Riot Act, Inc. announces the opening of submissions to our New Play Festival playwriting competition. Three one-act plays will be selected for production during our Annual Series of Shorts in September 2026.
Each of the three playwrights whose plays are selected for production will receive an honorarium. The first-place winner will receive $200 and the Marius P. Hanford IV Award. Marius was a longtime stage combat choreographer influential in several theater communities, including Jackson and New York. The second place will receive $100 and third place will be awarded $50.
The contest opens on May 1, 2026 with final entries due by June 20, 2026 and winners will be notified by July 31, 2026. Judges for this competition include theatre and writing professionals. All contributing playwrights will receive brief comments through a standardized critique form from a panel judge. This is a wonderful opportunity for playwrights to gain valuable feedback and see their work produced.
Basic Guidelines:
· Plays should run 20-30 minutes total (20 to 30 pages.)
· Plays should require no more than 4 actors total. However, you may have more characters that are
double casting actors in multiple roles.
· Set and prop concepts should be simple and must be easily broken down and moved. No more
than 1 set change or 2 sets total allowed.
· Entries will be accepted from playwrights residing in the regional areas of WY, ID, UT, CO and MT.
· The play must not have been previously published or produced
within the past 5 years or in any of the resident states. Plays previously submitted but not produced
may be resubmitted if reworked based on commentary received in previous years.
Deadlines and Submission Fees
Entry fee is $20. Plays must be submitted by June 20, 20256.For more information and registration, email NewPlayFest@riotactinc.org or check our website at https://riotactinc.org/new-play-festival/.
Guidelines –