National Jewish Playwriting Contest
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Contest Dramaturg Heather Helinsky are proud to announce that submissions are currently open for the National Jewish Playwriting Contest. 

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, but our reading period is April-October. To guarantee we consider your play for the most current review cycle, please submit by June 15 each year. Plays submitted after this date will be held for the next cycle.

*** NB: The submission process for the 12th Contest Cycle is currently closed. ***

Full guidelines can be found at www.jewishplaysproject.org/guide. Please note that while we accept plays in many formats, we prefer the Dramatist’s Standard Format. We ask that names and identifying information be removed, as we read scripts blind. Please include a character breakdown on the 2nd page and the total cast size clearly indicated.

We are currently seeking unproduced full-length (65+ minutes) plays and musicals that focus on aspects of 21st Century Jewish identity, culture, and ideas, and the complex and intersectional nature of contemporary Jewish life. 

While we value history, we will always lean toward plays that tackle vibrant strands of today’s world: social, racial and economic justice; strong women in Jewish life; diverse stories of Jews of Color; LGBTQIA inclusion; new perspectives on Israel, environmentalism, and interfaith relations in addition to deep conversations about our complex and multifaceted identities. 

There is no submission fee. Writers may submit more than one script. Submissions from previous years are accepted, particularly if there is a new draft of the script. 

The following must be true of a submitted play or musical: 

1. It contains significant Jewish themes, characters, content, or points of view.

2. It is in English, or primarily in English – we love plays that play with languages.

3. It is 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.)

4. It has not had a full production in the NY Metro region, or a major regional theater (LORT C or above). 

5. The play 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.

Submitted plays and musicals will be considered for the Jewish Playwriting Contest, our national, community-powered search for the most exciting new Jewish plays; as well as other developmental and advocacy opportunities.

For more information, or any writing or submission questions, email heather@jewishplaysproject.org.