Theatre Writer Opportunities for August 2026
$93k could be yours...
Funding
An ongoing open-submission pipeline for unpublished plays considered for both the award and production slots. The winner receives a cash prize and full production in Bloomington, Indiana.
Reward: $3,000
Deadline: August 31st
A national competition for an original full-length play, musical, or one-act play sequence that has not been professionally produced or published. Run by Wagner College. Musicals welcome!
Application fee: $32
Reward: $2,000
Deadline: September 1st
Unrestricted grant supporting emerging musical theatre composers, lyricists, librettists, and writing teams. The award invests in the writers’ broader artistic careers rather than funding one specific project.
Reward: $20,000+
Deadline: September 4th
Development
BMI Musical Theatre Songwriters Workshop
The premiere training program for musical theatre writers, provided completely free of charge. 2 years of mentorship in the classic methods of musical writing, followed by select invitations to join the ongoing Advanced workshop.
Deadline: August 1st
Circle in the Square Emerging Writers Residency
One musical and one play are selected each year for four weeks of workshop development with student actors and faculty directors, culminating in a public reading on the Broadway stage.
Reward: $500 per writer, max $1,000 per team.
Deadline: August 17th
International Human Rights Festival
International Human Rights Art Movement’s festival seeks live performance work in any discipline that aligns with these categories:
Climate Change Action
Immigration
LGBTQIA+
Celebration of Women/Women in Power
Celebration of Black Men/Undiscovered Women
Shalom/Salaam
With Love from Africa
Performances 10-20 minutes in length will be considered.
Reward: $250
Deadline: August 15th
Residencies
Two-month and two-week residencies in Boise, Idaho, for projects responding to the site, history, and legacy of James Castle. Residents live alone on site and share work publicly.
Reward/Stipend: $1,000-$4,000
Deadline: August 28th
Artist in Residence program in Granville, Ohio, offering 8- or 12-week stays in the Cramer House for artists in any discipline.
Must perform at least two community-engagement activities per month.
Application fee: $20
Reward/Stipend: $2,000-$3,000
Deadline: August 31st
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts Residency
Residencies in Nebraska City with housing, private bedroom/bathroom/studio space, and a weekly stipend.
Application fee: $35
Stipend: $175/week
Deadline: September 1st
Addl. Opportunities - Academic Fellowships
As the beginning of the academic year approaches, Harvard and Princeton are once again opening applications for their prestigious artistic fellowships, detailed below. While these are definitely best suited for more research-based or academic musicals, it’s good to know they’re an option!
Princeton supports artists and writers of exceptional promise for one 10-month academic year as “visiting fellows” at Princeton. It is designed for independent projects rather than degree study.
Relocation not required.
Reward: $93,000
Deadline: September 8th
A two-year appointment for artists of extraordinary promise to teach and work at Princeton University.
Relocation required.
Reward: $93,000/year
Deadline: September 8th
A full academic-year fellowship at Harvard for artists, writers, scholars, and others pursuing ambitious projects.
Relocation required.
Reward: $78,000 + $5,000 project allowance
Deadline: September 10th
That’s it for this month’s highlights! And now for The List - my comprehensive compendium of all upcoming opportunities for which theatre writers are eligible. A massive THANK YOU to everyone who subscribes - every dollar goes toward the production of new work.
Please enjoy this expanded collection of 70+ opportunities:
