34th Annual Pittsburgh New Works Festival submissions are now open!

The Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PNWF) is now accepting one-act plays that have never before been produced. Up to sixteen one-act plays will be selected to be performed for the festival’s 34th season, which begins in September.

Playwrights whose plays are selected for production in the festival will be offered a small honorarium.

The playwright who receives the most votes for Outstanding Contribution by a Playwright in the balloting for the Donna Awards will receive $500, to be awarded at the Gala in October. 

Playwrights who adhere to all guidelines will receive brief comments.  For more information, please contact us at info@pittsburghnewworks.org or call 412-944-2NEW (2639)

Guidelines

 Playwrights must comply with all guidelines or their play will not be considered.

 To be considered for inclusion in the festival, playwrights must submit ON OR BEFORE April 6, 2025.

 All submissions must be made through the online submission form. There is a $15 administrative fee. This will be collected at the time of submission, payable online (all major credit cards accepted).

 All scripts must be uploaded in PDF format.

 Please be sure that your name does not appear anywhere on the submitted script. The judging is done anonymously.

 Plays previously submitted to the Festival may be resubmitted; plays reworked based on commentary received in previous years are particularly encouraged.

 Additional criteria for play submission include:

 No less than 20 minutes long

 No more than 45 minutes long

 Limited number of scenes and simple scene changes

 No more than eight characters

 No musicals

 Simple sets, costumes, and props

 Plays may have been “read,” but never produced (workshops and readings are acceptable)

 Playwrights are limited to one submission each year