Submission Guidelines

TheatreWorks has a high standard for excellence. We prefer well-written, well-constructed plays that celebrate the human spirit through innovative productions and programs inspired by our exceptionally diverse community. There is no limit on the number of characters, and we favor plays with multi-ethnic casting possibilities. We operate on a LORT C contract. Play contracts are negotiated per playwright.

We DO accept:
Plays and musicals submitted by theatres and/or agents including: plays produced Off-Off Broadway and regionally other than the Bay Area, plays and musicals not produced in the Bay Area within the last 5 years, plays and musicals that have never been produced but have had some development, plays and musicals looking for development.

We DO NOT accept: Unsolicited manuscripts from authors, One-acts, or plays with togas.

For INQUIRIES please send:

  • Cover letter
  • Short synopsis
  • 10 page sample dialogue
  • Inquiries of a musical should include a demo of at least 3 songs.
  • Submitted play's production history (including development)
  • Playwright's THEATRE resume (not employment resume; not other career resume)
  • SASP with proper postage or SASE with proper postage (for return and/or response without SASP or SASE we cannot return or respond to materials)

If we solicit a full script based on the inquiry please send:

  • The script!
    • Bound (8 ½" x 11")
    • One-sided
    • Clear copy
    • Preferably double-spaced
  • Cover letter
  • SASE or SASPC with proper postage - or indicate if we may recycle. (NOTE: without an SASE or an SASP we cannot return or reply to materials.)
  • Playwright's THEATRE resume (not employment resume; not other career resume)
  • Mark the outer envelope SOLICITED
  • If musical: CD or Cassette of full musical or up to 6 songs
  • If musical: Lyrics of ALL SONGS (in their proper places within the script)

RESPONSE TIME: (season announcement early February) Submissions are accepted year around. Standard response time is 4-6 weeks for a synopsis/inquiry and 4-6 months for a full script. If there is interest in the script, we generally hold onto it until the season is announced. Best time for submissions is between July and December.

CONTACT:
Kent Nicholson
Director of New Works
P.O. Box 50458
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650)463-7120; (650)-463-1963 fax
kent@theatreworks.org

For Fed Ex, UPS etc:
1100 Hamilton Ct.
Menlo Park, CA 94025

 

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