, please attach a note on Submittable identifying which poem is no longer available.

Please adhere to standard manuscript format: Double spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman font. Poetry may be single spaced. (If you tell us that diverging from these rules is integral to your piece, we will consider it.)

Please do not include your name in your manuscript.
While we love to represent stories with raw, emotional truth, we ask that you refrain from submitting pieces featuring excessive sex, violence, assaults, or suicide. We also ask that you include trigger warnings when needed.

We will reject pieces determined to be written by the use of AI software.

As a reminder, all pieces selected for publication will be featured online in January 2027. Due to page constraints, only a few of these selected pieces will be featured in both the print and online Winter 2027 Issue. Please see below for word count limitations based on consideration for either Hybrid (Print + Online) or General (Online-only) publication formats.

Dramatic Works. We are seeking short dramatic works of all types. Plays, screenplays, and hybrid works including monologues, one-minute scripts, ten-minute scripts, and experimental works are all welcome. Excerpts from longer dramatic works are welcome if they stand on their own. Plays must be formatted according to these Dramatists Guild formatting standards. Likewise, screenplays must be formatted according to film industry standards, as outlined here.For consideration for Hybrid Publication: limit submissions to 5 or fewer pages. 

For consideration for Online-Only Publication: limit submissions to 12 or fewer pages. One submission per author, per submission cycle.

Theater Noir Blanc seeks full-length plays on the gay interracial experience

Website:

Deadline: October 5, 2026

Dallas TX

We are dedicated to discovering original new works that explore the gay interracial experience, and it is our vision to elevate these bold, untold stories by national and international playwrights, reflecting the richness of a diverse world.

Eligibility

• The play explores our mission statement
• We do not accept screenplays, novels, poetry, or radio plays
• Your play must be in either the Dramatists Guild Modern or Traditional Stage play format
• Please send your script in .PDF format only
• Original full-length plays and plays with Limited Production (1-2) at least 65 page
• Only one play can be submitted by the writer
• We accept submissions from September 6 – October 5
• We will respond to all submissions within 6 months

We are a new theatre company focused on fulfilling our mission statement. We encourage you to reach out to us at literary@theatrenoirblanc.org with any questions you may have about submitting your play.

The Jokes On Her Annual Comedy Prize seeks full-length comedies by women

Website

Deadline: October 1, 2026

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

The Jokes On Her Annual Comedy Prize awards the winning playwright a $5,000 grant, an industry reading of her play in New York City in partnership with WP Theater and New Georges, and a featured appearance in a “Women Writing Comedy for the Stage” Q&A at The Drama Book Shop.

Jokes On Her will further support the playwright by identifying and facilitating future development opportunities.

Submissions are now open for original full-length comedies that have never been produced or published. Developmental readings and workshops are acceptable; however, plays under option or scheduled for production, licensing, or publication are not eligible. 

The Jokes On Her Comedy Prize is open to women (identifying & femmes inclusive) playwrights residing in the United States or Puerto Rico who are 21 years of age or older at the time of submission. Plays must be the author’s own work.

FAQs

Qutub Minar seeks short plays for its October 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: September 28, 2026

For our October 2026 issue, we are looking for original and engaging literary works in the following genres:

DRAMA
• Submit up to 3 one-minute plays at a time.

Every submission must include a cover letter and a short literary bio of approximately 70 words.

Submissions are accepted by email only.

Submit your work to:
editorqutubminarreview@gmail.com

Please include the following information with your submission:

Full Legal Name:
Pen Name (if any):
Postal Address:
Email Address:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

October 2026 Issue
Last Date: 28 September 2026
Publication: First week of October 2026

NO SUBMISSION OR READING FEE

There is absolutely no submission or reading fee.

USAGE RIGHTS

By submitting your work, you confirm that you hold the copyright to the work and that no third-party permission is required for its publication.

After publication, all copyright in the work reverts to the author.

NOTIFICATIONS

Authors will be notified regarding the acceptance or rejection of their submissions.

PAYMENT

Unfortunately, Qutub Minar Review is currently unable to offer payment for published contributions.

We look forward to reading your work and discovering new literary voices.

Obsidian seeks short work for publication

Website

Deadline: Oct 16, 2026 1:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages in the Samuel French format. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.

Obsidian cultivates, through publication and critical inquiry, Black imagination, innovation, and excellence—supporting Black, African, and African Diaspora creatives globally.
Obsidian celebrates over fifty years of continuous publication and is dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art biannually in print and year-round online.

AUTHENTIC 10 SHOWCASE seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Atlanta GA

SUBMISSION FORM

Length: Submissions must be between 8 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 works. Preference is given to works not previously produced or performed.

Cast Size: Scripts must feature a cast of no less than two and no more than three actors.

Staging Requirements:

Scripts should be suitable for a minimalist staging format.

Minimal use of props, lights, sound, or other technical elements is strongly encouraged and will be considered in the selection process.

Preference given to scripts with little or no scene changes.

Originality: Scripts must be original; works with no other rightsholders than the author submitting the work for consideration. and not generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence.

Content: Consideration will be given to scripts that align with Authenticity Theater's mission. We seek content that speaks to relevant societal themes such as mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, LGBTQ issues, poverty, domestic violence, immigration, sexual abuse, aging, grief, relationship issues, loneliness, and more.

Maximum: Submissions are limited to no more than two (2) scripts per playwright. Additional submissions will not be considered.

Prism Community Players 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027

Website

Deadline: September 20, 2026

Maineville, OH

SUBMISSION FORM

Prism Community Players, formerly Lumos Players,  is thrilled to announce our 4th Annual Playwrights Script Reading Season for 2027!

We know that writing a play is a journey—and we’re here to support yours.

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear your script read aloud and receive constructive, thoughtful feedback in a supportive community of theater artists. Whether you’ve written a 10-minute play, a one-act, a full-length, a musical, a comedy, a drama—or something in between—we want to hear from you!

Chosen scripts will be announced before December 5th. The series runs once a month over Zoom, February–May 2027.

Pegasus PlayLab 2027

Website

Deadline: September 18, 2026 11:59 pm

Or after they receive 200 submissions

SUBMISSION FORM

Pegasus PlayLab is a new play festival hosted every summer at the University of Central Florida. This festival is dedicated to developing new works by MFA Playwriting candidates or emerging playwrights. 

We are seeking three full-length plays, including Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) pieces, which we will rehearse for two weeks in collaboration with the playwright and subsequently present as workshop productions in addition, the finalists of Pegasus PlayLab will be entered into consideration to be a fully produced show at UCF.

The Pegasus PlayLab spans six weeks, starting mid-May through the end of June. Selected playwrights are expected to commit to a two-week in-person residency within that time frame.

Eligibility

• Unpublished or un-produced (has not received a fully-staged production)
• Full-length play/musical: 50-100 pages
• TYA: 20-100 pages
• Musicals: Please provide a sample track for at least one song. 

Submission Requirements

An excerpt (20-30 pages) of your play or musical. Submissions should be blind - please remove personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.) from your script pages.

A brief statement articulating your goals for the two-week workshop. This might include: dramaturgical and structural questions; work on specific moments of dialogue; getting answers about big questions in your script; gaining perspective on specific aspects of the script.

No late submissions will be accepted. Playwrights may only submit ONE play, and scripts previously submitted to Pegasus PlayLab in prior years are not eligible. 

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

If you have any questions, please email ucfpegasusplaylab@gmail.com.

Queer Scare 10-minute Play Festival

Website

Deadline: September 30, 2026

New York NY

Send submissions to villageplaywrights @gmail.com

Seeking 10-minute plays from playwrights based in NYC and surrounding areas. 

Chosen playwrights must be willing to participate in the process. 

Plays must be themed for LGBTQ audiences.

Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

-Please send two hard copies, bound or stapled, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and all contact information) with page numbers and the name of the play on each page to:
Sundog Theatre, “Scenes 2026”, PO Box 10183, Staten Island, NY 10301.

-Submissions should include a brief play synopsis (2-3 sentences at most), a 70-word bio, and a full resume of the writer.

Sundog Theatre in NYC is seeking one-act plays for “Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry 2026”

This is Sundog Theatre’s 25th presentation of new and original, one-act plays about our favorite boats.
This year’s theme: Anniversary!

Plays can be comedies or dramas. However, humor is always appreciated.

Writing Guidelines:

-Original plays not previously produced or published, with a signed note affirming that.

-10-25 minutes in length and set on the Staten Island Ferry.

-Set in a contemporary time period. Strong priority will be given to plays with 2 characters, however, 3-character plays will be considered. No special set pieces other than benches or railings found on the Ferry, as well as limited and easily accessible props/costumes, and no unusual sound or lighting effects.

-Avoid overt and unnecessary sexual/violence situations and language since we cater to a broad audience.

-No musicals, long monologues, poetry, rants or verse.

Theme: Anniversary!

Submission Guidelines:

-We are not accepting plays electronically. Reasons: hard copies are easier to pass around/make notes on; protects your work; can’t get lost in email chains; and…easier on reading eyes. We will let you know by email that we have received it.

-NO SUBMISSION FEE

-6 plays are chosen by a reading team; writers each receive $200 and plays are produced in five November 2026 performances in Staten Island, NY. Plays are cast in NYC, rehearsed, and performed on stage.

-Playwrights of selected plays will be contacted in September and their names/play titles listed on Sundog Theatre’s website in Fall 2026.

Please direct questions to: info@sundogtheatre.org/Susan Fenley, Producer.

Mouths of Babes Theatre Company (MoB) is now accepting submissions for the Scotopia Festival 2027

Website

Deadline:  Oct 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT

Festival Dates: Scotopia runs March 12th - 21st
Festival Location: Various venues in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

For any questions about the submission process, please contact our team at literary@mobtheatre.com with the subject line “Literary.” Contact name: Karina Patel, Literary Associate, & Megan Parlett, Artistic Producing Associate

APPLY HERE

Scotopia is an annual new works festival produced by MoB Theatre that welcomes both fresh voices and seasoned artists, providing a platform for bold, risk-taking theatre-making and fostering creative exchange across all levels of experience. The festival is a platform for original works that engage with the community and seek to grapple with the social issues of today. MoB Theatre is a process-driven theatre company, and we are interested in providing opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate with our ensemble.

The Scotopia Festival gets its name from the word describing “the ability to see in dim light or darkness.” The festival illuminates stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

Submission Categories:
Applicants should only submit one submission per category.

Short Play Fest: A central feature of Scotopia, our Short Play Festival, offers playwrights the chance to workshop material and see their work fully produced by MoB Theatre. We welcome short (10 minute or less) play submissions that explore themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. While all plays with these themes will be considered, we are particularly excited by bold, genre-blending works with unique inspirations. We encourage material inspired by diverse theatre traditions and non-traditional forms such as commedia dell'arte, folk tales, kitchen sink realism, verse, ghost stories, magical realism, anime/manga, absurdism, and more!

Full-Length Plays (For Staged Reading): Scotopia is dedicated to developing new works through workshops and staged readings. We are seeking unproduced, full-length plays that engage with themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. Stories that illuminate real-life experiences and amplify overlooked or untold truths are especially encouraged. The chosen submissions will receive dramaturgical support, workshops and the culmination of this work will be a staged reading at the festival.

Self-Produced Performance Proposals: We welcome proposals for experimental or devised works that move beyond traditional script formats. While we will consider any play that addresses social issues, we are particularly interested in innovative forms such as solo performances, performance art, devised pieces, immersive theatre, and more. Projects suited for non-traditional spaces are encouraged but not required. Proposals are ideal for emerging artists looking to expand their audience base or explore opportunities for developing and touring their work. Selected artists should be “show ready” for the festival. Venues will be provided (with limited rehearsal time), but production support from MoB Theatre will be limited.

Producing Priorities: While plays of any subject and theme will be considered, MoB is looking for pieces which speak to the political climate and topical issues of the moment, as the purpose of the Scotopia Festival is to illuminate stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

We also encourage submissions which would be challenging to produce or are experimental, as we are focused on the process of developing plays, rather than fully recognizing every complicated aspect of production.

Submission Requirements: In the submission form (attached here and above), you will be asked to submit a blind copy of your play (without identifying information), along with a current resume/CV. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a panel. Additional submission elements will only be taken into consideration in the final round of evaluation.

Confirmation: Selected works will be announced in mid-December, around or before December 18th

Self Produced Logistics: We offer to cover all venue costs. Tickets will be divided between MoB Theatre and the partnering artist, but the ticket split percentage will vary depending on the venue rental cost.

We recognize and affirm each artist’s right to their own work. Submissions will be shared with a small internal panel, and files from submissions not accepted to the festival will be deleted.

While we are open to submissions from artists from everywhere and anywhere, we strongly encourage theatre-makers based in North Carolina and the Southeast to submit scripts and proposals. We encourage BIPOC artists and communities underrepresented in theatre to submit work to our festival.

We are primarily drawn to plays that are compatible with MoB’s mission and values, and feature roles suitable for our associates. However, we also welcome the opportunity to be challenged to cast roles outside of our acting pool and hire actors that are historically underrepresented in theatre.

About Mouths of Babes Theatre (MoB): MoB Theatre is a grassroots, ensemble-driven company based in Wilmington, NC. Known locally for productions such as Wilmington Reconstructed; Out, NC; and A Remarkable Fraternity, MoB specializes in documentary theatre and new work development, with a focus on collaborative theatre-making that centers community voices and lived experiences. We are committed to devising theatre projects that address the social, and Scotopia is one of the key events that drives our mission forward.

46 Minutes Collective Mixed Bag show

Website

Deadline: September 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT

Brooklyn NYC

SUBMISSION FORM

Mixed Bag is a variety show for first drafts. We provide artists working in a variety of mediums with a low-tech space and audiences to further develop their works. We hope this will be an opportunity to learn about your piece and discover the next steps in your process. 

What we are looking for: 

In-development work that has not yet premiered. One or two developmental readings or showings is okay, but we are looking for work in the earlier stages of development. 

Works in any medium: performance art, dance, theater, film, music, poetry, multi-media, interactive art, magic, mime, juggling, etc. (these can be excerpts of longer works).

Artists who are looking to investigate or discover something about their work.

Cast: Up to 10 performers

Length: Up to 15 minutes

We Can Offer:

A low-tech performance space at Brick Aux to share your work - 628 Metropolitan Ave Brooklyn

One, 20-minute spacing rehearsal/tech the hour before the show.

A Stage Manager to assist with the run of show.

Photos and video of your piece.

An audience of fellow artists and creatives to share in your developmental process with the option for feedback from the audience if that is helpful for your process.

Marketing through the 46 Minutes Instagram and mailing list. If selected, we will ask for additional marketing materials from you/your team.

Brick Aux space capabilities (basic sound system, clip lights, projector, tables and chairs) (learn more here).

A $100 stipend for your work and time.

What You Bring:

Collaborators and creative team.

Any desired props, costumes, lights, design elements, etc. beyond what exists in the Brick Aux space.

An understanding of what you need to present your own work at whatever stage it's at in your process.

An openness to the liminal space that is in-process work and a desire to discover what can be learned when presenting a rough draft.

Please Note: The artist is responsible for all rehearsal process needs. We are unable to provide any rehearsal space or financial assistance at this time. This is designed to be an in-process showing, so we encourage you to come as you are with whatever you have created at this point in time. 

Each artist may only submit one piece per Mixed Bag showing.

If you have any questions please reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com 

We at The 46 Minutes Collective are committed to making our programming accessible to all who wish to participate, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 46mincollective@gmail.com with any ways we can support you.

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival seeks one-act and short plays

Website

Deadline: October 3, 2026

Deadline: September 26, 2026

New York NY

Send all required materials to: GeneFrankelTheatrePlayFestival@gmail.com
Subject line: Gene Frankel Theatre Festival – Title of Play

The Gene Frankel Theatre Festival is accepting submissions for its winter edition running from November 30 through December 20, 2026.

The applicants will need to produce the work — director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Eligible Work

• Short plays (maximum 15 minutes)
• One-act plays (up to 60 minutes)

All genres are considered, including drama, comedy, musicals, movement-based work, and experimental forms. Submitted work should be New York premieres. (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.) All work MUST be unpublished.

Each play should have 1 - 5 actors. No more than 5 actors will be permitted. Cast and crew should be non-union and 18 and older. The applicants will need to produce the work - director, casting, and all production elements. The Gene Frankel Theatre will help with setting up your technical needs such as lighting, sound, and projections.

Selection Criteria

Pieces will be selected based on artistic merit, originality, clarity of vision, and suitability for festival programming. The goal is to present a high-quality, varied lineup. Submission does not guarantee selection.

Playwrights, whose plays have been selected, will be contacted by September 29.

Submission Materials

Full script in PDF format

Brief synopsis

Character breakdown (Each play should have a maximum of 5 actors)

Indication of category: short play (up to 15 minutes) or one-act (up to 60 minutes)

Production history, if applicable

Please confirm this is a New York Premiere (Note: We are committed to showcasing works that have never been produced in New York before December 20, 2026. Participation in festivals counts as a production. Staged readings, private workshops, and brief excerpt presentations do not count as productions.)

Limit two submissions per applicant.

Optional: Playwright bio, director, cast, brief tech/staging notes, prior production photos or media (if available), and social media or website links may also be included to support your submission.

Participation Details

No submission fee. All participants must be available for all festival dates from November 30 through December 19. 

A $100 participation fee for short plays and a $150 participation fee for one act plays for selected works will apply.

Awards

Selected productions will be eligible for awards, including Best Play, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director. Awards will be given in both short play and one-act categories.

Festival Format
Each selected play will be presented in one of several curated blocks. Each block will run approximately 90 minutes (including intermission) and receive three performances during the three-week performance schedule. The Festival will conclude with a Gala event, on December 20, featuring guest performances and an awards ceremony.

The 29th Magazine seeks short plays for February 2027 issue

Website

Deadline: October 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

We're drawn to writers and artists who came up on their own — no formal training, no mentors greasing the wheels, no built-in network. We'll never ask where you studied, or if you did.

We prioritize women, the queer community, the mentally ill, the chronically ill, and the neurodivergent. If you belong to any of these groups, we want to hear from you first.

Submission Guidelines

• Plays: Short plays, one act, intended to be read in a single sitting (Up to 20 pages - soft limit).
• Formatting: 12 pt Times New Roman or Courier. Single-spaced dialogue, with a line break between speeches. Character names in caps above their lines; stage directions in parentheses or italics. PDF/doc/docx formats.
• Please include your name, the piece's title, and page count on the first page.

Note: We don't store your personal data beyond your submission. We will only use your email to contact you about the status of your submission.

Free tickets - THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Daria Miyeko Marinelli’s This is Not Not a Drill

directed by Dominique Rider

Kicking off The Playwrights Realm’s 20th anniversary season, this interactive experience will take you deeper into the history of Downtown Manhattan, and then pull you into the current moment. 

What do you do in these five-alarm fire days? Every time you look there’s another news alert about something terrible. Your to-do list is overflowing, and you want to help but… how and what exactly can you do about it anyway?!? You know what, let’s take a walk.

GET TICKETS VIA THIS FORM

This is Not Not a Drill is an audio-guided walking tour of Downtown Manhattan’s rebellious past meets interactive resistance training. And by resistance training, we mean an offering to help you strengthen the muscles needed in this flood-the-zone semi-fascist mess. Explore the tactics used by this city’s past activists and practice a skill (aka a drill) to add to your tool belt in these very Not a Drill times. Lace up your sneakers, baby. This is a go.

To learn more about This is Not Not a Drill, or to buy tickets, visit our website.

A TICKET FOR EVERY BUDGET: Tickets are available at three different price levels:

Welcome, Regular, and Pay it Forward but all levels grant entry to the same experience. Please select the price level that best suits your budget.

For Parents & Caregivers: As part of the Realm’s Radical Parent-Inclusion project, qualifying attendees are offered reimbursements toward caregiving costs incurred by coming to this event.

KNOW THEATRE 23RD ANNUAL PLAYWRIGHTS AND ARTISTS FESTIVAL seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

 

This submission must include 2 copies of your play in either word or PDF, one “blind” version without name but including which artwork you were inspired by and one with a full title page. If you could paste the painting onto the cover page that would be great. They must be submitted to playwrightsfestatknow@gmail.com. 

Please use the title of your work in the file name and whether it is the blind or named copy Sample file name: Title_ artwork _blind or Title_ artwork_ name. This makes it easier on the person coordinating the files and sending them on to the adjudicators. 

Each year we take three works of art and ask writers to fashion a play, and musicians to compose a piece as they are moved or inspired by the artwork. 

The play must be inspired by one of the works of art below.

We blind-read the submissions, select the best and produce them. The art is exhibited, we perform the plays on the KNOW Theatre stage and ask the audience for feedback. 

It is our annual mixed media event that draws inquisitive art and theatre lovers to KNOW. 

The prizes are awarded are: 

• The Edward Allan Baker Prize for Best of Festival ($300), 
• Artistic Merit ($200) and A
• Audience Favorite ($100). 

Each night from Friday through Sunday we will feature one artwork and the pieces associated with it.

The artwork will follow a refresher on the rules. 

• The play length needs to be between 15 - 20 minutes
• Cast size maximum, 4 characters. Set should be implied.

Plays submitted MUST be a complete play and must include a beginning, middle and an end and contain a conflict. Our judges will be adhering to strict parameters during the adjudication process.

Playwrights may only submit one play for the festival.

The playwright would need to attend at least one of the two weekend performances (which take place in November). In person is preferred but we have in the past Zoomed with playwrights. As our festival is starting to reach a greater number of people in wider locations, we feel that we must take this into consideration. We always hope our playwrights can attend in person and feel the energy and excitement of having their work performed onstage for the first time, but we understand that sometimes this is not logistically possible.

KNOW Theatre Facebook submission event page

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.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowship 2026

Website

Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET

The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program offers scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists a rare chance to pursue ambitious projects for a full academic year in a vibrant interdisciplinary setting amid the resources of Harvard University.

We welcome applications proposing innovative work that confronts pressing social, scientific, and policy issues and seeks to engage audiences beyond academia. Reflecting Radcliffe's unique history and institutional legacy, we welcome—but do not limit eligibility to—proposals that focus on women, gender, and society or draw on the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections.

We also invite proposals relevant to the Institute’s multiyear focus area, which for 2024–2029 is academic freedom and connecting across difference. Proposals should address intellectual virtues, free and open inquiry, and diversity of thought, as well as political polarization, inequality, religious pluralism, religion and public life, and other policy issues as they relate to institutions of higher education. Within this focus area, we also welcome proposals that constructively challenge disciplinary orthodoxies or advance new and potentially transformative perspectives or approaches.

In addition, we welcome proposals in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics directly impacted by federal research funding cuts.

Get Started

The application for 2027–2028 fellowship program is now available. Please visit our application portal to access the application.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for applications in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, and nonfiction and journalism is September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET.

The deadline for applications in science, engineering, and mathematics is October 1, 2026, at 5 PM ET.
How to Apply

To begin an application, you will need to register as a new user by creating a new account with your name, email address, and password. Once you have registered, you may log in to the Online Fellowship Application Portal and select an application area: Humanities and Social Sciences; Creative Arts; Nonfiction and Journalism; or Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Eligibility Criteria

We accept applications in a wide array of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and creative arts and applicants must meet discipline-specific eligibility criteria. This fellowship program is not intended to serve as a postdoctoral fellowship, and those currently enrolled in a degree program are ineligible to apply. We accept applications from individuals across career stages and do not require academics to have tenure to apply.

Former Harvard Radcliffe fellows (1999-present) are ineligible.

Application Materials

The fellowship application consists of an application form, curriculum vitae, 1,400-word project proposal (with bibliography when appropriate), a writing or work sample, and the contact information of three references who will be prompted over email to upload letters of recommendation in support of your application. All materials must be submitted via our online application portal.

Black Cat Theatre seeks full-length scripts

Website

Deadline: September 15, 2026

THEY ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

Chicago, IL

Full-length scripts, ideally 75-100 minutes in length

aligned w/ BCT values, especially those:

• from queer playwrights
• telling queer stories
• playing with form and/or language

Playwrights from anywhere may submit, but this season we will be prioritizing submissions from Chicago-based writers. Playwrights may submit one script for this opportunity.

The Staged Reading+ process has typically comprised of 4 virtual table-work rehearsals, 4 in-person rehearsals, and 4 hours of tech. Depending on the needs of the individual script, this process could shift slightly. Ideally, the playwright will be able to attend all rehearsals. Performances will take place in Spring 2027 at The Edge Off-Broadway, on the set of Idle Muse Theatre Company's Spring production.

If you have any questions, please contact BCT's Literary Manager, Cori Lang, at literary@blackcattheatrechi.com

Utah Shakespeare Festival Words Cubed seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: when they receive 200 submissions
THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR LIMIT - DO NOT SEND

Our Mission

As part of an ongoing commitment to create a diverse body of work, Words Cubed, the new play program at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, nurtures and develops openly-submitted and commissioned-based new plays by providing a professional platform for readings, workshops, and fully realized productions.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Unproduced scripts ready for development. We are not looking for the ‘best’ play submitted, rather a great one that will benefit from our process.

We love big epic casts, but we’ve found the streamlined development process is best suited to smaller cast shows (6 actors or less). We are open to Shakespeare-adjacent works, however, we are interested in all genres. If you are submitting a Shakespeare-adjacent work, it must be able to stand on its own for audiences that don’t know the original.

Part of our selection process is how the two selected plays complement one another and the season of which they are a part (in this case, the 2027 season). Additionally, a play that is similar in theme or plot to recent Words Cubed selections is less likely to be chosen.

WHAT WILL WORDS CUBED DO FOR YOU?

Words Cubed and the Utah Shakespeare Festival will provide travel to Cedar City, Utah and offer a stipend, lodging, and tickets to our currently running shows. We will provide you with a cast, director, and stage manager, four days of concentrated script work (12 hours total), and four public readings with audience feedback.

WHAT WILL THE READING LOOK LIKE?

Words Cubed readings are simple in scope. This choice is both artistic, as the goal is to focus on the story and allow the playwright to hear it in front of an audience, and practical, as there is limited rehearsal time. We encourage teams to utilize stage directions to paint the fuller picture for the audience. These are “music stand readings”, so lines are not memorized. There are no design elements.

FINE PRINT

No fees. The only thing we require is a signed contract with the following agreement: After your play leaves our process, any subsequent production or workshop will contain the following language: “PLAY TITLE was developed, in part, through Words Cubed, Utah Shakespeare Festival’s new play development program.”

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION

You will be notified by July 1, 2027, whether or not your play was selected. 

FAQ

• You may only submit one play per year.
• If a script was submitted to Words Cubed in the past, it cannot be re-submitted. 
• We only accept unproduced plays.
• Straight plays only, please. Words Cubed is not designed to support a sufficient development process for musicals.
• We only accept updated script drafts if your play makes it to the finalist pool. We will notify you if you become a finalist.
• The two selected playwrights must be available for the Cedar City in-person workshop during the week of August 2 or 9, 2027.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to words3@bard.org.