Application calls for the Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition 2021. Submissions for the 2021 competition must be submitted no earlier than June 1, 2020, and no later than August 15, 2020. The submission window closes at midnight EST.

Prizes

The winner of the Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition will be awarded

• The David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000
• Publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press.
• Staged reading at Lincoln Center’s Claire Tow Theater.

The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.

Rules and Regulations 

• This Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
• Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
• The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.
• Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
• Also, plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
• Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
• Similarly, plays must be typed/word-processed, page-numbered, and in the Professional Play Format.
• The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
• The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.

Electronic Submissions

Applicants submitting their play electronically must omit their names and contact information from your manuscript. The manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play’s title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes. They should enter the title of the play, the author’s name and contact information (including address, phone number, and email address), and a brief biography where indicated in the electronic submission form.

In order to submit a manuscript please go to https://yup.submittable.com/submit.

Hardcopies submissions

Candidates submitting a hard copy of your play, the manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play’s title and author’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if they have one), and page count; and, a second title page that lists the title of the play only, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes. Please include a brief biography at the end of the manuscript, on a separate page.

Do not bind or staple the manuscript. Do not send the only copy of your work. Manuscripts cannot be returned after the competition. If you wish receipt of your manuscript to be acknowledged, please include an email address on the title page or a stamped, self-addressed postcard.

Send the manuscript to Yale Drama Series, P.O. Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040.