Habituation: Cold Winters and Old Bosses

 Habituation: It was 20 degrees today. In comparison to the weekend, this felt like bikini weather. When you're used to arctic conditions, normal winter cold feels so pleasant. We get used to things.

-Habituation. I had a boss in college who would yell a lot. Mary would yell at me, at others, at staff. I never met a Calvinist, but she seemed like what I thought one would be...a joyless piece of flint rock. I was not used to being around a 'yeller.' After a time, I tuned her out. I needed the money, and it was a convenient location. I chalked it up to 'life experience.' Plus, I just came from high school football and wrestling, where coaches yell all the time. Also, she was exacting and precise at her job. That led to a trickle-down effect of raised expectations. We were expected to be as fastidious in our small tasks as Mary...minus the yelling. But then I noticed I would find my supervisors crying in their office or coming out of the bathroom, red-faced after being berated. Often, these transient souls would quit, but Mary and I kept working together until she hired the next supervisor and made their lives hell. I developed a weird affinity for Mary because she was an equal-opportunity yeller. She even yelled at one of her colleagues for working too hard and developing carpal tunnel syndrome. How irresponsible! The coworker laughed at her like 'you crazy old bitch!' 

Habituation: After a while, Mary started paying me to clean up around her house or haul stuff to the dump over the weekends. The routine was always the same. The yelling would stop, and she would ask if I was doing anything over the weekend.  I would say put on my 'poor orphan voice' and sigh...'no.' Mary would perk up. "Well, if you're not doing anything, maybe you can come to my house and help clean up." I wondered if this was a WASP version of 'race play' or "The Help." She would pick me up and drive me into the upper-crust area of Evanston. The work usually took about 1-2 hrs. The second I finished the job, all the hospitality and warmth would drain from her face. She would curtly hand me the money and say Let me drop you off " in a Cruella De Ville voice. We would ride back in complete silence as she looked at me with this thrill of pity, like I was beneath her. I would watch her face shift from feigned kindness to withering contempt to dismissiveness in one car ride. Mary would have made an amazing dominatrix if not for the fact that she had a WASP-ian disgust for sex. Then again, maybe dominatrices also have the same disgust, which is what makes them so good at their job.

One day, Mary was throwing out this very chic 1970s banana yellow lamp. I couldn't believe it, 'you're throwing this out?!?' This is a work of art. She was so stunned by my compliment that she let me have it. I took it back to my dorm and used it for the next 10 yrs. Hauled it around to cities and apartments. People would say 'that is such a cool lamp' and I would nod and imagine Mary somewhere in the world... yelling at a person in a wheelchair, 'you lost your legs?!? How irresponsible!"  I lasted all four years at the same college job. In some ways, I appreciated the experience. I've written Mary into my stories: the comically uptight boss who both desired closeness but was disgusted by the thought of vulnerability. And then she would hand you a beautiful lamp out of the blue or write an overflowing letter of recommendation (she did that for me).  Every time I visited this huge Evanstonian house built for raising a big, white, privileged American family, I would think about what she did at night. Scrabble? Worked at soup kitchen...drove around the neighborhood and did 'drive-by-yellings' at kids. And then return home to this huge suburban coffin.To be right and uptight! What a life! 

I really got used to Mary. By the time I graduated, I may have even liked her...even as supervisors were running to the bathroom to cry. She was definitely more distinctive than a bland nice boss. She was the arctic winter blast that made all bosses after her feel like a comfortable 20-degree winter night.

Get What You Want: February 2026

 PLAYWRIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

February 2026

33 Opportunities | Fellowships · Residencies · Contests · Commissions · Festivals

FEBRUARY 2026 DEADLINES

Heartland Theatre Company — 10-Minute Play Competition

▸ CONTEST | 10-Min Play | Theme: Route 66

Deadline: February 1, 2026

Fee: $10 per submission. Theme: Route 66 — plays must explore, celebrate, or critique the legend of Route 66.

Prize: Selected plays receive staged readings in Bloomington, IL.

Website: https://www.heartlandtheatre.org

Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten — Artist Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Multidisciplinary | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Deadline: February 1, 2026

A prestigious 2-year residency in Amsterdam for artists working across disciplines. Includes studio space, stipend, and access to international networks. Highly competitive, with selections based on portfolio and project proposal.

Website: https://www.rijksakademie.nl

Blue Mountain Center — Writer's Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Writing | Lake George, NY

Deadline: February 1, 2026

A fully funded residency for writers working on projects with social justice dimensions. Provides private studio, meals, and room in a lakeside setting. Residencies range from 2–5 weeks.

Website: https://www.bluemtn.org

New America — National Fellows Program

▸ FELLOWSHIP | Civic Engagement | Washington, DC / Remote

Deadline: February 2, 2026

Fellows receive funding and mentorship to pursue projects at the intersection of policy, culture, and public interest. Playwrights with civic or community-focused work are encouraged to apply. 1-year fellowship with stipend.

Website: https://www.newamerica.org/fellows

Mixed Bag Presentations — New Play Development

▸ DEVELOPMENT | Full-Length | New York, NY

Deadline: February 2, 2026

Supports emerging playwrights with full-length new plays in early development. Selected works receive dramaturgical feedback, workshop readings, and a small stipend. Open to writers at any career stage.

Website: https://www.46mincollective.com/

Murmuration Theatre Company — New Works Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Any Length | Chicago, IL

Deadline: February 8, 2026

Murmuration is dedicated to producing bold, new theatrical work. Submit plays of any length for consideration in their spring new works festival. Emphasis on plays that challenge conventional narrative structures.

Website: https://www.murmurationtheatre.com

Playwrights Realm — Script Share Lottery

▸ DEVELOPMENT | Full-Length | New York, NY

Deadline: February 9, 2026

A lottery-based opportunity for playwrights to have their work read and discussed by Playwrights Realm dramaturgues. Submit a full-length play in development. Winners receive a dramaturgical session and feedback report.

Website: https://www.playwrightsrealm.com

Spotlight New Works Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Full-Length / Musical | New York, NY

Deadline: February 3, 2026

Accepts full-length plays and musicals intended for educational or community production. No submission fee. Selected works are staged as part of the festival cycle in NYC. Open to emerging and established writers.

Website: https://www.spotlightnewworks.org

MacDowell — Artist Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Writing | Peterborough, NH

Deadline: February 10, 2026

One of the most prestigious residency programs in the US. Fully funded stays (2–8 weeks) with private studio, meals, and community with fellow artists across disciplines. Application fee: $30. Highly competitive.

Website: https://www.macdowell.org

International Playwright's Workshop — Mülheim an der Ruhr

▸ WORKSHOP | Full-Length | Mülheim, Germany

Deadline: February 15, 2026

An intensive international workshop for playwrights, culminating in a staged reading of selected works. Participants receive travel support and stipend. Open to writers worldwide; English and German language works accepted.

Website: https://www.theater-muelheim.de

Live & In Color — Musical Theatre Fellowship

▸ FELLOWSHIP | Musical Theatre | Los Angeles, CA

Deadline: February 15, 2026

Supports writers of color developing musical theatre works. Fellows receive mentorship, workshop support, and a stipend. Submissions should be musicals in early-to-mid development stages.

Website: https://www.liveandincolor.org

Jesse L. Kearney Playwriting Initiative

▸ FELLOWSHIP | Black Male Playwrights | New York, NY

Deadline: February 15, 2026

Named for the late playwright, this initiative supports Black male-identifying playwrights ages 18+. Honorarium: $1,000. Includes a 29-hour dramaturgical reading of the selected work, presented through Black Broadway Men. A meaningful development opportunity for emerging voices.

Website: https://www.blackbroadwaymem.org

Eurodram — European Playwriting Network

▸ NETWORK | Translation | International

Deadline: February 15, 2026

A European network connecting playwrights across borders. Submissions in English are reviewed for potential translation and staged reading across member theatres in multiple countries. Builds international visibility for works in development.

Website: https://www.eurodram.eu

Soapbox Stageworks — Women's Play Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Short Play | Carmel, CA

Deadline: February 15, 2026 | Fee: $15

Focused on plays by and about women, with a historical lens. Selected short plays receive full production in Carmel, CA. A strong fit for works exploring women's stories across eras.

Website: https://www.soapboxstageworks.com

The Road Theatre Company — Summer Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Any Length | North Hollywood, CA

Deadline: February 15, 2026 | Fee: $25–$45

Seeks unproduced plays by West Coast-based writers. Any length, any genre. Selected works receive full production as part of the Road's summer festival season in North Hollywood.

Website: https://www.roadtheatre.org

Denver Quarterly — Poetry & Drama

▸ PUBLICATION | Short Form | Denver, CO

Deadline: February 16, 2026

The Denver Quarterly accepts short dramatic works alongside poetry and experimental prose. A prestigious literary journal; publication here adds significant credibility to a playwright's portfolio.

Website: https://www.denverquarterly.com

Dreamscape Theater — Coffee Shop Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | 15-Min Play | Corvallis, OR

Deadline: February 18, 2026 | No fee

A charming, low-pressure festival: plays must be 15 minutes or fewer and set in or around a coffee shop. No submission fee. Selected works are performed in an intimate coffeehouse setting in Corvallis, OR.

Website: https://www.dreamscapetheatre.org

WP Theater Lab / Heidi Thomas Initiative — 2-Year Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Women+ Artists | New York, NY

Deadline: February 20, 2026

A highly competitive 2-year residency for women and women+ artists. Stipend: $4,000/year ($8,000 total). Culminates in a reading at WP Theater's Pipeline Festival. Includes mentorship, dramaturgical support, and community. One of the most significant development opportunities available.

Website: https://www.wptheater.org

The Shed — Open Call for New Works

▸ DEVELOPMENT | Any Format | New York, NY

Deadline: February 24, 2026

The Shed's open call invites writers and artists working at the intersection of theatre, performance, and visual art. Experimental and multidisciplinary works encouraged. Selected projects receive development support and potential presentation at The Shed.

Website: https://www.theshed.org

Sixty-Six Productions — Pages in Paris

▸ PRODUCTION + RESIDENCY | 30-Min Play | Los Angeles / Paris

Deadline: February 28, 2026

A unique dual-reward opportunity: selected plays (30 min max) receive an LA production AND the playwright is invited to a 2-week residency in Paris. An exceptional combination of production credit and creative retreat.

Website: https://www.sixtysixproductions.com

MARCH 2026 DEADLINES

Millay Arts — Core Playwriting Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Writing | Hudson Valley, NY

Deadline: March 1, 2026 | Fee: $45

A fully funded residency at the historic estate of Edna St. Vincent Millay in the Hudson Valley. Private studio, meals, and a community of fellow artists. Selection is by blind jury — merit-based, no name recognition advantage. A deeply inspiring setting for serious development work.

Website: https://www.millayarts.org

Social Justice Shorts Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Short Play | Social Justice Theme

Deadline: March 1, 2026

A festival dedicated to short plays exploring issues of social justice, equity, and human rights. Selected works receive full staged productions. Open to playwrights at all career levels; no geographic restriction.

Website: https://www.socialjusticeshorts.org

Kimmel Harding Nelson Center — Artist Residency

▸ RESIDENCY | Interdisciplinary | Nebraska City, NE

Deadline: March 1, 2026 | Fee: $35

Residencies of 2–8 weeks with a weekly stipend of $175. Private studio and housing provided. An interdisciplinary community — playwrights work alongside visual artists, musicians, and other writers. A productive, low-pressure environment for sustained creative work.

Website: https://www.kimmelhardingnelson.org

Durango Arts Center — 10-Minute Play Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | 10-Min Play | Theme: The State We Are In

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Theme: "The State We Are In" — plays should engage with the current political, cultural, or social landscape. Colorado and US writers prioritized, but international submissions welcome. Selected plays receive full production in Durango, CO.

Website: https://www.durangoarts.org

Cherry Lane Theatre — Playwrights Collective

▸ COLLECTIVE | Full-Length | New York, NY

Deadline: March 2, 2026

The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective accepts full-length plays for development and potential production. Selected playwrights join a year-long cohort with dramaturgical feedback, workshop readings, and mentorship from industry professionals.

Website: https://www.cherrylane.org

13th Annual New Play Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | Full-Length | New Play Development

Deadline: March 6, 2026

An annual festival celebrating new American playwriting. Selected full-length works receive staged readings with professional actors and dramaturgical feedback. A strong launching pad for plays ready for the next stage of development.

Website: https://www.newplayfestival.org

Princess Grace Foundation — Playwriting Fellowship

▸ FELLOWSHIP | Playwriting | National

Deadline: March 16, 2026

One of the most prestigious playwriting fellowships in the US. Awards include grants, productions, and sustained support for emerging playwrights. The Princess Grace Fellowship is a career-defining opportunity with significant industry visibility.

Website: https://www.princessgracefoundation.org

Black Men Talk Play Festival

▸ FESTIVAL | 10-Min Play | Black Male Playwrights

Deadline: March 31, 2026

The first festival of its kind, honoring and showcasing the work of Black male playwrights. Submit a 10-minute play celebrating Black voices, stories, and perspectives. Selected works are performed in a multi-night festival run. A meaningful platform for authentic storytelling.

Website: https://www.blackmentalkplayfestival.com

ShowLAB — New Play Competition

▸ COMPETITION | Full-Length | Los Angeles, CA

Deadline: March 31, 2026

A competition for full-length plays with a focus on theatricality and originality. The winning play receives a full production in Los Angeles, along with dramaturgical support and a cash prize. Strong platform for LA-based and national writers.

Website: https://www.showlab.la

APRIL 2026 DEADLINES

2 Pages / 2 Voices Competition

▸ COMPETITION | 2-Page Play | Rochester, NY Area

Deadline: April 6, 2026 | No fee

A micro-format competition: exactly 2 pages, exactly 2 characters, and the play must include the word "soil" somewhere in the text. Rochester, NY area writers only. A fun, constraint-driven challenge that tests economy of language and dramatic compression.

Website: https://www.2pages2voices.org

Carlo Annoni Prize

▸ PRIZE | International | Milan, Italy

Deadline: April 30, 2026

An international playwriting prize based in Milan. Open to works in English and Italian. The winning play receives a cash prize and potential staged reading in Italy. A strong opportunity for international exposure and credibility.

Website: https://www.carloannoni.it

ONGOING / TBD

Next Forever — Commission Program

▸ COMMISSION | Full-Length | Los Angeles, CA

Deadline: TBD — check website for updates

Next Forever commissions new full-length plays from emerging playwrights. Commissioned works receive dramaturgical support, a stipend, and potential production. One of the cleaner commission pathways available for writers building toward full production.

Website: https://www.nextforever.org