#StageOpps
PROJECT SUBMISSIONS
Social Justice Shorts 2026
A Call to Conscience Interactive Theater for Social Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre collective founded in January 2012 by a group of women participant/members of the Regional Arts Commission's Community Arts Training Program. The company was created to accentuate and give voice to the issues of race, gender equality, social injustice, and civil unrest in communities which experience themselves as powerless and voiceless. Please complete this form to submit your unpublished 10-minute play or monologue for consideration in our 2026 Social Justice Shorts Festival, produced by A Call to Conscience Interactive Theater for Social Change and Bread & Roses Missouri. Our deadline for submissions is March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. The Social Justice Shorts Festival will be June 4-7 in St. Louis, Missouri at a venue to be announced. You must use this form to submit your play, email submissions will not be reviewed. Storytelling must be rich in self-expression and theatrical imagination. Playwrights may live in any part of the country, and St. Louis-based playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit. Plays featuring a cast of one to three actors will be accepted (plays with more than three actors will not be considered). Playwrights are welcome to submit solo performance pieces. Plays longer than 10 minutes will NOT be considered. Published plays will also not be considered. Limited set, props and technical requirements are strongly preferred. Only one submission from a playwright may be submitted, please do not submit multiple plays for consideration.
o Deadline: March 1
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Seeking 10-minute short plays and monologues centered around the following suggested themes:
● LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Rights
● Healthcare Justice (including Mental Health)
● Economic Justice/Workers' Rights
● Immigrant/Refugee Justice
● Reproductive Justice
o Categories: Short Plays
That's What She Said
Since its inception in 2018, this festival has been a vital platform for powerful new plays that uplift, challenge, and connect audiences. Produced in partnership with That's What She Said Women's Writers Collective, this annual event continues its mission to highlight diverse female voices through bold storytelling by playwrights from across the country. Our 2026 Festival will take place August 14th - 16th at the Curtis Theatre in Brea, CA
o Deadline: February 20
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Full-Length or One-Act plays centered on female, femme, trans, non-binary, queer or other inherently non-male experiences & voices.
Plays should be at least 60 pages and no longer than 120 pages in length.
Plays should be submitted as PDF files only.
Plays submitted can have a lightly produced background but should generally remain within the realm of a "new work".
o Categories: Full-length Plays, One-Act Plays
YouthPlays
Welcome! YouthPLAYS publishes challenging, entertaining plays and musicals that are appropriate for teen and younger actors and/or audiences, as well as shows that have the potential to cross over to universities or community theatres. We accept emailed queries only. DO NOT SUBMIT A FULL SCRIPT unless you fit one of the four categories below: Current YouthPLAYS Authors: Please log in first. You may submit multiple scripts (one at a time). Playwrights 19 and Under (Worldwide): You may submit one script only that adheres to the guidelines for the New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights from January 1, 2026 through May 1, 2026. (Scroll to the bottom to read the guidelines!) BIPOC playwrights 20 and Older (US-based only): You may submit one script (please wait for a submission decision prior to submitting another script). Please be sure to mention in your Note to the Publisher that you are a member of this group. Requested Scripts: This means you submitted a query, and we emailed you back requesting the full script. Please mention in your Note to the Publisher that we have requested the script.
o Deadline: May 1
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Please make sure the query includes all of the following in the body other email (no attachments): The play's title.
A brief synopsis.
The approximate running time.
A cast breakdown (e.g. 2 males, 4 females, 8+ any gender). Please address specifically whether the play contains any significant young (teen or younger) characters.
The producing groups for which you think the play is most appropriate (e.g. high schools, middle schools, TYA theatres, etc.).
Production/development history.
Any encumbrances (e.g. some part of it is published in a non-exclusive anthology). Also, please disclose any agency representation at this time.
Why you believe this play is a fit for our mission.
Again, do NOT include the script, in whole or in part, with your query.
o Contact: submissions@youthplays.com.
o Categories: Full-length Plays
14th Annual Columbus Black Theater Festival
Mine 4 God Productions is accepting monologues and one-act plays that have diversity, inclusion, and equity of people of color characters for our 14th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival (CBTF) that will be held July 2nd, 3rd & 5th, 2026 at The Columbus Performing Arts Center Van Fleet Theatre, located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The theme for 2026 is Still Going Strong: Voices of Triumph! Our Founder/Artistic Director, Julie Whitney Scott, was given this theme, as usual, through prayer. It's a theme that inspires hope and resilience in the face of trouble. The theme represents those that have continued to stay strong before, during, through and after personal storms have invaded their lives, and how they were victorious in the end. It must be a story that is a story and not a lecture to push your views on others. It must be about everyday people and their everyday lives and their voices of triumph.
o When/Where: Columbus, OH
o Deadline: February 28
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: The entries need to meet the following criteria:
No more than 4 to 6 characters (Actors can play double-roles.)
No derogatory, hate based, sexually explicit work will be reviewed or accepted.
Have minimal set/light requirements.
If required, play can be rehearsed/performed effectively by virtual means.
15 to 20 minutes long for one-act plays. 5 to 10 minutes long for monologues.
Written blocking notes of the play can be rearranged by the Director to meet venue space.
Must submit a titled script and a blind script without any identifying information other than the title.
Only one play submission per playwright.
o Categories: Monologues, One Act Plays
o Contact: Due to the number of plays received each year, you will not be notified unless your play is accepted. However, you can email us after February 28, 2026, for feedback on your submission at www.mine4godproductionsllc@aol.com
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest
In our 22nd year, New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest was developed to bring works of social significance to the attention of Producers, Directors, and Literary Managers
o Deadline: February 2
o Application Fee: $27
o Eligibility: Scripts no longer than 2 hours or 90 pages Stage Play Format
(PLEASE NOTE: Scripts over 90 pages, but with performance time under 2 hours, are also eligible.)
One-acts
Short stage plays
Children's plays
Published scripts
Scripts that received a workshop
Scripts that received a staged reading
Scripts that received a non-union production
Scripts produced with an AEA Showcase Code or Plan
Plays submitted must be the original work of the author and meet Mission Statement Criteria (see Home Page).
o Categories: Plays, One Acts
The Woodward/Newman Award
The Woodward/Newman Award is an exclusive honor offered by Constellation Stage & Screen, started through the support of Joanne Woodward, Newman's Own Foundation, and the Newman family, celebrating Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward's tremendous history of work on stage and screen. It presents the best unpublished play of the year with a cash prize of $3,000 and a full production as part of Constellation's Mainstage season. Please note that there are significant changes to our submission and selection process from previous years. In order to make the Woodward/Newman Award accessible to all, we have eliminated submission fees as well as the contest format. The Woodward/Newman Award will continue to be awarded to an unpublished new play once per year and come with a $3,000 cash prize and a full production. Submissions will be accepted and reviewed by our literary team on an ongoing basis, and will be considered for the award as well as for all 7 production slots in our season. So a play that is not selected for the Woodward/Newman slot in our season, may still be considered and selected for production. This will allow us to now accept open submissions for all types of plays (including TYA shows). Plays submitted by midnight, August 31st, 2026 will be considered for the 2027-28 season, while plays submitted beyond that date will be considered for the 2028-29 Season. All submissions will be kept on file for 2 years after submission.
o Deadline: August 31
o Submission Guidelines: We are currently accepting submissions for the 2027-28 Woodward/Newman Award. The award recipient will be announced by May 15, 2027. The winner will be awarded $3,000 and a full production.
"Full-length" plays should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes). TYA shows should have a complete running time of over 40 minutes.
Plays submitted must be unpublished at the time of submission (independently published is acceptable).
Each play should be individually submitted at the following link: CONSTELLATION STAGE & SCREEN PLAY SUBMISSION.
You will be asked to submit your play as an attachment and all other information (bio, history, synopsis, character breakdown) will be entered into a form. Musical submissions may upload demos as an attachment or include a link to a shared folder.
Limit of 2 play submissions per year.
$3,000 cash prize is in lieu of royalties for the full production. Housing & transportation will also be provided.
Any unpublished play submitted to Constellation regardless of method (e.g. online form, agent submission, direct contact) may be considered for the Woodward/Newman Award.
Please note that we are moving away from a "finalists" model in lieu of keeping all plays under consideration for extended periods (2yrs). We will only announce a winner.
o Categories: New Works, Drama, Theatre
o Address: 411 E 7th ST Bloomington, IN 47408
o Contact: lIf you have any questions, please email literary@seeconstellation.org.
Blackboard Plays - Reading Series Submission
Founded in 2008, Blackboard Plays has been devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Black Playwrights Submit up to 10 pages in consideration for a Feature reading. A Feature and a Community Night are the two main ways to have your work supported by Blackboard. Those not selected for a feature, are encouraged to attend a community night, which is structured like an Open Mic Night for Playwrights, where up to 10 pages is cold-read by Actors in person or on Zoom (During COVID-19 Social Distancing Practices).
o Categories: Short Plays, Plays
Neurodivergent New Play Series
Neurodivergent playwrights in NYC since 2023 - is accepting recurring submissions as we prepare for our 2024-25 Season.All submissions should be for full-length plays between 45 to 180 minutes long and may have received a previous reading or production outside of NYC, as long as they are unpublished. All neurodivergent/disabled writers (autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, OCD, Tourette's, etc.) at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply - especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and female-identifying writers. There is no submission fee or any other fee for being involved in this process.
o Deadline: Rolling Basis
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Plays can be of any genre, although we are especially seeking works that challenge traditional methods of storytelling & have something important to say about the world that isn't being heard enough. We ask that you submit only one play every 30 days during our recurring submissions process.
Contact: neurodivergentplays@gmail.com
o Categories: Full-length Plays
Freshwater Theatre
Freshwater Theatre prides itself on constantly working with new artists, expanding our family. We're always on the lookout for new scripts and new technical artists to work with.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: While we certainly are interested in world premieres of new plays, we also are very interested in second and third productions of new works, as we believe this to be the key to finding the works that will propel theater into the future.
We will only respond to playwright submissions for plays that come into serious consideration for future production. We cannot give any specific time frame on if/when a response will be given.
o Categories: New Plays
o Contact: info@freshwatertheatre.com
SCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
Cherry Lane Theatre Playwrights Collective
The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective is a nine-month developmental program under the direction of playwright Annie Baker, designed to support rising playwrights through community and a rigorous structure without the barriers of formal graduate programs. A cohort of six selected playwrights will meet over ten Sunday evenings, every three weeks, at Cherry Lane Theatre from September 2026 through June 2027 to share work, read pages aloud, and develop brand-new plays over the course of the year. The program culminates in a public reading series presented over six Monday nights in late May - June 2027, featuring professional actors and directors for text-focused presentations, each with one day of rehearsal. While the reading series provides a platform to hear the work with an audience, the primary mission is to create new work, and only playwrights who have shown up for the Sunday meetings will have public readings. The program will embrace Cherry Lane's downtown history of incubating bold new writing, offering playwrights a supportive, artist-first community. The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective will operate under Cherry Lane Development Group, a new non-profit with a mission "to foster bold, innovative voices in the theatrical arts by cultivating a dynamic space where artists can take risks, deepen their craft, and shape new worlds for the stage." A24 will not own any work created through this program. Writers retain full ownership of their material. The ideal applicants are emerging playwrights who crave rigorous feedback, consistency, accountability, and a collaborative environment. The program is built for writers who might have day jobs, who need structure, and who would benefit from a sustained, intimate cohort committed to taking risks and developing new full-length plays over nine months.
o Deadline: March 2
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Applications are free, open to the public. Applicants will submit a full length play and brief materials (see below).
Writers must be able to attend all Collective meetings in person.
(Please note, no travel stipends or living stipends will be provided).Writers who have not had a Broadway or Off-Broadway production in NYC and who will not be in an undergraduate, graduate, or conservatory program in the 26/27 academic year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to writers who are not in other incubator programs that meet weekly/monthly.
Submissions portal will open February 2, 2026 at 10am ET and close March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.
o Categories: Full-Length Plays
o Contact: Should you have any questions, please email questions@cherrylanetheatre.org and we will respond in a timely manner.
Live & In Color Musical Theatre Development Program
Live & In Color is looking for playwrights, composers, and lyricists of color and/or other underrepresented communities interested in developing their new musical. The selected musical submission will have a one-week workshop in the fall at The Bingham Camp in Salem, Connecticut culminating in a staged presentation to an invited audience. Writers receive a $1,000 stipend plus housing, meals, and travel. We provide support including a several-month development period based on needs of the composer/writers leading up to the retreat. Live & In Color staff will continue the support the development of your piece beyond the retreat including a reading for industry and Broadway Alums.
o Deadline: February 15
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: The musical must be performed with 4 actors (or less) All submissions should include:
Resumes + CVs (a one-page PDF document for each team member's resume and CV)
Artistic Statement (can be authored by individual team members, or as a joint statement)
Single page synopsis*
Single page character breakdown*
Demo of score (2-3 songs)*
Sample of dialogue (~15 pages)*
Brief production/development history (properties with prior full productions not accepted)*
Optional: a PDF of the full script (please note, if you move forward to the Semi-Finalist round, a full script and score will be required) *Submission Materials must be in a single PDF document of all
o Categories: Musicals
o Contact: For any questions email musicalsubmissions@liveandincolor.org
2026 International Playwriting Prize Carlo Annoni
The Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize is now open for submissions with topics concerning the LGBTQ+ community, including love, diversity, and identity in a time of gender fluidity. We accept full-length or short plays even if already represented. Award ceremony in Milan, September 2026.
o Deadline: April 30
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Send your submission to info@premiocarloannoni.eu 1000 € awarded to two best plays (one in English and one in Italian)
o Categories: Plays
WRPN Women's International Film Festival
Welcome to the WRPN Women's International Film Festival, where distribution and feedback opportunities abound for films made by women or those that address issues affecting women. WWIFF is a sister festival to the Depth of Field International Film Festival, a FilmFreeway "Top 100 Reviewed" festival alumnus.
o When/Where: June 20
o Deadline: October 31 (Regular Deadline), November 30 (Late Deadline), December 31 (Extended Deadline), March 31 (Last Chance)
o Application Fee: $50-$130
o Eligibility: While WWIFF is a female-focused film festival, we also accept films produced and/or directed by men if one or more self-identifying top production members are female (including, but not limited to, cinematographers, producers, writers, editors, or films featuring a strong female presence on screen). We will not exclude films directed by men if the topic is significant to women and women's issues.
o Categories: Play
Southern Soul Theatre Ensemble Presents the Inaugural 10x10 Play Festival
The Southern Soul Theatre Ensemble proudly announces the Inaugural 10x10 Play Festival, celebrating creativity, culture, and community! In honor of Juneteenth, this festival amplifies Black and Latinx voices through a dynamic showcase of 10-minute plays.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Eligibility: Open to Black and Latinx playwrights (one submission per playwright).
Play Length: 10-minute plays (8-10 pages).
Cast Size: 2-6 characters.
Themes: Works should reflect the diversity of Black and Latinx cultures; all genres welcome.
Original Work: Must be unproduced or have had limited exposure (readings/workshops accepted).
Format: PDF submissions only, including a title page with name, contact info, and a brief synopsis.
Deadline: Selected playwrights will be notified by April 15th.Southern Soul Theatre
o Categories: Plays
The Autry: 2025 OPEN Submission for Production Consideration
We accept scripts all year long. Do you have a full-length script that has been developed and produced that you would like us to consider for a future Native Voices production in Los Angeles? Please follow the Checklist for All Submissions below and in the Native Voices Script Submission form, check the box for 2025 General Production Consideration.
o When/Where: Open all year
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility:Full-length plays (60+ pages) receive will be read and evaluated.
o Categories: Full-length Plays
NY Theatre Festival Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter
This is a unique opportunity to invite people from the industry to see your production! People are more likely to go see a show than to read an unsolicited script - some industry people receive on average thousands of submissions per month. They understand that the journey for a show to be successful often goes through several productions and this is your chance to show that you can start that process! Our dedicated team is here to help you get your work out. We are with you from the moment you begin tech rehearsals, all the way through to your closing performance. You will never be left alone during the process. We will help you choose from the 85 set/furniture pieces we offer to dress your stage for your run, and we will give you a complete crash course on how to use the audio/light/video system in just 3 minutes, which are intentionally designed to be very user friendly.
After we show you how to use the tools we provide and how to best utilize the space, The Festival's team will provide prime responses to every inquiry, as well as a telephone # you can call anytime during relevant hours throughout the run of your show. In 12 years and 22 seasons we have successfully hosted 1,400 plays and 300 musicals, as well as rewarding over 300 participating artists cash prizes.
o Deadline: TBD
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Submissions Accepted from a 30-mile radius outside of Manhattan and only run if the entire cast and crew are from New York City. Plays are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The earlier you submit, the better your chances are of having your script invited to the festival. Each applicant is fully responsible for all elements of their production, including directing, casting, stage-managing. We know exactly what you need to make your show a success and we welcome you into our community of playwrights and theater innovators!
o Categories: Plays, Musicals
Torch Literary Arts
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 what you are excited to share with the world. Submissions are accepted for Friday Features only. We accept submissions on a rolling basis. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are welcome as long as they are identified as such and we are notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
o Deadline: Rolling Basis
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Include a one (1) page cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted.
Upload your text submission as a Word (DOC, DOCX) or portable document format/PDF (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".
Poetry: submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages.
Fiction, Hybrid genre: 12-point font. No more than ten (10) pages or 2500 words (whichever is achieved first). Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Drama/Screenwriting: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than ten (10) 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.
Restrictions: We do not reprint previously published work for TORCH Friday Features.
o Categories: Scripts
The Tank Presents
Each season, our The Tank Presents program serves hundreds of emerging artists as they create over 1000 performances of new works in music, theater, film, dance, comedy, and storytelling. As part of our mission to remove the economic barriers from the creation of new work, we never charge our artists to use our space for their performances! In addition, we also provide free rehearsal space, as well as free marketing and promotion of their event. Our The Tank Presents presenting model removes the daunting cost of space rental from the equation of art making, and provides an affordable home for emerging artists to create art that pushes the boundaries of their mediums. Through this program, artists can present readings, works-in-development, short runs of full theatre productions, screenings, concerts, storytelling festivals, comedy shows, and more.
o Deadline: None Given
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: To submit work for consideration as part of Tank programming, please email submissions@thetanknyc.org with the following information:
Show title
Discipline (theater, music, comedy, etc.)
Approximate running time
Summary of piece
Brief summary of artistic goals
Brief explanation of how the piece exists in the world (i.e. - art exhibit, soundscape, outdoor experience, digital hybrid)
Sample of work that will give us a sense of what it is you're trying to make and that you know how to make it
Bio of lead artist(s)
The name of the Tank show you viewed
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
o Categories: Plays
o Contact: submissions@thetanknyc.org
Diversionary: Seeking new, full-length LGBTQIA+ works
Diversionary is always seeking new, full-length LGBTQIA+ works for consideration. Please follow the guidelines below if you would like to submit your work. Because of the volume of submissions, those that do not follow the guidelines will not be considered.
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Please send all of the above items as a single document in pdf format to frankie@diversionary.org. For music, please send the items in mp3 format or include a link to be accessed. No physical submissions sent to the theatre will be considered.
a one-page synopsis, character breakdown, and playwright bio
a development/production history of the submitted work (including date written and any readings, workshops, and full stagings)
a ten-page sample of the work
three audio recordings of music, twelve minutes total, if it's a musical
o Categories: Full Length Plays, Musicals
o Contact: frankie@diversionary.org
Murmuration Theatre
Murmuration Theatre Company is seeking plays that have a cast size between 2-11 for our 2023 & 2024 seasons Accepting work for consideration in the following categories: New Voices Showcase: Curated selection of 4-10 new plays (scripts 2 - 40 pages); fully staged and directed by our creative team. Mainstage Show: a one act or full length play (scripts 35 - 120 pages); fully staged and directed by our creative team. In development: Actor's Lab Performance Series: a monthly selection of scenes or short plays (any length), performed at workshop or staged reading level.Playwrights selected for our mainstage production will receive $30 per performance of their one-act or full length play; playwrights selected for our New Voices Showcase will receive $10 per performance of their short or one-act.
o When/Where: Brooklyn, New York
o Deadline: None
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Please submit PDF copies of scripts via the google form below, and feel free to reach out to murmurationtheatreco@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Multiple submissions are allowed. Preference will be given to playwrights who are able to attend at least one performance of their work in the NYC area.
We will be accepting submissions on a rolling basis, and hope to be in touch with responses within 30 days of submission. Please feel free to reach out after that point if you have not received word from our team.
Solo Shows, Theatre for Young Audiences and Musicals will not be considered.
New writers as well as writers with voices that have historically been underrepresented in the theater industry (gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, ability status, etc.) are encouraged to apply.
o Categories: Full-Length Plays, One-Acts
o Contact: murmurationtheatreco@gmail.com
Manhattan Repertory Theatre Play Production Program
Self-Produce a production of your best play in New York City as live theatre comes back to life in this New Renaissance of Theatre. We will do all the work, from hiring a production team and staff, to casting, directing, building costumes, set design, lighting design, payroll and more. From 3 performances to 20 performances for one simple Production Fee. Pre-Pandemic, 2017 - 2019, we produced 60 plays in Midtown Manhattan for playwrights all over the world. Production time frames available: Late Autumn 2021, Winter/Spring 2022.Currently, as we move back into production in New York City, we are only accepting Full-Length plays and Musicals - 60 to 150 minutes. Production fees range from $12,000 to $50,000 depending on the "size" of your production, scenic elements, and the number of performances.
o Deadline: TBD
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: If you are serious about self-producing your play in New York City, please forward us: An email cover letter with information about you and your work. your play attached as a .pdf, an attached Synopsis of your play, with the approximate running time, and your set, lighting and costume requirements.
o Categories: Full Length Plays, New Plays
o Contact: manhattanrep@yahoo.com
Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest
To encourage the development of quality theatrical materials for the educational, community and children's theatre markets, Pioneer Drama Service is proud to sponsor the annual Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest.
This is an ongoing contest, with a winner selected by June 1 each year from all eligible submissions received the previous year. All eligible plays accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists, from which the winner will be selected. The contest winner will receive a $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: You can start the submission process by contacting us here.
We will only consider manuscripts with a running time between 20 and 90 minutes.
Submissions must be family friendly in both subject and language. NO cursing. NO explicitly adult content.
We prefer casts that are either balanced or favoring females. The more gender neutral roles, the better.
We favor plays and musicals with ensemble casts, where more than just a few have a chance to shine.
Plays with elaborate set, costume or technical requirements are not appealing because of the limited resources of many of our customers. Pictures, sketches or descriptions of your vision are always helpful.
We recommend your submissions have had at least one production or reading, hopefully staged. We feel this fundamental field test is necessary before a play can be considered for publication since plays are created for the purpose of performance.
Manuscripts must be computer-printed in dark ink. We do not require specific formatting. However, your efforts to ensure your script is free of misspellings and typos will help the submissions editor.
We hope that Pioneer Drama is your first choice as a publisher, and we encourage you to submit to us exclusively. However, we do accept simultaneous submissions with the understanding that you will accept the first contract you're offered and not use the situation to seek multiple offers from which to choose. If you receive another offer, please notify us immediately so we may rescind your submission.
The following information must accompany your submission or query:
100-200 word synopsis.
Cast list that indicates the number of female roles, the number of male roles and the number of roles that can be performed by either gender. We do not accept one-person shows.
Running time.
CD and/or score for musicals. We appreciate the opportunity to hear the music, if possible.
Set design(s). Please feel free to provide diagrams and/or pictures.
Proof of production or staged reading (i.e., review, program, etc.) A DVD of your performance is ideal, though not required.
Age of intended audience.
A self-addressed envelope of sufficient size with appropriate postage for the return of your materials. We will NOT return manuscripts or accompanying material if this is not included.
Cover letter and/or resume.
o Categories: family friendly
o Address: Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Attn: Submissions Editor PO Box 4267
Englewood, CO 80155-4267
o Contact: https://www.pioneerdrama.com/ContactUs.asp?ID=6
Urban Stages Emerging Playwright Award
Our $500 Emerging Playwright Award (coupled with press coverage) is given to playwrights who show excellence and dedication throughout this process – from development to the stage. Out of hundreds of submissions a year, we select 15-20 plays for readings. From these, we select 1-3 plays annually to go on to our workshopping phase. Our workshops are meant to prepare a play for our Off-Broadway stage. From our workshops, we select 1-2 plays for full productions, complete with a playwright's contract and compensation (separate from the award).
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Plays may have been developed or produced elsewhere, but never produced in New York City. Plays from overseas and throughout the US are accepted and considered, but special attention will be given to playwrights who live in or near New York
o Categories: Full Length Plays, New Plays
o Contact: 212.421.1380
ONSTAGE Audition
Chicken & Biscuits - Submit for NYC Appointments (Deadline: 02.12.26)
Laughter and chaos collide as the Jenkins family gathers to lay their beloved patriarch to rest— only to have the service turn into a feast of family drama when a shocking revelation bursts into the room. As past wounds resurface and tempers flare, this uproarious Broadway comedy dares to ask: what happens when the truth shows up uninvited? With biting humor and a whole lot of heart, Chicken & Biscuits serves up a deliciously messy feast of Black joy, forgiveness, and the fierce love that holds us together—even when everything's falling apart.
o Deadline: February 12
o Details: Please submit your headshot and resume for consideration. Please include "C&B" in the subject line
o Audition Information:
Auditions are planned for the week of 2/23.
First rehearsal: May 12
Preview: June 4
Opening: June 5
Closing: June 21
o Salary: LORT Non-Rep $839 weekly minimum (LORT D)
o Contact: kcactorsubmissions@gmail.com
For more Onstage opportunities, visit Backstage.com; ActorsAccess.com; and Playbill.com.
BACKSTAGE
Michael Maggio Directing Fellow 2026-2027
The Goodman is now accepting applications for the 2026/2027 Michael Maggio Directing Fellowship. The submission deadline is March 1, 2026. Please note, the Maggio Fellowship is a year long full-time artistic administrative position starting in August. This position is primarily in-person with limited remote options when not actively involved in a production. The death of Goodman Associate Artistic Director Michael Maggio on August 19, 2000, robbed the American theater of one of its most articulate and versatile directors. As the veteran of more than 60 productions in theaters around the country, Michael was a consummate artist who was equally at home in nearly any dramatic genre, from new plays to classics, grand scale musicals to intimate realistic dramas.In recognition of Michael's artistry and his dedication to nurturing young artists, Goodman Theatre established the annual Michael Maggio Fellowship. The Maggio Fellow is an emerging career Chicago-based director, selected by a panel of Goodman artistic staff, Chicago artists, and the current Maggio Fellow.
o The Maggio Fellow joins the artistic staff, with administrative and artistic responsibilities:
Assigned assistant directing or other artistic specialty roles on Main Stage productions
Attend standing meetings and take notes as assigned
Weekly assigned administrative tasks
Read and respond to script submissions and projects under consideration
Support New Works programs
Attend locally produced work
Provide producing support for special events
Facilitate or participate in Engagement, Education and Development events.
The Maggio Fellow will work closely with the Northwestern Directing Fellow to produce IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Accessibility) events that engage local directors, playwrights, and designers.
Work cross-departmentally on internal and external projects in various capacities.
o Compensation: $45,000.00 per year Goodman Theatre offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, paid vacation, sick leave, 401K & Parental Leave. The Goodman is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. By dedicating itself to three guiding principles—quality, diversity and community— The Goodman seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in our city.
Commercial Director, AKA NYC
AKA NYC is a New York City based, award-winning, fully integrated advertising agency with unparalleled expertise across the arts & entertainment, leisure, travel, retail, and tourism sectors. We are content-forward and data-fueled with a proven record of delivering cross-platform campaigns that get results. We are proud to partner with some of the most iconic names in entertainment, culture, and live experiences. Our client roster includes Broadway's biggest shows, world-renowned institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, vibrant attractions such as The New York Botanical Garden, and dynamic sports organizations like the Harlem Globetrotters. From the magic of live theatre to the energy of stadiums and the wonder of cultural landmarks, we craft campaigns that connect audiences with real experiences – providing real stories, real emotions and real connections. AKA NYC seeks a commercially minded leader who combines strategic vision with executional excellence. The ideal candidate thinks like a producer, acts as a business partner, and leads with entrepreneurial drive. They thrive in complexity, enjoy solving commercial challenges, and maintain a relentless focus on audience growth, revenue generation, and sustainable success. Above all, they bring energy, vision, and leadership to help our clients — and AKA — achieve extraordinary results.
o Essential Duties
Lead commercial strategy for key accounts, aligning marketing, pricing, and sales activity with revenue goals.
Develop and manage forecasts, pricing models, and sales strategies that deliver measurable results.
Oversee audience segmentation, ticketing, and revenue management to maximize occupancy and average ticket price.
Use data and insights to identify growth opportunities and guide strategic decisions.
Serve as a trusted commercial advisor to senior stakeholders and agency leaders.
Inspire and mentor teams, fostering commercial acumen and a culture of curiosity and accountability.
o Compensation: The salary range for this position in New York, NY is $100,000 to $130,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience. A discretionary bonus may be provided as part of the total compensation package.
Director of Production, Arena Stage
The Director of Production is responsible for the overall management of the Production Department, balancing artistic vision and integrity with practical needs including deadlines and budgets. The Director of Production will be responsible for budget management, staff development and creative problem solving.
o Essential Duties
Coordinate effective communication among the directors, designers and all members of production staff
Budget and schedule the needs of the Production Department to ensure the fulfillment of planned productions, presentations, rentals and other events
Create and monitor schedules for building, production and presentation activitiesOversee annual production budget, monitor expenses and provide timely updates of actual expenses and projections
Facilitate design and production meetings, ensure deadlines are met and oversee the tech/production process
Administer the production payrollContract production staff (scenic, props, costume, lighting, sound, other production support)
Hire additional production staff (overhire) as required
As a member of Senior Staff, work with the Senior Staff to schedule and plan each season and develop strategic plans for the future.
o Skills: Five years of production management
Degree in theater preferred but not required
Ability to work some evenings and weekends required
Knowledge of MS Office, particularly Excel and Outlook
Knowledge of all production elements including scenic, properties, lighting, costuming, sound, video, stage management, and directing
Previous experience working within SDC, AEA, USA and AFofM policies preferred.
o Compensation: $110,000-$165,000
Obsidian Theater Festival
There exists an enduring legacy of storytelling within the Black community. Actors, writers, musicians, and dancers, capture the richness of Black stories, moving beyond stereotypes and tropes. The Obsidian Theatre Festival exists to uplift both stories as well as storytellers, and firmly believes in the power of art to change lives. Obsidian will provide the community with the powerful platform it deserves by way of a fresh new stage upon which these stories will be meaningfully exists an enduring legacy of storytelling within the Black community. Actors, writers, musicians, and dancers, capture the richness of Black stories, moving beyond stereotypes and tropes. The Obsidian Theatre Festival exists to uplift both stories as well as storytellers, and firmly believes in the power of art to change lives. Obsidian will provide the community with the powerful platform it deserves by way of a fresh new stage upon which these stories will be meaningfully celebrate
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Detroit, MI
o Website: https://www.obsidianfest.org/available-positions
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Milwaukee, WI
o Website: https://www.milwaukeerep.com
For more information: https://www.milwaukeerep.com/about/work-us/jobs/?fbclid=IwAR2lXyj99fIOhY8MmQ5n4XRveG1wEqPl2mL_9w7A1-WVpLoZhqwUDc-2Crc
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values and encourages a diverse workforce. We invite you to review jobs that are currently available.
Full-time employee benefits include health, dental and voluntary vision and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan; parking programs and complimentary tickets.
Application Instructions
Send your letter, resume and salary history (PDF or Word attachments only) to the email address listed in the job listing.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Ashland, Oregon
o Website: https://www.osfashland.org
For more information: https://www.osfashland.org/work-with-us?fbclid=IwAR2cqx7fSs1YYwa2I86SMVxJjZ8ns4ba2RqsEr51mMKIVWdiIL7ByQ4Lv8U
Located in the beautiful Rogue Valley of southern Oregon, the Tony Award-Winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents a season of eleven plays in rotating repertory across three theaters between the months of February and October. Additionally, OSF offers extensive educational opportunities to students, teachers, and theatergoers of all ages during our performance season.
We offer employment and career opportunities in a wide range of positions (acting, other performing opportunities, scenery, costumes, lighting, marketing, finance, etc.). We encourage you to check our website regularly for openings.
Two River Theater
Two River Theater annually produces a theatrical season that includes American and world classics, new plays and musicals, programs for young people, and festivals of new work. Each year, we also offer 40+ events that reflect our diverse community of Red Bank, New Jersey. Two River celebrates and honors our core values of Artistic Excellence; Education and Community Engagement; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Operational Excellence. Anyone who joins our team quickly becomes part of putting all of our initiatives into action day in and day out. Two River Theater is led by Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst.Two River Theater is dedicated to the goal of building an equitable and culturally diverse work environment and strongly encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups.
o Seeking: Various Roles
o Location: Red Bank, NJ
o Website: https://tworivertheater.org/jobs/
The Kate Spade New York Foundation
o To honor Kate Spade's legacy of empowering and inspiring women and girls, the National Council for Behavioral Health is excited to provide complimentary Mental Health First Aid training to communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City and New Jersey and in partnership with organizations that specifically support these populations.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
The National Council for Behavioral Health shares Kate Spade New York Foundation's belief in "the power of women to transform their communities" through empowerment. In support of this mission, we are offering through a competitive application process, select Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training, fully funded!
o Location: New York, NY
o Website
For more Offstage opportunities, visit OffStageJobs.com and Playbill.com.
Funding
The Democracy Cycle
In January 2024, The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) and Civis Foundation partnered to launch The Democracy Cycle, a commissioning program designed to support new works that illuminate the promise, practice, imperfection, and opportunity of democracy. Over a five-year period, The Democracy Cycle will commission and develop 25 new performing arts works across the fields of theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performance. The commissioned works, to be selected over the course of three annual Rounds of Open Calls (2024, 2025, and 2026) will explore themes relating to the nature, practice, and experience of democracy.
o Deadline: April 28
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Please look at the Eligibility section of both the RFP / Request for Proposals and the Submission Guidelines, and do the Eligibility Screen in Submittable. If you still have questions, make an appointment with the director of The Democracy Cycle via Calendly.
The Alpine Fellowship
The winner of the Theatre Prize will receive a cash prize to support the writing of their proposed play, and the runners up will receive travel expense support that must be used to attend our 2026 symposium - dates and venue to be announced.
o Deadline: May 1
o Application Fee: None
o Eligibility: Open to all nationalities.
Applicants must be aged 18 or above at the time of entry.
All entries must be written in English.
Applicants can only enter one of our prizes.
Limited to one entry per person.
Travel expenses can be used for economy travel costs only and are not exchangeable for cash, any leftover travel budget will not be redeemed as cash.
Travel expenses can be used for transport only and cannot be used towards accommodation outside of the dates of our symposium.
Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC Performance Grant 2026
Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC will award a Performance Grant to individuals focused on the production of theatre, dance and performance art (all of which can be accompanied by music). Submissions: To ensure that each submission receives the attention it deserves we will be only accepting 40 applications for each of our categories.
o Deadline: Our Winter 2026 Grant cycle is now open and will close on February 2nd, 2026 at 9:00 am EDT or if we reach our limit of 40 applications, which ever comes first.
o Application Fee: No Fee
o Eligibility: Performer(s) of theatre, dance and performance art (all of which can be accompanied by music).
Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the creating/composition of new work.
Performer(s) applying must be a United States Citizen or Resident Alien and a resident of New York City and have lived in New York City for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.
If your performance is a play, it must be a full production. Readings will not qualify.
We would prefer that the performance of your project take place in New York City's five boroughs, or in a location in close proximity to New York City that has been discussed and approved by Café Royal Cultural Foundation. Email caferoyaldigital@gmail.com for inquiries.
Applicants can only apply with the same project twice.
Applicants can only apply to only one category during a grant cycle.
o Contact: We would prefer that the performance of your project take place in New York City's five boroughs, or at a location within proximity to New York City that has been discussed and approved by Café Royal Cultural Foundation before you apply, please email caferoyaldigital@gmail.com for inquiries.
Steven Schwartzberg Grants for Mental Health & Wellness
Writers are the beating heart of theater, whom we rely upon to take us on journeys and inspire us to think. During these unprecedented times, DGF has created the Steven Schwartzberg Grants to provide financial support for mental health and wellness services for writers. To help connect writers to therapists, DGF has partnered with Advekit, an online therapist matching service, to expand access to mental health support that might be out of your reach.
Please complete the form to receive $1,000 toward therapy through Advekit, courtesy of DGF.
If you already have a therapist or are seeking mental wellness support other than Western talk therapy, DGF is working on ways to support you in your wellness.
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)
The NYC DCLA is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life. Among our primary missions is to ensure adequate public funding for non-profit cultural organizations, both large and small, throughout the five boroughs.
They have many grants tailored to the needs of artists living and working in the city throughout the year.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Independent Artists and Groups
o Address: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs 31 Chambers Street New York, New York 10007
o Contact: 212.513.9300
SubletSeries@HERE Program
This creative curated rental program has allowed many upstart companies and emerging artists to realize their full artistic vision on a small budget. The program provides subsidized performance and rehearsal space, technical assistance, and administrative support, including a fully staffed box office. SubletSeries@HERE artists can also access equipment that is not typically available in venues our size such as video projectors, wireless microphones, color scrollers—all for free or at subsidized rates. We accept applications from artists all over the world for the opportunity to show work.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Independent Artists and Groups
o Address: HERE Program 145 Sixth Ave New York, NY 10013
o Contact: 212.647.0202
Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation does most of their funding in the arts, culture, and humanities to organizations in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. The Annenberg Foun
dation's arts and humanities grants are available to agencies that serve the greater Los Angeles region, typically with budgets over $5 million.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: Arts, culture, and humanities in greater Los Angeles region
RESIDENCIES
BECHDEL PROJECT ROO Residency 2026/27
In "A Room of One's Own," written in 1929, Virginia Woolf says, "fictitious women are too simple — contrary to the living, breathing, complex women of real life, (they) are almost always depicted only "in their relation to men." With the ROO Residency, Bechdel Project hopes to take one more step toward creating a culture of stories with complex women who are not simply depicted in relation to men. In "A Room of One's Own," written in 1929, Virginia Woolf says, "fictitious women are too simple — contrary to the living, breathing, complex women of real life, (they) are almost always depicted only "in their relation to men." With the ROO Residency, Bechdel Project hopes to take one more step toward creating a culture of stories with complex women who are not simply depicted in relation to men. The ROO Residency is a two-year residency that supports the creation of a new work for the stage or screen. Projects must center women, and highlight untold, or underrepresented, narratives and perspectives.
o Deadline: February 6
o Application Fee: Free
o Eligibility: The residency is open to writers over the age of 18.
The residency is open to feminist writers (of any intersection) whose work centers women, non-binary or underrepresented genders through a feminist lens and whose proposed script passes the Bechdel Test. Global Majority and LGBTQ+ writers are especially encouraged to apply.
The residency is open to writers in any area of the world and in any stage of their careers; however, priority will be given to those whose needs most align with our provided resources.
We do not accept scripts that have already been produced or that are currently in pre-production. We do consider and are eager to read incomplete scripts!
Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities
Residencies of an average of 2-8 weeks for visual artists, writers, actors, and performance artists. Residency provides housing, studio, and meals; artist responsible residency fee ($40/day), deposit (10% of residency fee), travel, materials, and local transportation.
o Deadline: Ongoing
o Application Fee: $25
o When: 2-8 weeks
o Eligibility: Residencies are available to established and emerging visual and literary artists 18 years of age and older without regard for race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
o Address: Artcroft Center for Arts and Humanities 2075 Johnson Rd. Carlisle, KY 40311
o Contact: artcroft@msn.com
Other Resources NOTE: For more resources, visit our pages of Resources - Funding, Submissions, and more.
NYFA SOURCE - The New York Foundation for the Arts maintains the most comprehensive national directory of awards, services and publications for artists in the NYFA Source section of their website.
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