Get What You Want: December 2022

 1. THE MANY VOICES FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: December 1st

WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/many-voices-fellowships

The Many Voices Fellowship is intended to support early career Black playwrights, playwrights of color, and/or Indigenous playwrights (what's this?) who demonstrate extraordinary potential, artistic vision, and a commitment to a professional development residency in Minnesota. Starting on July 1, 2023, the fellowship is expanding from a one-year residency to a two-year residency(July 1, 2023-June 30, 2025), and the salary will be increasing to $25,000/year, to enhance sustainability for each playwright.

Within each two-year cycle, Many Voices Fellows will now be classified as part-time employees of Playwrights’ Center, with a salary of $25,000/year (paid bi-weekly), and eligible for all employee benefits, including employer-sponsored health insurance. Fellows will continue to have $3,000/year available to support customized play development through workshops with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors.

Beyond the financial support, the fellowship includes working in an individualized and hands-on way with Playwrights’ Center artistic staff—some of the most experienced theater professionals in the country—to develop plays and connect playwrights to producers of new work. This holistic and customized combination of financial support, play development support, and professional connection is career-changing for most playwrights.

Applicants must reside in, and have the legal right to work in, the United States during the fellowship term. Applicants may not have had more than two different works fully produced by professional theaters by the time of the application. Productions that open after December 1, 2022 do not count. 

Playwrights who have received two Many Voices Fellowships in the past are not eligible.  

Previous Many Voices Fellowship recipients must apply with a different play than the one that accompanied their previous successful application. Playwrights who have received other Playwrights’ Center fellowships may apply, provided they still meet the Many Voices Fellowship eligibility guidelines. Recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships during the two-year cycle.  

Fellows commit to spending the two-year fellowship period in Minnesota and actively participating in the Center's programs. Fellows will now be part-time employees of Playwrights' Center, paid on the same bi-weekly pay cycle and eligible for the same benefits, including employer-sponsored health insurance, as all other employees. Fellows may spend no more than 10 weeks/year (20 weeks over two years) out of town during their residency. Housing and travel are not provided. 

Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org.

2. WOODWARD/NEWMAN DRAMA AWARD

Deadline: December 1st

WEBSITE: https://seeconstellation.org

The Woodward/Newman Award is an exclusive honor offered by Constellation Stage & Screen, started through the support of Joanne Woodward, Newman’s Own Foundation, and the Newman family, celebrating Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward’s tremendous history of work on stage and screen. It presents the best unpublished play of the year with a cash prize of $3,000 and a full production as part of Constellation’s Mainstage season.

Please note that there are significant changes to our submission and selection process from previous years. In order to make the Woodward/Newman Award accessible to all, we have eliminated submission fees as well as the contest format. The Woodward/Newman Award will continue to be awarded to an unpublished new play once per year and come with a $3,000 cash prize and a full production. Submissions will be accepted and reviewed by our literary team on an ongoing basis, and will be considered for the award as well as for all 8 production slots in our season. So a play that is not selected for the Woodward/Newman slot in our season, may still be considered and selected for production. This will allow us to now accept open submissions for all types of plays (including TYA shows). Plays submitted prior to September 1 will be considered for the 2023-24 season, while plays submitted beyond that date will be considered for the 2024-25 Season. All submissions will be kept on file for 2 years after submission.

If you have questions regarding submissions to the Constellation Stage & Screen, please contact the Literary Manager at literary@seeconstellation.org.

The award recipient and finalists will be announced by May 15, 2024. The winner will be awarded $3,000 and a full production (including housing/transportation).

• “Full-length” plays should have a complete running time of between 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) to 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes). TYA shows should have a complete running time of over 40 minutes.

• Plays submitted must be unpublished at the time of submission (independently published is acceptable).

• Each play should be individually submitted at the following link: CONSTELLATION STAGE & SCREEN PLAY SUBMISSION.

• You will be asked to submit your play as an attachment and all other information (bio, history, synopsis, character breakdown) will be entered into a form. Musical submissions may upload demos as an attachment or include a link to a shared folder.

• Limit of 2 play submissions per year.

• If you have any questions, please email literary@seeconstellation.org.

3. WAVELENGTH’S WAVE GRANT

DEADLINE: December 1st

WEBSITE: https://wavelengthproductions.com/grants/

Applications for Wavelength’s WAVE Grant are now open! The WAVE Grant is devoted to helping first-time female and non-binary filmmakers of color tell their own “great f**king story.” This year we will select five recipients to receive a $5,000 seed grant for the production of their short film. Recipients will also receive mentorship from our award-winning team with development, production, and distribution strategies.

4. THE BLACK MOTHERHOOD AND PARENTING NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: Dec. 1st

WEBSITE: https://blackboardplays.submittable.com/submit/232742/3rd-annual-black-motherhood-and-parenting-new-play-festival?previousLoginDate=2022-11-07T03%3a43%3a24.3170000Z

Blackboard Plays and Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) partner to uplift the experiences of Black Parenthood. The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival was established to tell stories from and about Black artists with families. Since 2008, Blackboard Plays has been devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora. Blackboard Reading Series was incubated at Nancy Manocherian's the cell in Chelsea's Manhattan as a resident series for 10 years before Blackboard made its home in The Mary Rodgers Room at The Dramatists Guild in 2018. 

The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (#BMPFest) is seeking new plays by Black Parent and caregiver playwrights for its upcoming theatre festival in the Fall of 2023.

#BMPFest is open to those that identify as Black parents and caregivers.

#BMPFest is seeking stories centering the Black parenting and caregiving experience. This includes, but is not limited to stories from artists with family responsibilities.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Please submit up to 10 pages MAX of a play that you would develop into a One-Act (30 - 45 minutes.)

Six (6) Semi-Finalists will have a feature digital (zoom) reading as part of Blackboard Plays’ 2023 Season. Four (4) Finalists will develop their One-Act centering on the Black parenting and caregiving experience to premiere digitally during the Fall of 2023.Once selected, we will ask our 10-semifinalists to submit a full script for review.

We will then select our 4 finalists. Between the start of rehearsal and your selection as a finalist, you will have the opportunity to expand upon your work.

Diverse Gender representation will be prioritized in the review and selection process.

Each produced play will have digital production elements and an assigned director.

Although we ask for a sample of 10-pages, this is not a 10-minute play festival. 

Video Submissions will not be accepted.

Vaccination will be required for all participants of in-person productions

Each of the four (4) Finalists will be paid a stipend of $1,000. USD, as well as a $500. USD Caregiver Reimbursement Stipend per artist.

5. SAMUEL FRENCH OFF OFF BROADWAY SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: Dec. 1st/15th

WEBSITE: https://oobfestival.com

Short plays and musicals can be no longer than 15 pages and have a max run time of 15 minutes (ideal run times are between 8-13 minutes). If submitting a musical the page limit should reflect the libretto.

 

Writers may submit only 1 play, including plays they have co-authored. Producers (writer’s groups, theatre companies, universities, etc.) may submit up to 15 plays accredited to their organization, but can only submit one play by an individual playwright. 

 

Script submissions will be accepted in digital format only, via Submittable.

 

Each nomination must submit a separate application form. Conglomerate entries on one application are not acceptable.

 

Plays must be written in English (non-English words or phrases within the context of the play are allowed).

 

Plays must be typed, and in no less that 10-point type, in conjunction with formatting suggestions listed in the Dramatist Guild’s Formatting Guidelines. Note that cover pages or additional cast size pages are not required and will not be counted against the 15 page limit. 

 

If a play was submitted to the Festival in a previous year but was not chosen for production, it may be resubmitted for the 2023 Festival.

 

Poetry and short story readings will not be accepted.

6.  ERIC H. WEINBERGER AWARD FOR EMERGING LIBRETTISTS

DEADLINE: December 2nd

WEBSITE: https://www.amasmusical.org/eric-h-weinberger-award

The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists is a juried cash and production grant given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. It commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H. Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Best Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, which earned Pricilla Lopez a Drama Desk Award nomination.  

 

The winner will receive $2,000 to help with cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2023 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, culminating in an Amas Lab production with New York theatre professionals. Amas, which is administering the award, was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals, and which produced the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three. 

 

With the many setbacks in the theatre industry over the past three years, we are grateful to be afforded this opportunity to continue making theatre and creating an impact in our community. Both our 2020 and 2021 winners, Cheeyang Ng and Eric Sorrels, and Gabe Caruso and Sangwoo Lee received development workshops of their musicals Māyā and Settle Down this year. We are excited to begin work with our 2022 winners Charlie Roman and Will Wegner on their piece Onward & Upward, and welcome a new wave of inspiring voices to our musical theatre family.

All submissions must be sent through an online application that can be found HERE. 

 

Only one submission per playwright/librettist will be accepted. The winner of the award will be announced spring 2023.

7. MCKNIGHT NATIONAL RESIDENCY AND COMMISSION

DEADLINE: December 8th

WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-national-residency-and-commission  

The intent of the McKnight National Residency and Commission is to support an established playwright from outside of Minnesota who demonstrates a sustained body of work, commitment, and artistic excellence. The Recipient of the Residency and Commission will create a new play which will be developed with the Playwrights' Center through a series of workshops and will culminate in a public reading of the play. 

Recipients will not move to Minnesota but will have opportunities to engage with local artists and the Playwrights' Center staff and fellows throughout their term (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022). One of the goals of this program is to create dialogue between Minnesota-based artists and those outside of the community. Benefits include, a $15,000 commission, up to $12,250 in workshop funds to support the development of the play, and a public reading. Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. Applicants must be nationally recognized playwrights who have had at least two different plays fully produced by professional theaters at the time of application. If you had a production that was canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, that does count when determining eligibility. 

Compensation: $15,000 commission, up to $12,250 in developmental support.

8. JERSEY CITY THEATER CENTER SEEKS PLAYS

DEADLINE: Dec, 10th

WEBSITE:

Interested playwrights should submit their play to Dr. Catalina Florina Florescu, curator of the festival (fflorescu@pace.edu) no later than December 10th. 

Jersey City Theater Center is thrilled to invite local and international playwrights to think about writing a new short (one act) or long (full length) play on the theme of resilience. 

Along with your play, your submission must include: 

1.) your name, place of residence, e-mail info; 

2.) a brief synopsis of the play; 

3.) a declaration that the play has never been read/produced before; 

4.) a short statement about how the play fits the theme of resilience and how its values match ours 

(Before you submit, please inform yourselves about JCTC, its mission, and past and current events: https://jctcenter.org/)

• The piece has to be new. 

• It has to speak beyond any borders, whether they are real or imaginary or (self-)imposed. 

• It has to have the audience in mind and connect with people’s needs first and foremost. 

• It has to be witty and make us laugh and cry and be together – all at the same time. 

• We are not looking for a play that is perfect, that has had substantial revisions, that had staged readings, but an honest, heartfelt play on the theme of resilience. 

• We are also not interested in plays with a big cast (no more than 6-7 characters, please). 

Plays that do not adhere to the above guidelines will not be considered. 

Also, as a firm reminder, please keep in mind that we can only accept one play per playwright. Submit the play that truly speaks on the theme of resilience. 

All submissions will be read carefully, and the best 3-4 will be staged read next spring. 

More, JCTC will request that all selected playwrights make the commitment to attend the festival during its entire duration (over a weekend in May, date TBD). In return, JCTC will host the staged readings in a professional setting, provide a small stipend to playwrights, and open their new play not only to the public but also to industry people (Broadway producers and directors, and possibly a guest speaker). 

Selected playwrights will be notified by February 10th. For additional questions, please contact the curator of the festival and Olga Levina, the co-founder of JCTC (olga@jctcenter.org). 

The world at the end of 2022 is still not fully recovered from the pandemic and its long-term consequences, from millions of families being displaced because of war and violence, or naturally caused disasters, and the examples could continue. 

Before you submit, please familiarize yourselves with our guidelines. Whether you decide to submit a short or a long play, that is up to you. Think about your best work on the theme of resilience and submit that. We know you are very gifted, but please submit only one play. More, the piece has to be new. It has to speak beyond any borders, whether they are real or imaginary or (self-)imposed. It has to have the audience in mind and connect with people’s needs first and foremost. It has to be witty and make us laugh and cry and be together – all at the same time. We are not looking for a play that is perfect, that has had substantial revisions, that had staged readings, but an honest, heartfelt play on the theme of resilience. We are also not interested in plays with a big cast (no more than 6-7 characters, please). 

9. CIRCLE OF CONFUSION WRITERS DISCOVERY FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: December 12th/Jan. 6th

WEBSITE: http://www.circleofconfusion.com/fellowship/

Circle of Confusion has established an ongoing fellowship program to nurture and assist in accelerating the diversity of voices in our industry. Circle of Confusion’s core mission has always been discovery, and we have been fortunate enough to have identified and promoted many talented writers, directors, actors and creators from all walks of life. It is based on this tradition and fundamental strength of the company that Circle of Confusion launched the program. The excitement of film and television has always been the joy that great storytelling brings to audiences around the globe. By promoting voices that have been historically excluded, the Fellowship will enrich both the professional lives of the Fellows and the dynamic quality of the entertainment industry.

Circle of Confusion will provide an immersive introductory experience to the world of professional screen and television writing to a diverse group of aspiring writers who have not yet been employed or represented by the industry. The Fellows will each be given a stipend by way of a first look deal with Circle of Confusion Television Studios. Once per year, the program will select six to eight writers for a six-month fellowship which closely replicates the writer-manager dynamic. Each Fellow will be assigned a mentor who will educate and guide them by way of script development, career advice, and support. While the Fellowship cannot guarantee the sale of the pilot or specific employment, by the end of each Fellowship session, each Fellow will have developed a submission-ready television pilot, been afforded multiple opportunities for industry networking, and generally equipped with the essential tools for their success as writers in the entertainment industry.

Our mentors will include Circle of Confusion literary managers and other senior industry professionals, offering general business advice and script development within the duration of the Fellowship. In the first four months, each Fellow will develop an original pilot script with their dedicated mentor. The pilot scripts will be reviewed by the Fellowship’s Advisory Board (composed of established members of the film and television community with an expertise in content evaluation) and then submitted to relevant industry professionals, with the explicit goal of using the last two months of the Fellowship to arrange general one-on-one Zoom meetings with producers and executives. Throughout the entire Fellowship session, the mentor will be available to guide the Fellow through each step, assisting the Fellow in their development of writing and storytelling skills, pitching skills and navigating the meeting process.

The Fellowship program will begin in May of 2023 and include informational panels, speakers and workshops with industry professionals. Additionally, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in several practice/mock-general meetings in preparation for their final professional meetings.

10. MIDDLEBURY ACTING COMPANY’S AMERICAN DREAMING 2023 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: December 15th Or until 100 submissions have been received

WEBSITE: http://www.middleburyactors.org/2023-new-play-festival.html

Through an open submission process, Middlebury Acting Company is looking for three new plays for our second American Dreaming New Play Festival. This festival aims to amplify three unproduced, unpublished plays that address the question: What does the American Dream mean today? The selected plays will each receive two rehearsals, dramaturgical feedback, and a culminating public staged reading followed by a carefully moderated talkback with the audience. 

The goal of this festival is to assist the chosen playwrights in the development of their new plays, and to invite the Middlebury community into the new play development process. Plays of all genres and styles are welcome!

Selected playwrights will receive housing for three nights and a travel stipend of $150 to help defray the costs of getting to Middlebury. 

The festival will take place over one weekend in August, 2023 in Middlebury, Vermont. 

Submission Process & Requirements: 

• Only the first 100 submissions will be considered, so early submissions are encouraged.

• We are looking for plays that address the question: What does the American Dream mean today? We are excited to see how you interpret that question, but please do note the theme when considering what to submit.

• Playwrights living anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to apply. If selected, we are able to offer a $150 travel stipend. Any additional travel costs are the responsibility of the playwright.

• Playwrights may submit only one play. No re-submissions of previously submitted plays.

• Only plays requiring 5 or fewer actors are eligible. 

• Submissions must not have received a professional production or publication before August of 2023. Plays that have received previous workshops or readings are eligible.

• We are looking for full-length play submissions. No one-acts or musicals.

• Playwrights may submit up to 20 pages of one full-length play. You are welcome to submit any 20 pages from your play. If context is required for the sample you submit, you’re welcome to include a brief bit of context (no more than one page) at the beginning of the sample.

• We will select a small group of finalists by early March, 2023. If selected as a finalist, you will have one week within which to send us the full script of your play.

• There is no fee to submit. 

• 
  

Submission Materials:Playwright’s contact information

• A sample of up to 20 pages of your chosen play. Please include a character breakdown.

• A brief statement (200 words or less) on how your play fits into the theme of the festival 

Ready to submit? Fill out our Google Form here

Questions? Email the new play festival coordinator Gina Stevensen at gina@middleburyactors.org

11. MCKNIGHT FELLOWSHIPS IN PLAYWRITING

DEADLINE:December 15th

WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-fellowships-in-playwriting

The McKnight Foundation, a family foundation based in Minnesota, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. The McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting recognizes and supports mid-career playwrights living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment, and attributes of artistic merit. The fellowship, which runs July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023, includes: a $25,000 stipend, an additional $2,500 to support a play development workshop and other professional expenses, and $1,400 in travel funds. 

Applicants must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. during the fellowship term. Applicants must have been continuous residents of Minnesota since at least December 9, 2021, and must maintain residency in Minnesota during the fellowship year. Applicants must have a minimum of one work fully produced by a professional theater at the time of application. (Note for 2020, 2021, and 2022: any programmed/announced professional productions cancelled due to COVID-19 can be counted as long as they would have met the criteria above. Please be sure to mark cancellations or postponements clearly on your resume).) Full-time students are not eligible. Fellowship recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships, grants, or Core Writer program benefits during the grant year. 

Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org.

12. SUNDOG THEATRE STATEN ISLAND FERRY PLAYS

DEADLINE: Dec. 16th

WEBSITE: https://sundogtheatre.org

New and original, one-act plays about our favorite boats, the Staten Island Ferries. Original plays not previously produced or published, with a signed note affirming that. 

10-25 minutes in length and set on the Staten Island Ferry (Note: not performed on the Ferry). 

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

Avoid overt and unnecessary sexual/violence situations and language since we cater to a broad audience. No musicals, long monologues, poetry, rants, or verse.

We have weathered a lot the last few years, so this year's theme is Comedy. There can be serious moments peppered throughout, but we want to laugh. It can be dry, dark, or light comedy, satire -- whatever works in your play.

5 – 6 plays will be chosen by a reading team. Each writer will receive $200 and be produced in five March 2023 performances in Staten Island, NYC.

Please send two hard copies, bound or stapled, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and all contact information) and the name of the play on each page to Sundog Theatre, “Scenes 2023”, PO Box 183, Staten Island, NY 10301.

Submissions should include brief synopsis, play history, a 70-word bio and also full resume of the writer.

Do not submit plays electronically. Reasons: hard copies are easier to pass around/make notes on; protects your work; can’t get lost in email chains; and....easier on reading eyes.

Questions: info@sundogtheatre.org / Susan Fenley, Producer

13. THE KERNOODLE  NEW PLAY AWARD

DEADLINE:  December 16th

WEBSITE:  fulbright.uark.edu/departments/theatre/callboard/kernodle-new-play-award.php

All playwrights must fill out our online submission form, which is only available during our submission window, which opens on November 1, 2022 and closes Dec. 16, 2022. 

Additionally, please understand, due to staffing levels (and a desire to keep unsolicited submissions free), we can only accept the first 100 unsolicited submissions received in any given year.

Playwrights whose work has been solicited, agent submissions, and playwrights who currently reside in, or are originally from, Arkansas are welcome to apply until the Dec. 16, 2022 deadline. Please fill out our online form, indicating who solicited your work/agent affiliation, or your ties to Arkansas.

 For all submissions, please follow the process below.

Submission Materials:

• Complete the Online Submission Form, (available Nov. 1, 2022) where you will be asked to provide:

• 10 page sample from the script you are submitting

• A brief synopsis and history of the script

• Author Bio

• Full-length manuscript (70+ minutes)

• All documents should be in PDF format and uploaded to our Online Submission Form

• Plays submitted in previous years will not be accepted.

• Plays must be unpublished and cannot have been professionally produced (previous workshop OK). No plays for young audiences, or musicals please. Adaptations are considered only if rights are clearly secured or source material is in public domain.

• One submission per writer.

• Please allow 9-12 month response.

14. THE OBSIDIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: Dec. 16th 

WEBSITE: www.obsidianfest.org

The OTF MAIN STAGE

The OBSIDIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL is seeking new, short and full length plays by emerging Black playwrights for its upcoming theatre festival June 22-25, 2023. 

As part of the four day festival, four plays will be staged, rehearsed, produced, performed, and filmed. Pieces will be presented for live theatre audiences, as well as filmed stage productions.  

Please submit a play no shorter than 30 minutes. 

A sample of 10-pages as well as the current, complete script are required to submit..

Video Submissions will not be accepted.

*Applications are limited to no more than 150 play submissions.

Selected pieces will be produced for live audiences in Detroit and filmed for streaming across the country. Selected playwrights will be paid a stipend of $350.00 USD

SUBMIT HERE: https://bit.ly/otf23submit  

15. THE OBSIDIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWCASE

DEADLINE: Dec, 16th

WEBSITE: www.obsidianfest.org

The OBSIDIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL (www.obsidianfest.org) is seeking new, musical theatre pieces by emerging Black playwrights, composers, and librettists for its upcoming theatre festival: June 22-25, 2023. 

 As part of the four day festival, two (2) select musicals  will be staged, rehearsed, produced, performed, and filmed. Pieces will be presented for live theatre audiences, as well as filmed stage productions.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

For consideration, please submit the following:

• Musicals between 30-60 minutes  in length (operettas, musical comedy, book musicals, experimental theatre, etc.).

• Audio recordings 2-5 minutes in length.

• Musical documentation of two pieces (sheet music, lead sheets, chord charts).

Applications are limited to 25 Submissions

Due to the nature of this festival and the location of the staged readings, at this time, pieces that require heavy choreography will not be a good fit.

We understand and acknowledge that the quality of your work is not determined by your access to resources and effort to create a space that centers artists of all backgrounds. While we are requesting certain submission details (recordings, documentation, etc.) your piece will not be judged on the quality of these assets, but rather the strength of your work.

The selected pieces will be presented as staged readings, book-in-hand, and with both live and virtual audiences. The live readings will be located in Detroit.

Selected musical theatre teams will be paid a flat stipend of $350.

SUBMIT HERE: https://bit.ly/otf23mtsubmit

16. NAMT FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS 

DEADLINE: December 20th/January 10th

WEBSITE: https://namt.org/newmusicals/festival-submissions/

Now in its 35th year, NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals is the cornerstone of NAMT’s mission to be a catalyst for nurturing musical theatre development and production. Every year, we feature eight musicals in short presentations for an audience of over 700 industry professionals. We look for new musicals at all stages of development from the broadest possible range of voices.

In the short run, the Festival’s goal is to connect producers with writers, so that our shows can extend their development trajectory. The long-term goal is to expand the musical theatre repertoire and advance the musical theatre art form.

NOTE: The festivals in 2020 and 2021 were presented in online and/or hybrid formats. Decisions have not yet been made regarding the format of the 2022 Festival, but applicants will be notified as soon as possible once that information has been determined. 

The objectives of the Festival are to:

• Showcase quality new musicals with a wide range of subject matter, style and concept

• Nurture composers, lyricists and book writers of all identities and backgrounds

• Stimulate networking opportunities for NAMT Members and theatre professionals

• Provide a forum to spark new collaborations and ventures

• Encourage future productions of new musicals

The musical must…

• Be complete and ready for readings, workshops and/or productions.

• Have a demo that is an accurate representation of the music and style of the show.

• Have full underlying rights clearances for any pre-existing material used (music, source material, etc.) in the script.

• Be ready for readings, workshops and/or productions at the time of submission and available for performance in October 2022 at the Festival.

• The musical cannot…

• Already be licensed through a professional licensing house.

• Have been produced on Broadway. [Shows that have had readings, workshops and/or productions (including regional or Off-Broadway) are still eligible.]

• Have already been submitted to the Festival three times. Each show can only be submitted three times for review by the committee.

• Have been presented as one of our main presentations at a Festival (excludes shows presented as part of our complementary programming including concerts and showcases).

In addition, the writers must be available for the Festival and all rehearsals.

17. THE PULITZER PRIZE IN DRAMA

DEADLINE: December 31st

WEBSITE: https://www.pulitzer.org/page/drama-submission-guidelines-and-requirements

Columbia University, on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, annually awards a Pulitzer Prize in Drama of $15,000 "for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life."

Please note the amended eligibility for the 2022 Award.

Eligible works include full-length dramas that opened in the United States between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

The Pulitzer Prizes honor contemporary creative work. Dramatic works previously submitted for the award and revivals are not eligible. If submitted for the 2022 award, unproduced plays scheduled for production this year should include some confirmation of their cancellation or postponement, submitted with the play script. Alternatively, such works may be submitted instead in a later year, when a production is realized. While full-length dramatic works produced and performed in places other than theaters during calendar 2022 will be eligible, a script and production details will still be required for entry.   

In general, but especially in these cases, we strongly urge a recording of the performed work be included with the submission. The creator(s) of a dramatic work should determine when it is ready for award consideration, as it may be submitted only once. If necessary, eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis. All other criteria for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama will remain the same.

Please follow these entry procedures:

Complete the online entry form (including PDF upload of the required playscript) and pay non-refundable $75 entry fee by credit card.  

A video recording of the production is strongly urged to be included with the entry but is not required. If a recording is submitted, it will be used only to assist the judging process. Whenever possible, the recording should be provided as a web link on the online entry form. All video links must remain active and accessible until the Prize announcement in mid-April. Any login credentials should be listed on the label of the uploaded item or emailed to pulitzer@pulitzer.org at the earliest convenience.

Alternatively, an mp4 video may be uploaded with an entry, although its resolution may not exceed 480p. Please provide a link if you want to submit high-definition video.

Columbia University awards the Pulitzer Prize in Drama annually on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, which acts on the nominations of a distinguished committee of Pulitzer Drama Jurors. The award is announced during the spring.

18. EST SLOANE PLAY COMMISSION

DEADLINE: January 15th, 2023

WEBSITE:  https://kristin-gole-gvwa.squarespace.com/est-sloan/submissions?fbclid=IwAR3aq5fZfRDnSl-d-NStRJXWKcfnk5SfdWsNtYLhqmn6p342kFvdDSz8zR0

The EST/Sloan Project commissions, develops and presents new works delving into how we view and are affected by the scientific world. These plays examine the struggles and challenges scientists and engineers face from moral issues to the consequences of their discoveries.

The Project is designed to stimulate artists to create credible and compelling work exploring the worlds of science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes of scientists and engineers in the popular imagination. The Project commissions and develops new works throughout EST’s developmental season, including one Mainstage Production, as well as workshops and readings in an annual festival called FIRST LIGHT.

Commissions will be awarded to individuals, groups and creative teams for full-length and one-act plays and musicals. Commissions range from $1000 to $10,000. Commission amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, as are deadlines for drafts, finished work, and research support (if appropriate). Extant, full-length works may be submitted and are judged on a script-by-script basis by the EST/Sloan Project staff. Rewrite commissions for existing scripts range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Commissions are also available for regional theaters who wish to sponsor a local project focused on science and technology, either by commissioning a new script or developing an extant piece. Regional commission amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, ranging from $2,000 - $5,000.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The EST/Sloan Project is open to a broad range of topics related to the issues, people, ideas, processes, leading-edge discoveries, inventions, and/or history of the "hard" sciences and technology.

HARD SCIENCES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Mathematics

Physics (geological, nuclear, theoretical, etc.)

Biology (evolution, zoology, animal behavior, ecology, molecular, genetics, etc.)

Chemistry (industrial, biochemistry, etc.)

Neuroscience

Anthropology and Archaeology

TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES:

Computer Science

Software Development, Computer Development

Engineering (civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, vehicle design)

Space Research

19. THE OLD LADY PROJECT

DEADLINE: January 23rd, 2023

WEBSITE: https://filmfreeway.com/OldLadyProject

SUBMISSION FORM

The Old Lady Project is an initiative to encourage the development of plays and musicals that feature significant roles for women over 50. Plays will be submitted to a national panel of directors and producers and two staged readings will occur in Evanston per year. A directory of works will be featured on the Old Lady Project webpage to facilitate connections between theatre companies, directors and producers.

Scripts of any length accepted. Scripts selected will be given a staged reading at our expense, author will waive rights fee for initial staging. Author retains all rights.   

For more information, call 847-448-8263 or email aallyn@cityofevanston.org

20.  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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

25. 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.

26. THE DOROTHY ROSS FRIEDMAN RESIDENCE

DEADLINE: Rolling 

WEBSITE:  https://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/housing-resource-center?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2

and

https://actorsfund.org/sites/default/files/Friedman-Application-Revision-7-21-20.pdf?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2

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

 

27. 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  

28.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.

29. 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.