A Celebration of the Ten-Minute Play

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Soapbox Stageworks is seeking submissions for our 4th Annual Playfest, a festival dedicated to bold storytelling, fresh voices, and the art of the ten-minute play.

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We are looking for playwrights who can surprise us, challenge us, move us, and make us laugh. We want work that takes risks and leaves an audience talking long after the lights come up.

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What We're Looking For

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We are particularly interested in: 

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• Smart, original comedies

• Thought-provoking dramas

• Innovative storytelling

• Unique characters and compelling situations

• Plays that make audiences laugh, reflect, question, or see the world in a new way

 

We welcome creative theatrical devices including:

• Movement-based storytelling

• Mime and physical theatre

• Non-traditional staging

• Inventive theatricality that helps bring a story to life
   

If your play pushes beyond the expected and embraces the possibilities of live theatre, we want to read it.

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What We're Not Looking For

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While all submissions will be considered, we are generally not seeking:

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• Musicals

• Predictable or formulaic stories

• Overused clichés and stock characters
   

We are looking for playwrights who bring something fresh, imaginative, and authentic to the page.

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Submission Guidelines

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• Original plays only

• Scripts must be 10 pages

• Plays must be suitable for live stage performance

• All genres welcome except musicals

• Multiple submissions permitted; each play must be submitted separately

• Note: a $15 submission fee is required per 1-2 plays - please submit your fee here or via Zelle using soapboxstageworks@gmail.com

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Festival Details

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Selected solo works will be performed at the Stanton Theatre in Monterey.

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• Playwrights/performers selected for the festival are responsible for an additional $150 production fee.

• Soapbox Stageworks will provide the theatre, marketing, and basic technical support.

• Additional technical support is available for a $50 fee.

• All performers must arrive fully prepared to perform; Soapbox Stageworks does not provide directing, rehearsal support, or artistic development services.

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How to Submit
 

Please email your materials to: soapboxstageworks@gmail.com
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Please include:

• Play Title

• Playwright Name

• Email Address

• Phone Number

• Brief Playwright Bio (100 words or less)

 

Important Dates

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Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: October 1, 2026

Festival Performances: November 5–7, 2026

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Tell us a story we haven't heard before.

Make us laugh. Make us think. Surprise us.

We can't wait to read your play.