The 49th Annual Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival is now accepting submissions!

 

We are seeking engaging and original short plays to be a part of our annual celebration of writers and their work. To provide thorough and thoughtful consideration to each script in a timely manner, we will cap submissions at 850. Submissions will close when we reach either our limit of 850 submissions or our deadline of Friday, December 15, 2023.

 

We can’t wait to read your work!

OOB SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES 

 

Short plays and musicals that are no more than 15 pages in length and have a max run time of 15 minutes (ideal run times are between 8-13 minutes). 

 

Writers may submit only one play, including plays they have co-authored. Producers (writers’ groups, theatre companies, universities, etc.) may submit up to 15 plays accredited to their organization, but can only submit one play by an individual playwright.   

 

Each nomination must submit a separate application form. Conglomerate entries on one application, even by one and the same playwright, are not acceptable. 

 

Plays must be written primarily in English (non-English words or phrases within the context of the play are allowed, extensive use of non-English language must provide translations). 

 

Plays must be typed, and in no less that 10-point type, in conjunction with formatting suggestions listed in the Dramatist Guild’s Formatting Guidelines. Note that cover pages or additional cast size pages are not required and will not be counted against the 15-page limit.  

 

Playwrights previously published any of Concord Theatricals’ umbrella companies Samuel French, Inc. or their subsidiary Baker’s Plays, Tams-Witmark, Rodgers & Hammerstein or The Musical Company are not eligible for submission into the Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Plays presented in previous Off Off Broadway Festivals are not eligible for re-submission.  

 

Poetry and short story readings will not be accepted. 

 

Plays may not be written using any generative artificial intelligence (AI); however, writers are not prohibited from utilizing AI as part of their creative process. If a writer utilizes generative AI in creating their play, they must be the owner of that AI generated content or be authorized by the owner to either create works derived from the content or to incorporate the content into their play. It is the responsibility of each writer to ensure the entire content of their submission does not violate the rights of any other person or party. Any play that Concord Theatricals discovers to be an infringement or a violation of the rights of another person or party shall be ineligible, even if the violation/infringement was unintentional on the part of the writer(s). 

 

The author is responsible for securing a director or producing company (or self-producing/directing) their work if the work is selected as a Festival participant. The responsibilities of the producer or author (should they self-produce) include but are not limited to: the casting (note, our 2024 festival will be a non-equity festival), the appointment of the director (if applicable), rehearsals, transportation, housing (if applicable), costumes (if applicable) and all fees and expenses attendant thereto. 

 

Festival submissions will be open from Friday, December 1 to Friday, December 15, 2023. No submissions will be accepted after 11:59pm EST on December 15, 2023. 

 

Concord Theatricals in its sole and absolute discretion, shall select plays for participation in the 2024 OOB Festival from among all entries, and its decisions are final. Concord Theatricals reserves the right to remove any selected play from participation if the play, its producers and/or its authors are not in compliance with the Application and/or the Competition Guidelines, and/or if the additional documents are not timely signed and returned. Production of selected plays shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Producer, and no royalties or other payments are or will be owed by Concord Theatricals.