1. THE PEN/HEIM TRANSLATION FUND GRANTS
DEADLINE: June 1st
WEBSITE: https://pen.submittable.com/submit/191304/2022-pen-heim-translation-fund-grants
The PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants were established in the summer of 2003 by a gift from Priscilla and Michael Henry Heim in response to the low number of literary translations currently appearing in English. Their purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.
Eligibility:
Translations of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama, originally written by a single individual.
Translations should not have previously appeared in English in print or should have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation.
Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion.
There are no restrictions on the nationality or citizenship of the translator, but the works must be translated into English.
Projects may have a maximum of two translators but are limited to one original author.
NOT eligible: Translations of works with multiple original authors, such as anthologies, translations of literary criticism, and scholarly or otherwise technical texts.
Note: Translators may only submit one project per year. Projects that have been previously submitted and have not received a grant are unlikely to be reconsidered in a subsequent year. Translators who have previously been awarded grants by the Fund are ineligible to reapply for three years after the year in which they receive a grant–for example, grant recipients from 2020 are now eligible to reapply.
How to apply:
All documents should be in 12pt, Times New Roman, single spaced, and with 1 inch margins.
The submission form requires the following:
A 1-2 page statement outlining the work and describing its importance.
A biography and bibliography of the author, including information on translations of their work into other languages.
A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.
If the book is not in the public domain and the project is not yet under contract, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original (the copyright notice is a line including the character ©, a date, and the name of the copyright holder, which appears as part of the front matter in every book), and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. A letter or copy of an email from the copyright holder is sufficient.
If the translation is currently under contract with a publisher, please submit a copy of the contract.
A translation sample is required. For prose, this should be within the range of 8-10 pages (when formatted as required, this will be approximately 3,000-5,000 words). For poetry, please include 1-2 poems per page, within an 8–10 page range.
The same passage in the original language (and, if the work has been previously translated, the same passage in the earlier version).
2. NANCY DEAN LESBIAN PLAYWRITING AWARD
DEADLINE: June 1st
WEBSITE: https://www.openmeadows.org/nancy-dean-lesbian-playwriting-award.html
As we are a small family foundation with an all-volunteer board, we must rely on nominations to identify potential recipients. We are asking professors, teachers, artistic directors, directors, literary managers, actors, writers, and others to nominate promising writers. As we want to be inclusive, we will allow people to self-nominate. The following are our guidelines:
Writer is lesbian, queer or gay or nonbinary;
Writer has written at least one play;
Writer is writing plays about lesbians;
Writer is committed to writing plays and furthering her/their career;
Writer is interested in receiving the award.
Please send a letter(pdf) describing why your playwright should receive this award and a full-length play (pdf) to openmeadowsfdn@gmail.com. In your letter, please be as detailed as possible in up to 2 pages.
Include the writer’s resume and website or other social media links. We will announce the recipients October 31, 2023. We have been granting three awards of $5000, $2500 and $1250.
3. SHUBERT FENDRICH MEMORIAL PLAYWRITING CONTEST 2023
WEBSITE: https://www.pioneerdrama.com/Playwrights/Contest.asp
DEADLINE: June 1, 2023
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.
Contest entries must meet all general guidelines and submission requirements.
Individuals currently published by Pioneer Drama Service are not eligible for this contest. Pioneer Drama Service employees and their families are also excluded.
What we most look for...
We will only consider manuscripts with a running time between 15 minutes and two hours.
Submissions must be family-friendly in both subject and language. Cursing and explicitly adult content should be kept to a minimum. Playwrights should also be open to editorial expertise and oversight on these points.
We seek casts that are either balanced or favoring females. The more gender-neutral roles, the better.
We favor plays and musicals with large casts, where more than just a few have a chance to shine. Flexible cast sizes are also highly desirable.
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, as is a video of a past performance.
Though not required, we strongly prefer plays that have had at least one production or table reading. We feel this fundamental field test is highly beneficial before a play is considered for publication since plays are created for the purpose of performance.
Manuscripts accepted for publication must be made available digitally and are also strongly preferred for submission. We accept both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.
We also accept hardcopy manuscripts. You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope for material you wish returned. Note that all hardcopy submissions will be scanned for purposes of digital review.
We do not require specific formatting. Your efforts to ensure your script is free of misspellings and typos is greatly appreciated more than any specific format.
3. BMI MUSICAL THEATRE BOOKWRITING BASICS WORKSHOP 2023
WEBSITE: https://www.bmi.com/theatre_workshop/application_requirements#librettists
DEADLINE: June 1, 2023
This nine-month course explores the fundamentals of writing book for the musical theatre.Drama Desk Award winning bookwriter Adam Mathias (he/him) unlocks the toolkit for musical theatre librettists. Through lecture, discussion, and assignments students learn how to apply the fundamentals of playwriting to the craft of creating musicals. As a class, writers deep-dive into the DNA of the musical theatre canon — from the Golden Age through today — dissecting what works and why and then applying it to their own work.
Applicants should have a book-musical project in mind to develop over the course of the year; this musical could be anywhere from an early concept to an early draft. The course runs September through May in New York City, Covid restrictions permitting. Prospective members should live in the city or be able to commute weekly.
After completing the Bookwriting Basics program, writers may apply to join the established Librettists Workshop group. Not all writers who apply will be invited to join. Nancy Golladay, veteran Broadway literary manager and dramaturg, moderates a writers’ roundtable focused on developing the skills unique to musical theatre bookwriters. Members read and critique each other’s work as their material evolves from one-page synopses to fully scripted scenes — including occasional cold readings of an entire show. In a yearly collaborative project, the Librettists Workshop engages with the First Year Songwriting Class. Librettist Workshop members are also eligible to participate in Collaborator Connections events with members of the Songwriters Workshops.
Applicants must submit two writing samples, at least one of which must include comedic content. Either or both samples could be:a 10-page or longer excerpt from a script or other genre a complete one-act, a full-length script Any of these may be in-progress, produced and/or published material. Scripts from genres other than playscripts or musical theatre scripts are also acceptable; however, theatrical comedy scenes are preferred to stand-up or sketch material. In addition, writers must include a bio or resume. All sessions take place at the BMI Offices in lower Manhattan from September through May. All prospective members must arrange to live in the greater New York City area or be able to commute weekly September through May. Please do not apply if this is not possible for you.
4. THE DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT WRITING PROGRAM
DEADLINE: June 2nd
The primary goal is to staff Program Writers on Disney Entertainment (DE) series as staff
writers during the program year. Staffing is not guaranteed. The twelve-month program is
tentatively set to begin in January 2024 and end in January of the following year. Please note,
time frames are subject to change. For the first few months of the Program, writers participate in a professional development curriculum designed to better prepare them for staffing
consideration, including developing, writing, and polishing at least one (1) original pilot script to be used as a staffing sample. The Program also provides engagement with executives, producers and credentialed writers, designed to facilitate relationships that can prove invaluable in developing a television writing career. Additional past activities have included: workshops led by veteran television writers, producers and Program alumni, and networking mixers with executives, producers, and showrunners.
5. MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT for NYC-based playwrights
WEBSITE: https://jcal.org/meet-the-playwright
DEADLINE: Friday, June 2, 2023
Link to Submission: https://jcal.submittable.com/submit
The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) seeks four new, unpublished, unproduced plays by four grassroots, early-career, and/or emerging playwrights for the Meet the Playwright (MTP) program.
MTP prioritizes writers identifying BIIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, and People of Color) that are based in Queens. However, any NYC-based BIIPOC playwright is eligible.
Once accepted into MTP, each playwright meets monthly with the MTP's Project Manager and schedules two private readings of the play to take place at JCAL. Throughout their participation in MTP, each playwright is expected to engage fully, professionally, and with integrity in the development of their selected work.
Each month, from November 2023 to February 2024, one of the playwrights will present at least 25 minutes and no more than 35 minutes of an excerpt from their play as a professional staged reading for an audience. The staged reading begins with an introduction to the playwright and play and concludes with a brief moderated Q&A in which the playwright discusses their work.
Each playwright will receive a $2,000
Each playwright selected for MTP will receive a total fee of $2,000. With this fee, each playwright covers the cost of engaging a director, actors, and any other collaborator (e.g., dramaturg, designers) they wish.
One of the four plays will be selected for a full-length production by JCAL in late 2024.
Application & Selection Process
Playwrights may submit 10 pages of one play (only) for consideration by a panel of theatre professionals; a 200-word personal statement; a bio; and a resume (production history, if applicable).
The panel will select a group of semi-finalists who will be asked to send an electronic copy of their complete, full-length scripts. Semi-finalists will be notified by Friday, June 30, 2023.
The panel will choose a group of finalists for interviews with the MTP Project Manager and JCAL Leadership. Interviews will take place during the week of July 17, 2023.
The playwrights selected for MTP will be notified during the week of July 31, 2023.
Application Materials (PDF or Word Only)
A. Script Sample
Please upload a 10-page sample of the script from a full-length play. The pages don't have to come from the beginning of the play, but they must be 10 consecutive pages (the title page and character breakdown do not count toward the 10 pages).
B. Letter of Interest
Please answer the question: "How will MTP further the development of your play and advance your goals as a playwright? in more than 250 words.
C. Bio
Please upload a bio of no more than 250 words. Use the bio to introduce yourself, your goals, writing, accomplishments, and anything else you'd like JCAL to know about you.
D. Playwriting Resume (Production History, If Applicable)
Please upload your professional resume or production history of your work, if applicable.
Contact: Brenda Jones meetheplaywright2022@gmail.com
6. American Theatre Group BIPOC PlayLab 2023
WEBSITE: https://www.americantheatergroup.org/programs
Deadline: June 10, 2023
This is the application for ATG PlayLab (now going into its 4th year), dedicated to providing a professional and supportive space for playwrights who are BIPOC (straight and queer BIPOC) playwrights.
*The group will meet once every week for 10-12 sessions during the Fall, Spring and Summer via Zoom on Sunday evenings. One additional meeting per month will be called for professional development discussions/workshops to discuss craft, applications, networking, marketing etc... (attendance will not be required, but strongly encouraged). Applicants from anywhere in the US are welcome to apply, though preference will be given to NJ, PA and NY writers. Sunday evening (6pm to 9pm EST) attendance at meetings is required. Please don't apply to this PlayLab if you can't commit to the schedule.
*There is no restriction on style of playwriting that the applicants use, though writers of full length plays are strongly preferred. *There is also no guarantee that acceptance into this PlayLab will result in any public readings or productions by American Theatre Group. If you have any questions about this application form or this program, please feel free to contact, Pandora Scooter, Founder/Director at pandorascooter@gmail.com.
7. Women's Playwrights Circle open to women-identified playwrights
WEBSITE: https://www.speranzatheatre.com/about
DEADLINE: June 15, 2023 or when we've received 100 applications.
Application form: https://forms.gle/pfEVVp6Cc4NSWX7z7
All women-identified playwrights who reside in the US are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to women playwrights who are in PA, NY, NJ, CT, and DE. To be explicit, BIPOC, trans, cis and gender fluid women and those who identify on the spectrum of woman are welcome and encouraged to apply.
The first 100 applications will be considered for a spot in this year's Circle. Out of those who apply, 8-10 playwrights will be chosen to participate. Participation consists of attending up to 36 mandatory weekly (mostly) meetings (over the course of the year) to share pages, receive feedback and to develop their work. The summer session will focus on readings of full-lengths that may/may not be open to the public, depending on the determination of the playwright and the program's director.
Weekly Meetings on Zoom will be on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm. Please do not apply if you will not be able to commit to this schedule.
There is no fee to apply and no fee to participate. Successful Applications will be contacted by August 15th. This playwrights group will meet on Zoom.
Any questions about the Circle or about this application process should be directed to Pandora Scooter, Founder/Director at pandorascooter@gmail.com.
Every effort will be made to create as diverse a group of writers (based on race, gender identity, class, ability, background, education, etc) as possible. Please be sure to be particularly specific about all the ways in which you identify, to help us with this very important goal.
Speranza Theatre Company's mission is to create thought-provoking collaborative theatre centered on women’s issues, providing an opportunity for artists, particularly females, to share their voices through challenging and entertaining theatre based in honesty and truth.
8. SOUL PRODUCING RESIDENCY PROGRAM
DEADLINE: June 15th
WEBSITE: https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/producing-residency
Launched in 2015, the Soul Producing Residency Program’s mission is to unveil, uplift and inform the next generation of Black leaders in cultural production. As writers and artists of color continue to conquer new feats in the performing arts industry, it has become increasingly important to equip emerging Black producers with the tools needed to step into their power as leaders, general managers and cultural curators.
Piloted as a fellowship with the two previous residents, Marie Cisco and Ngozi Anyanwu, this program calls back to Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s guiding principle of autonomy in Black storytelling, and provides an unprecedented opportunity for applicants of color to gain real-time experience. Under the supportive guidance of the L.A.B program staff, the 10-month residency supports residents by providing the network and guidance needed to produce in New York City in real time. Each resident will receive a stipend and access to a library for resources to sharpen their skills.
With I AM SOUL, NBT seeks to foster mutually-beneficial relationships between Black institutions and creatives in order to reestablish historically Black theatrical institutions as the foremost supporters and producers of Black artistry.
9. A+ Playwriting Contest for Teachers
WEBSITE: https://www.pioneerdrama.com/Playwrights/Teachers_Contest.asp
DEADLINE: June 30, 2023
Fifty years as one of the leading play publishers for the educational market has taught us that some of our best-selling shows are written not by professional playwrights, but by teachers who create a play based on the specific needs of their drama program. Once published, these plays are quickly embraced by other teachers who share the same opportunities, challenges and limitations that seem universal in schools.
We want to encourage the development of quality plays written specifically by teachers and other educators. Our A+ Playwriting Contest for Teachers is open to all teachers employed at an accredited K-12 public or private school in the US or Canada. All plays submitted through this contest must have been produced within the past two years at the school where the playwright teaches.
Submissions will be accepted on an on-going basis with a June 30 cutoff each year. All qualifying manuscripts accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists. The contest winner, selected from contest finalists and announced September 30, will receive a $500 royalty advance and a one-time $500 donation to the school theatre program where the play was first produced.
Contest RulesOnly entries submitted in accordance with all rules will be eligible for consideration.
Playwright must be a current or retired faculty member at an accredited K-12 public or private school in the US or Canada.
Only entries submitted with an Official Contest Entry Form will be considered.
Only entries that have been fully staged at the teacher’s school no more than two years prior to the submission date will be considered. We encourage you to take advantage of this production to revise your script as needed before submitting your manuscript.
All entries must be accompanied by proof of production in the form of a copy of the program, a newsletter or newspaper article, a review, a photo or a letter from the school principal.
Contest entries must meet all Pioneer Drama general guidelines and requirements for play submission, which can be found at pioneerdrama.com/playwrights/submit.asp.
Individuals currently published by Pioneer Drama Service are not eligible for this contest. Pioneer Drama Service employees and their families are also excluded.
All manuscripts submitted for this contest will automatically be simultaneously considered for our annual Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest, which is open to all individuals not previously published by Pioneer Drama Service. See pioneerdrama.com for more details.
Questions? Contact us by email or by calling 800-333-7262.
10. ARC STAGES PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL
WEBSITE: http://arcstages.org/newplays/
DEADLINE: June 30, 2023
Arc Stages’ Adult Playwriting Festival is open to any writer ages 18 and over.
A select number of plays will be produced in a professional reading-style performance at Arc Stages. Submission Guidelines:Plays should be 1 to 10 pages in length, double-spaced.
There is no restriction on style, subject, or form, except plays should be inspired by the theme of 'Shadows and Reveals.' Collaborations are permitted. Plays must be typed, in dialogue format. Please submit plays in PDF format. All plays will be read blindly by a panel.
11. FRED EBB AWARD
DEADLINE: June 30th
WEBSITE: https://fredebbfoundation.org/fred-ebb-award/
Are you an aspiring musical theater songwriter? Are you yet to find significant commercial success for your work? Learn more about whether you could be eligible to apply for the Fred Ebb Award. The winner will be selected in November and will receive $60,000. The Foundation will also produce a one-night showcase of the winner’s work.
Each applicant must be a composer/lyricist or composer/lyricist team wishing to create work for the musical theatre, and must not yet have achieved significant commercial success.
Application Materials:
Electronic files of up to four songs from one or more musical theatre pieces, with typewritten lyrics and a description of the dramatic context for each song; and a completed application form.
Application Guidelines:
All applications will be coded as they arrive. Because all submissions will be reviewed blind, please do not place name(s) of writer(s) on electronic file names, lyric sheets, or description of dramatic context. Names should only appear on the Application Form. MP3, ZIP, and M4A files are preferred, but Dropbox links will be acceptable as well. Dropbox files should not have time limits.
Only musical theatre work will be considered. Please do not submit recordings with any audience sound. The applicant(s) must have written all the songs included in the submission. For example, a composer cannot submit one song with her own lyrics, and a second song with lyrics by another writer.
No individual may appear on more than one application. You cannot apply as an individual and again as part of a team, or as part of more than one songwriting team. Please email applications: fredebbfound@gmail.com.
12. LUXEMBOURG ARTS PRIZE
Deadline: June 30th
Website: https://www.luxembourgartprize.com/en/call-for-submissions-en/
The Luxembourg Art Prize aims to reveal and promote talented artists who have yet to establish a profile on the contemporary international scene. Its function is to discover artists, and it is open to any artist, amateur or professional, with no limits on age, nationality or place of residence. The Prize is aimed at artists working in one or more of the following media: drawing, printing, installation, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, decorative art (textiles and material, glass, wood, metal, ceramics, mosaic, paper or other techniques)
The 1st place winner of the Luxembourg Art Prize receives €50,000, the 2nd place winner €20,000, and the 3rd place winner €10,000. The finalist artists will be included in a group exhibition in the gallery. The Luxembourg Art Prize is a unique opportunity to enter the international professional art circuit and to have your work seen by major private and institutional art collectors. Unlike other art awards and shows, the Luxembourg Art Prize is arranged by a top-tier private European museum. Your career will take on an international dimension and your artistic output will have a fair shot at rapidly gaining consideration as essential in the international art market.
All the costs associated with travel to and accommodation in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the finalist artists and one other person of their choice will be paid in full by the organisation. This includes transport for the works of art, air and train tickets and full-board accommodation in a four-star hotel.
The organisation will arrange return travel for the finalist artists and their companions by train or air. It will send travel documents to the finalist artists and their companions within the ten days before the opening of the finalist artists’ group exhibition. The organisation will also book hotel rooms on the basis of dual occupancy (each artist with their companion).
13. TNP READERS THEATRE EVENING OF NEW PLAYS CONTEST
DEADLINE: June 30th
WEBSITE: https://naplesplayers.org/on-stage/readers-theatre/
TNP Readers Theatre “Evening of New Plays” contest is an annual event designed to give playwrights an opportunity to have their one-act plays presented to an audience in a staged reading.
Eligibility:
Entries must be one act, non-musical, and no longer than 30 minutes.
We suggest that the cast not exceed seven characters.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
This is going to be read, and not a fully staged production.
There should be very minimal blocking, minimal props requirements, and no costumes.
If your play cannot be easily performed by seated readers, it will not be considered for performance.
Writers may submit only one play.
Each play must be the writer’s own original work, not an adaptation, and not commercially published or produced, though it may have been work-shopped or presented in staged readings in other locations than Southwest Florida.
A submitted play also may have been entered in an earlier “Evening of New Plays” contest one time, so long as it was not an earlier Finalist.
14. NEW WORKS, NEW VOICES (NWNV) 2024
WEBSITE: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/new-works-new-voices
DEADLINE: July 1, 2023
The Syracuse University Department of Drama is seeking submissions for its Spring 2024 New Works, New Voices (NWNV) initiative. NWNV was created to support the development of musicals by writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon.
NWNV is seeking completed musicals or musicals-in-progress from teams who are interested in developing their work with undergraduate BFA students. One musical will be selected, to receive a 3-week developmental reading in the Spring 2024 semester (3/30/24-4/21/24), directed and music directed by SU Drama faculty and performed by SU Drama students.
The writing team will be in residence in Syracuse during weeks 2 and 3 of the rehearsal process (travel and lodging provided by NWNV) and will participate virtually during week Semi-finalists will be contacted for additional materials in late summer/early fall 2023.
Please submit the details of your musical work with the submission form.
For further information, please visit https://tinyurl.com/NWNV2024.
Questions? Please email Kathleen Wrinn, Artistic Director of NWNV and Assistant Professor of Musical Theater at SU Drama (kawrinn@syr.edu).
15. VETERANS REPERTORY THEATER SEEKS 10-MINUTE PLAYS FROM VETERANS
WEBSITE: https://vetrep.org/
Deadline: July 3, 2023
Veterans Repertory Theater (VetRep) is launching a 10-minute play competition for playwrights who meet one of the following criteria:
Current or former: US military, law enforcement, fire service, EMS, foreign service, intelligence service, DoD employee, DoD Contractor;
Immediate family of the service member listed above (“immediate family member” means: parents, siblings, children, and spouse.)
Submissions should be emailed in PDF format to info@vetrep.org OR via the submission portal on the VetRep website at: https://vetrep.org/submissions/. If emailing, submission must include the veteran/immediate family member status of the playwright in the body of the email.
Must be a completed play, ten (10) minutes or less in length; Any genre/any subject matter; does not have to be related to veteran's service
Must not be a musical, screenplay, children’s play, adaptation, translation, or fan fiction play
Must be the entrant’s own original work and cannot be co-authored
Must be typed in the English language
Must not have been previously produced or published. (Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production are permitted).
Must not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission
Must not violate the intellectual property rights of any third party
Playwrights may submit more than one play Winners and finalists will be notified via email no later than December 31, 2023.
(Note: We will make every effort to have results back to submitters ASAP, however, in order to ensure fair treatment of each submission and to plan for any contingencies which may arise, we are providing a worst-case scenario for our timeline).
There is no participation or submission fee. There is no guarantee that winners’ or finalists’ work will be produced by VetRep.
16. ABBEY THEATRE OPEN SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: October 31st
WEBSITE: https://www.abbeytheatre.ie/scripts-and-ideas/
Our submission window is currently open. As Ireland’s National Theatre, our commitment is to reading scripts and ideas by writers and artists resident on the island of Ireland, or Irish writers and artists who might live abroad. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to read work that does not match this description.
Once submitted, each play is read by our panel of experienced theatre professionals. For this first read, each play is read anonymously, meaning we get an honest assessment of the play’s potential and theatricality, as well as the play’s suitability for the Abbey Theatre. After being read by a member of our panel, every play is further considered within the department. We’ll consider, as part of its context, the general interest of the play in relation to the rest of our programming and how the play might develop from this draft. For this reason, it’s sensible to send us a draft that you’ve taken time to reflect on, as we won’t be able to read the same play again.
If we decide not to produce your play, we will send you a letter offering some feedback on your script, and may point you in the direction of other opportunities either at the Abbey Theatre or elsewhere. This can take us up to six months as we receive in excess of three hundred submissions a year and reply to them all.
If you have an idea which you can’t really send us as a finished script, you can still let us know about it. It might be a play you want to write that you want to research, a play without words, a piece of dance theatre, an event, a happening or an interdisciplinary work that would be difficult to get a sense of in a script alone. It could also be a proposal for a co-production. The process of submitting an idea is, on purpose, short; we want to get a sense of what excites you about the project and why you need our support to achieve it. We will fully consider all of the material you send us to come to a decision.
Your proposed idea should answer these questions.
What is it you want to make? (50 words max)
What do you want to happen in the show? (500 words max)
How do you want to make the show? (100 words max about the ways you might go about making the work)
Why do you want to make it now? (100 words max about why this idea is urgent)
Your idea may be accompanied by links to video, audio, images, extracts of text or other supporting materials.
What happens after you submit your idea?
Once you have sent us an email, your idea will be logged. All of the material you send will be considered by the Abbey Theatre’s artistic team in one of our quarterly meetings. You will receive a response by email within six months of your submission.
Submission Guidelines
These submission guidelines refer to both scripts and ideas. Please have a careful read of them before you consider sending in your work.
If you submitted your play or idea between 1st November 2022 and 31st January 2023, we ask you to re-submit your work on or after 1st February 2023, as no scripts will be accepted during this time.
When you send in your submission, tell us in your email a little about yourself, why you feel your play or idea would be a good fit for the Abbey, and any experience you have (it’s fine if you have none!).
We do accept short plays, musicals, and adaptations, but we are not in the position to read work in or intended for mediums other than live theatre. Novels, short stories, screenplays, audio plays, and teleplays will not be read.
We can only accept plays or ideas written in Irish or English.
For scripts, we only accept completed plays. Extracts will not be read.
Unfortunately, we’re not able to re-consider an idea or script that has already been through the process.
Your script or idea must be clearly typed and formatted; we cannot accept handwritten work or printed hard copies.
Your script or idea must be sent in Word, PDF or other standard formats (such as JPG for photographs) as an attachment.
Do not include your name or contact information on the script document.
We only accept one script or idea at a time.
Where to Send Your Script or Idea
Before submitting, make sure you have read the submission guidelines in full.
To submit your script, please email script@abbeytheatre.ie. To submit your idea, please email ideas@abbeytheatre.ie.
If you have any questions about the New Work department, please drop us a line at new.work@abbeytheatre.ie.
If you would like us to come and see your produced play or rehearsed reading, write to us at new.work@abbeytheatre.ie telling us a bit about you, the play and its stage of development. As a small team, we can’t see everything, but we will come if we can.
17. THE JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: www.jewishplaysproject.org/guide
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN TO ARTISTS OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS, DENOMINATIONS, FAITHS, CREEDS, RELIGIONS, and other IDEALS.
SUBMISSION PROCESS: Fill out the Project Application Form and attach a play to the form as a PDF. You must submit your play with your name and other identifying information removed (we review all plays blind). We will consider submitted plays and musicals:
MUSICALS: Submitted musicals must include links to recordings of at least 3 songs to be reviewed. Please note, we review musicals on a different timeline than our other programming.
ELIGIBILITY: The following must be true of a submitted play or musical:
It contains significant Jewish themes, characters, content, or points of view.
It is in English, or primarily in English—we love plays that play with language as a theatrical tool, and plays that explore the differences in language. It just needs to be primarily accessible to an English speaking audience. (We welcome translations.)
It is full length, meaning over around 75 minutes in length. (For a guide, that usually means 60 pages or more. We DO NOT review 10 or 20 minute plays.)
It has not had a full production in the NY Metro region or a major regional theater (LORT C or above).
It has never been published in any form.
NOTE: We are most interested in submissions that embrace and depend on Jewish identity at their dramatic core, while avoiding stereotypical forms that rely on cultural or ethnic shorthands in lieu of dramatic development. This holds true whether dealing with the historical gravity of the Holocaust or employing stereotypical tropes for comic effect.
The JPP brings all the tools of new play development to bear on the plays we select: dramaturgical consultation and research; the involvement of collaborating artists - including directors, designers and actors - at all stages as needed; private and public presentations; and industry advocacy. We partner with great writers who not only have a great idea for a play, but have a heartfelt intention to write a Jewish play. To us, this means that during the development process, the writer is committed to making decisions about the progress of the play (or musical) that enhance and deepen the Jewish content, spirit, ideas and values in the work.
18. NATIVE VOICES PRODUCTION SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: theautry.org/events/signature-programs/native-voices-annual-call-for-scripts
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 2023 General Production Consideration.
Checklist for Call for Scripts
Please label script attachment as follows: PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).
All submissions must conform to a standard play-script format (one-inch margins, #12 Times or Courier font, all pages numbered).
Include a title page with full contact information (mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address) and a draft or revision date.
Include a character breakdown at the beginning of your script.
Provide a biography of 75–100 words. Please label attachment as follows: Bio_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Bio_Doe, J.doc).
Provide a press ready photo of at least 300dpi. Please label attachment as follows: Photo_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: Photo_Doe, J.doc).
Provide development history for the play. Label attachment as follows: DevHistory_PlayTitle_Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Example: DevHistory_MyNewPlay_Doe, J.doc).
To submit, fill out our online form and upload your submission materials here: Native Voices Script Submission Form
Please do not send treatments or outlines. Previously produced plays should be submitted under the 2023 General Submission for Production Consideration. Playwrights are encouraged to make multiple submissions (up to three per event), but selection will be limited to only one play per playwright, per event.
19. AUDIBLE EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS FUND
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: https://www.audible.com/ep/audible-theater
In 2017, Audible launched a theater initiative, intended to radically increase access to exceptional plays and performances. A core pillar of the initiative is the Emerging Playwrights Fund, a program that invests in and nurtures self-identifying emerging playwrights, some of our most inventive, delightful, and provocative storytellers. Through the Fund, Audible aims to connect extraordinary performers with remarkable original work, amplifying new voices and harnessing the power and potential of audio to reach millions of listeners.
The Fund specifically supports t he creation of original dramatic work, written with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. Audible is dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing work that reflects the diversity of our members and our world. To accomplish this, Audible is committed to granting at least 50% of emerging playwright commissions to artists of color and women.
To be considered as an applicant for a commission, please submit all of the following to AudibleTheater@audible.com:
1. One full-length script for an original or adapted play (in English language only) that represents your voice ("Script"). The Script can be in any genre and may include one-acts and solo pieces;
2. A short biography; and
3. A brief statement about why audio plays appeal to you.
If you have an idea for an original audio play, you are welcome to include a pitch or summary along with your statement (this is encouraged, but not required).
Any applicant over the age of 18 may submit a Script. Submissions are accepted year-round. Due to the number of Scripts that Audible receives, Audible will only consider one Script at a time from each applicant and will not consider resubmissions, including those that have been significantly revised. The Audible team evaluates submissions on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified regarding the status of their submissions via email. Thanks in advance for your patience while we process your Script; our typical response time is 6-8 months.
20. THE STOCHASTIC LABS
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: https://stochasticlabs.org/residencies/
The Stochastic Labs offers fully-sponsored residencies to engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Residencies include a private apartment at the mansion, co-working and/or dedicated work space, shop access, a $1,000 monthly stipend and a budget for materials.
24. THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants/
Created in 1993 to further FCA's mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:
Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates
Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.VEach month FCA receives an average of 95 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12-15 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $3,000, and the average grant is now $1,700. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying. You may also complete our Eligibility Questionnaire, but please note that the questionnaire is not a substitute for a thorough review of program guidelines.
21. THEATRE ARIEL OPEN SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: Open
WEBSITE: http://www.theatreariel.org/opportunities
Theatre Ariel is always seeking the next great Jewish play to present to our audiences. Theatre Ariel is looking for plays that engage with the rich world of Jewish life, thought and practice; plays where Judaism, Jewish identity or Jewish perspectives are significant or driving factors in the story (In other words, not plays where the characters ‘happen’ to be Jewish or that have a few yiddishisms or “Jewish jokes” in them, but plays where Jewish life/thought/history is integral or particularly relevant to the story.). Theatre Ariel seeks plays with casts of five actors or less.
You do not have to be Jewish to have your work considered by Theatre Ariel.
All our performances are presented as salon-style theatre readings in people’s homes, following a long tradition of Jewish theatre. For the foreseeable future, we will be presenting in a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual performances. To have your script considered, please email the following to submissions@theatreariel.org:
Brief cover letter introducing yourself and your play, as well as a short plot summary and character breakdown (indicating doubling, if any)
Ten minute excerpt from the script (if these are not the first ten pages, then please supply a brief explanation of where we are in the story when your sample picks up)
Theatre Ariel is committed to reading and responding to every submission we receive. Please allow three to six months for a response. Please forward any questions you may have to the same email address listed above.
22. THE DOROTHY ROSS FRIEDMAN RESIDENCE
DEADLINE: Rolling
and
If you think you are eligible, now is a fabulous time to apply to The Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence. The Friedman is a shared housing (roommates) residence that offers affordable housing for working professionals in performing arts and entertainment, persons with HIV/AIDS, and senior citizens (60 years of age or older). Most of the apartments are 2-bedrooms, where you would have one roommate and there are a few 3-bedrooms, where you would have two roommates. All tenants have a rent stabilized lease. All apartments are complete with dishwasher, washer/dryer, central heating, and AC. Many apartments have terraces with spectacular Manhattan views, and everyone has access to the Colleen Dewhurst Community Room and the newly renovated Bette Midler Rooftop and Garden. On-site social services include a range of community programs and the Waldman Living Room for seniors. The Friedman Residence also features 24-hour security.
Criteria: Income Eligibility: 1-person household: $28,500 - $47,760
23. WILD CULTURE , WILD PROJECT
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: http://www.thewildproject.org/programs/wild-culture/
Wild Culture is a program where wild project partners with a cross-section of independent, downtown performance artists to help both professional and emerging theater performers nurture, broaden and advance projects that are in various stages of development. Wild Culture gives artists free or subsidized space at wild project’s 89-seat eco-friendly theater, a stipend, box-office split, tech staff, marketing and community outreach to sustain the innovative creativity of downtown performance and unburden independent artists from prohibitive production costs. The program generally grants each project limited engagements of one to three performances. Projects that wish to submit to Wild Culture should align with wild project’s mission to enrich and educate the community, explore issues relating to female, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ artist communities, and demonstrate a clear performance aesthetic.
Wild Culture adapts each partnership to the specific needs and artistic vision of the project. Wild Culture is an ongoing program throughout the year.
If you have a project that might be suitable for a Wild Culture partnership, please email Producing Artistic Director Ana Mari de Quesada at adequesada@thewildproject.org to get the conversation going to partner with u
24. LONG WHARF THEATRE LITERARY PROGRAM & NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT
DEADLINE: Year round
WEBSITE: https://longwharf.org/casting-and-literary
Long Wharf Theatre has a proud and rich history of forming meaningful relationships with artists, supporting the development of their work, and moving their projects towards production. We are particularly interested in incubating new pieces that center BIPOC voices, push form, and feature innovative dramaturgy. We are also eager to support projects that originate with artists other than playwrights, such as designers, directors, dramaturgs, and activists. Many of these works have become part of the modern American canon with more than thirty Long Wharf Theatre productions transferred to Broadway or Off-Broadway runs. We are revitalizing our commitment to playwrights at all stages in their careers, and are now welcoming scripts from unrepresented playwrights as well as agents.
Email scripts to: literary@longwharf.org
Type of Materials: Full-length, One act, 10-minute scripts, musicals, adaptations, translations, virtual/Zoom plays.
25. PURPLE ROSE SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: NA
WEBSITE: https://www.purplerosetheatre.org/opportunities/script-submissions/
It is our mission to develop and produce new plays that give voice to a wide and diverse range of playwrights. We are unique in our journey toward quality storytelling, as we accept scripts from playwrights who have agency representation, as well as those who do not. Because of this, we receive a large number of submissions, and while we want to read everything that comes in, we also want to make sure that all who plan to submit understands that the Purple Rose is a professional theatre and only wishes to see the best work in which a playwright is capable. In addition to selecting a play that exemplifies a playwright’s storytelling ability, he/she/they must please adhere to the following guidelines to be accepted or considered.
Please submit only the first 40 pages; the title page does not count, however the character description/setting page will. Please include a brief synopsis on this page as well.
The 40 pages must be part of a full-length play. At this time we do not accept One-Acts or monologues.
Please save the file as monthyear: TITLE OF PLAY_Last Name; ex. 0722: MY PLAY_Playwright
The file must be in PDF; .doc, .docx, Google Drive files, .fdx or any extension other than .pdf will not be accepted or opened.
Dramatists Guild Modern Stage Play format is preferred but not required.
Include a brief synopsis of the play in the body of the email; emails containing scene-by-scene breakdowns will not be read.
Provide any development histories and production rights including, but not limited to: workshops, readings, former/current/slotted productions, labs, conferences, liens, etc.
Please notify us of any agency representation and include their contact information.
26. NY THEATER FESTIVAL SPRING/SUMMERFEST
DEADLINE: Rolling
WEBSITE: http://newyorktheaterfestival.com/summerfest-festivals/
We strongly believe that self producing a play or a musical can offer a very important tool for the growth of every playwright’s work. Once a playwright sees their work onstage, it provides an opportunity for the playwright to improve or modify their story. It’s also a great 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, as some industry people receive on average thousands of submissions per month, and they understand that the journey for a show to be successful often goes through several productions.
Our team is completely dedicated to help get your work seen. We are always with you to help, from the first moment of your tech rehearsal to the closing of your last show. You will never be left alone during the process. We will help you to choose some of the 85 set/furniture props we offer to dress your stage for your run, and give you a complete crash course on how to use the audio/light/video system, which are intentionally very user friendly. After we show you how to use the tools we provide and how to utilize the space, you will be able to rehearse your tech rehearsal with whatever plan works best for you and your production. A team member will be present to 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 11 years and 19 seasons we have successfully hosted 1,200 plays and 300 musicals and rewarded with cash prizes over 300 artists who participated in our Festival.
PRIZES:
We offer up to $8,000 in Prizes. $3,500 alone goes to the season’s best production (either a play or a musical)
