Many Voices Mentorship – Playwrights’ Center
Deadline: December 4, 2025 (11:59 PM CT)
Website: https://pwcenter.org/programs/many-voices-mentorship
Designed for Minnesota-based Black, Indigenous, or playwrights of color who are new to playwriting. Selected writers receive classes, dramaturgical support, a staged reading, and a year-long mentorship.
The program builds foundational skills and integrates writers into the Playwrights’ Center ecosystem with community and cohort support.
BCA Playwright Residency – Boston Center for the Arts
Deadline: December 8, 2025
Website: https://bostonarts.org/residency/bca-playwright-residency-2024-2025/
A year-long residency offering space, mentorship, and support to playwrights developing innovative work. Writers receive rehearsal space, artistic guidance, and opportunities for community engagement.
Ideal for playwrights creating boundary-pushing or hybrid theatre projects who want to embed deeply in a supportive Boston-based artistic community.
BCA Launchpad Residency – Ensemble/Company Track
Deadline: December 8, 2025
Website: https://bostonarts.org/launchpad
Supports small ensembles or writer-led collectives in developing new performance work. The residency includes rehearsal space, administrative support, and a structured development cycle.
Strong match for playwrights working collaboratively or exploring devised, interdisciplinary, or movement-text hybrid forms.
Excellence Artist Fund Residency – University of Wyoming
Deadline: December 8, 2025
Website: https://www.uwyo.edu/thd/_files/faculty/rfp-uw-2026-2027-excellence-artist-fund-residency-innovation-arts.pdf
A major funded residency ($50k–$150k) supporting ambitious new theatre and dance projects. Artists receive housing, travel, production resources, and up to four weeks of on-site development.
Ideal for playwrights developing large-scale, interdisciplinary, or community-engaged work requiring significant institutional support.
Downtown Urban Arts Festival (DUAF)
Deadline: December 8, 2025
Website: https://www.duafnyc.com/submit
A long-running NYC festival presenting new plays by diverse voices. Selected works receive professional staging, promotion, and a small stipend.
DUAF focuses on bold, urban, contemporary storytelling and is particularly advantageous for emerging writers seeking NYC exposure.
McKnight National Residency & Commission – Playwrights’ Center
Deadline: December 11, 2025
Website: https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-national-residency-and-commission
A major national award for playwrights living outside Minnesota. Offers a $15,000 commission, $7,500+ in development support, travel, workshops, and a public reading.
This is one of the most prestigious U.S. commissioning opportunities, enabling creation of a brand-new play with deep institutional backing.
The Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab – Berkeley Rep
Deadline: December 12, 2025 (5 PM PT)
Website: https://www.berkeleyrep.org/how-to-apply-69nb
One of the nation’s premier development labs. Writers spend 1–2 weeks at Berkeley Rep developing new work with dramaturgs, actors, and artistic staff.
The lab emphasizes exploration and discovery, and many Ground Floor projects go on to major productions regionally and nationally.
The Road: Under Construction Program
Deadline: December 16, 2025
Website: https://roadtheatre.org/event/under-construction-submission/
Beginning in January 2026, this group will meet twice a month live (TUESDAYS @ 7PM). And on Zoom for the virtual cohort (Day/Time TBD). As we get closer to full reads, sessions will be every week. Regular Attendance is required!
Each playwright must enter this group with the beginnings of a new play, and we will work collaboratively for a 10-month gestation process on the development of each piece. Concluding with a directed reading at our theatre.
McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting – Playwrights’ Center
Deadline: January 8, 2026 (11:59 PM CT)
Website: https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-fellowship-in-playwriting/
A major fellowship for Minnesota-based mid-career playwrights. Provides $25,000, travel funds, and development resources. Requires at least one professional production.
This is one of the most respected and well-funded playwright fellowships in the country.
Lambda Literary Writers Retreat – Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Deadline: January 8, 2026
Website: https://lambdaliterary.org/emerging-writers-retreat/
A highly competitive retreat for emerging LGBTQ+ writers. Includes a playwriting cohort with faculty mentorship, workshops, and community-building.
Ideal for queer playwrights developing new work, expanding their artistic network, or seeking a national literary community.
Relentless Musical Award – American Playwriting Foundation
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Website: https://www.americanplaywritingfoundation.org
One of the largest cash prizes for musical theatre writers in the U.S. Open to unproduced musicals or works-in-progress.
A high-profile opportunity for musical-theatre bookwriters and playwrights working in hybrid text/music forms.
Ucross Foundation – Fall 2026 Residency Session
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Website: https://ucross.org
A world-renowned residency program offering 2–6 week stays for artists across disciplines. Playwrights receive private studios and room/board.
Ideal for writers who thrive in rural quiet with uninterrupted writing time.
A is For seeks one-act plays on reproductive justice
Deadline: January 18, 2026
Website: https://aisfor.org/plays?blm_aid=78942638
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
Princess Grace Awards – Theater/Dance/Film (Nomination Deadline)
Deadline: February 2, 2026 (11:59 PM PT)
Website: https://pgfusa.org/apply
This deadline applies to directors, designers, actors—not playwrights. However, it's often tracked alongside theatre opportunities.
Nominees receive significant grants and national recognition; playwrights are eligible only in the separate Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship at New Dramatists (opens March 2026).
Core Apprentice Program – Playwrights’ Center
Deadline: February 5, 2026
Website: https://pwcenter.org/programs/core-apprentice
A program for student or early-career playwrights transitioning into professional development. Includes dramaturgy and a full workshop.
A strong national bridge between academia and the professional theatre field.
MacDowell Fellowship (Fall/Winter 2026–27)
Deadline: February 10, 2026
Website: https://www.macdowell.org
One of the most prestigious artist residencies in the world. Playwrights may apply in the theatre category for fully funded residencies lasting 2–6 weeks. Need-based stipends available.
Designed for immersive creation in a quiet, supportive environment with artists across disciplines.
