The 46 Minutes Collective March 2026 Mixed Bag Presentations

Website

Deadline: February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

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.

Application Closes: February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
Performance Date: March 23, 2026 from 4:30-9 PM, Performance at 7:30 PM
Location: Brick Aux (628 Metropolitan Ave)

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 .
• One, 20-minute spacing rehearsal 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).
Box Office Split: Please note that tickets are donation-based, so we cannot guarantee a profit from this event. Once we have covered the space rental via donations, all additional ticket funds will be split evenly amongst the performers and the collective.


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.

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ NO (SOME) WAYS TIRED by chandra thomas

Originally from New York often found in Los Angeles, chandra thomas is an award-winning multihyphenate storyteller. As a playwright, her work has been presented at Primary Stages, McCarter Theatre, Barrow Group, Naked Angels, Echo Theater, Road Theater, Athena Arts Theater, Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, Vivid Stage, Passage Theatre, among others. chandra’s full-length plays, rom-com-drama THE BUZZER and multigenerational-family circus play ...OF CHAMPIONS, were named Finalists in the Blue Ink Playwriting Award. She was also a nominee for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

 

chandra’s also a writer of television, film and narratives (Emmy Award-winning comedy MOM) as well as a performer (New York Theatre Workshop, LAW & ORDER: SVU). She earned BA degrees in Theatre and Sociology from Vanderbilt University, and holds an MFA in Acting from Columbia University. In the tradition of her proud immigrant family, chandra’s storytelling centers characters who are pushed to the margins while blending humor with emotional heart and social bite.

• instagram.com/chandrathomas
• https://newplayexchange.org/users/49438/chandra-thomas
• https://bsky.app/profile/chandrathomas.bsky.social
• imdb.me/chandra

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

It was happenstance, how Wilma Rudolph came into my world. (That said, i’ve had more ‘happenstances’ than i should be comfortable admitting. Perhaps speaking to a grander hand at work, but i digress. ) i was thumbing through a shelf at a bookstore selling previously owned books in New York when the autobiography WILMA literally fell in my hands. The book wasn’t in the greatest condition but i was so taken by the photo of a sprinting Ms. Rudolph on the cover and the description of a woman who defied seemingly insurmountable odds. So the book was a key purchase. That was many years ago. In that time, i’ve explored theatrical ways to contribute to the storytelling canon about this incredible woman, athlete, changemaker, as well as the people who helped her achieve greatness. Having an opportunity to do so with this monologue is an honor.

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM NO (SOME) WAYS TIRED

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

                

WILMA 

 

Blanche found out I could get treated at Meharry Hospital, the Black medical college in Nashville—50 miles away. She took me there, twice a week, for two years. And this girl the world had written off but whose mother would never, walked —granted with metal braces, but I was walking. It took some more years before I could walk without crutches, braces and those kind of things. And, at age twelve, I set my eyes on becoming an athlete. 

 

            (takes her medal off) 

 

Blanche, and so many women like her, deserve these medals just as much as me. If for nothing else, for how we just keep going. No matter what, we keep going. Even when we feel very tired. But mark my words, there’s gonna be a time when we only gonna feel some ways tired. And when that happens, the world is really in for an awakening. 

Musical theater challenge for high school students 2026

Website

Deadline: February 3, 2026 3:00 AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES

Who can Participate in the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge? High School Students from all 50 States, Washington D.C. and U.S. territories are eligible.

Entry Requirements

Each Participant can submit one original composition tailored for a musical theater production. The full musical does not need to be written, but the student will be asked to justify the song as a storytelling moment as part of the larger hypothetical work.

Collaborative entries (up to three Writers) are accepted, but all members of the team must meet the age and schooling requirements.

Limit of one solo entry and one collaborative entry per Participant.

Entries must be the wholly original work of the entrant(s) and should not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of third parties.

If under the age of 18, the student must have permission from their parent or legal guardian by providing their parent/guardian’s signature and other requested information, which indicates their parent/guardian’s agreement and consent to the terms and conditions herein.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) advocate for creativity, originality and artistic expression. Any form of plagiarism will lead to disqualification.

What’s Not Allowed

• Remixes or covers of existing work.
• New works that sample or include stems/tracks from existing work.
• Adaptations of popular movies, books, TV shows and other pre-existing media.
• Songs promoting hate, discrimination or any form of offensive content.

Equity Library Theater of New York Summer 2026 Play Festival

Website

Deadline: June 1, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Submissions are now being accepted for the Equity Library Theater of New York Summer 2026 Play Festival. Seeking short plays (no more than 10 pp/minutes), from playwrights from around the town and around the globe. Also seeking monologues (no more than 4pp/minutes). Musicals welcome! One submission per playwright. No submission fees. Please include name, address, telephone number and email address on your submission. We do not produce your work; we provide a venue in Manhattan for you to present actors performing your play.

There are no costs involved for anyone. Seeking actors and directors, too! Submit by June 1st, 2026. 

Email: equitylibrarytheater@gmail.com.

2026 JESSE L. KEARNEY BBM PLAYWRITING INITIATIVE

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm

SUBMISSION FORM

The program is open to Black male-identifying playwrights (ages 18+) who are ready to take their original work to the next level. One selected playwright will receive:

• A $1,000 Honorarium.
• A 29-hour developmental reading of their original script.
• Professional Support: Access to a professional director and a cast of New York City actors.
• Industry Exposure: An invite-only staged reading held in New York City.

Applications must be submitted through the form linked on the official Black Broadway Men website. Interested playwrights can find full submission guidelines and the application form here: http://www.BlackBroadwayMen.org/jlkplaywriting

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. Early submissions are highly encouraged as the organization continues its mission to uplift and empower Black male voices within the theater community. Committee chairs: Ahmad Simmons & Calvin M. Thompson.

Email: info@BLACKBROADWAYMEN.com

Discount tickets - SPOONS by Ben Firke

 SPOONS 

by Ben Firke

Spoons is a two-hander about alcoholism and finding connection through the art of Professional Cuddling! 

Jan 30th - Feb 7th at the Barrow Group.

Tickets:

Tinyurl.com/Spoonsplay

For 20% off, use code: PLAYWRIGHTS

2026 Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize (9th Edition)

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Send your submission to info@premiocarloannoni.eu

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

Submissions of any length are accepted: full-length plays, as well as short plays, 10 minutes, including those already performed.

1000 € Awarded to the two best plays (English and Italian), ceremony in Milan, September 2026, and special jury mentions on multiple categories.

A is For seeks one-act plays on reproductive justice

Website

Deadline: January 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

A is For is currently accepting submissions for one-act plays about reproductive justice.

The A is For Playwriting Contest and the all it takes is ONE ACT Play Festival engages playwrights who are passionate about abortion rights and reproductive justice, and offers audiences the opportunity to see those stories performed by theatre professionals in live staged readings. Since the inauguration of our Playwriting Contest in 2020, we have received over 1,000 one-act plays about reproductive justice from all around the world, and have brought 12 of them to the stage!

A is For amplifies art and artists working to eradicate stigma against abortion. We believe that theatre deepens our relationship with the world around us by inviting us to empathize, and recognize our own belonging. We are looking for plays that challenge stigma against abortion. We want to hear the stories you want to tell.

Three winners will be announced in late spring 2026, and will receive the following prizes:

1st Place - $5,000
2nd Place - $3,000
3rd Place - $1,500

The winning plays will be presented as staged readings during our ONE-ACT Play Festival in 2026 at a New York City theatre tbd. See what the 2025 winners had to say about their experience here:

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ POSTURES OF RETURN by Catherine Noa Ashley

Catherine Noa Ashley is a multimedia designer and performance artist whose work spans sound, installation, performance, and moving image. As a playwright, Ashley writes experimental, music-infused one-acts that sit with time, relationship, and the absurd. Recent Credits: Spores, (Vocalist) Performa. Blue Seal, Blue Sea, (Sound Designer), The Makers’ Space. FAT HAM, (Sound Designer), Wilbury Theatre Group. Untitled Writers Group, Fall 2025. catherinenoa.com @inoaplace

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

Postures of Return is developing performance work that traces how the Black femme body navigates voice, posture, and movement across spaces that love, tolerate, and misunderstand it. The piece explores presence as something continually negotiated through repetition. The first public showing will be at The Flynn in Burlington, VT as part of their Snap First Person Arts Festival. 

   

If you enjoy a monologue published in the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

EXCERPT FROM POSTURES OF RETURN

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

I’ve learned I can’t speak more than twice in a moment without someone deciding I’m doing too much, as if clarity and confidence were a spectacle. (said confidently)  

 

My perspective is valuable, I’m the only person in the room that thinks this way.  

 

A lauded voice presses on a bruise they pretend isn't there.    

 

Instead, I listen to lukewarm insights applauded like revelation, jokes that miss their own punchline, spoken by people who have never had to worry that one sentence too many will rewrite their character.  

 

I sit counting each one like a ration. 
Before they dissipate, I pour these unused thoughts onto paper or later drape them on the eager ears of friends.  

A beat  

I stand too tall.

Neck stiff, shoulders square, breath clipped.

I shrink too.

Arms folding in, chin tucked, breath uneven.

Sometimes I graze the doorframe, other times my feet float above the floor.

I have to do my hair before first call and yes, texture wasn’t considered in the timetable. Were they even thinking about me?

I wear the air wrong.
It drapes off my shoulders,
pools at my ankles,
nothing bespoke.

Every degree shifts the spine differently. I don’t want my body to split into two. 

Black Girlz Productions Call for Submissions: Love Letters to Black Women

Website

Deadline: March 15, 2026

Submission Method: Email entries to blackgirlzproductions@gmail.com.

Theme: Love Letters to Black Women

This call celebrates the beauty, strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women everywhere. Writers, poets, and creatives are invited to submit heartfelt love letters that honor, uplift, and affirm Black women in all their forms—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, lovers, leaders, and dreamers.

*Letters will be read at our virtual event. Small honorarium for selected writers and readers*

Format: Letters, poems, monologues, short prose (no word count)
Tone: Authentic, loving, and empowering.
Eligibility: Open to everyone.
Submission Limit: 2

Follow us on twitter and Instagram @blkgirlz12
www.blackgirlzproductions.com

Hannah Arendt Special IHRAF Festival seeks short play productions

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 at midnight

Celebrating the life and ideas of Hannah Arendt
(1906-1975)

New York and Tri-state area based artists 

Work may not have been produced within the last year in NYC, or be scheduled in the next six months of June 7th, 2026.

Please note:
The performances must be fully produced by you; IHRAF is a presenting platform.
Considering performances 10-20 minutes long!

We accept just one proposal for each application.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please email our Festival Assistant Producer Costanza Bugiani at costanza@humanrightsartmovement.org with the following, and any questions:

A brief description of your piece, including approximate running time - we’re accepting 10-20 mins works.

A cover letter, including details about how your piece aligns with the ideas or life of Hannah Arendt (see below for more information about Hannah), information about the piece’s discipline, and a brief summary of your artistic goals

Your bios or resumes and the names of any collaborators already on board

A sample of the work (scripts, pics, videos, songs, any other links or file that could help us to know more about your project)

As email subject, please type IHRAF Festival: Arendt, then add Association-Company-your name (i.e. IHRAF Hannah Arendt, Joan Doe)

All accepted performers will receive:

Performance stipends of $500 total (per accepted project)

PR and marketing support

30-minute tech rehearsal

Festival TD and SM

Free photographic documentation of the performance

…and bragging rights as participants in the largest and coolest human rights/art festival in NYC!

June 5-7, 2026
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street
(btw 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001

BLACK WOMAN GENIUS ~ GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace

The judges have reviewed the semi-finalist monologues submitted for the BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project and they have selected GENIUS by Kenndall Wallace.

Excerpts from all the semi-finalists will be posted, every other day, beginning today, January 18.

Thank you to everybody who participated in this BLACK WOMAN GENIUS project. 

All our rights are being attacked now, but the current regime has made a special target of Black women, as discussed in the recent New York Times article 

Black Women Turn to One Another as Their Career Paths Suddenly Recede

From the first day of his administration, Mr. Trump sought to remove diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, both in the federal government and the private sector. Those programs were originally designed to eliminate historical biases in hiring. Many of the women interviewed, echoing broader criticisms, said Mr. Trump seemed to be deliberately misconstruing the term D.E.I., turning it into a reason to dismiss highly qualified Black people. D.E.I. professionals started to lose their jobs, but even Black women not involved in diversity work said they felt a chill.

In December, the head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued an appeal to white men who felt they had been discriminated against, and Mr. Trump told The New York Times this month that “white people were very badly treated” as a result of protections from the Civil Rights Act.

The tone from the Trump administration is not lost on Black women looking for work. In Black Women Rising and other group texts, professionals are sharing worries and strategies as the job market shifts. Some are taking a step back from corporate careers and starting their own businesses. Those who worked in diversity and inclusion are wiping those references from their résumés.

“There are people who are hanging on for dear life and they’re calling out, like, ‘When will this season end?’” Ms. Obiekwe said.

Perlberg Festival 2027 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: May 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

The 2026 Perlberg Festival of New Plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks is accepting submissions through May.

What are we looking for?

• Comedies and Dramas (no musicals)
• Cast sizes between 2 and 5 (doubling is okay)
• Plays that really explore relationships/deeper ideas/the human condition
• Plays between 70 and 120 minutes (full-length but not epically long)
• One submission per writer -- if you're trying to decide which to send, send the one that seems like the best "fit" for Palm Beach Dramaworks
• UNPRODUCED, with no productions scheduled before April of 2027

Germ Magazine open for submissions

Website

Deadline: none given

Send to germ@germmagazine.com.

Send us your self-contained play excerpts or short films (original movies, documentaries, public service announcements, student films, etc). Attach your work to the body of your email. Include a short note and your bio in the body of your email, including your preferred pronouns. Plays should not exceed 2,000 words.

Films should not exceed 10 mins. in play time. You may submit up to three projects at one time.


Please attach all pieces of work to one email. Do not send multiple emails.

OUR MISSION

Germ’s goal is to provide young people—high school age and beyond—an inclusive space to share their experiences on a wide variety of topics: love, life, health, home, the world, school, career, the future, all things safety, the lighter issues—and the harder ones.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Please write us at germ@germmagazine.com if you’d like to:Say hi, propose a topic, or ask a question.
Submit your writing. See our Literary Submission Guidelines for all the details.
Submit your own works (music albums, books) to be considered for review.
Pitch us a piece for one of our categories, including the Daily Germ, which can be an inspiring/funny/memorable quote or word of the day.
Add some of your Bucket List items to our Before I Die page. Please send no more than five (5) items.
Send a suggestion for our How To…, Be Lovely, or Truth About… categories.

Other submission options:Write a Dear Me letter to your high school or future self.
Show us where you’re Wandering.

Whether you’re wandering in your hometown or traveling, if the place is big or small, we want to see it. You can record your journey via video, pictures, drawings, or words. Please use Google Drive and share your file(s) with germ@germmagazine.com.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

While we value your work very highly, we are unable to offer payment except publication at this time.

Although you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram, please do not pitch us ideas or send submissions there. Contact germ@germmagazine.com.

If you are pitching ideas, please know that we’ll respond as soon as we’re able. Unless it bounces back to you, we’ve gotten your email and will be in touch.

What to include in your email:Your nameYour hometownYour preferred pronounsA short (fewer than 100 words) description of your pitch/idea
The name of the category/subcategory/column where you think your piece belongs

We do not accept attachments. Please cut and paste your written work into the body of the email, directly following your short description of the work.

Word CountLove, Life, and Daily Germs category submissions: 10–250 words.Other article submissions: between 500–800 words.

We can’t wait to hear from you! ♥

Love,

The Germ Staff

***We will never promote bullying, racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, or transphobia, and we reserve the right to block users’ comments or submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines. We will not promote or produce mindlessly graphic or explicit content (violent, sexual, or otherwise), but we will be real when it comes to sex, relationships, and sexuality.***

Pages in Paris Writing Residency seeks one-act plays

Website

Deadline: February 28, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Six 1 Acts will be selected and produced in a black-box theatre production in Los Angeles by the Sixty-Six Theater Co.

And then what?

One playwright will be selected by a committee to attend a 2 week Writing Residency at the Le Studio D’Art in Paris, France!

Details:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to qualify.
• Play length cannot exceed 30 minutes.
• Writers can submit up to two 1 Acts for consideration.
• Submitted plays should be unpublished work. 
• Selected 1 Acts will be staged in a black box theatre production in collaboration with selected Writers, Directors, and Actors.
• Writers must be available for the duration of the development workshop in Los Angeles (more details to come).
• Residency selection will be based on writing, collaboration, and development potential.

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: February 28th, 2026
Selected One Acts Announced: March 13th
Development Workshop: March 13th-April 13th
Tech Rehearsal: April 13th
Show Dates: April 14, 15, 16.

Residency Dates: Fall 2026

The selected writer will receive round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Paris, plus two weeks accommodation during their stay.

The writer will collaborate with Le Studio D'Art and continue to develop their 1 Act in a 2 week writing residency with actors and directors.

TYPE! Open for short plays

Website

Deadline: none given

SUBMISSION FORM

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

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

Seeking  Micro-plays - 1-2 pages long

Please send in your writing via the submission form.

AND ALL THE ANGELS CRIED by Jane Domenghini

  

AND ALL THE ANGELS CRIED

by Jane Domenghini

Ticket Link: https://makersensemble.org/calendar

Synopsis: Twins, Angelo and Hunter, used to be close... a long time ago, before the bad thing happened. But now Angelo's home for winter break and him and Hunter must grapple with the state of their current relationship. Can they learn to love each other or are they desperately holding onto the memories of the boys they once knew? Through music, a margin of arguments, and fragmented memories, the story of brotherhood is told in 70 minutes.

Dates: January 21st - February1st 2026

The Makers' Ensemble

281 N. 7th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211

Good River Review open for 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: None given

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

Dramatic writers may submit scripts for 10-minute stage plays or short films, including TV. We will also consider publishing video of produced scripts. Please wait to hear a response from us before submitting again. 

Good River Review is the journal of the School of Creative and Professional Writing at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, which sits on the Ohio River. Ohio is Seneca for good river. We publish two issues a year and feature book reviews, craft essays, and other important literary news on a rolling basis on our website.

Good River Review is a home for writing that launches quickly, speaks to the universal through the particular, and is layered with meaning. We also love work that doesn’t fit neatly into genre categories. Our editors are attracted to writing that blurs boundaries, and so contributors will find their work published as prose, lyrics, or drama. In addition, we want to publish the most compelling writing for children and young adults that we can find. The editors of GRR work in collaboration with Spalding School of Writing graduate students who work in an editorial capacity.

Our submission period is open and ongoing. Please submit in the category where you think your work best fits. We allow simultaneous submissions, but please access your submission and withdraw it if it is accepted elsewhere. We do not consider previously published material or work currently in press elsewhere. Please do not submit entire book or chapbook manuscripts. Current students at the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University are not eligible to submit.

Questions? Email goodriverreview@spalding.edu.

Labute Festival seeks one-act plays

Website

Deadline: January 21, 2026

Submissions should be sent to:
LaBute New Theater Festival, St. Louis Actors’ Studio, 360 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Created and staged exclusively each summer by STLAS, at The Gaslight Theatre in St. Louis and 59E59 Street and Davenport Theaters in New York.

Submissions will be accepted October 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026(Postmarked).

​PROFESSIONAL SUBMISSIONS

Successful entries will have no more than four characters and be crafted specifically to exploit our intimate performance space. (18′ x 18′ stage) Changes in scenery or setting should be achievable quickly and with few major set moves. Our focus is on fundamental dramaturgy: plot, character and theme.

Professional, new and previously unproduced one-act play submissions should include a letter of inquiry, a synopsis and a 10-page sample from the script. Running time for each performance should not exceed 45 minutes. Up to Eight plays will be chosen. In addition, a new piece from Mr. LaBute will be performed every night for the run of the festival.


For more information: 314-458-2978 or help@stlas.org

Go Try Play Write - January 2026

Website

Deadline: January 31, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Every month, Kumu Kahua's artistic director Harry Wong III will select a writing prompt on the first day of that month. We're looking for 5-page monologues or 10-page scenes based on that prompt; the due date for submissions are always the last day of the month. All entries must be written in traditional play format; instructions on this format can be found here (https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats), courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.

There will be one winner each month. Scripts will be submitted to the judges anonymously. Winners will receive $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge Press. Woo!

The prompt for January 2026 is:

A dog whistle prompt. Write a ten-page maximum scene or an eight-page maximum monologue using the phrase, “I don’t see color.” Whether true or false, whether sincere or disingenuous, I’d argue that such a phrase masks a pre-judgement of someone based on skin color (prejudice), or a willful ignorance of systemic and historical inequities against persons of one color (racism). There are many phrases that mask prejudice and/or racist rants, diatribes, and reasonable arguments. But use, “I don’t see color,” for this prompt.

Crowname seeks submissions for Issue #8

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Please email crownamestudios@gmail.com to submit.

Please submit writing and art you feel represents a topic, item, people, etc. that is often overlooked, censored, or pushed into the footnotes. 

Examples: disability, LBGTQIA+, homelessness, women’s rights, underserved and neglected communities, etc. If you are part of any of these communities, you are strongly urged to submit!

Guidelines (Please Read)

Please note that at this time we cannot offer payment for publication. We hope this changes in the future, but until then, publication in Crow Name is unpaid. Contributors will always, however, receive a high-quality PDF of our magazine for their own printing/admiring/saving pleasure.

We are committed to a safe and positive environment for our community. This means that we do not tolerate racist, sexist, bigoted, antisemitic, homo/trans/bi/queer/acephobic, Hinduphobic, Islamaphobic, ableist, violent, or otherwise hateful or discriminatory pieces and practices. Please note that we will not tolerate anyone who submits anything of this nature, and our no-tolerance policy extends to any hateful and/or unsafe practices not listed.

We are also committed to making sure people of all different backgrounds and abilities are able to enjoy our site. We encourage people from all different backgrounds to submit.

We will NOT accept anything created with or with help from artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT or any other generative AI model. Any author or artist found to have used AI in the creation of their submitted piece will be rejected and banned from submitting to Crow Name in the future, and your name may be shared with other literary magazines and publications, who may make their own determinations on whether or not to accept submissions from you. Your submission constitutes an unwritten agreement that your piece was not created wholly or in part by any generative AI software.

We are accepting submissions from December 19th to March 1st, and submissions will be considered based upon the current theme listed above. If we have already announced our decisions for the current theme, please re-submit if you would like to be considered for the next one. Please feel free to re-submit and withdraw.

We also accept previously published pieces so long that you, the writer/artist/maker, have full legal rights to the piece. 

Do:

• Submit via Microsoft Word or PDF. 
• Submit funky, fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, poetry, script, comics, podcasts/audio essays, nonfiction, eccentric, playful formatting, art, short film, animation, and anything weird and cool.
• Submit excerpts.
• Submit 1-5 pieces at a time, up to 20 pages total. 
• Submit to other magazines, papers, and journals simultaneously (but tell us if you’ve been accepted elsewhere).
• Submit revisions.
• Submit art in CMYK color mode, in at least 300 dpi, and in TIFF or PNG files.
• Submit audio in the MP3 file format, and video in MP4.

Don’t: 

• Submit racist, sexist, bigoted, antisemitic, homo/trans/bi/queer/acephobic, Hinduphobic, Islamaphobic, ableist, violent, or otherwise hateful or discriminatory pieces not listed. 
• ABSOLUTELY NO AI ART, WRITING, OR OTHERWISE. 
• Try to send something to us via snail-mail (we don’t have an actual address).
• Send us things that don’t follow our “Do’s”
• If You’re Accepted:We will send you confirmation of your acceptance or rejection via email. 
• By accepting our acceptance, you give Crow Name permission to publish your work. 
• You will retain all ownership and copyright to your work.
• We will copy-edit your work, and/or may ask for small revisions. 
• We retain the right to remove any work from our site at any time with or without notification. 

Submit:

Please note that submission constitutes an acceptance of our guidelines.
Please email crownamestudios@gmail.com to submit. Thanks!!

The 2026 Fresh Fruit Festival MainStage

Website

Deadline: January 16, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

MAINSTAGE 2026 DATES: Monday APRIL 20 through Sunday MAY 3 and YES, we are back home in the WILD PROJECT!, For Our 24th Year!

Please do NOT attempt the application form on a cell phone. 

Look the sample form over* and write any ‘essay’ type questions in advance to paste-in to the online form. 

Text attachments must be in .RTF, .PDF, or .DOC file formats only. You can always simply give tested “links” to your own files when uploads are asked for (large files like sound or video media must always be given as links only- but be sure any passwords or other permissions are sent along in the application. *Get the condensed sample form below, which is pretty close to the online questions, but lacks most expanding fields, text-help and samples:

Sample-App-2024Download

WE PROVIDE a high degree of hand-holding and support: One of our TWO alternating Technical Directors to run the Booth for you; a full Front of House staff; On-site logistics people to help you organize your load in and out, and assign storage for costumes and props; Full ticketing services, plus many group sales and discount options; A glossy, full-color Festival-wide brochure to hold your own show’s program; inclusion in all our own publicity and press releases; highly discounted rates at our designated rehearsal studios in Midtown plus a Technical Rehearsal on stage . . . All with NO APPLICATION FEES and no required “participation fees.” All shows receive a % share of the box office (currently 15%) over a small house minimum at no charge, with higher percentages available for experienced producers.

WE EXPECT a fully rehearsed, well directed and produced theatrical work, with all costuming, sound, and video cues well prepared in advance of the Tech Rehearsal. Your show, regardless of size, must have an experienced Stage Manager as point person. You must provide a PRINTED program with at minimum a full cast bio listing, plus a standard Press Kit for reviewers (which may include a “QR” code linking to more material if you wish). A QR-code alone is not a program.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

One MAINSTAGE work per author will be considered. APPLY EARLY AS POSSIBLE, the earlier you apply, the more attention you will get (Revisions are expected, but must stay within your time limit, including any required intermission). If you are torn between 2 works please write us a note about them on our ‘contact us page’ for advice. All submissions are evaluated by a team of readers with specific primary interests (comedy, music, trans & other LGBT interests)
Do not upload video or audio files; give Links to them only. Applications: Open December 15.
Deadline for Full-Lengths: Monday January 16th, 2026
Deadline for Small Cast Shows & 1-Acts: January 30, 2026
Announcements Throughout January & early February.

For Plays (not Solo works): 

Please attach a complete current version of the play. One-Acts (at least 25-35 min. long) and Full-Lengths (45 to 100 min) will both be considered. (Shorts are ineligible for this Festival; but we do have short play festivals throughout the year.) Submissions are primarily in English only.

For Solo Plays/Performances: No solo works are accepted for this Mainstage; BUT PLEASE CONSIDER our Monologue To Film series, and our Radio Shorts! Those programs are well subsidized and will have their own schedules.

14th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival seeks monologues and one-act plays

Website

Deadline: February 28, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

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.

The entries need to meet the following criteria:

1) No more than 6 characters (Actors can play double-roles if more needed.)

2) No derogatory, hate based, sexually explicit work will be reviewed or accepted.

3) Have minimal set/light requirements.

4) 15 to 20 minutes long for one-act plays. 5 to 10 minutes long for monologues.

5) Written blocking notes of the play can be rearranged by the director to meet venue space.

6) Submit in play format a titled script and a blind script without any identifying information, other than the title, in Time New Roman 12 font, normal spacing and Word Doc or PDF format.

7) Only one play submission per playwright.

8) Complete the submission entry form at www.mine4godproductions.com

Submissions are accepted December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. Submissions are free so don’t miss the deadline.

*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 March 15th, 2026, and we will be happy to give you feedback on your submission at mine4godproductionsllc@aol.com

13th Annual New Play Festival PLAYWRIGHTS’ REVOLUTION 2026 seeks full-length plays

Website

Deadline: March 6, 2026

Or when the 350 maximum submission limit is reached

DO NOT SEND - THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR MAXIMUM.

As a part of our mission to develop new plays and playwrights, Capital Stage presents its 13th Annual New Play Festival PLAYWRIGHTS’ REVOLUTION in July 2026. Up to 350 new play submissions will be accepted from January 6 – March 6, 2026. 

By May 2026 Capital Stage will choose the 4-6 finalists for this year’s festival. One-night-only staged readings will be presented during the last week of July 2026. Q&A sessions between the audience and artists immediately to follow each staged reading.

Only submissions that follow these guidelines are acceptable:

• Play submissions that are full-length.
• Plays that have not had a full-scale, professional production prior to submission. (Workshop, reading, or non-professional production acceptable.)
• Only one submission per playwright is allowed each year.
• Do not submit a musical.

Preference will be given to those plays that are aligned with Capital Stage’s mission to create transformative, thought-provoking theater experiences that challenge, inspire, and connect. 

Visit the Production History page to see the kind of work that Capital Stage produces.

The Selection Process

Capital Stage’s competitive selection process consists of two rounds. During the first round, up to 350 10-page play excerpts submitted are reviewed. After which, only selected playwrights will be contacted and asked to provide a full manuscript of their play. Finally, Capital Stage invites the final 4 to 6 playwrights to have their work presented in the Playwrights’ Revolution staged readings in July of 2026.

How to Apply

Complete the online submission form to provide Capital Stage with information about the playwright and the play, and to upload the submission application.

In order to be accepted, your application must be submitted as a single PDF file that includes the following:

• File name must be “Author Last Name_Title of Play” (ex: Miller_Death of a Salesman)
• The first page(s) of the file must include: Title of play, character breakdown and descriptions, and a synopsis of the play (these pages do not count as your 10-page sample)
• A 10-page sample of the play
• DO NOT include the name of the author on any pages
• DO NOT send full scripts until requested

Only submissions that follow these instructions will be considered.

Some Recommendations

Make sure that your synopsis sets the reader up to understand what is going on in your sample. Remember that the reader only has this synopsis and the 10 pages that you provide to get to know your work, and that is difficult to do if they are confused about the plot. Also, make sure you are submitting the best 10 pages of your work! The sample does not need to be the first 10 pages of the play; you should select whichever 10-page section you think presents the best argument for why we should want to read the whole thing.

2026 Deadline

Submissions will be accepted only from January 6 – March 6, 2026. Or until the 350 maximum submission limit is reached. Local, national, and international playwrights are encouraged to submit. Only the first 350 submissions will be accepted.

Reunion: The Dallas Review open for submissions for 2026

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2026 1AM

SUBMIT VIA SUBMITTABLE

For over three decades, Reunion: The Dallas Review has been dedicated to finding and publishing exceptional examples of short fiction, drama, visual art, poetry, translation work, and creative nonfiction. Our mission is to cultivate the arts community in Dallas, and promote the work of talented writers and artists both locally and across the globe.

Thank you for considering Reunion: The Dallas Review for your Drama piece! We look forward to reading your work.

At this time, we can read only one submission per person per reading window. Show us your best work. If you do choose to withdraw, please do not upload a new submission until the next reading window.

For Drama: We accept plays, screenplays, one acts, etc. that are formatted to industry standards.

• General Submission Guidelines:All submitted work must be previously unpublished. We consider anything found on personal blogs, online archives, other websites, social media accounts, online journals, or print magazines as previously published. If you have questions regarding this requirement, please email the editor prior to submitting.
• A brief cover letter and a biographical statement of no more than 100 words is appreciated.
• Do not include your name on the submission attachment unless it is part of the work itself. Instead, your name and contact information should be included in the body of your cover letter.
• All texts should be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and double spaced (with the exception of poetry.) We accept text submissions in the following formats: .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf.
• We do not accept any work above 5,000 words. Any submissions with a word count above this will not be read.
• Submissions may be multilingual, with English as the main language, but may not be translations. Any translations should be submitted to Reunion's translation portal. Translations will not be accepted in drama submissions.
• We do not accept any works made with the use of AI. 

Black Men Talk Festival 2026 seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT

SUBMISSION FORM

The 10-minute play festival will be a celebration of the voices, stories, and perspectives of Black male playwrights and showcase the works of new and emerging Black male playwrights telling authentic stories of the Black experience.

The Black Men Talk Play Festival, the first of its kind, aims to honor the contributions of Black male playwrights - initiated by a Chicago-based Black playwright. The event will host three performances in Chicago in July 2026.

• Script submitted must be the final version in proper play format.
• Playwrights must submit plays that run from 8-10 minutes or 8-10 pages. Your cover page should have: title of play, your name, email address, and phone number.
• Plays should feature two to four actors.
• Scripts should be written with minimal set and costume requirements.
• One entry per person (if more than one play is submitted, we will review the first play submitted).
• Plays must be unpublished and must not have had a professional. production.
• Plays must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
• No musicals, screenplays, or monologues will be selected for this festival.
• Your submission should be your own work. 

Liminal Space Productions seeks short plays for one-night showcase

Instagram

Deadline: January 15, 2026

Liminal Space Productions, the new theatre wing of Laughpack Productions, is curating a one-night short play showcase at the East Village Basement on Sunday February 15th. 

We're seeking submissions of 6-30 minute casted plays. This is a great opportunity for playwrights to see their work staged in front of a live audience and connect with fellow theater makers.

There is no submission fee and no cost to participate. We welcome plays from creators of all identities, cultures, and backgrounds. A small performance stipend is available for selected acts. There will be a tech and dress rehearsal space provided at an East Village venue the week before. The deadline for submissions is January 15th, 2026.

To submit for booking consideration, please use the following form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFsV-SJvFUPcOc5717zfFKL-9ec_j9_iZ7CIqe9pajeAdxdw/viewform

Curtain Rising: Staged Readings of New Works seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: January 12th, 2026

To submit your play, follow this link. 

Playwrights may submit more than one play.

Plays will be announced in early February 2026. 

The 2nd Stage at Burlington County Footlighters Theatre in Cinnaminson NJ is producing our fourth annual Curtain Rising: Staged Readings of New Works as part of our 2025-2026 season. 

This thought-provoking event will showcase short one-act plays which explore the underlying theme of If Not Now, Then When?

We are currently accepting script submissions (previously unproduced) and will select plays for minimally staged readings to be performed on Friday February 27th & Saturday February 28th, 2026. The 2nd Stage is our black box performance space, seating about 30 people. Playwrights agree to have their work be presented with no monetary compensation. Playwrights will receive production stills and two (2) comp tickets (one for the playwright and one guest) for Saturday night’s performance.

Playwrights must be present at the Saturday evening performance to see their work and participate in our audience talkback session. Playwrights should be aware that our 2nd Stage is not ADA accessible. There is a staircase that attendees need to climb to access the space. If you cannot access the space, please let us know when you submit. We do have an alternative plan to accommodate playwrights with mobility challenges.

In order to be considered:

Plays need to fit within the theme, have no more than five characters, be performed in 10-15 minutes, and have minimal staging/technical requirements. Plays should not have been formally produced.

Questions? Contact Heidi at curtainrising@bcfootlighters.com

https://www.facebook.com/2ndStageAtBCF

Live & In Color’s June Bingham New Playwright Commission 2026

Website

Deadline: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST

SUBMISSION FORM

Thank you for your interest in Live & In Color’s June Bingham New Playwright Commission. This commission opportunity provides resources and support toward the creation and development of a new play by early-career women/femme and/or non-binary storytellers. 

This opportunity will culminate in a 60-90 min 2 person play that will be workshopped and presented as a reading for an audience. This workshop is anticipated for one week in mid-September 2026.

The commission, named after the late artist and playwright June Bingham, seeks to honor her creative legacy by empowering femme artists to create poignant, evocative, and timely new plays that push boundaries and reflect the nuance of the times we are living in. Previous recipients and projects have included Erlina Ortiz’s award-winning play, La Egoista (2021) which received it's world premiere at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, AriDy Nox’s The Wetlands (2022) which had a presentation on site at the Giacomi Wetlands, Raquel Almazan's Goddesses Return to the Temple (2023), Esmé Ng's I Know Why Iris Chang Died (2024), and Vaibu Mohan's Bound to You (2025) which will have it's NYC presentation in 2026.

This application is designed as the first of a three-round selection process that will be conducted virtually. Please fill out the form below to the best of your ability. Please note that this opportunity is open to all early-career writers who identify as cis-femme, trans-femme, and/or non-binary.

The total fee for this commission will be $3,000; housing, meals, and travel for the retreat are also provided. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to consider international applicants. To be selected for this opportunity you must be a U.S. resident with ability to work in the U.S.

This submission form will close on 1/15/2026 at 11:59 pm EST. You will be notified by 2/15/2025 if you are selected as a Semi-Finalist.

We define “early-career” as artists who have written pieces previously, or have engaged in writing via books, film, TV, etc. but have not had theatrical work that has been extensively professionally produced by commercial or non-profit organizations and have less than two full-length plays that have been published in print.

If you have questions about your eligibility or any portion of the application, please email Junebinghamcommission@liveandincolor.org.

Glass Ceiling Breakers: 2026 A Festival of Short Plays by Women Artists

Website

Deadline: January 17, 2026 at 11:59pm

Plays must be submitted here: https://forms.gle/nm27B6khACXkT6YbA

Theatre Revolution is proud to announce submissions are open for  Glass Ceiling Breakers: 2026 A Festival of Short Plays and Films by Women Artists

GCB 2026 is scheduled for June 5, 6 and 7, 2026 at the Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison NY.

Plays must be written by female or female identifying playwrights.

They can be produced or unproduced plays. Feel free to send us plays that were produced years ago that you'd like to revisit! Plays that are currently being workshopped are also welcome.

Plays should be no more than 10 minutes (we mean it!) 12 pages max (excluding the title page) in standard play format. Type size (12) with 1” margins.

If the play is 12 pages but longer than 10 minutes (lots of text) playwright may be asked for revisions if selected.

Save File as follows in PDF only: LAST NAME_TITLE OF PLAY_GCB26

Monologues are accepted but we prefer plays. Monologues should not be more than 3 pages.

BIPOC playwrights are strongly encouraged to submit.

Theatre and/or Playwrights will be informed in Early March.

If selected, playwrights and/or theatre companies are responsible for producing their play. There is no compensation for plays. Theatre Revolution may provide some production assistance (not financial) by connecting producers to possible actors, directors, and props. 

Only non-union actors may be cast in plays.

In all cases, Theatre Revolution will provide limited set pieces, lighting and sound equipment, and production staff. There will be a mandatory pre-production meeting via ZOOM for all playwrights or their representatives in March 2026. 

Questions? Email us. theatrerevolution1@gmail.com We are looking forward to reading your work!

Scenes from a Coffee Shop Festival seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: February 18, 2026 12AM PST

SUBMISSION FORM

Dreamscape Theater Company (dreamscapetheater.com) in Corvallis, Oregon, is seeking original plays to be considered for production at Imagine Coffee in April 2026.

PLEASE USE THESE GUIDELINES WHEN SUBMITTING. Plays that do not adhere to the following will not be considered.

Submissions will be accepted January 1-February 18, 2026. Deadline for submissions is midnight, Pacific Time, February 18, 2026. Winners will be notified no later than February 22, 2026.

Winning plays will be produced at Imagine Coffee Co., Corvallis, Oregon, (imaginecoffee.online) April 11 (7 pm) and April 12 (2 pm), 2026. 

The setting for your play should be a coffee shop.

Please ensure that your play can be performed in 15 minutes or less. Plays longer than 15 minutes will not be accepted.

We prefer plays with at least two characters but no more than five that can be staged with a simple set (black boxes/chairs/stools) and minimal light/sound/prop requirements – in a coffee shop.

There is no residence requirement but preference will be given to playwrights from Oregon.

We are looking for NEW plays. Do not submit anything that has previously been produced.

Only one entry will be accepted from each playwright.

Please do not include your name or contact information anywhere in the script you submit. Please read and consider the Judging Criteria.

Your play must be written in English. We recommend using standard play formatting. 

By submitting to this contest, you agree to accept the decision of the judges as final.

There is no fee to submit to the Dreamscape Play Festival–Caffeine Dreams. 

No royalties or payment will be provided to playwrights should their play be chosen.

Winning playwrights will be asked to submit a headshot and short bio for publicity purposes.

If you have any questions, please email admin@dreamscapetheater.com. 

Working Theater submission guidelines

Website

Deadline: none given

If you think this is your play, please complete this short form. If you have any questions, reach out to literary@theworkingtheater.org.

Working Theater is a new American play incubator for work by playwrights which centers the lives of working people, by telling their stories in new and unexpected ways. How do we define “working people”? At Working Theater, we’re a broad church. Is your humanity impacted, affected or transformed by your work? You’re a working person, congratulations! Welcome to Team WT.


WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Stories for, about or made with working people, and/or the issues which affect them, in mind.
• We invite plays which disrupt traditions of “working-class theater.”
• We want your play to make us laugh, make us cry, and make us feel a little dangerous.
• Does your play deal with themes of work, labors visible and invisible, labor history? Is your play pro-worker, pro-union or anti-capitalist? It’s probably a play for us.
• Does your play come at these themes in unexpected and novel ways? It’s probably a play for us.
• Full-length plays and musicals.

WHAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR:

• We are not interested in stories in which working people are passive victims of an oppressive system.
• “Issue plays,” issue plays is our least favorite oxymoron – all plays have issues, but we are interested in plays which center people.
• We are not interested in agit-prop (until you show us an agit-prop play that blows our minds!)
• We are not interested in clichés about the working class – show us something we’ve never seen before, baby!

Live & In Color Musical Theatre Development Program

Website

Deadline: February 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

For any questions, email musicalsubmissions@liveandincolor.org

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 the needs of the composer/writers, leading up to the retreat. Live & In Color staff will continue to support the development of your piece beyond the retreat, including a reading for industry and Broadway Alums.

MUSICAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

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

Ivo Review 10-minute monologue contest

Website

Deadline: January 30, 2026

Send submissions to editorivoreview@gmail.com. 

The subject line should be the THEME of the issue for which you are submitting work and the CATEGORY of the submission. (Example: LOST - POETRY) Please include a short cover letter with a short 3rd person author's bio in the body of the e-mail and attach submissions in a single .docx attachment.

For this contest we are looking for ten minute monologues for stage performance.

Please do not send us previously published works for this contest, as we are looking for new pieces.
These monologues can be on any theme - Winners and Honorable Mentions will be published in Issue Three of the review.


The deadline for the contest is January 30, 2026. There is no monetary cost for the contest and our general rights statement applies (see our Submission Guidelines for more details!) Any questions about the contest can be sent to editorivoreview@gmail.com.


Token payment prizes subject to our budget in January will be provided to winners and honorable mentions.


What We Look For

We are looking for prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, hybrid works, and dramatic works from emerging and established writers from around the world, particularly writers from historically underrepresented communities. We love the concept of narrative - we want to read storytellers telling stories in whatever form that takes for you.

Works should be primarily in English.

We consider simultaneous submissions but if a work is accepted elsewhere please let us know. We will be thrilled for you! We consider reprints but please indicate the original publication so that it can be credited - with a link to the work if possible so that we can also link to that publication.

We love visual art submissions and are always looking for cover art.

We will not consider AI generated work. At this time we are also not considering translations.



How to Submit

For art, please submit one piece that you would like considered for our cover art.

For poetry and flash or micro-fiction, please submit up to five (5) pieces of up to 100 lines for poetry. We consider micro-fiction to be up to 350 words, and flash to be 351 - 1000 words.

For longer works of fiction, non-fiction, or dramatic works please send up to two (2) pieces of up to 3000 words.

For dramatic works, we consider works that would be able to be produced as a 10 minute play or shorter. We love long dramatic monologues, but will also consider ensemble pieces.

Send submissions to editorivoreview@gmail.com. The subject line should be the THEME of the issue for which you are submitting work and the CATEGORY of the submission. (Example: LOST - POETRY) Please include a short cover letter with a short 3rd person author's bio in the body of the e-mail and attach submissions in a single .docx attachment.

Submissions that do not follow these simple guidelines will not be read.

James Madison University New Works Laboratory

Website

Deadline: January 10, 2026

SUBMISSION FORM

Seeking: Full-length plays to be workshopped with a community of artists including JMU faculty and students at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA. Submissions should respond to contemporary questions/issues in our world. Diverse perspectives and/or theatrical approaches welcome. First 200 submissions will be accepted or until 1/16/26. Selected plays will be announced by 4/15/26.

Please note, though we do work on musicals in our development process, the 2026 season is looking for plays and not accepting musicals.

What is Madison New Works Laboratory?

Madison New Works Laboratory (MNWL) is an incubator for the development of new plays and musicals. Each selected artist is provided an opportunity to develop their work with a community of artists through conversations, rehearsals, and a festival of public readings. MNWL aspires to the following goals:Develop new works by and for various ages, cultures, and populations
Foster theatrical innovation in the development process in an artist-friendly environment
Identify new work for eventual production in the JMU Mainstage and Studio Season
Support professional playwrights in the development of their work
Provide opportunities for JMU student-artists to work with professional artists on new work

Description of Residency:

• $1250 honorarium for each playwright selected
• Round-trip transportation and housing for the playwright
• Access to student performers selected through an audition process. (Maximum of 6 actors, may include double casting.)
• Available resources include director, stage manager, and supportive artistic staff. 
• Development and rehearsals will be held 8/20 – 8/26
• Public readings will be held for the JMU and Harrisonburg community the weekend of 8/27-8/29

Play Selection: 

• Preference will be given to unpublished plays/works that are seeking development and accomplish the following Address contemporary issues, stories and questions
• Include characters that are suitable for college-age actors for both the development process and potential production in our mainstage season
• Include no more than 6 characters (If your work has more than 6 characters and can be accomplished with character doubling, the character doubling must be articulated in the script.)

The School of Theatre and Dance at James Madison University believes that equity, access, and inclusion are moral imperatives and artistic obligations. Diversity—in the stories we represent, the students we serve, and the audiences we engage—is vital for the health and relevance of contemporary performing arts practice. The School of Theatre and Dance, therefore, welcomes diversity of perspective, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

Any questions email lngrid De Sanctis desancie@jmu.edu

Brave New Work, a short play development series seeks 10-15 minute plays

Website

Deadline: January 16, 2026

APPLICATION FORM

New York Shakespeare Exchange and The CRY HAVOC Company are thrilled to debut our collaborative project Brave New Work, a short play development series that invites NYC playwrights to create original work inspired by, expanding, reflecting upon, remixing, and critiquing the plays of William Shakespeare.

Across several weeks, four writers will craft short plays responding to a Shakespearean prompt through development workshops facilitated by NYSX and CRY HAVOC, culminating in a public reading of all four plays. Applicants need to be local to the NYC area to participate and we are especially seeking artists from underrepresented communities for this project. No fee to apply or participate; writers are paid a stipend for the use of their work in the public presentation.

In year one of this project—Shakespeare as Prologue—we are looking for playwrights interested in exploring the aftermath of Shakespeare’s plays. Apply with an idea for a new short two-character play that takes place after the end of a Shakespeare play (the moment after the play ends, five years later, 50 years later, 500 years later…)
The Guidelines

• You do not have to be a “Shakespeare Nerd” to participate in this project (but if you are, you are also welcome!)
• Select a single Shakespeare play as your starting point.
• We are looking for a proposal for a 10-15 minute play with two characters.
• One character must be from your chosen Shakespeare play; the other can be invented.
• Writers will be developing their plays in a workshop feedback process; we are looking for playwrights that are interested in discussing their work and supporting the work of others!

How does the collaboration work?
Each writer is paired with a facilitator—a CRY HAVOC or NYSX artist—to confer with before and after each feedback session. Facilitators moderate each session in support of the playwrights and their goals. The feedback sessions will include a combined roster of artists from the NYSX and CRY HAVOC communities, the Brave New Work writers, and their invited guests and colleagues.

The Schedule (all sessions will be in the evening)

Sun. 3/1: welcome meeting with playwrights and staff

Tue. 3/10 and Thu. 3/12: 1st draft feedback workshops

Tue. 3/17 and Thu. 3/19: 2nd draft feedback workshops

Tue. 3/24 and Thu. 3/26: 3rd draft feedback workshops

Tue. 3/31 and Thu. 4/2: rehearsal draft feedback workshops VIA ZOOM

Thu. 4/16: public reading of the play collection

ABOUT US

The CRY HAVOC Company believes that writing a script doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. Feedback at key points in the writing process can bring you closer to your goals. Our approach to script development places your writing goals at the center of the workshop discussion, ensuring that collaborators are offering feedback in service of the play you are trying to write.

New York Shakespeare Exchange uses Shakespeare's body of work as a starting point and toolkit for building stronger, more empathetic communities. We invite our fellow New Yorkers to form a relationship of “exchange” with Shakespeare’s legacy, creating new opportunities for artistic expression, social connection, and mutual learning. This active exchange between centuries-old works and contemporary points of view honors an essential quality of Shakespeare’s creative spirit - to search the world around us for inspiration, and our own imaginations for innovation.

2026 Annual One-Act Jamboree seeks short plays

Website

Deadline:  February 28, 2026

Submission fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild must include proof of current membership                                                                                    

StageWorks Theatre Group

Show Dates: July 24th, 25th, 26th 2026

Writers must submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less)

Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue, and overall quality.

Please send manuscripts and enclose your $20 reading fee (waived for members of Dramatists' Guild)

to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC.
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Attention: One Act Jamboree

Alternatively, you may submit your play via our website. Click "Submit Your Play" to send your manuscript via Google Form. Then, click "Pay Reading Fee" button above to pay your reading fee (online payment convenience fees apply). Manuscripts will NOT be considered until the reading fee has been submitted. (Fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild).

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of their play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the Summer of 2026 at StageWorks Studio 237.

The production will have auditioned actors, directors chosen by committee, producers, stage managers, ushers, ticket takers, and tech crew.

2026 Annual One-Act Jamboree Terms and Conditions

Writers are encouraged to submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less) by Saturday, February 28, 2026. Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue and overall quality by a committee of three to five. Directors will be chosen by the committee.

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of his or her play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the summer of 2026 at StageWorks Studio 237.

Plays will be judged on the following criteria:

• Plot
• Character Development
• Dialogue
• Overall writing quality

Playwrights are limited to three (3) submissions.

Please read and follow our submission guidelines. Submissions that are incomplete or do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified. To enter your play, you must submit the following:

(1) Three (3) hard copies of your play (or Google Form submission in advance for electronic submissions/Paypal payment).i

Plays should run 20 minutes or less and be written in the proper playwriting format (when in the proper format, running time is approximately one minute per page):

A list of characters with a brief physical description of each should also be included.

Plays should contain 12 or fewer actors.

One person plays are accepted.

No musicals, unless you are providing accompaniment.

Plays should have simple staging and technical needs.

(2) A cover letter with the following information:

The name of your play

Your name full address, full contact information (including your e-mail and phone number)

A brief synopsis of your play (for publicity purposes if your play is selected)

A brief biography


(3) A check in the amount of $20 (US dollars) for each play submitted, made payable to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC. *Fee waived for members of Dramatist Guild (must include proof of current membership)

Please write "One-Act Jamboree" in the check's memo line.


The submission package must be sent to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

Attn: One-Act Jamboree

Additional Information:

Submissions must be postmarked on or before February 28, 2026

Plays will NOT be returned and will be recycled.

The entry fee is non-refundable.

As the playwright, you are invited to auditions and will have input regarding casting and production presentation. However, Executive Director may choose to exercise her authority regarding questionable content and/or presentation of the show with consideration and protection of the reputation of the company in its entirety.

Prizes:

At the conclusion of the jamboree, one winner will receive a $250 cash prize based on audience vote.

Strongbox Theater second annual short play festival.

Website

Deadline: January 8, 2026

Submit a PDF via email to info@strongboxtheater.com

Seeking 10-minute plays

Strongbox Theater is now accepting submissions for its second annual short play festival. 

Only comedies will be considered for this year’s show. 

All plays will be fully produced. Playwrights will be paid a $100 fee for accepted plays. 

Please submit only one of your best comedies. This is your opportunity to be a big part of Strongbox history as we produce our first production in our long-awaited theater. 

We are expecting sold-out nights. 

Almost Adults Productions seeks plays under 12-minutes

 Facebook page

Deadline: January 21, 2026

Or until they receive 200 submissions

DO NOT SEND - THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR SUBMISSION LIMIT.

Almost Adults Productions (https://www.facebook.com/almostadultstheatre/) seeks plays under 12-minutes for a fully staged short play program called People Have the Power 2.0, inspired by the Patti Smith/Fred 'Sonic' Smith song. 

 An article about our sold-out production in 2025 can be found Here.

This will be performed at Teatro Paraguas in Santa Fe, NM April 11th and 18th at 7:30 pm and April 12th and 19th at 2 pm. The plays in some way should be about social activists making a difference in their communities and therefore the world at large. They can be based on true stories/people or can be works of fiction. We're especially interested in works that address issues such as reproductive justice, LGBTQIA rights, immigration, aging discrimination, and disability justice. 

Please send to January 21st with the play as a PDF attachment to aarontheatresantafe@gmail.com. Submitting ASAP is recommended since there is a cut-off of 200 submissions.

One play submission per playwright. 

There are no restrictions on previously produced or published plays. 

 No fee to submit.

Masque & Spectacle seeks short plays for its March 2026 issue

Website

Deadline: January 31, 2026

Send drama submissions to masqueandspectacle@gmail.com. Attach written submissions in a single Word doc or docx file, and include the word “DRAMA” in the email subject line.

Masque & Spectacle reads submissions for its bi-annual issues November 1 – January 31 and May 1 – July 31. Submissions received outside of this time period will be automatically deleted. Responses can be expected within a month. Acceptance rate is around 10%. Submissions not titled/tagged or formatted or properly under the Submissions Guidelines will not be considered for publication. We only consider one submission per author/format during any given reading period. We generally avoid publishing authors in consecutive issues.

The theme for our March Issue is storms.

We do not accept previously published work, and we ask for First Electronic Rights and Non-Exclusive Archival Rights upon acceptance. Unfortunately, we are unable to pay contributors at this time.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Additionally, we do not typically publish the same authors in back-to-back issues.

For any queries, please contact us at masqueandspectacle@gmail.com.

Drama
We welcome 10-minute plays (up to approximately 10 pages in length). No full-length plays will be considered at this time. Shorter plays are also welcome.

While traditional plays are welcome, we are particularly interested in innovative and/or interdisciplinary texts that break new ground, either in relation to their subject matter, or in how the text itself is performed/written/represented on stage.

Playwrights may submit one previously unpublished 10-minute play for consideration. The script should be accompanied by a cover letter, which includes your name, address, phone number, and email address. Proper playwriting format should be used. If you are uncertain about this format, several examples can be found online.