More Information and How to Submit

.   Submissions are now open for the Monday Night Development Series &

the 2024 New Works Festival

 

We have created one online form for all submissions.

Submitting this form automatically qualifies you for both programs.

Before submitting an application, please take moment to review our program guidelines and eligibility criteria.

Click here for the online application form

The application deadline for the 2024 CreateTheater New Works Festival is March 1st, 2024. 

Final decisions will take place in late March and applicants will be notified as to the status of their application. A zoom interview process with finalists will take place in early April and selected artist residents and runners-up will be notified by early April 15th 2024.

We will accept applications for the Monday Night Development Series on an ongoing basis.

Please allow us two months to read your work and to get back to you.

 

GUIDELINES

 

WHO CAN SUBMIT

• Producers are invited to submit new work that they are interested in developing.
• Theater companies are invited to submit new work that they wish to co-develop with us
• Writers are strongly encouraged to submit. CreateTheater exists in service to writers.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES (WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR)

We are looking for a diversity of work, commercial as well as experimental or “non-traditional.” Basically we are looking for contemporary stories that are ready to be presented in front of an audience (including devised, site-specific and/or immersive work).

  • We are interested in full-length plays and musicals, dealing with stories of  significance in terms of subject matter and/or cast. BIPOC identifying playwrights will be given special consideration.
  • For the 2024 New Works Festival, we are looking especially for the First 15 Minutes of a Musical for the First 15 Minutes Musical Festival, with the opening number, the I Want Song, and the inciting event.
    • Plays that deal with and explore current social issues are always of interest.
    • Works may be as short as 75 minutes with maximum length of no more than 120 minutes, with no more than 12 actors (doubling is acceptable, more may be acceptable for musicals).
    • Work in its present form must not have had a previous professional production (readings and workshops are fine).

THERE IS NO SUBMISSION FEE

HOW TO SUBMIT: 

In order to ensure a “blind” selection process, please remove your name/production company from all materials on every page. We cannot do this for you.

Fill out the online application, and be prepared to upload the following documents to the application form

(a) one blinded copy script (first 20 pages only) uploaded to the application. (You may be requested to send in the full script at a later date.)

(b) one copy of a short synopsis (maximum one page)

(c) one copy of a cast breakdown and production history

(d) statement of purpose for having your play or musical developed with CreateTheater 

(e) a professional resume outlining your previous work, plays written and produced, and any other experience or detail you’d like to share to familiarize us with your work.

(f)  Dropbox link for Demo MP3s for musicals, Vimeo/YouTube link only for MP4s

Deadline: March 1, 2024 for the 2024 CreateTheater New Works Festival & the First 15 Minutes Festival

What we provide: As a non-profit, for your participation fee we will provide support with casting, pulling together a team, paperwork, dramaturgy, marketing and promotion. You will be responsible for the presentation.

Participation fees: Readings: $2000-4,000, Showcases may be considered with a consultation. First 15 Minutes Festival: $750 for two presentations, with an additional $250 to be included in the livestream on Streaming Musicals

No Deadline for the Monday Night Development Series. We will accept submissions on an ongoing basis, but please allow us two months to process your script and respond. You may also submit pre-recorded work which may be considered as well.

What we provide: As a non-profit, for your participation fee we will provide a fully-equipped recording studio, support with casting, pulling together a team, paperwork, dramaturgy, and  marketing and promotion. You will be responsible for the presentation and will own the recording.

Participation fees: $2000-4000 for a 9-camera studio shoot. Under certain conditions will may accept a high quality previously-recorded video at a reduced rate.

(The following submissions below will open up June 1, 2024) ______________________________________________________________

CreateTheater College Musical Theatre Partnership

 

CreateTheater’s College Musical Theatre Partnership is a three year residency program with the top-rated SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Department for musical theatre teams developing new work. SUNY Cortland’s Performing Arts Department sets itself apart by offering musical theatre as its only degree, and was recently named a “hidden gem” by OnStageBlog.com, in an article lauding the College for its contemporary training standards, activities and past performance.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

    • The first year of the artist residency consists of a year long developmental period with CreateTheater and SUNY Cortland, finishing with a table reading with the Performing Arts BFA program on the SUNY Cortland campus in Cortland, NY.
    • During the second year of the residency, the selected show will be given a cast, director, musical director, and venue on the SUNY Cortland campus, and will be offered a staged reading in early December.
    • During the third and final year, the musical will be considered for a staged reading in the spring CreateTheater New Works Festival in NYC as part of the supported partnership.

Regular working meetings during the year can be accommodated on Zoom, but the readings will be presented in person on the SUNY Cortland campus.

There are no travel or accommodation stipends available and no requirement for the writers to attend the readings, although they are most welcome to do so.

Eligibility

All musical theatre teams are eligible. We’re looking for strong theatrical works that appeal to a college demographic. Women, writers of color, trans and non-binary writers, and writers with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: August 1, 2024

Click here for the online application form

Selections will be announced in early September 2024.

________________________________________________________________

CreateTheater/Prism Stage Play Development Partnership

 

PRISM STAGE COMPANY (PSC) presents new and neglected plays by playwrights over age 40, directed and performed by theater professionals. Since 2014 PSC has offered New York audiences both staged readings and full productions. Artistic participation is open to all, regardless of age, race, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation.  PSC is a 501(c)3 not for profit corporation licensed in the State of New York.

The CreateTheater/Prism Stage Play Development Partnership is a three-year residency located in New York City that seeks full-length new plays (no musicals) by writers over 40.  It will produce one reading of a new full-length play each year of the residency, with submissions managed by CreateTheater and the final project selected by the Prism Stage board.

The program is seeking new plays in development  with no previous production history, supporting Prism’s mission to promote 40+ writers and their perspectives about current issues.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

    • The first year of the artist residency consists of a year long developmental period with CreateTheater and Prism Stage, finishing with a table reading in New York City.
    • During the second year of the residency, the selected script will be given a cast, a director, and offered a staged reading at the end of the year.
    • During the third and final year, the play will be considered for a staged reading in the spring CreateTheater New Works Festival in NYC as part of the supported partnership.

Regular working meetings during the year can be accommodated on Zoom, but the readings will be presented in person in New York City.

There are no travel or accommodation stipends offered and no requirement for the writers to attend the readings, although they are most welcome to do so.

Eligibility

All plays written by playwrights over 40 are eligible. We’re looking for full-length plays with strong characters from many different backgrounds.

Deadline: August 1, 2024

Click here for the online application form

Selections will be announced in early September 2024.

_______________________________________________________________________________

CreateTheater Experts Theater Company

 

In 2020 CreateTheater created a resident company, The Experts Theater Company (ETC), to work intensely with a smaller group of writers to develop their scripts and guide them through to production. It has become the “Artistic Home” for many writers who receive classes, workshops, presentation and pitching opportunities, and partially-subsidized readings as part of their membership. Our members include Grammy-nominated composers, Off-Broadway playwrights, Tony-award winning producers, artistic directors, and other theatre industry people inside New York City and regionally.

The New Works Festival is a collaborative series produced by CreateTheater, in association withPrism Stage Company, with CreateTheater ETC members whose shows are ready for their first developmental production in NYC.

ETC is not the place for beginning writers, but if you’re looking to take your work and your network to the next level consider joining us. Our doors are only open once a year, as we value community and dedication to the work. Monthly membership comes with placement in writing groups, producing coaching groups and admittance to all classes and workshops.

See more detailed benefits and more information about the company here. 

Click here to read more about ETC’s submission process.

Eligibility

Serious writers and musical theater teams only, looking to forward their professional work. We’re looking for full-length plays and musicals with strong characters and diversity of style and storytelling.

Deadline: September 15, 2023

Click here for the online application form

Selections will be announced in early September 2023.

2023 – 2024 Submissions are now open

 

The submissions application is now open to apply for the 2023-2024 Artist Residencies and The Experts Theater Company (ETC).

We have created one online form for all submissions.

CreateTheater Experts Theater Company

 

In 2020 CreateTheater created a resident company, The Experts Theater Company (ETC), to work intensely with a smaller group of writers to develop their scripts and guide them through to production. It has become the “Artistic Home” for many writers who receive classes, workshops, presentation and pitching opportunities, and partially-subsidized readings as part of their membership. Our members include Grammy-nominated composers, Off-Broadway playwrights, Tony-award winning producers, artistic directors, and other theatre industry people inside New York City and regionally.

The New Works Festival is a collaborative series produced by CreateTheater, in association with Prism Stage Company, for  CreateTheater ETC members whose shows are ready for their first developmental production in NYC.

ETC is not the place for beginning writers, but if you’re looking to take your work and your network to the next level consider joining us. Our doors are only open once a year, as we value community and dedication to the work. Monthly membership comes with placement in writing groups, producing coaching groups and admittance to all classes and workshops.

See more detailed benefits and more information about the company here. 

Click here to read more about ETC’s submission process.

Eligibility

Serious writers and musical theater teams only, looking to forward their professional work. We’re looking for full-length plays and musicals with strong characters and diversity of style and storytelling.

Deadline: September 15, 2024

Click here for the online application form

Selections will be announced in early September 2024.

What if I don't need three years to develop my show?
No problem! We can “fast-track” your show if we feel it’s ready for a production.
What is my commitment to CreateTheater if a producer or theater wants to option my show?
Great news! As developmental collaborators we would like to participate in the future life of your show, but there is nothing contractual that binds you to us.
Does being in ETC improve my chances of getting a residency?
Yes and no. Yes in that ETC will help you focus and develop your work more than you may if you were “going it alone”; but no, in that we show no extra preference in selecting ETC members over non-members for the residencies. The quality of the work must stand for itself, as we only read from “blind” submissions.

However, only ETC members can participate in the New Works Festival, the First 15 Minutes Musical Festival or the New  Works Cabaret Festival.